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video.
[For someone who's just found himself the winner of a cheap turtle cruise, Scott looks pretty calm sitting in his suite with his chin propped on the palm of his hand. He's skimmed the console posts and wheedled tiny bits of information from the kedan. He knows something is up with the turtle. ]
God only knows I deserve a vacation on a tropical turtle paradise right about now, but usually when I take my days off I like them sunny, not sickly. [Here he straightens, features losing some of their humor.] I know I'm the new guy around here, but if there's anything I can do to help, let me know.
[Admittedly, this might not be his best move considering he still has no idea why or by whom he was brought here, but no one's killed him (yet) so Scott's taking that as a good sign.]
Oh, and.
[The levity's back in his voice now but it's harder, more forced, and anyone paying attention can hear the undercurrent of worry slowly rising to the surface. He's already asked Tea but she'd only been one person and this turtle place is massive. Can't hurt to ask around more.]
If anyone's seen a group of nine kids - including two fish kids and a head in a jar - I'd also like to know, thanks. You can't miss 'em. Really.
God only knows I deserve a vacation on a tropical turtle paradise right about now, but usually when I take my days off I like them sunny, not sickly. [Here he straightens, features losing some of their humor.] I know I'm the new guy around here, but if there's anything I can do to help, let me know.
[Admittedly, this might not be his best move considering he still has no idea why or by whom he was brought here, but no one's killed him (yet) so Scott's taking that as a good sign.]
Oh, and.
[The levity's back in his voice now but it's harder, more forced, and anyone paying attention can hear the undercurrent of worry slowly rising to the surface. He's already asked Tea but she'd only been one person and this turtle place is massive. Can't hurt to ask around more.]
If anyone's seen a group of nine kids - including two fish kids and a head in a jar - I'd also like to know, thanks. You can't miss 'em. Really.
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Close enough. You can't be more than, what, ten years old? You should be in school right now. Is there even a school in this place?
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[For the record, it's Economics. And that's just one aspect of the educations he's had.]
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....Ph.D-level?
[What the hell, he's never even taken anything past technical college. (Blame having kids at an early age and then being stuck in jail but.) Is this kid some sort of turtle-alternate Valeria? The world already has one supergenius child, it definitely doesn't need another.
Not that he'll say that aloud. Instead, he opts for something a little less insulting, though probably no more polite.]
Your family must be really rich.
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And they are, yes.
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What about--university? [Wow, that is so weird to say to a 12-year-old.] You don't actually have a Ph.D, right?
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>Tt.< The actual diploma was irrelevant; it is the knowledge and skill that I needed, so that is what I have.
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Aren't Ph.Ds all theory? What kind of skills do you get from stuffing your face in books?
[Ahh, the ignorance of blue collar workers.]
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That would depend entirely on the field, but various fields of Ph. D. require extensive research and trial work, among other things. Books are merely a part of the process.
[Sigh. Like they have nothing better to talk about. Or something.]
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So what where your Ph.D classes on?
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[But not only. He's just less willing to share the rest. Like military history and theory...]
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Don't kids your age usually like playing with Legos and seeing movies in theaters?
[Because really, this seems abnormal. Wait.]
Are there even movie theaters here?
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Usually, I suppose they do.
[But I am not usual hangs in the air at the end of that statement. Yes, abnormal covers it.]
And, no, there are not. There has been at least one so-called 'movie night' - I am guessing using the smartphones of one or more of the people attending it.
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[There's an edge of disdain at the thought of using smartphones to display movies. What good is watching movies if it's not being shown on a huge screen and there isn't loads and loads of popcorn readily available.l
Still, it's a rhetorical question and Scott doesn't dwell on it too long.]
So, if movie nights are too childish for you [or whatever word Damian wants to use] what do you do in your free time then?
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[Unmoved shrug]
One involving glitter, apparently.
[Pause.]
Define 'free'.
[Not even a trace of a joke.]
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Uh, any time when you're not in school or doing other work?
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... train. Attempt to find out how the situation here can be changed to... something that can be acceptable.
Back home, work on plans to assist in managing the company my Father created.
Study on my own.
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So no video games. [And before Damian can respond:] Don't answer that.
[But. This is what's bothering Scott the most.]
And it doesn't ever bother you? The whole...being a tiny adult thing?
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[Yes, you get an answer, anyway. Damian also shrugs.]
No. But it seems to bother a lot of other people.
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[It's muttered but Damian can probably still hear it.]
Maybe you just haven't found the right kinds of video games. I bet they make economics-based video games somewhere...maybe. [Making a face because ew why would anyone want a video game with copious amounts of math?] But right, since you're not a fan of video games, what do you like? You have to like something, right?
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[That is a question that makes logic, okay?]
[He then shrugs, 'like' was not something involved when his activities were selected. He never exactly got the chance to pick, even when he was whimsical or threw tantrums.]
What I usually choose are active things, like training, or learning and bettering myself.
[Damian's not going to admit to liking killing people. And Scott is way too much a stranger to even hint about art.]
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Be...cause.....
[No, Scott doesn't have a good answer for that. Dammit Damian, stop being all logical and stuff. He can't keep up with all this smart and common sense.
MOVING ON.]
I guess those are good activities. [Very...specific activities.] Do you train with your friends, or with your dad, or with a teacher...?
[YOU HAVE FRIENDS RIGHT, DAMIAN?]
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>Tt.<
[There's a hint of a smirk at the trailing off. But then Damian's eyes widen a little. This is strange - this is the second person who's asked him something like that in the range of a few days, a question that he hadn't really been asked before.]
... I suppose. Most of the time I train alone, but sometimes I spar with others, or train with... friends. Or Father.
[Kyle counts as a friend! And he sometimes does train with Father, just not. Regularly...]
Does that mean anything? Who I train with?
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Not really, I guess, but there have to be people you enjoy hanging out with more than others, right? That's just how people are.
[Even creepy little child-sized adults with no sense of fun.]
And if you train with friends, they're more likely to encourage you and push you and make you better at what you're doing.
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[Beat. And, yeah, he's not going to answer the hanging out with people thing. Or the 'just how people are' thing.]
Other than my sister. But she understands better than most.
[Because Cassandra Cain.]
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He also thinks he's not sure he wants to find out what kind of sister this kid has if they get along so well.]
Well...Good luck with your training. [There's the tiniest bit of a lift in his voice at the end of that sentence, making it half question half statement.] And everything else. Not that you probably need it.
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