[ He had a choice to present that mask, in El Nysa. He could have worked it up so that the contrast between whatever facade he projected and the truth of him was jarring and offensive, he could have set the trap that way: too obnoxious for the people who'd tolerate his quiet cold, too abrasive for the people who'd tolerate something vapid, too dishonest for either party once the curtain comes down. But he didn't do any of that. He decided to act like himself, and as such, gets to suffer through people who appreciate that sort of thing.
(Maybe, deep in his little bat-heart, that's what he wanted. To pretend less. Maybe that's why when they're both still, he and Jim understand each other.) ]
Okay, [ the 23rd century space captain who has no room thinking anyone else is nuts says, calmly, after he and Alan are jostled around in this very stylish tank. It looks like the worst stereotypes of old Earth. ]
That's you.
[ In the gimp mask. (He knows it's not a gimp mask. Now, even encased in this vehicle, Jim can tell it's armor.) ]
no subject
(Maybe, deep in his little bat-heart, that's what he wanted. To pretend less. Maybe that's why when they're both still, he and Jim understand each other.) ]
Okay, [ the 23rd century space captain who has no room thinking anyone else is nuts says, calmly, after he and Alan are jostled around in this very stylish tank. It looks like the worst stereotypes of old Earth. ]
That's you.
[ In the gimp mask. (He knows it's not a gimp mask. Now, even encased in this vehicle, Jim can tell it's armor.) ]