sixthiterationtexts | UN: Former Pilot

[Billy will definitely keep talking. He'll talk until Nida nods off, if he wants, honestly, warm tenor rambling about whatever crosses his mind, whatever he asks about. It's just that some things are harder to talk about than others. This isn't about his problems, his mistakes, but it's tough to talk about home without at least touching on them. Clubs, at least, are an easy place to start.]

Oh--uh, a lounge? It's a place with a bar and a big open space, people go to drink and listen to music, and dance. We used to go sometimes, places around here have what they call college nights where you can get in if you're over 18, even if you're not 21 yet. It's a lot of fun, if you like loud music and dancing, and I love dancing, so...yeah. That night wasn't a great time, but clubs are great.

[The cheer in his voice rings a little forced as he answers that other question, but he does at least answer it.]

Uh, no. No, I haven't been home since then. There's been a lot of stuff going on. The parasite that we were fighting, if I go home our families are in danger, and so are we, and I don't want that. So we're hanging out in space, and I'm learning to use my magic better so we can beat it when we go back home. We did come back to Earth for a little while, but that's when my brother's friend David showed up and told us Tommy had been kidnapped, so we've been out looking for him, instead.

I'll go home eventually. When I can fight it. Until then, I just have to keep leveling up, I guess, and space is a really good place to do that. There's always some new weird challenge.

[Well, now he has a rough age range for the voice on the other side of the line. Another detail filed away. Billy, somewhere between 18 and 20, nice voice. Was probably involved in a romantic or friendly relationship with someone named Teddy and that went sideways somehow. Good to keep it all in line. But eh does sit up a bit straighter at the 'dancing' part.]

And now I've just got more questions. One, you have a brother? Two, what sort of magic? And three, this one is the most important, okay?

Is it only formal dancing at these clubs, or... well, less waltzes and the like.

[Billy laughs at the last question, the way it's phrased, a delighted sound and definitely not mean.]

I guess if it's the most important, I have to start there, right? It's usually a lot more informal dancing at a club, I sent think I've ever seen anyone waltz at one, though believe me, if they did I would be so there. There are very few things hotter than a guy who knows how to dance, I mean actually dance. But uh, yeah. It's more just moving to the music, or moving with the person you're dancing with. Whatever you're feeling, you know? Why, do you like dancing?

[He should at least try to answer the rest, even if he's more interested in the other part, but at least the warmth and animation linger in his voice.]

Yeah, I've got a brother. Three, actually. I told you about the two younger ones before, the bedtime stories? Matthew is nine and Lucas is seven. Tommy is my twin. He's actually here, too, apparently when he got grabbed by this shadow thing, it brought him here. He's actually asleep next door, which is why I'm kind of keeping it down right now. And my magic--it's sort of complicated. I can try and explain, if you want. Tommy's kind of part of that story, too.

[And maybe he should add in 'gay or bi' to the list.]

If it's his story too, then it's okay to leave that off, just to be polite. Especially since you can tell me about dancing in your world.

Yes, I like dancing. No, I haven't had much experience with it in a less formalized sense. Part of being trained where I was meant being trained as a gentleman. Which means I know all sorts of ballroom style dances. Anything else I sorta just... had to figure out myself. Most dancing I get to enjoy is at more formal things.

Well, anytime you feel like dancing, let me know, I am always happy to practice.

[The offer is friendly and joking, but one hundred percent genuine. Not that they're likely to have time for it here, but it's nice to think about, getting to dance again.]

I took ballroom lessons as a kid. My parents always knew I loved singing and dancing, I'd watch this tape we had of My Fair Lady over and over and copy the moves, so they put me in classes when I was pretty little. I did other kinds of dance when I got older--modern, mostly, but I did a year of tap and a couple of ballet, but I love ballroom. It can be really fun figuring out other kinds, though. It's just all about the music and how it makes you want to move, you know?

I don't think there's any way to play music in the village, but it might be fun to try and find one.

[Wow, sounds like his new friend has a bit that Nida could learn from him.]

I'm aware of tap dancing. I know one of the SeeDs I work with had that experience. What is modern dancing about? I'm not familiar with it. I mean, I can waltz, tango, foxtrot, things like that. It's gentlemanly. And what people do at big social parties.

[Where he either got to dance or got to watch.]

Maybe we'll have to find an excuse for me to try learning.

Hey, that's definitely something to be proud of. Gentlemanly talents like waltzing, definitely underrated. At least where I'm from. Not that many big social parties that involve a ballroom.

Modern dance is...do you know ballet at all? Modern dance started as kind of the anti-ballet. Ballet is about strict forms and very precise movements, like there are accepted positions and it's very very...regimented, I guess? Modern dance is about breaking boundaries, pushing the limits of the human body. You're expressing yourself with your movements. Everything's about emotion and sharing that emotion with the audience. I really like that part of it.

You don't have to try modern dance or anything, but I can definitely find an excuse for you to learn something new. It's important to have hobbies, I hear. Unwind sometimes.

I'm familiar with the concept, but never seen it.

Hobbies? What exactly are those? Are those things that don't involve weapons training or learning how to fly things? There is something like that? Oh wow!

[Oh dear, honest sarcasm.]

[The sudden appearance of sarcasm is unexpected but entirely delightful, and there's a laugh in Billy's voice he can't quite suppress, even as he tries to keep playing it straight (hah).]

I know, it's a crazy idea, right?? I totally didn't believe in them at first, thought they had to be fictional. But I swear to you, hand to God, they are 100% real. I can show you.

[Too bad Billy doesn't say that. Because frankly Nida would love to say 'you can't play it straight if you never were.']

I'd like that. In fact, it would probably be good for my mental health to have one of these 'Hobbies.' Is that how you even pronounce it? I'm just miming you.

[He wouldn't even be sure what to do with that, but he'd definitely appreciate it. Maybe wake up Tommy with his laughing, honestly. There's always other times.]

It definitely would be. And yeah, you almost got it. The 'o' is a short sound, here, like this. Hob-bies.

[He's definitely laughing now.]

Also known in some universes as recreational activities. Like dancing. Or embroidery. Or board games. Magic tricks, the non-magic kind. I used to be super into those when I was a kid. We should try a few of them out, make sure we find you a good one.

[Honestly, after the things Nida's told Billy and the things Billy's implied himself, well, they could both use a laugh.]

And here I would have thought dancing was business, given it was something I was trained in. I mean...

Well, in my world the closest I got to recreational was card games. Triple Triad. Which of course I don't have here and I don't have the art skills or supplies to replicate. But yeah, I wouldn't mind trying out some of these Hoob-bies of yours.

It's only business if you're doing it for business. You might have learned it for work, but if we dance, it's going to be just for fun.

[There's a mock sternness to the words, but the smile is still there underneath it.]

Card games are cool. I'm not really an artist, but maybe we can figure something out using a different kind of deck? I know people have cards here.

[It's worth a shot, anyway.]

So, we should hang out sometime. Try out some 'hoob-bies' together. I know there's a lot of work that needs to be done before winter, but you still gotta take a break occasionally, right?

I suppose it depends on the deck. If it's one of those decks with 52 cards, four suits and what not, it's not enough cards to work with. But I'll figure something out.

[Hang out? That's... that's an idea. It's almost strange to think about interactions beyond talking like this. The guy is a stranger and yet...]

Yeah. We should. I can probably fit you into my busy schedule of walking around in circles and offending wood spirits or whatever.

Hmm. Yeah, the ones I've seen are those decks. Bummer. But maybe someone will have some ideas.

[Maybe it is a little strange, and they are sort of strangers, but then they've spent a good bit of time already talking about their worlds, where they're from, what they do. It's a place to start, at least, and Billy's grin is audible.]

I don't know, sounds like you're booked solid. I wouldn't wanna come between you and your wood chopping regimen or communing with nature or anything.

Don't forget the working out to make sure that I'm ready for when I can finally get a staff back in my hands. I'm not going to lose my fighting trim just to commune with nature.

[Because that's a fun thing too, keeping yourself fit. Which reminds him he needs to go into the woods to look for nice saplings for practice staffs.]

Nah, workouts are definitely important. You fight with a staff? [A little perk of interest, there.] I used one for a little while. I mean, I wasn't really trained or anything, and it was more of a focus for my magic after a while, but...

[But hey, still. It's a thing maybe he could learn from Nida.]

[Well that was unexpected. Most people were... well, even where he was from they could be dismissive of Nida's weapons of choice. Didn't matter that he was versatile and could improvise weapons better. But yeah, there's a smile in his voice too.]

I'm a polearm specialist, qualified in training in it too. If you want I could help you learn a bit. See, wouldn't even have to mess up my schedule for that.

Oh, but there is one disadvantage. I mean, you've got to be able to handle spending time around a sometimes half-dressed guy who knows his way around a shaft.

Yeah, that would be cool, I'd love to--

[Okay. The rest of that sentence does catch him off-guard. He isn't a perv, honest to god, but some things just...it's probably unintentional, right? Definitely not the kind of joke he thinks it is. Right. So there's just a slight hiccup before he answers, a little laugh in his voice.]

I mean, that sounds pretty terrible, but uh, I think I could handle it.

[Well, the hesitation answers the earlier question mark for Nida. Definitely somewhere on the scale.]

I'm sure you could. Once I actually get something made In the mean time, if you're ever interested, the place to start tends to be with basic physical workouts. Working on stances, on strengthening the core and arms, things that can be started early and as a lovely coincidence, tend to leave you healthier.

And if you don't have that much stamina, tired at the end of the day. Can help with the nightmares.

[Very far towards one end of that scale, honestly, it's not going to take him very long to figure that out once they actually hang out. But for now, there's actually some warmth in Billy's voice, an appreciation for the offer.]

I'm definitely interested. My stamina's okay, but honestly anything that might help with the nightmares would be a big bonus.

[Because they suck, and he hasn't had one yet here maybe, but that's not a situation that's gonna last forever.]

We could trade. I'll teach you some new dancing, and you can teach me your way of fighting?

Well, that sounds like a deal. We'll need to figure out a good time for that. And we'll not go overboard like my training was and do multiple sessions in a day. Just tell me when is good for you and we'll see if we can't find a place. Maybe that Danny guy would let me use some space there.

Right now I pretty much just practice in my basement so as to not bother my roommates.

Yeah, I mean you've got that busy schedule to work around. I'm actually pretty flexible. I mean--most of my days are either spent in the library cramming foraging info into my brain, or working on winter prep with Frank and Kamala, or with my brother at home. So, basically any time you wanna call me.

[A yawn catches him by surprise, judging by the noise from the other end and the faintly questioning sound at the end of it.]

Man, here you are asking people to help you get to sleep, and I'm just keeping you up half the night. I guess I got distracted.

[Now Nida was trying not to chuckle at word choice. Flexible, huh? But his amusement slacked off at the yawn. Probably better to let the guy rest.]

Actually, it sounds like I'm better at wearing you out. Perhaps you should get some sleep, Billy. I don't want to get in trouble with your brother for keeping you up late. I would be considered a bad influence then. It just wouldn't be right.

We can make plans another time. I'm a patient sort of guy like that.

Hey, I'll have you know I have pulled plenty of all-nighters in my day. I mean, usually playing online games, but still. [There's no small amount of rue in his voice, though.] I just haven't been sleeping all that well lately. It's going around. I guess you've got a pretty soothing voice to listen to.

I could always try again with that bedtime story sometime. If you want?

UN: Former Pilot | Open Text

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