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helen magnus, m.d. d.t.c.x.b. ([info]lifelines) wrote in [info]marinanova,
@ 2013-08-05 21:09:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags::4th wall, betty mcrae, eric northman, helen magnus, helix wamtani, jean-luc picard, lyle dylandy, number one, peggy carter, rose tyler, seven of nine

day 231 | video; | ota
[ helen appears on the feed looking composed as usual. she's not yet taking her duty shift at the clinic, so she's actually sitting at her table in her apartment. regardless, she's sitting up straight as usual. ]

As it seems we're to be inundated with new arrivals and familiar and unfamiliar faces, I'd like to remind everyone that the clinic is still operational. We're more than willing to see anyone who may need our help. Don't let anything keep you away if you'd like to stop by.

In the meantime, I'd like to pose a question I find myself curious about. I realize it seems we have little need for differing languages, but I'm curious to know which ones other people know. I'm fluent in a great many of Earth's languages, current as of the year 2011, both regularly used ones and ones that are considered "dead." No real reason for asking. Consider it the scholar in me who's truly curious.

[ she pauses for a moment, obviously on the verge of saying something else before she finally decides to continue. ]

Nikola, if you see this, answer. I'd rather not have you wandering around terrorizing everyone. [ she fully expects him to snap at her for this... if her instincts aren't correct and for once, she hopes they aren't. ]


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:: video
[info]lifelines
2013-08-06 04:51 pm UTC (link)
[ they both seem to favor each other, strangely enough. helen isn't used to having personal relationships any longer -- her last real one ended centuries ago, after all, and beyond that she had only experienced temporary ones she would break off once she realized it was going in a very bad direction -- but the idea of pushing the good captain away doesn't quite sit right with her. it would be like shoving a wall between herself and james back in the day. that would have felt wrong and he would never have allowed her to do it.

somehow she thinks jean-luc picard will be the same. ]

It seems we only have a few in common. I've been able to speak French fluently since I was very young. [ he should be able to guess that she means it's been a very long time, even if she hasn't yet told him her exact age. ] Aside from French and English, I am fluent in several major European languages, Latin, Japanese, Norwegian, Cambodian, Hindi and several African dialects. I have a passable knowledge of Polish -- though that was mostly used decades ago, during the war -- and a few other very lesser-known symbol-based forms of communication. [ like summerian cuneiform, for example. she has to use a book, but that counts as passable, right? ]

Perhaps sometime we can compare notes. [ she would be very interested in those ones she's never even heard of. ]

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:: video
[info]tea_earlgreyhot
2013-08-06 09:53 pm UTC (link)
[ His eyes are suddenly alight and his lips curl into a small grin as he begins to speak in French as if he heard barely anything else she might have said. He's naturally excited to know someone who speaks French. ]
Vous parlez français, docteur Magnus ? J avoue que ça fait quelque temps que j ai fait le tour de quelqu un pour converser avec dans ma langue maternelle.

[ But, he did pay attention to the rest of what you said as well because he is an attentive sort of man who is conscious of detail and nuance. ]
En effet, nous devrons comparer leurs notes. It would be time well spent, both in academia and in company kept.

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:: video
[info]lifelines
2013-08-06 10:04 pm UTC (link)
[ she offers a warm and genuine smile in return, obviously happy to oblige. she'd recalled he told her he was from france, but she'd wondered if the language was still spoken the same so far into the future. apparently so. ]

Je fais en effet. Vous avez parlé dans ma langue maternelle, donc je ne vois aucune raison de ne pas parler dans le vôtre.

Perhaps you might be able to fit in a little time today for tea and a good conversation? I haven't had to use my French in several years. It would certainly be good practice.

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Re: :: video
[info]tea_earlgreyhot
2013-08-07 12:57 pm UTC (link)
[ While the dialects had changed significantly over time given the way certain differing cultures melded together, the language itself had not. For instance, Jean-Luc, while born and bred in France had an accent that was a mixture of both French and British. Her smile, as genuine as it is, forces one from him as well, a small that makes his usually hard, chiseled features soften around the edges. ]

Je vous remercie, Docteur Magnus. I believe I would very much enjoy making the time for tea and conversation with you. Shall I come by the clinic?

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:: video
[info]lifelines
2013-08-07 01:12 pm UTC (link)
Or perhaps I could meet you somewhere. I believe it was the Sizzle and Sear you suggested when we first spoke.

[ she appreciates the smile he's giving her. something in it just feels nice. she's far too attached. what is this place doing to her? ]

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:: video
[info]tea_earlgreyhot
2013-08-08 08:56 am UTC (link)
That sounds most appropriate, Doctor. [ If not for atmosphere and neutral ground, then for the tea. The place does have the best tea in the prison, in his opinion. ]Shall we say twenty minutes? Or is that too soon? [ While he doesn't want to rush her, he does find himself eager to see her. ]

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:: video
[info]lifelines
2013-08-08 08:07 pm UTC (link)
[ her features soften in response and she gives him a nod. ] More than enough time. [ she's a little surprised at how well they seem to be getting along, but she's enjoyed his company during the times they've encountered each other previously. a little time seems to have gone a long way. ]

I'll see you shortly, Captain.

[ and she ends the feed so she can head off to meet him. this will certainly be a good way to start her day. ]

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:: video
[info]tea_earlgreyhot
2013-08-09 10:55 pm UTC (link)
[ At the Sizzle and Sear, Jean-Luc is there promptly within twenty minutes of the end of the feed. He does pride himself on punctuality unless the circumstances should call for an alternative. He has found that there is the rare occasion in which the slightest delay can work in his favor. This is not one of them.

He arrives in his uniform, as he is most comfortable wearing such. And when he sees her, he greets her with a slight smile and a nod and opens the door to the restaurant for her. ] Doctor Magnus. Always a pleasure. Shall we?

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:: action
[info]lifelines
2013-08-09 11:18 pm UTC (link)
[ helen isn't far behind, being a rather prompt person herself. unlike most of their meetings, she's chosen to dress in something other than a formal suit. instead, she's wearing a nice black shirt and skirt. for once, however, she's wearing flat shoes. that likely won't last, but for now she's choosing not to completely tower over him.

her smile is bright and warm when she spots him. she'd been on the verge of greeting him in a much more familiar way, but decides to hold onto that. perhaps she'll use it once they're inside or perhaps at the end of their meeting. she feels as though she's gotten to know him quite well lately and despite every warning she's grown used to, she finds herself wanting to know more, to be able to trust him with parts of herself that few others know. she senses that... perhaps... he might be able to understand her in a way that few have since james died.

pushing those thoughts aside, she turns and steps into the restaurant. ]

Indeed we shall. What would you suggest, a nice steaming cup of Earl Grey to be safe?

[ she's curious as to what he might recommend, but in a way she's also teasing him, testing the boundaries. now that they've had certain in depth discussions, she's trying to see how he might take a little good-natured teasing. ]

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:: action
[info]tea_earlgreyhot
2013-08-10 01:37 pm UTC (link)
[ That slight smile grows and he nods good-naturedly. ] Where tea is concerned, I always endeavor to play it safe.

[ After following her inside, they're taken to a table where Jean-Luc instinctively pulls a chair out for her. While on a star ship he foregoes such social niceties, usually maintaining an air of an aloof decorum. That is, except for the rare occasion of which he understands that he's in a situation where he isn't just a Starfleet Captain, but also something outside of that. It surprises him that he instinctively knows that this is one of those situations. But at the same time, he brushes that thought aside.

They're just good friends meeting for tea, after all. Of course they are.

He takes his seat across from her, crossing one leg over the other and leaning back in his seat. That thought from before that he's trying to ignore has him just a bit off kilter. ] I was searching for a way to compliment your appearance that didn't wreak of cliche. And yet I find myself at a loss. And I'm almost certain you've heard it all before at one time or another.

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:: action
[info]lifelines
2013-08-10 02:39 pm UTC (link)
[ she's surprised at his thoughtfulness. normally, she wouldn't see the point of someone so obviously catering to her in the "modern" day -- more to the point, no one actually would -- but it's nice to see that someone still has manners. she offers a soft murmur of gratitude as she smooths her skirt and takes that seat. her eyes barely leave him as he moves around the table and sits across from her.

being with him is different from spending time with anyone else. he can bring a smile to her face where no one else has any luck and she finds herself enjoying his company. it's... as unsettling as it is comforting. she hasn't experienced this in decades and if she's to be honest with herself, she's afraid. she's afraid of how fond of him she's become, how attached, and she knows what this means for the future.

the idea of ever losing him, no matter in what manner, terrifies her.

but she isn't willing to face that. not now. perhaps not ever. right now, the most important thing is that the two of them enjoy this little meeting, because that's all it is. that's all it can be. it's just a morning out for tea with a close friend.

she offers him a smile, amused at his choice of words. ]

I won't be so arrogant as to assume I've heard absolutely everything there is in the world. [ her smile turns slightly warmer -- shy perhaps, but she isn't going to let that thought cross for more than a millisecond -- and she leans her arms on the table while they wait. ] However, I have heard quite often that I am -- [ another thoughtful pause as she tries to recall the various ways nikola's hit on her over the years ] -- various versions of beautiful. Either way... I appreciate your tact. You have much more than the last person who tried.

[ she wants to offer something in return, but she isn't entirely certain what or how. it's been a long time since someone so effectively distracted her. she takes a deep breath, as much to steady herself as to provide a change of topic, and latches onto part of the reason they're here in the first place. ]

Être en votre compagnie est la meilleure façon que je peux penser à passer ma matinée. [ speaking french has always changed her tone ever so slightly. back during the war, her voice was a higher pitch than it is now and her french then made her sound like a young schoolgirl. now, her tone lightens, the weight of her voice releasing for just the smallest of times as she lets go of some of the issues she deals with on a daily basis. ] Je vous remercie d'avoir accepté de me rencontrer.

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:: action
[info]tea_earlgreyhot
2013-08-13 09:22 am UTC (link)
[ Jean-Luc always prides himself on noticing the little things in his work, in the Universe around him. The one area of life in which he often comes up lacking is in the day-to-day interactions of the people he knows. He understands them, of course. He understands their needs, their wants, what makes them unique, what makes them tick. But he often overlooks the nuances of a person, small things that they do that make them who they are. Which is why it surprises him when he catches that smile, and knowing that he had a part in putting it there, is able to appreciate it in full. He finds that he enjoys that smile and wants to be the cause of it again. ]

You’ll find I have tact in spades, Doctor. Unless pushed beyond a certain point.

[ And speaking of smiles, he can’t help the smile that spreads over his own lips when she slips back into her French. It also serves as a reminder of her questions from earlier. ] C'est mon plaisir, bien sûr. Je me trouve curieux sur vos propres curiosités. Est la variété des langues différentes, un passe-temps de la vôtre, ou quelque chose de plus?

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:: action
[info]lifelines
2013-08-13 10:55 am UTC (link)
[ he may well get his wish. helen is a very expressive person when she wants to be, or when she's not paying attention, and that little smile grows in fondness as she listens. she's finding that she rather enjoys seeing him smile and if a similar expression from her brings it out, then that's all the more reason to offer him a smile of her own. ]

I shall have to remember that for the future.

[ her eyebrows and the corners of her lips quirk upwards in a teasing smirk but she doesn't sit back in her seat, still leaning her weight on her arms for the moment. considering she's dealt with nikola over the decades and listened to all the ways in which he appreciates her looks that would have a different woman of her time shrieking about indecency, this change is... unexpected. a part of her would never admit that she appreciated, perhaps even liked, nikola's passes at her, but jean-luc's tactful observations are appreciated in a different manner. it's as though he were the one who had grown up in her era and was accustomed to quiet appreciation of the woman he fancies.

not that she expects he fancies her in any fashion. and she certainly doesn't fancy him. not at all. ]

J'ai toujours été intéressé dans différentes langues. Mon père m'a appris latin et le français quand j'étais très jeune. Latin était sa langue préférée et française a été extrêmement utile à notre époque. Lorsque j'ai repris le sanctuaire et j'ai commencé à le voir comme un projet global, j'ai décidé que ce serait une bonne idée d'apprendre les langues des pays dans lesquels nous pourrions vouloir établir un sanctuaire. Au fil des décennies, j'ai fait exactement cela.

[ she pauses for a moment to consider her life and how much of it she wants to tell him, particularly in an open space like this. on the one hand, she has no reason not to trust him, but on the other there are some things that are difficult to talk about, even now. beyond that, they're speaking a language that isn't the common tongue here. the possibility of being overheard and understood is much more slim. ]

J'ai aussi visité d'autres pays pour une raison autre que d'établir un sanctuaire et j'ai pensé que c'était une bonne idée d'apprendre au moins une petite quantité de la langue avant mon arrivée. Bien sûr, mon français est venu plus pratique que la capacité de James à parler allemand. [ for a moment, amusement flashes over her features and she almost feels as though she were ninety-five again, teasing james for being unable to trick the german officers in normandy. she never did let him live that down. and the memory only serves to remind her just how much she misses him.

but she fights it, locks that emotion up as she ducks her head, and throws away the key. james is a part of her past. jean-luc is her present and he's the one she offers the smile to, one devoid entirely of the sorrow in her heart. this is supposed to be a morning of enjoyment and good conversation. she doesn't want to ruin that. ]

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:: action
[info]tea_earlgreyhot
2013-08-13 02:58 pm UTC (link)
[ He listens carefully, enjoying learning more about her. The look on his face is intent and curious. He nods his understanding here and there. He finds himself curious about her father, wondering if he had the gift of prolonged life as well. But then she also spoke of him in the past tense, and he didn't want to bring a sour note to the conversation by asking directly at that point rather than steering in that direction and leaving an opening for her to further elaborate. ]

Un voyageur du monde, êtes-vous? C'est un luxe pour voir ce qui se trouve au-delà de l'horizon comme beaucoup semblent donc contentés de s'enraciner et existent dans leur propre petit lopin de terre dans leur propre coin de l'univers. [ He thinks of his brother Robert, who had been so against Jean-Luc's dreams of space and beyond. No, Robert was very content in his life on the Vineyard. And while Jean-Luc knew that eventually such stagnation would drive him mad, there were times where he envied his brother and his life and family. ]

I avez un frère qui est tout à fait content de vivre à sa place dans sa vie dans de son petit monde that en quelque sorte si vibrant et plein en dépit de lui-même. Originel avez mentionné votre père, vous avez toute autre famille? Est ce James une relation de la vôtre?

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:: action
[info]lifelines
2013-08-13 03:50 pm UTC (link)
Une fois, j'ai eu la chance de mener une vie tranquille et j'ai presque pris. En regardant en arrière maintenant, je doute que j'aurais été heureux si j'avais. [ even so, a part of her would always mourn that loss.

though she could answer questions about her father, she isn't certain she wants to. because that would mean admitting she doesn't know what's happened to him. not directly. she saw the devastation to praxis, knew where he should have been at the time of the explosion. and the sight of his cane lying broken among the rubble of the once-great city was evidence enough for her. as far as she knew, her father had died, but admitting that would be opening the door to adam worth's time travel and the 113 years she had lived twice, 113 years during which she could have changed his fate and that of so many others. she hadn't. and now she has to live with that knowledge.

she ducks her head, pursing her lips as she tries to appear nervous and not as though she's fighting back a wave of emotion she would rather not face. when she finally looks back up at jean-luc, her eyes are very faintly shining. with tears or with interest might be hard to say.

whatever the case, for a short moment, she's struggling to hold herself together. ]

Je n'ai pas de sang gauche de famille. [ which says enough about her father as it is. no blood family since gregory and ashley died. she had james up until he died as well. and how to explain him? by now, her expression has stilled, her control once more in place. ] James était très important pour moi. Il était un de mes collègues d'Oxford, 1886. Près de la tour du siècle, nous sommes devenus plus que cela. Il m'a aidé à traverser l'une des périodes les plus difficiles de ma vie et depuis plusieurs décennies plus tard, il a vécu au Sanctuaire avec moi. Lui et moi étions très proches. [ this also begs the question of whether or not jean-luc can figure out that they were more than just friends. james had been her lover for several decades and she misses both that and his companionship. but their separation had been her decision. now he's gone and she won't allow herself to dwell in regret. he's just another one of the many people she's lost over her long life, another one she could have saved and didn't. ]

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:: action
[info]tea_earlgreyhot
2013-08-14 05:41 pm UTC (link)
Comme je l'ai, I suis certain originel ont eu une vie riche en chemin en dépit de cette décision. [ They were so much alike in so many ways and they didn't even know it. Nevertheless, from what he does know of Helen, he isn't surprised to hear that she chose a career over a quiet life just as he had. And he knows that with such a decision comes those regrets that pop up here and there along the way over such a decision. ]

[ It's difficult for him to ascertain precisely what that change in her expression means. It feels mixed, perhaps a little off. Although he can't quite read what precisely is off about it. Some of that abnormality could be explained in the comment about having no family left. Jean-Luc nods his understanding, glad when she seems to be comfortable in her own skin again with the topic of this... James. His brows lift slightly at the year, once again both stunned and impressed by the amount of history she has played witness to.

To those such as himself and Helen, 'quite close' speaks volumes all on its own. He understands what it means. He sits up straighter when a bot arrives with their tea. And he waits for it to leave once again before speaking. ] Compris. Il ressemble beaucoup à une personne, j'aurais aimé avoir rencontré.

[ He sits back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other and hands folded together over his knee. ] Et I ont constaté que, souvent, la famille que nous choisissons peut être tout aussi près que la famille nous sommes nés avec. Ce n'est pas une conclusion que je suis venu à facilement et rapidement, que dans ces dernières années. Mais c'est néanmoins, vérité.

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:: action
[info]lifelines
2013-08-14 07:17 pm UTC (link)
J'ai certainement vécu une vie assez longue. Plus long que n'importe quel être humain ne devrait jamais vivre.

[ she's glad their topic of conversation is wavering away from blood family as she would hate to have to halt their meeting in its tracks. she isn't ready for that discussion, can't admit to her stint of time travel. not yet. that brings back too many memories and at this point, if she's to be honest with herself, she's afraid of what he might think of her, to know she would go back in time and not save the people who mattered to her. how could she even think to explain that to someone she was growing fond of now, that if it came down to him or the rest of the world, she would choose the world?

the bot coming with their tea at least provides a distraction, something she needs, and though she knows it's piping hot, she wraps her hands around the cup. she needs it to focus on the good. ]

Je sais que vous l'auriez souhaité. Honnêtement ... tu me rappelles de lui.[ but for now, that's all she wants to say about it. in a way, she's admitting that she sees a lot of james in jean-luc, that with time, she might even come to care for him as she once did james.

she lifts her cup to blow on it a little bit to cool it off, a small smile crossing her face as she focuses on her tea. ] Je le crois. Dois-je vous parler de ma famille Sanctuary? Pourriez-vous également me dire la vôtre. [ at least in and as much as he is willing to share with her. she's willing to explain about her sanctuary family, the old city sanctuary, but not ashley's part in that family. if she's lucky, she'll be able to avoid that. if not... then jean-luc would see what helen's denial was like. ]

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:: action
[info]tea_earlgreyhot
2013-08-18 11:23 am UTC (link)
[ Her comment about long life makes him think about what it would be like to live such a life. He supposes that the most difficult part for any person who lives among humans would be their shortness of life. He, of course, had witnessed much death, too much, perhaps, some more personal to him than others. In some instances he had even played a hand, however unintentional, in mass murder. But in each instance, that loss of life was profound in some way. After so many years it could weigh heavy, he knew this. But could only imagine the weight on someone with as many years as her. ]

[ He takes the comment about his and James’s similarities as the compliment it was obviously intended to be, and even gives her a slight nod of gratitude for the comparison. ] Bien sûr. J'ai un frère aîné, Robert, qui vit et travaille la vigne de notre famille de Lebarre avec sa femme et son fils. Il est ma famille. Et au cours des années, j'ai grandi peut-être trop friand de la compagnie de mon équipage à bord de l'Enterprise. Il est mon copilote, William Riker, mariée à peine mon conseiller de navires, Deanna Troi. Deanna, qui est moitié homme et moitié Betazed. Données et Geordi sont ici dans la prison avec moi, ainsi que sept des dont j'ai seulement lu des avant de rencontrer ici. Geordi est mon chef mécanicien. Worf, un Klingon, est mon chef de la sécurité. Et nos navires, médecin chef, Beverly Crusher. Un autre, que je considère la famille, est Guinan, un El-mouha dont la connaissance de l'univers et les gens en général est bien au-delà de tous ceux que j'ai jamais connu.

[ He offers her a small, fond grin once he’s spoken of his crew. ] Nous avons tout à fait le groupe éclectique de gens.

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:: action
[info]lifelines
2013-08-18 12:08 pm UTC (link)
[ if he can figure out what she means by living so long a life, he can understand why she might think of her longevity as more curse and less gift. somehow, just by meeting his gaze and recalling what she knows of him already, she has a feeling he might be the one person in this prison, perhaps in her entire life, who might. perhaps he can understand why the various decisions she's made over the centuries lean heavily on her, why having to decide who lives and who dies eats at her, why having to doom the entire town of carentan weighs as harshly on her mind as losing ashley to the cabal. or nearly as harshly. nothing would ever quite compare to her daughter's death, but the choice that had been offered to her during ashley's situation had been more or less the same one she faced when she and will realized what their attempt to break the bubble would do to the town. in both situations, she had chosen to sacrifice the few for the many. she'd had no other choice, but even that knowledge and belief would never grant her peace from her own mind.

she wonders vaguely if jean-luc has that problem and hopes he never will. ]

Ils sonnent comme s'ils étaient tous des gens brillants. [ and she means that. if they're his "crew," his family, then she knows they must be good people. she smiles gently and finally sips her tea as she decides how to describe her old city sanctuary family. ]

Ma famille d'Sanctuary est tout aussi éclectique. Henry J'ai soulevé depuis qu'il était enfant. Je l'ai trouvé dans le désert, et plutôt que de le laisser grandir comme ça, je l'ai ramené chez moi avec l'espoir qu'un jour il apprendre à accepter qui et ce qu'il est. [ she pauses for a moment, realizing that she might need to explain about henry, and switches to english, as it's easier in this instance. ] He's what we call a HAP, a Hyper-Accelerated Protean life-form, one of the lycan clan. In more supernatural-based groups, they're known as werewolves, but as they certainly don't abide by the supernatural rules, we prefer the term "HAP."

Mon vieil ami, un Sasquatch qui préfère ne pas être connu par son vrai nom. J'ai sauvé sa vie il ya des décennies et il a refusé de partir, je lui ai donné une position sur mon personnel. Will, mon commandant en second, qui n'a rejoint mon équipe il ya quelques années. Kate était l'ajout le plus récent, mais elle a choisi de revenir sur les ruines de Praxis avec son fiancé. Rappelez-moi de vous parler de la Terre Creuse quelque temps. L'histoire est beaucoup trop long pour aujourd'hui.

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:: action
[info]tea_earlgreyhot
2013-08-18 05:18 pm UTC (link)
[ He had certainly been in life or death scenarios where he had had to sacrifice the few for the many. And he was always the first to sacrifice himself if he could get past the objections of his First Officer. Will Riker had always been both infuriatingly and endearingly protective of him. And as much as aggravating as it had oftentimes been, he would have had it no other way. ]

[ As he listens to her speak of her people, he thinks over their choice in people. He'd of course had a hand in selecting his bridge crew. And then there had just been some, such as Guinan and Wesley who had found him. ] Peut-être, médecin Magnus, nous entourons avec un groupe diversifié de personnes parce que nous aimons à apprendre. Vous me paraissent comme celui qui est, comme moi, jamais un étudiant de l'univers et ceux qui l'habitent.

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:: action
[info]lifelines
2013-08-18 06:51 pm UTC (link)
[ her smile warms even more at that, taking small comfort at his words, even as she knows she shouldn't. his companionship is far too great for her, and she too fond of his company, but she can't help it. somehow he has endeared himself to her and that will not change easily. ]

Je serais tout à fait d'accord. Et ils ont contribué à façonner ce que nous sommes, pour le meilleur ou pour le pire. D'une certaine manière, je pense la même chose sera vraie de notre temps ici. Il a certainement pour moi déjà.

[ he's changed her, rebekah has changed her. she may find it slightly easier to trust -- though only slightly, given how hesitant she is to talk about certain topics even now with jean-luc -- and because of that, she's realizing that in her short time here, she's adjusting to not having the pressures of running the sanctuary network here. maybe she can get used to it, relax a little more until she finds a way to return.

part of her files that away for later thought and part of her pushes it well away so she wouldn't ponder it later.

in the middle of her thoughts, she switches back to english, mostly for her own comfort, but also because she wants to offer something in her native language, so he can be sure she means it. ]

It does occur to me, however... if you and I are to enjoy each other's company again, and I would be remiss if I didn't admit I would like that... [ possibly too much, if that slight coloring of her cheekbones is any indication ] Perhaps, in time, we could use slightly less formal terms. If you'd like, you may call me Helen. Or if that's too informal, my staff tends to call me by my surname, Magnus.

[ it's rare that she even has to ask. there are so few people who actually do call her by her given name back home that it's a little strange now to offer it. most people use the full title or simply her surname, but she suspects that jean-luc deserves to at least know that he is on an equal plain with her. she doesn't see herself as residing over him on the chain of command. that's one of the realizations that's been giving her so much trouble lately, but that is, again, another thought for another day. ]

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:: action
[info]tea_earlgreyhot
2013-08-21 09:50 am UTC (link)
[ He decides that he likes that warm smile best of all and is glad he had a part of putting it there. While he had already been resolved to do the best with what he could here, and take this stay for what it was, a chance to learn until their inevitable escape, Helen had certainly made the stay more interesting for him, and perhaps more enjoyable as well, as much as he truly did enjoy her company. ]

We've the opportunity to study both past and future, differing worlds and universes. I find the prospect somewhat exciting in spite of the circumstances in which it was presented.

[ Unfortunately, Jean-Luc has always fell back on formalities. It always took him awhile to drop them and become more personal with someone. Relaxing was not his strong suit in any respects, although in recent years he was getting better at it. ] Of course, Doctor... Helen. [ He offers a small smile, and for the first time might seem just a smidge awkward in his otherwise confident demeanor. But he likes the way her name feels on his lips, so he says it again, this time without the awkward. ] Helen. You will forgive a gentleman should he have a tendency to fall back on formalities from time to time, I hope?

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[info]lifelines
2013-08-21 10:47 am UTC (link)
I quite agree. If you'd ever like to discuss anything from 1850 until 2011, I could give you a very accurate description of history.

[ she's aware that her words have now given him an age to work with, as well as a time period, but she doesn't mind. her age isn't any secret anymore, though she is contemplating the eventuality of telling him her true age.

she finds that his slight awkwardness at the idea of dropping formalities with her is just as endearing as everything else, if not more so. it makes him a little more human and reminds her of so many people and things in her past. she decides then that, were it not for the lack of technology and the comforts she's certain his time period would have, he would have done very well in victorian england.

at his question, her smile broadens just a little bit more. ] What sort of Victorian woman would I be if I couldn't appreciate formalities and politeness? [ she's teasing him here, very obviously trying to turn what might be a little uncomfortable for him into something to ease the tension. ] In return, would you prefer that I still refer to you as Captain Picard? [ she just wants to be sure she doesn't call him something informal before he has given her permission. ]

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:: action
[info]tea_earlgreyhot
2013-08-21 11:18 am UTC (link)
[ Those dates do give him a time period, and he arches a brow. He leans forward to sip at his tea and stays there with his next statement. ] It might or might not surprise you to know that I'm something of an avocational archaeologist. I've always thought that if we ignore where we've come from, we most certainly cannot move forward in the best way possible. Our history is just as important as our evolution into the future.

[ He speaks most passionately about this topic, as he's passionately interested in it. He settles back in his seat and one index finger drums lightly against the side of his teacup, any nerves over his feelings, which are far too personal on the subject of Helen, are directed into that light tap. This is an offer he doesn't extend to many. ] And I would be remiss not to extend the same courtesy as you have to me. Please, you may call me Jean-Luc. I would like for you to do so.

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:: action
[info]lifelines
2013-08-21 01:27 pm UTC (link)
Of course. I quite agree. I assume not everyone in the future takes your standpoint on things, but it's good to know there are a few at least. All I have to offer is history and, as I have visited a great many countries and regions of the world for my work, I'd like to think I have a more rounded outlook on history itself.

[ just from what little they've exchanged so far, she has a feeling he might take her personal history far better than most. perhaps someday, she'll be more willing to go into details. for now, if he asks further about history, she'll stick to the broader facts.

either way, she finally drains her tea cup and smiles again as he gives that permission in return. she hadn't really expected it, knowing full well that she was the one to instigate a less formal feel to their interactions and that he might not be willing to follow her just yet. if he had told her he would be more comfortable with her calling him "captain," she would have gladly done so, but she finds she's liking it better to be on a first-name basis with someone she has become quite good friends with so quickly. ]

Very well, Jean-Luc. Merci. [ she gives his name a french accent, the tone lifting her voice as the language had earlier. her expression is warm and light, tinged with a fondness she can't hide. he's done something to her, changed her, and likely has no idea. perhaps someday she'll tell him that as well, once she's given him a better idea of the woman she truly is. for now, she folds her hands on the table and returns to resting her weight on her arms. ]

As always, it has been an absolute pleasure speaking with you.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

:: action - [info]tea_earlgreyhot, 2013-08-24 11:15 am UTC
:: action - [info]lifelines, 2013-08-24 11:38 am UTC
:: action - [info]tea_earlgreyhot, 2013-08-26 11:24 am UTC
:: action - [info]lifelines, 2013-08-26 12:47 pm UTC
:: action - [info]tea_earlgreyhot, 2013-08-29 09:33 am UTC

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