(no subject)

[timesbureaucrat]

On the top floors of this resort, in the conference rooms and penthouse suites, even now the politicians and diplomats are discussing whether or not they'd like to go gallivanting around our universes, and we aren't allowed even a cursory peep at what they're talking about, much less a formal seat at the table.

[Small grenade of political discontent lobbed, Narvin switches topic.]

Also, I want to make it known preemptively that yes, I am a technician and computer specialist, but no, I will not fix your personal computer, communicator, speeder, spawner, or whatever else you brought with you. I'm a researcher, not a common mechanic. [Actually, he might fix your computer, if he likes you. But Narvin doesn't like many people as a general rule. He also might offer to repair it if he thinks that you might have interesting files on your files that he might hack, but that's another matter.]

Comments

[tawarwaith]

[She winces, hoping not to have offended him.]

I'm sorry if my word were out of line. I sometimes speak without thinking.

[timesbureaucrat]

[He shakes off the thought.]

No, your words simply reminded me of something unpleasant. Nothing you could have known about.

[tawarwaith]

That was not my intent, I assure you.

[She really has no idea how to make things better now.]

[timesbureaucrat]

[He takes a deep breath. Part of him wants to snap back, lash out. But it wasn't her fault she stepped on a land mine, and he's become a bit better at calming himself in the last year.]

Forgive me for my reaction. You...hit upon a delicate personal matter. But I accept that you meant no offense and none is taken by me.

[tawarwaith]

[Having grown up with Thranduil, she was used to looking for the early warning signs that bespoke of a temper being held in check.]

That is a talent of mine, one I had hoped to grow out of here in this place.

[timesbureaucrat]

[Her words cool Narvin's ire considerably. He's been on the mouth end of saying just the wrong thing at the wrong moment a considerable number of times himself. And it was more the universe he was angry at than her anyway. She just had the misfortune of saying something that reminded him of his troubles.

So he chooses to take the conversation in an entirely new direction. Or at least in an apparently new direction.]

How old are you?

[It doesn't occur to him that in some cultures, this is a rude question.]