★ KATE

[doublefists]

the most precious little not on purpose serial killer

Comments

[sootprints]

Well... no one here has. [ there's that, at least. ] But I've seen the way people react, and... in the place I come from, there are rumours and legends and the like...

[doublefists]

[ good because she was going to beat them up if they did. probably. she thinks about that for a second, and then: ]

... How old are you, Kate?

[sootprints]

... Thirteen.

[doublefists]

[ man. ]

I'm gonna tell you something, kiddo - most people here are decent enough to people your age. I don't think you have anything to worry about. And if you do? Come tell me. You can borrow my gloves.

[ the big fuck-off metal ones. ]

[sootprints]

Your gloves?

[doublefists]

Yeah, the big metal ones. Have you seen them? You can try them out if you want.

[sootprints]

[ shakes her head... ]

I can try them?

[doublefists]

Sure. Give me five minutes, let me grab them.

[ and she'll go to get them because she doesn't have them with her. she figures that nobody was going to try and steal them because like, one, where would you even go that she wouldn't see you wearing them, and two, they're heavy. she's... not entirely sure kate's going to be able to wear them, but listen.

she comes back with her gloves, and clanks them down on the ground.

... kind of laughs. ]

You might have to grow into them.

[sootprints]

[ she tries to pick one up...

and her entire body topples over with it. ]

--Ah.

[doublefists]

[ help!!!

okay, she laughs, but - she crouches down and lifts one of the gloves up, holding it up. ]

Here. Try it this way. [ if she wants, she can put her hand in. ]

[sootprints]

[ she slips her hand in. does the glove have flexible fingers? she'll try to move them. ]

Do you use this for fighting?

[doublefists]

[ it does! in fact, when she puts her hand in, it shifts and hisses softly, the inner workings adjusting around her hand. it's a little more comfortable, trying to mold to her form a bit better. she can definitely move the fingers; they have joints when normal fingers would. ]

I do. They're supposed to be for mining fissures.

[sootprints]

It's an impressive mechanism... I wish Oliver could see this.

[ she fiddles around with it some more, genuinely fascinated by it. ]

[doublefists]

[ she allows it, holding it up for her. ]

Oliver? Friend of yours?

[sootprints]

He leads the research team in the manor I live in... I enjoy seeing the things they work on.

[ there are a few flecks of soot that rise from her head while she thinks on it.

after a little more fiddling with the glove, she removes her hand from it. ]

[doublefists]

[ glances at the soot...

but she'll take the glove when kate takes her arm out. there's another hiss-clank of a sound, and then vi sets it down with ease. ]

You an inventor, then? Or maybe want to be?

[sootprints]

I like learning about machines and technology. But I wouldn't say I'm an inventor... More of an enthusiast?

[doublefists]

Still counts. Is there anything you're really into?

My sister, she... [ a beat. clears her throat. ] My sister used to make stuff all the time. Mostly smokebombs and things like that, but she was a smart one.

[sootprints]

I don't know... Usually, I just read about these things, or watch people while they build things... whether it's the research team, or a great scientist...

[ if she notices the hitch, there's no clear reaction. ] ... Your sister sounds like an incredible person.

[doublefists]

[ another pause. ]

Sure, she was. She would've liked you, I think. [ a little smile. ] I'm not the smart one of the two of us, but if you ever feel like you want to tinker with stuff, we could probably find something to fiddle with.

I'm not so bad with a wrench.

[sootprints]

[ that's a lot of past tense there..... ]

... It might be fun, to try taking something apart and seeing how it works. [ warmly. ]

[doublefists]

[ don't worry about it probably ]

Awesome. [ her own reply is genuinely pleased, as she pushes her hair back out of her face. holds out a hand to shake on it. ]

Then Mechanics Vi and Kate it is.

[sootprints]

[ !

she shakes her hand. a little bit sooty. ]

[doublefists]

[ cute... vi grins, shaking her hand firmly. she does not mind the soot. ]