[ miller and karen are both leaving their rooms at the same time, which is odd. she usually is a "morning person" much to his chagrin. which is to say she's still up from the night before so he can't actually take too much of an issue with it. his hat is on his head at a angle, hair that's starting to grow out messily curling at his nape. and there's one thing of note she may not have seen on his person before - his rhino, jammed unceremoniously into the back pocket of his jumpsuit.
he freezes when max issues a low growl in warning, turning and lifting his hands so the dog doesn't get any ideas. ]
Hey there, partner. Just taking my legs for a spin. Surely that's not against the law? [ he lifts his eyebrows after addressing the dog and meets karen's eyes. they clearly say: please don't let me get eaten today thanks. ]
[Since she had that nice night of restless sleep with Frank, she feels like she doesn't need to sleep every other night. She's on her way to the mess hall to get something that slightly resembles coffee and some food for Max. Seeing Miller leaving his room at the same time as her isn't that surprising. He keeps hours similar to her own.
Max's growling earns a gentle hand placed atop his head, and she gives a soft command for him to stand down. Whether or not he'll listen, she's not sure. He's just as protective of her as Frank is, and tends to not do well with men he doesn't know yet. ]
Max, Miller is a friend. He won't hurt us.
[Her eyebrows arch expectantly, almost as if she expects him to explain to the dog that he's not a threat at all. At the same time, her hand slips to gently grab hold of Max's collar. It's more a safety precaution than anything.]
[ he takes a half step towards her and max starts barking. he blows out a breath, trying not to let it effect him- ] Won't hurt you, maybe. Maybe he's never seen a Belter before, like I've never seen a dog. [ he looks from the dog and back to karen. he hangs out with naomi so no, miller. your nationality isn't the issue. ]
[Well, she guesses that makes sense. She's always just assumed that everyone's seen dogs their entire lives. Max barks and she crouches down carefully, her dress making it feel awkward.]
He doesn't like men very much. It takes him time to warm up to them, especially if he thinks they might hurt me. Maybe you should take off the hat and let him see your face.
[WAit a second, that might be a bad idea.]
Slowly.
[Because if Max really wants to attack, like hell she'll be able to hold him back.]
[ now you're just freaking him out, but his raised hands clutch the brim before slowly lowering itdown to his chest so max can see him. ] Is that better, pal? I know it's a face only a mother could love - and I never even had a mother. [ it seems to do the trick, and just like that it's like a switch has been flipped. max sits up pretty and starts panting cheerfully. like the scary guy with the hat left and miller the string beanpole has entered the equation just now. ]
I don't know what a dog would be doin' on Ceres, but I bet they lost a bet to get there. [ to max: ] Did you lost a bet, too?
[She scoffs at that first part, laughing softly as she rolls her eyes. Miller is handsome in her opinion, but it's not like he's asked for it. Max seems to think he looks fine now too, tail wagging and happily panting. It gets Karen to lean over and press her forehead against his face, and she smiles as he gives her a little lick to the cheek as she pulls away in order to stand back up.]
He must have lost something, to end up here. Frank and I do the best we can to keep him safe, but I still worry.
[meaning: he's really a big old baby when he isn't playing guard dog]
[ it's automatic, the way he deflects. he watches karen's tenderness with the dog and figures... maybe he isn't so bad after all. there she goes again, mentioning frank, but he doesn't want to get hit again. so instead he crouches down to her level, and max's, holding the hat over his chest as he addresses max directly again. ]
We all pulled a bad hand this round, koyo. Don't beat yourself up, huh? [ he puts the hat on again, almost as a test. and sure enough, max starts up his rattling little growl again. this time, miller throws it on the ground unceremoniously. ] You don't like the hat, I get it. No one does. Not even me. But sometimes, you need a reminder... to keep your head. I guess you've got Karen for that, though, don't you?
[ he's just going to talk to max until he isn't terrified or someone stops him tbh ]
[That first part earns him a middle finger, though she realizes belatedly that he might not know what that means. Oh well. He's too busy talking to Max, and she lets him go on and on...and on.]
You both do. I don't know how that always ends up being my responsibility, but I'm always glad to take the job.
[She points out with a smirk, trying not to comment on the fact he's casually chatting up Max in the hallway. With a nod of her head, she motions for him to follow, and starts to head off down the hall. Max follows after her, but keeps glancing over at Miller like he's closely watching for any sign of trouble (or that awful hat).]
[ oh he knows what tHAT means karen. dw some things are universal, even in the belt.
he gets up, snatching the hat up off the ground as he goes. in usual slapstick fashion, his gun falls out of his pocket before he can stand all the way up with everything in tact. he has too many accessories ok, patting the pocket with julie's beads to make sure they're still there. then he slowly starts reassembling himself, holding the hat over his heart rather than putting it on and upsetting their canine friend. ]
It's like, a guy. [ he shrugs ] Like, did you catch that crazy slingshotter last night, koyo?
[That makes her laugh, and the laughter only continues as she tries saying it for herself. She stumbles over the whole thing, and ends up having to press her hands over her face to hide her embarrassment.]
I'll keep that in mind for the next time I talk to Kovacs.
[There's a pause as her hands drop away and she sizes him up, judging whether or not she should bother explaining why she wants to learn.]
You don't have to teach me if you don't want to. You're a good friend to me, so I wanted to learn your language.
[ a good friend, huh? it softens something behind his eyes, but then he's lifting his free hand in a small wave back and forth. the hand on his hat moves a little too out of habit. at the same time he says the word for 'hello.' ] Oye. I guess, if we're gonna start at the beginning. [ it reminds him of talking to kids on the docks, but he pushes past it, thinking about what's the simplest thing for her to learn. ] Keting nem to? [ he points to her. what's your name? then so she has a template: ] Nem mi Milla.
[ if she feels silly learning this, then he feels downright stupid teaching it. but there's something about it too, something that inspires near homesickness. he wonders how havelock and muss ever made out. ]
[She arches an eyebrow, trying not to look too amused. Which is probably for the best, as she really needs to pay attention to what he's teaching her. She watches his body language and the way his mouth moves to form the words he's speaking, trying to whisper to herself to say it before speaking out loud.]
Nem mi Karen?
[She manages to get out, hand pressing against her chest. To her, this isn't silly or stupid at all. She feels like a kid at elementary school learning a new language maybe, but everyone has to start somewhere. Which means she adds on a belated] Oye.
[Complete with ridiculous exaggerated wave of her hand.]
[ he turns towards her, narrowing his eyes at the comment about kovacs. but THEY DOn'T TALK ABOUT FIGHT CLUb aka their feelings so drop it. he's walking backwards now so he can watch her, nodding like so-so to the first statement but then he's taking her wrist with his free hand and shaking it in a more pronounced way, correcting. ] Oye.
[ since it was adapted with chinese settlers in mind, it is vaguely tonal. he shrugs. ]
Not bad for an Earther. Fo keng to im gut, Inyalowda. Nice to meet you. [ his eyes shine with something like bemusement. then he glances at max. ] What are you lookin' at? You wanna learn Belter too? To pochuye ke? You understand me, koyo keyá? Smart bastard.
[Karen laughs and places a steady hand on Max's head. He seems to always know exactly when he's being spoken to, and is currently looking up at Miller like he's a dumb asshole that he knows is insulting him. ]
Of course I'm going to teach him. I'm pretty sure he already understands morse code. And sign, obviously. He's a smarter than your average dog.
[She'll take his praise though. Karen always soaks it up from people she likes.]
Come on. Let's go get some coffee and keep going. My treat.
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he freezes when max issues a low growl in warning, turning and lifting his hands so the dog doesn't get any ideas. ]
Hey there, partner. Just taking my legs for a spin. Surely that's not against the law? [ he lifts his eyebrows after addressing the dog and meets karen's eyes. they clearly say: please don't let me get eaten today thanks. ]
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Max's growling earns a gentle hand placed atop his head, and she gives a soft command for him to stand down. Whether or not he'll listen, she's not sure. He's just as protective of her as Frank is, and tends to not do well with men he doesn't know yet. ]
Max, Miller is a friend. He won't hurt us.
[Her eyebrows arch expectantly, almost as if she expects him to explain to the dog that he's not a threat at all. At the same time, her hand slips to gently grab hold of Max's collar. It's more a safety precaution than anything.]
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What's his problem?
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[Well, she guesses that makes sense. She's always just assumed that everyone's seen dogs their entire lives. Max barks and she crouches down carefully, her dress making it feel awkward.]
He doesn't like men very much. It takes him time to warm up to them, especially if he thinks they might hurt me. Maybe you should take off the hat and let him see your face.
[WAit a second, that might be a bad idea.]
Slowly.
[Because if Max really wants to attack, like hell she'll be able to hold him back.]
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I don't know what a dog would be doin' on Ceres, but I bet they lost a bet to get there. [ to max: ] Did you lost a bet, too?
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[She scoffs at that first part, laughing softly as she rolls her eyes. Miller is handsome in her opinion, but it's not like he's asked for it. Max seems to think he looks fine now too, tail wagging and happily panting. It gets Karen to lean over and press her forehead against his face, and she smiles as he gives her a little lick to the cheek as she pulls away in order to stand back up.]
He must have lost something, to end up here. Frank and I do the best we can to keep him safe, but I still worry.
[meaning: he's really a big old baby when he isn't playing guard dog]
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[ it's automatic, the way he deflects. he watches karen's tenderness with the dog and figures... maybe he isn't so bad after all. there she goes again, mentioning frank, but he doesn't want to get hit again. so instead he crouches down to her level, and max's, holding the hat over his chest as he addresses max directly again. ]
We all pulled a bad hand this round, koyo. Don't beat yourself up, huh? [ he puts the hat on again, almost as a test. and sure enough, max starts up his rattling little growl again. this time, miller throws it on the ground unceremoniously. ] You don't like the hat, I get it. No one does. Not even me. But sometimes, you need a reminder... to keep your head. I guess you've got Karen for that, though, don't you?
[ he's just going to talk to max until he isn't terrified or someone stops him tbh ]
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You both do. I don't know how that always ends up being my responsibility, but I'm always glad to take the job.
[She points out with a smirk, trying not to comment on the fact he's casually chatting up Max in the hallway. With a nod of her head, she motions for him to follow, and starts to head off down the hall. Max follows after her, but keeps glancing over at Miller like he's closely watching for any sign of trouble (or that awful hat).]
So...what does koyo mean?
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he gets up, snatching the hat up off the ground as he goes. in usual slapstick fashion, his gun falls out of his pocket before he can stand all the way up with everything in tact. he has too many accessories ok, patting the pocket with julie's beads to make sure they're still there. then he slowly starts reassembling himself, holding the hat over his heart rather than putting it on and upsetting their canine friend. ]
It's like, a guy. [ he shrugs ] Like, did you catch that crazy slingshotter last night, koyo?
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[She casts him a fondly exasperated look as he shuffles to try and get all his shit together, before very directly taking notice of his gun.]
Like overcompensation, maybe. Is there a word for that?
[She's just jealous because she misses her purse and gun.]
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[ he gives her a look for that one. but fine, he'll humor her. it's how you can tell he's seriously running out of things to do. ]
Im wa koyo semówt. That's how Beltalowda say guy's got a bigger ego than... you know.
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I'll keep that in mind for the next time I talk to Kovacs.
[There's a pause as her hands drop away and she sizes him up, judging whether or not she should bother explaining why she wants to learn.]
You don't have to teach me if you don't want to. You're a good friend to me, so I wanted to learn your language.
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He loves when I talk Belter. Ask him about it.
[ a good friend, huh? it softens something behind his eyes, but then he's lifting his free hand in a small wave back and forth. the hand on his hat moves a little too out of habit. at the same time he says the word for 'hello.' ] Oye. I guess, if we're gonna start at the beginning. [ it reminds him of talking to kids on the docks, but he pushes past it, thinking about what's the simplest thing for her to learn. ] Keting nem to? [ he points to her. what's your name? then so she has a template: ] Nem mi Milla.
[ if she feels silly learning this, then he feels downright stupid teaching it. but there's something about it too, something that inspires near homesickness. he wonders how havelock and muss ever made out. ]
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[She arches an eyebrow, trying not to look too amused. Which is probably for the best, as she really needs to pay attention to what he's teaching her. She watches his body language and the way his mouth moves to form the words he's speaking, trying to whisper to herself to say it before speaking out loud.]
Nem mi Karen?
[She manages to get out, hand pressing against her chest. To her, this isn't silly or stupid at all. She feels like a kid at elementary school learning a new language maybe, but everyone has to start somewhere. Which means she adds on a belated] Oye.
[Complete with ridiculous exaggerated wave of her hand.]
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[ since it was adapted with chinese settlers in mind, it is vaguely tonal. he shrugs. ]
Not bad for an Earther. Fo keng to im gut, Inyalowda. Nice to meet you. [ his eyes shine with something like bemusement. then he glances at max. ] What are you lookin' at? You wanna learn Belter too? To pochuye ke? You understand me, koyo keyá? Smart bastard.
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Of course I'm going to teach him. I'm pretty sure he already understands morse code. And sign, obviously. He's a smarter than your average dog.
[She'll take his praise though. Karen always soaks it up from people she likes.]
Come on. Let's go get some coffee and keep going. My treat.
[Ha ha her jokes are the worst.]