riverviewlogs | introductory mingle: CARNIVALE

Illya is still very awkward when it comes to actually talking about it so it’s probably a good thing she doesn’t press it. Though to be honest Re-L’s… laid back and seemingly non-judgemental attitude is helping him feel more at ease talking about it.

“It’d be hard to find someone you can trust this much.” He agrees, because that would also be a big issue for him. Especially if he was to be tied up- but that’s honestly part of the fun of it, for him. The frustration, and the level of trust implied.

“And again, there's something for everyone I suppose. To me sex is supposed to be private, not like this at all. But it all seems to be consensual, so I just look away if something bothers me.

By not-sexualized, do you mean sex was not talked about?”

"Being such new arrivals, and all.. " That's not to say that, eventually, they may not have the sort of trust with someone to allow them that luxury, but, for now... For now Re-L likes her mobility, thanks very much.

Re-L nods as he says there's something for everyone - he's not wrong in that, even if she doesn't get most of it. But, really, just because she didn't find appeal in it didn't make it all that repulsive. She just.. doesn't pay attention if it doesn't ring any bells for her, since ignoring and moving along is a well practiced habit to any fellow citizen of Romdeau Dome.

"No. Well, yes, but no." She realizes that's confusing, and sort of.. takes a moment to align her thoughts before continuing. "Where I'm from, emotions were considered unnecessary. Things were practical. Humans were create to fit certain needed roles in the dome, if you chose you could be married to those in your social strata, regardless of the gender of the other person. None of it really matters when you're given children by the government, anyway.

Along with that, bodies were... bodies. Nudity wasn't sexual by virtue of the fact that no one was meant to feel anything, if that makes sense."

Yes, Illya, it is very depressing.

“It doesn’t exactly make sense, but I understand what you mean.”

It probably sounds less depressing to Illya than it does to most people, since that was kind of what the KGB was training its agents to achieve in a way. Or at least, agents like Illya. He wonders how a society like Re-L’s managed to achieve it.

“You said ‘meant to’.” He points out, because that’s definitely not the same thing as saying they didn’t. He knows some people just don’t feel any sexual urges at all, but he also knows it’d be extremely annoying to try pretend not to feel them at all when he does. He’d been considering the possibility that people in Re-L’s world were simply different biologically but the way she worded it makes him think that’s not all of it.

“What do you actually feel? Is there anything you’re curious about trying?”

Many, many generations of pure brain washing, as best she could assume. In a literal manner, she came in at the end of things, and considering how history at that point had already been contorted in Donov Mayer's favor several times in her own history - she's not quite sure what is fact or fiction.

"There are always outliers." Raul Creed, Daedalus Yumeno, herself. Granted, they'd all come together in one grad storm of discord in a place that was meant to run day to day without any questions directed toward the status quo. Her creation and the conglomeration of both her Doctor and Raul had made something of a perfect storm, she thinks. Too many dissonant chords going at once in a hither too perfect symphony of work. Still, she feels it discourteous to not point out, at least -

"I was always never a perfect fellow citizen, though. Maybe because the woman I was cloned from wasn't a fellow citizen at all. I can't speak for others." The fact that she'd, technically, been stolen from Mosk? Had been a hell of a realization.

"Most things I'm curious about trying I just.. do." She shrugs black clad shoulders with a sort of attempt at a look that says she's apologetic, but.. she's clearly not. She has a way with going out and getting things she wants, and always had from a young age. Being away from home had done nothing to repress that.

"Why so curious? Are you hoping I'll let you tie me up?"

The corners of Illya’s lips twitch upwards into a small smile. He considers teasing her for a moment, saying something like ‘Why, you’d like to try?’, but he gets the feeling he would take him seriously and he doesn’t want to put her in the position to reject him.

“You’re an attractive woman, but you’ve made your feelings on that clear. No, I am merely a very curious man. I ask a lot of questions, it’s what I do. If you are uncomfortable with them you can just say so.”

He shrugs one shoulder. “Or you can ask me anything you want to know, in return.”

There's a slight raise of her brows, almost as though she doesn't quite believe that's the entire story, but thankfully Re-L isn't exactly eager to discuss being tired up either. She quite likes the idea of being under her own volition at all times, if not nearly all times, so it would take a good bit more interaction and trust before she'd entertain it. Still... that's not to say it's a never.

"I think I've been asked far more uncomfortable things, of late." Namely right here in this place. She, personally, had probably asked far too many questions that were too loaded to take in fully, for a time. But still. His questions, so far, were not those that were incredibly deep and asked her to think too deeply before answering. Swerving and dodging direct questions had become something of a Romdeau talent for the entire dome, at any rate. She's tempted to ask him why he asks so many, but... it's something she wants to find out without being led in one direction or another.

"You have your own tells without asking, if only a little close attention is paid. Most people are easy to read, in that way." At least for her. Though... she was a bit unique, as people went. A little unnervingly intuitive.

Re-L is getting really close to making Illya laugh, which is impressive in an on itself. But even more impressive because they haven’t talked for that long, and it’s weird that Illya feels so at ease with someone already. But Re-L is more similar to Illya than what he’d thought when they had first met, especially in the way they relate to everyone and everything around them.

“I do my best not to ask any uncomfortable questions.” Mostly because if he did people would close off, put their walls up and not want to talk to him anymore. He’s kind of an open book at times, his emotions are easy to read and that’s always been his biggest flaw as an spy- but when it comes to gathering information and extracting it from people, he’s one of the best.

“Most people are, that’s true. But what they tell you when you ask, how they react to the questions also says a lot about them. What makes them uncomfortable, what they don’t want to talk about, here you should keep on digging.”

"Mn, I don't know that I do my best, when I don't feel like it." She is, admittedly, sometimes a bit too much to the point - Re-L likes things done her way, after all. She has a way of her own with playing coy or intimidating when she wants to, depending on her mood, all the things that both came naturally and had been taught to her by the world she'd grown up in. Everything and every interaction in Romdeau Dome had been a well calculated chess game no matter how exhausting examining the available pawns had been.

Still, the way he elaborates on it makes her wonder. She'd been taught to do the same as an Inspector, but.. she'd never seen him around the police force. That left other fields to be considered when it came to trying to narrow down what he'd done previous to being in Riverview. It left a few options she found rather interesting to consider, if she's honest, but again she'll keep that as a note for later and just.. walk on with it, for now.

"I see. So we'll take a walk around this exhibition, keep exhibitors away from each other and you'll try to pry answers out of me?"

He’s actually an independent contractor for the police force, working as a private investigator in the internal affairs. Mostly his job consists of investigating cases where something struck of or suspect. It’s probably a good thing she hasn’t come in contact with him at her job, he’s pretty ruthless when it comes to investigating.

“It sounds like a plan.” He says good-naturedly, because it honestly does. He’d have felt slightly awkward in a place like this on his own, mostly because he isn’t exactly comfortable talking about this kind of thing in public. But if he has someone he knows by his side he can pretend it isn’t as public as it seems.

“Is there any topic I should stay away from?” Again, this isn’t Illya being considerate. This is Illya gauging her reactions, he will get more information from the way she answers than he would otherwise.

"Good luck." If Donov Mayer hadn't been able to pull details out of her, she really ought to wish Illya some luck. Granted, she'd learned to become a little less guarded around here, since Riverview wasn't a constant chess game on the scale of Romdeau Dome, but.. it never hurt to be careful, either. Who knew who was around to be a little too nosey when she may want to keep herself a bit more removed. Her eye is momentarily caught by a display that seems to be..

Piercing someone's back? A frown crosses her features but she doesn't seem particularly moved by anything other than the curiosity of what makes that particular move so appealing. She can't even begin to guess what the point of that little ritual was, either -

"Subjects to avoid?" She gives it a token moment of thought before offering a casual shrug of darkly dressed shoulders. "None that I can think of."

“It does appear I may need said luck.”

He says, and even if he doesn’t smile there’s a good hint of humor in his voice. He does love a good challenge, but it’s more than that. He’s doing this for fun. Because of who he is and how curious he has always been, not because he’s trying to get something out of Re-L or because it’s a mission. It’s been… a long while since he’s done anything for fun, so it’s always refreshing.

He does notice the frown, though. He’s revealed his own preferences (kind of), so he doesn’t see any harm in asking her. He motions at the stand with his chin.

“Interested? Or the opposite?”

Re-L makes a small noise of amusement as he concedes he may need the luck, shrugging her shoulders upward for a moment. Who knows what he may be able to get out of her in such a placement - this little display area was more than a bit past her place of comfort which may make her a little more willing to give little bits of information. Granted, she's still well aware that her story was more than a little odd by previous reactions, and that keeps her a little quiet.

"I don't understand the point to be honest." It seemed like an immense amount of pain to go through for something ornamental - but, again, she's not lived in a society where piercings were a thing. So perhaps it's just that oddly prude part of her rearing its head because she doesn't understand completely.

"I understand some piercings are decoration, at least so I'm told, but this seems like more pain than pay off..."

“It is not something I would choose for myself.”

He admits, because it’s true. He doesn’t mind pain at all, may even enjoy it in certain occasions and he isn’t ashamed of that fact. But piercings and the sort… they just never called to him. He can see the aesthetic appeal, but just like Re-L he’s a little confused about the payoff being worth it.

“But I figure some people actually enjoy the pain. While others may simply enjoy the aesthetic of it. That is also not the most painful place to have pierced, incidentally.”

"At least I'm not alone ..." though she's curious in an odd way. Not enough to have hooks passed through the skin of her back or anything extreme but ... body art or expression hadn't been an option for her in Romdeau. These things made her even more curious than she'd ever been - other people outside had had earrings and such, though it hadn't ever been an option. As the regent's granddaughter many things had been strictly off limits to her in terms of representing herself. She makes a mental note to investigate later on her own.

Still, she's more than slightly intrigued as he tells her that's not the most painful place. It's hard to train down the way her brow wants to arch, watching what they're doing for a moment longer as a way to distract her mind from the thousand directions it's trying to go with that kind of knowledge.

"It would make sense that some do I guess. I've met people who enjoy simpler things even." Still, curiosity killing the cat here -

"You said it's not the most painful place, though. Do you know from experience, or...?"

He shakes his head. No piercings or tattoos for this one, that would make it easier for people to describe him which is the exact opposite of what a spy ones. Plus he’s never had the urge to have either to begin with. But Re-L’s apparent confusion is amusing to him. He looks from her to the piercings, wondering if they are going to leave it at that or maybe put some lace through the piercings. It’d probably be very uncomfortable to even sit with a corset piercing, but he’s seen them in some people in this place. He figures for those people the aesthetic appeal makes it worth it.

“But it stands to reason that getting a piercing in most sensitive areas would hurt more. And I know of people who’ve had their genitals pierced.”

As always, he sounds kind of awkward when talking about specific things- but it’d be silly for him to feel self-conscious in the middle of what is basically a kink festival.

If she hadn't been in the middle of watching this strange exhibition, the idea of it might've given her a little bit more of a shock. Even being there, though, she tosses a look back Illya's way that's... partially that she finds it hard to believe, and partially a facial expression that makes it seem like she wants to squirm at the idea but won't for pride's sake. She quit simply just.. can't even process it in the moment, other than a rather emphatic :

"But why? Is the aesthetic worth the pain and... disuse while it heals?" Ah, classic Re-L, too impatient for her own damn good even though she knows well and truly that she heals much faster than other people anyway. There's no real need to advertise that, though. At least not here and now. "I suppose I may just be over thinking, as well. Grandfather would've never allowed me to do anything like that anyway."

Illya should probably not be this amused, it’s probably going to bite him in the ass later on but it is honestly refreshing that she seems to be so unafraid of asking direct and blunt questions, even considering the subject matter.

“It’s obviously worth it, as ar as they are concerned. If you’re interested in seeing how it’d look, though, there’s temporary ones.” A bit of a smile at her. “Saves you the pain, and the waiting.”

"I'm not worried about healing times with much of anything. I heal quickly." It's a bonus of her cloned heritage, she knows that, probably shouldn't bring it up so flippantly just in case he decides to pursue it further. But at the moment she's a little wrapped up in watching the demonstrators lace the new piercings together, head slightly tilted and clearly debating what the hell the point was in that, too.

"It was just.. not even an option to be considered, in Romdeau."

“You’re not in Romdeau, though. And Grandfather isn’t here.”

He isn’t sure how he ended up playing the part of a bad influence on Re-L when he doesn’t have any particular interest on piercings but somehow here they are. Probably because while he understands wanting to follow the rules to a T, he’s also become really familiar with what following them blindly can do lately. Burning the tape felt good, maybe getting the piercing as a sort of rebellion would be good for Re-L as well.

“Do you want to get closer? See all the options?”

"Oh, I know. None of this would be happening if we were and he was." And she was clearly taking it all in as much as she could possibly force herself. It's all very out of her comfort zone, if she's truthful about it, but she's not exactly complaining (all that loudly) about it either. Breaking out of where she'd grown too comfortable was a part of life, really, now that she was no longer in the dome. It was more so when dealing with others that she had a little bit of an issue.

Her eyes flicker to him, giving him a look even if she doesn't turn her head. It's obvious enough what he's hinting at, and more than anything she has to debate her own willingness to defy a dead man -

Which is still pretty damn high.

"Are you volunteering for one as well, then?"

Illya blinks, because that’s not the answer he had been expecting. Then he glances at the parlor. He’s always had… very little interest in piercings, but that’s mostly because any body modifications would make it easier for people to recognize him- and also because of the point in time he came from. There’s been a resurgence lately, but there’s still certain implications of wearing a piercing he’d rather avoid.

He frowns.

“It’d be… frowned upon, in Russia. It’s one thing for a woman to get one, but a man...” A beat. “But I suppose I‘m not in Russia either. There's no harm in looking.”

"... I was going to say." He could probably see that, though, even before she'd opened her mouth, just with the way her brows had drawn in and the intensity at which she'd whipped her head around to look at him. At the very least she'd definitely call him out on the problems with telling her that she wasn't in Romdeau anymore and then telling her it'd be frown upon in his home. Still, with that thought in mind she motions for him to go on ahead, lead the way, however he wanted to see it, as if not allowing him to slip away or chicken out, now.

"Lead us then, won't you? I don't even know what I'd do." She pauses, takes a look at the corseted, newly pierced person standing nearby, and then specifies :

"Definitely not that, though."

Yeah, he’s smart enough to see his own hypocrisy. He still thinks it’s different, in a way- Russia is deeply ingrained in his own personality, it’s his identity, it’s who he is. But he also knows if he tells her that she would be free to say Romdeau is the same for her. There’s no one that comes from his same point in time and his same world anyway, this…

This feels a little bit like the rebellion he was trying to tell her she needed. Like getting a part of himself back. He figures... there’s no harm in looking.

“I don’t know much either, so maybe we should get someone to advise us.” He glances at her, then at the woman getting her back laced over so it looks like a corset. “But as pretty as that may look, that’s probably too much.”

"Provided they don't try to talk me in to something on my face I don't see how it could hurt." For all intents and purposes she'd like to keep anything she did able to be hidden if the need was there. The idea of decorum and what was acceptable to show and what wasn't hadn't quite had time to dissolve in her, just yet. Maybe it was that she wanted her own rebellions to be hers, even if it was only for a little while in a place that seemed to like bathing suits and parties so much. She's not too keen on exploring the mentality of why right now, and more keen on just acting on her own whims for once.

Well.. sort of Illya's whims, but if she'd truly been set against a piercing in the first place this wouldn't be happening anyways.

It would seem their prolonged standing and chatting has drawn someone's eye, though, and soon their approached by a relatively heavily pierced Quarantine Resident who's all too happy to chirp out a friendly :

"Can I help you two with anything?"

"Mainly I'm wondering what their is to be pierced that isn't on my head but is also not quite so... involved as that."

Illya stays by her side, but he keeps on looking around. They have some pics hang up on the stand, showing former clients and the work they had done. Some of them are a little to out there- Re-L is right, there’s some of them who had piercing on their faces. Nose piercings and ear piercings mostly, and that’s… definitely not what Illya is looking for.

The resident shows them a couple full body outline where they point out all the different places a body can be pierced. Which is, incidentally nearly the entire body and while Illya apparently knew more about this than Re-L, he’s still kind of surprised at some of the things his hearing.

“I would not pierce my genitals.” He’s quick to say with a tone that invites to absolutely no question and the resident seems to get that.

“Maybe…” He draws an imaginary circle on the chest with his finger. “In this area?”

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realimperfect - 2017-09-04 04:07 (UTC) - Expand