[ At his hand, in the place where his glove has been punctured, the skin beneath has already shifted- abandoned soft and mutable textures for the rigid and unyielding skeleton that has so often covered his face. Warriorhead has noticed this with the same abject awareness that one might notice that the tails of their winter scarf have moved.
His attention instead is for the curious change to Noh-Varr's voice. This is not a pitch that he is familiar with. It is- perhaps concerned. Or troubled. Disapproving. For a creature accustomed to dealing in the absence of such inflection, the nuances continue to be a mystery. ]
Yes.
[ It is a simple answer. For anyone else perhaps, Warriorhead would have left it at that. ] But I have already healed. I can easily overlook you now, if you like.
[ His eyes narrow, and though Warrior can't see it, he can probably sense the remains of wariness that stick to Noh-Varr's brain. Warriorhead is doing that talking-without-saying thing he's so fond of, and Noh-Varr knows he's going to have to be more specific in asking for clarification. But first: ]
Thank you. I would like.
[ It's a strange gap between what he expects and what Warriorhead gives him. He's only just getting a taste for what his instructor is capable of, and things that seem utterly impossible to him are apparently mundane. What had Warriorhead told him? 'I prefer to make the unattainable attainable'? ]
Is this...permanent? How exactly have you become able to 'overlook' me?
[ Perhaps echoing his uncertainty, his uniform warps and plays over the tips of his fingers, alternately exposing and then covering the bare skin. ]
[ The alternating state of his fingers appears to be of particular interest to Warriorhead, at least, so far as the particular angle of his helmet might lead one to believe. It is in his nature to presume that behavior is not accidental, but he does not postulate on the cause aloud. ]
It will last until I take your sample again.
[ This particular answer seems to be the greatest concern, and as such it is the one he most readily provides. It is the second query that creates the lapse of silence. Warriorhead is not accustomed to explaining himself. ]
I shattered the neural bay responsible for recognizing your unique signature. It is... [ His head tilts faintly. How should he compare this? ] unlearning the constellations. All stars appear the same.
[ He's never had his life signs compared to stars before. The image is striking. Doubtlessly the intent, but it carves a smile out of his face nonetheless. Noh-Varr thinks on the use of the word 'sample'. Take it again, Warriorhead said. Through touch. He considers when Warriorhead would have touched him--ah. ]
I see. After our date.
[ His hand moves up to the space just over his heart. His uniform doesn't shift in response, this time. He doesn't quite frown, but it makes him thoughtful. That had been a 'sample'. Warriorhead had neglected to mention that at the time.
So in the absence of the information he'd gathered through that touch, Warriorhead had now lost the capacity to 'recognize' him, the Kree's particular signatures of energy and impulse becoming as anonymous as anyone else's. Interesting. He could fail to offer his impulses again, armed with this knowledge. Honestly, the idea would have been appealing a few months ago, but right now--it chafes with his desire to be seen and acknowledged. especially by this person. Still, this independance is valuable. He'll treasure it. In exchange: ]
I have been detained, before. [ First Midas, intending to add him to his collection, and then by SHIELD, later SWORD, placing him in the Cube. ] I escaped each time, but was rapidly hunted down. [ He crushed both of his keepers, and that feeling of triumph wells up in him now when he speaks of those memories. ] As a result, I dislike feeling tracked. [ A beat. ] That said--the evil I know is always better than the one I don't.
[ Meaning, he'd rather live being tracked, knowing Warriorhead is the one doing it, than live being watched by unknown forces. The CDC watches him, but it is ignorable in the same way Osborn's security cameras are. He isn't looking for trouble, he keeps his mind to himself. The CDC has bigger fish to fry. Warriorhead is a known quantity. Having him over Noh-Varr's shoulder, so to speak, could prove useful, in its way. Still, he vacillates. He needs time to think. ]
[ Is is a curious position that they share, so far as Warriorhead is concerned. It is his nature to allow matters to go unsaid and unelaborated upon. There is, he has found, a degree of risk associated with details. He has a preference for remaining vague and unformed, a state that is contrary to all that his species has held in esteem. Perhaps he is simply out of practice. Perhaps this adjustment was not one he had intended to make again.
The point is moot.
Warriorhead clarifies when he is not required to do so. In the grand scheme of things, it can only be called a choice. Much like the choice that brings Noh-Varr to share notes of his personal history. This too is not a requirement, but instead, a slow construction of expectations for their arrangement.
The recruit speaks of possibilities. He explains his stance and creates a small allowance for Warriorhead to be a theoretical exception- without quite bridging that gap. He is hesitating. Warriorhead will gain nothing by forcing such an exchange, and he finds the thought distasteful. ]
I will not take from you again unless you ask of me first.
[ The words read as a statement of fact might, and to the Instructor, it is precisely that. Warriorhead will wait for his request not because he is noble, but because he wishes to be desired. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
unfavoured
no subject
His attention instead is for the curious change to Noh-Varr's voice. This is not a pitch that he is familiar with. It is- perhaps concerned. Or troubled. Disapproving. For a creature accustomed to dealing in the absence of such inflection, the nuances continue to be a mystery. ]
Yes.
[ It is a simple answer. For anyone else perhaps, Warriorhead would have left it at that. ] But I have already healed. I can easily overlook you now, if you like.
no subject
Thank you. I would like.
[ It's a strange gap between what he expects and what Warriorhead gives him. He's only just getting a taste for what his instructor is capable of, and things that seem utterly impossible to him are apparently mundane. What had Warriorhead told him? 'I prefer to make the unattainable attainable'? ]
Is this...permanent? How exactly have you become able to 'overlook' me?
[ Perhaps echoing his uncertainty, his uniform warps and plays over the tips of his fingers, alternately exposing and then covering the bare skin. ]
no subject
It will last until I take your sample again.
[ This particular answer seems to be the greatest concern, and as such it is the one he most readily provides. It is the second query that creates the lapse of silence. Warriorhead is not accustomed to explaining himself. ]
I shattered the neural bay responsible for recognizing your unique signature. It is... [ His head tilts faintly. How should he compare this? ] unlearning the constellations. All stars appear the same.
no subject
I see. After our date.
[ His hand moves up to the space just over his heart. His uniform doesn't shift in response, this time. He doesn't quite frown, but it makes him thoughtful. That had been a 'sample'. Warriorhead had neglected to mention that at the time.
So in the absence of the information he'd gathered through that touch, Warriorhead had now lost the capacity to 'recognize' him, the Kree's particular signatures of energy and impulse becoming as anonymous as anyone else's. Interesting. He could fail to offer his impulses again, armed with this knowledge. Honestly, the idea would have been appealing a few months ago, but right now--it chafes with his desire to be seen and acknowledged. especially by this person. Still, this independance is valuable. He'll treasure it. In exchange: ]
I have been detained, before. [ First Midas, intending to add him to his collection, and then by SHIELD, later SWORD, placing him in the Cube. ] I escaped each time, but was rapidly hunted down. [ He crushed both of his keepers, and that feeling of triumph wells up in him now when he speaks of those memories. ] As a result, I dislike feeling tracked. [ A beat. ] That said--the evil I know is always better than the one I don't.
[ Meaning, he'd rather live being tracked, knowing Warriorhead is the one doing it, than live being watched by unknown forces. The CDC watches him, but it is ignorable in the same way Osborn's security cameras are. He isn't looking for trouble, he keeps his mind to himself. The CDC has bigger fish to fry. Warriorhead is a known quantity. Having him over Noh-Varr's shoulder, so to speak, could prove useful, in its way. Still, he vacillates. He needs time to think. ]
no subject
[ Is is a curious position that they share, so far as Warriorhead is concerned. It is his nature to allow matters to go unsaid and unelaborated upon. There is, he has found, a degree of risk associated with details. He has a preference for remaining vague and unformed, a state that is contrary to all that his species has held in esteem. Perhaps he is simply out of practice. Perhaps this adjustment was not one he had intended to make again.
The point is moot.
Warriorhead clarifies when he is not required to do so. In the grand scheme of things, it can only be called a choice. Much like the choice that brings Noh-Varr to share notes of his personal history. This too is not a requirement, but instead, a slow construction of expectations for their arrangement.
The recruit speaks of possibilities. He explains his stance and creates a small allowance for Warriorhead to be a theoretical exception- without quite bridging that gap. He is hesitating. Warriorhead will gain nothing by forcing such an exchange, and he finds the thought distasteful. ]
I will not take from you again unless you ask of me first.
[ The words read as a statement of fact might, and to the Instructor, it is precisely that. Warriorhead will wait for his request not because he is noble, but because he wishes to be desired. ]