milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Kaylee's been in Milliways most of the day, working in the garage on her and the captain's project. She did promise. And she can try to keep her promises.

She's still exhausted. That's why it's a cup of coffee in front of her, and at the bar, her chin's in her hand.

[miniscule tag: ~~cameron "i'm a creepy damn robot" phillips~~ THE WORLD ALMANAC AND BOOK OF FACTS, Heavy Weapons Guy]

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Booted feet thud behind Kaylee, and their owner steps up to the bar beside her. Cameron's request is long, and involves a number of chemical-sounding syllables. A small glass container of pale green liquid appears; she lifts it to eye level for scrutiny.

Well. None of that's out of character.

Kaylee lifts her head and injects some warmth into her voice when she says, "Hey, you -- "

But it's not River.

Not the end of the world. No harm in being friendly, at least at first.

Cameron turns her head toward Kaylee. There's no surprise visible in her expression, but the motion is quick enough to suggest it.

"I'm sorry," she says. It's a question.

The arm holding the capsule at eye-level doesn't move.

Kaylee sits back a little.

"Hi," she tries. "That's -- that's all."

After a pause that lasts a few seonds too long, she says, "Hello."

She doesn't say anything else, but instead of turning away she studies Kaylee's face with the same unselfconscious absorption she gave the capsule.

"Can... can I help you?"

She is unconsciously holding on to her coffee a little closer. As though Cameron is a giant threat to her caffeine source.

Finally, Cameron blinks.

"I don't know," she says, as though Kaylee has posed an unexpected and interesting question. "With what?"

"You're... lookin' at me," Kaylee says, helpfully. "I don't know."

Girl is creepy!

"It's polite to make eye contact." She lowers the capsule, and sets it on the bar with delicate precision, eyes still on Kaylee. "Would you prefer I look away?"

And not getting any less creepy as time progresses.

"...I guess... whatever you think's polite." But if the girl gets fresh (or violent), there's going to be a cup of coffee in her face. "I mean. Good to be polite and all."

"Yes," Cameron agrees, very seriously. "Courtesy is important."

Her gaze moves from Kaylee's eyes to her nose; extended eye contact can also appear aggressive. "My name is Cameron."

"Gāoxìng jìandào nĭ," Kaylee says -- a little tentatively. "I'm Kaylee."

Her head cocks.

"Gāoxìng jìandào nĭ." It's an uncertain, questioning echo, but she mimics the tones and the consonants almost flawlessly.

"...yeah?" says Kaylee.

It sounded like a question. " -- oh, means 'pleased to meet you'. That's all."

"Oh." The tension in her forehead relaxes, and her mouth curves a little -- not quite a smile, but close. "Thank you for explaining."

"Sorry, that's my fault -- "

Maybe Cameron is not creepy after all!

" -- just that I ain't been in for a while, and I forget, sometimes. Normally I just try to keep it to English in here."

She tips her head to the other side, to express interest. "What language were you speaking?"

"Mandarin? I don't know -- do they have it where you come from?"

"Chinese is the third most spoken language in the United States," she says, in expressionless answer. "Although Cantonese native speakers outnumber Mandarin native speakers, Mandarin is a common secondary dialect. Do you live in China?"

"No," Kaylee tells the World Almanac and Book of Facts. "It's... gone."

The World Almanac and Book of Facts blinks at her again.

"What happened to it?"

Kaylee peers at her. "You sure you really want to know the answer to that?"

Lots of people don't. Or they think they do when they really oughtn't, because it's very depressing.

"Yes," says Cameron. She's making eye contact again, steady and unblinking. "I'm sure."

"Folks was awful to the earth," Kaylee says, "and... now nobody's left on it. Includin' China."

Cameron absorbs this news without any change of expression.

"Are you from the year 2521?"