taxonomites | [holo] if you tell me where you're going i'll tell you where you're bound

Simon is dragged into Taxon mid-eyebrow raise. "Yes, of course, captain." There's no mistaking the sarcasm in his tone. "And would you like me to--"

He breaks off, looking around. It only takes a moment for his expression to shift from barely contained irritation and impatience to worry. "River?"

That worry is slowly ratcheting up into panic. "Mei mei, answer me."

When no answer is forthcoming, Simon sags just a little, his face going grey. They can't have captured them. There had to have been a warning of some kind; it's not as if the Alliance can simply... take them, without anyone realizing. He has to push away the thoughts of what they did to River, the havoc they wreaked on her mind; if anyone could do it, it would be the Alliance. But he can't have failed her again.

"Tiānsà de èmó," he mutters, panic hardening into anger and resolve. If the gŏushĭ bùrú Alliance is behind this, he'll find a way to get her out, again. He'll do anything to keep River safe.

Glancing around, he sees the tablet, and slips it in his pocket before heading down the steps and towards the door.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Tiānsà de èmó," Giles repeats, more slowly then Simon. "I'm not terribly good with the Asian dialects, but doesn't that mean something about monsters?"

This time, Simon doesn't even jump! Progress.

"A little stronger than that, but yes. Essentially." And that's all Giles will be getting for now. 'When the situation calls for it', like he told Kaylee. Plus, it seems odd to have your first conversation with someone be about the non-family friendly thing you just said in Mandarin.

"Essentially is close enough." He doesn't mention that the only reason he was able to get that close was that his limited Chinese revolved around describing demons, vampires and evil.

"Forgive me, this must be strange, talking to someone strange on the tablet. Perhaps it would help if I introduced myself. I'm Giles. Welcome to Taxon."

Best not to explain. Simon is having enough trouble with the concept of Taxon at all; no need to add demons to the mix just yet.

"You have no idea." Wryly amused, there, as the panic is receding. He's nothing if not good at adapting. "Simon." He hesitates before adding the last name, because paranoia is a way of life now, but all signs point to no Alliance presence here. And if this is all some elaborate plot of a drugged fantasy, there's no harm there, either. "Simon Tam."

"Oh, I have some idea. After all it was me it that room not too many months ago." Was it really months, now? It seems like less times, while at the same time this place is becoming more real then the life he was taken from.

"Hello, Simon. It's a pleasure I'm sure." So proper, so polite.

"As I said my name is Giles. Rupert Giles, but most people simply call me by my surname. I know this is disorienting, but you're not in any danger here." A slight exaggeration, but what are the chances of a glitch happening the first day a person arrives? He's seen no evidence of such a thing yet.

"Months." His voice is flat, almost considering.

The manners are a relief, to be perfectly honest. Adaptive Simon may be, without certain training and comfort zones he is not.

"Likewise." He nods, pleasantly, because maybe he's in an asylum, maybe this is an Alliance plot, or maybe he really has been kidnapped and left somewhere outside his own reality. There's still time for social niceties.

"Giles, then." Now the vague, pleasant smile quirks sardonically. "No danger. Right."

Giles would have to agree that there is always time for social niceties. After all, he's the sort to make tea during 'oh dear, the world's about to end' planning meetings, drinks beer with Ethan Rayne (though never again, on that account) and speaks with concern to the man he's about to kill.

"The downside of this place is that isn't, quite obviously, where you were before; and not to worry you but there might not be a way back. On the upside every comfort one might want is at your fingertips, and it's quite possible there are other people you know here."

[holo] if you tell me where you're going i'll tell you where you're bound

[visual]

[visual]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject