curiously | open rp post

[ oh, nancy. her words cause zarina to smile. maybe they'll be able to meet in the future someday when they go back home — that's something she'd like. ]

Pretty much, yeah.

[ there's her own curiosity that tends to win over most rational decisions, there's herself for going with it, there's the option to do other projects that would net more fame and fortune but none of those she chose. zarina doesn't care about being famous — it's useful so that her stories become widely spread, that's it — nor riches when she lives comfortable enough already. all she wants are the answers to her questions. ]

It's not so bad. I got some answers when I finally got to talk to him after winning a bet.

[ pride in her face and voice as she smiles. please send help she's still a workaholic. ]

We just need to find a way to leave this place and I'm golden. [ and now, because it's in her nature: ] How about you? What were you doing before you arrived? Was Steve with you too?

[ it takes Nancy a clear couple seconds to parse that sentence, merely because it sounds so ridiculous, both in and out of context, but Zarina clearly isn't put out by the interaction, judging by the warm expression splashed over her face, and Nancy relaxes her shoulders from how they'd involuntarily tensed up. still: ]

You what?

[ no, no, no, Zarina, you are not just glossing over this winning a bet with a killer thing, get back here. she'll tell their tragic story in a second. ]

I won a bet against the Deathslinger for an interview. [ the smile stays on her face. ] It was pretty interesting, the answers he gave.

[ index and thumb against her own chin as memories come back from the interview. the anger, the accusations, the eventual resolve — the fact that she's hasn't died afterwards gives her some sort of hope in the end. ]

He's someone that keeps his word in the end. [ a pause. ] I'm guessing from your reaction that you have questions?

[ the balls, honestly. this is what Nancy had wanted for herself, before ... you know, all this. she's glad that in spite of everything, Zarina could get the answers she'd been looking for, that she could reach out to make some sort of sense of her own predicament.

but the anti-killer knee-jerk reaction is so swift, despite her own curiosity. ]

How did you ... get an audience with him? [ without getting murdered. ]

I got curious, then I decided to send the man a message myself and see how he responds. Easier and less prone to be shot that way.

[ the behind the scenes secret that zarina doesn't plan on sharing is that she was intoxicated the whole time. liquid courage; she chuckles to herself for a brief moment. ]

That, and I didn't back down from it either. [ a shake of her head. there's no regret the slightest the more she recalls how the interview went and the man's reactions from certain words. ] Took me god knows how long until he finally agreed to just a bet — he's as stubborn as it gets.

[ ah yes, the pot calling the kettle black. ]

Ever wondered about them, the other killers?

[ this? rapt attention. were it anyone other than Zarina, Nancy'd probably be judging them fiercely - she should probably work on that whole 'initial benefit of the doubt' thing - but the reasoning is logical, and Zarina's guts are something to aspire to. ]

This is crazy. I don't know, I just - it seems so hard to believe that any of them could be rational. I mean, I realize that they're just as trapped here as us, but...

[ but. Nancy rolls a shoulder in a shrug, which is answer enough. of course she had, to an extent. ]

Edited 2020-10-25 00:36 (UTC)

[ there's a short pause from zarina, her throat letting out a low, soft hum. the way the other killers act where some make them bleed for pleasure — the laughter she recalls upon a bayonet's blade wounding her or electricity running through her whole body — while the others seem cold. quiet. at work.

zarina thinks of clark stevenson and his history, her neighborhood, the people... ]

Monsters aren't born, but you can raise them up to be. [ another pause. ] To be clear, I'm in no way excusing them for what they do to us — it's just that if I can have an actual conversation with one without dying, maybe there are some others who are open to talk too.

[ and then she remembers jed. ]

Or they could be lying. Depends on who it is.

Yeah. Maybe. [ probably. ] I don't know. It's hard to internalize the idea that some of these people could be reasoned with. There's no reasoning with the Demogorgon. It's simpler that way.

[ already zarina remembers exactly who the demogorgon is from her explanation the first time nancy and steve arrive. hmm. ]

The Demogorgon's definitely more animalistic. [ a nod of her head. ] And I get that. Some of them, though... maybe not exactly reason with, but at least speak to.

At least we know the cowboy can be. Sort of, that is. [ another thought comes to mind already: ] What do you think?

[ animalistic ... that's a word. it only twists her heart up the slightest bit, ushering in thoughts of Jonathan and the research they'd done to try to understand the Demogorgon, the way it behaved.

now she and it were here and who knows what was happening back in Hawkins... but she can't think about that, shoves it all away and refocuses on Zarina. ]

What do I think about the Deathslinger? He's an asshole. [ simple. there is a very small voice in the back of Nancy's head, the reasonable voice, that says it isn't actually that simple, but he laughs every time he downs her, something cold and cruel that sends a shudder up her spine, so. yeah, he's an asshole. ]

[ tmw she forgot to specify about the killers in general, but nancy's statement — she can't help but let out a short burst of a laugh. ]

He definitely is. [ a nod of her head, finger pressing against her own lips as her laughter dies down. ] The others, though — if you were given a chance to talk to them without dying, would you?

[ of course the kneejerk reaction is a resounding HELL NO, the realist in Nancy helpfully pointing out that the chances of something like that actually happening were slim to none. but she stops to actually consider the question since it's Zarina who's asking, even though there's a deep frown splashed across her face. ]

The Huntress, maybe. There's something about her ... I don't know, do you think she even knows how to speak? Maybe the Plague, but she smells like literal rot, and I don't think I could stomach it.

[ a hesitation, and then one last thing: ] And I'd like to ask the Doctor where he got his medical degree.

I actually tried looking around his office the last time I was there. Nothing to indicate where he came from or anything about his history except for paintings and books. The drawers of his desk were locked, too.

Couldn't find any more before I heard the sound of a chainsaw incoming.

[ despite the deathslinger being the cause of her eventual arrival in the entity's realm, zarina's curiosity eats her alive as she thinks of the other killers. the huntress, the plague, the doctor... everyone has a story behind the weapon they pick, right?

"You're a journalist, right? Sometimes people just want to be listened to."

jeff's words ring in her ear — she never forgets them, never forgets what drove her to nevada in the first place. she rubs the bottom of her chin in thought before looking towards nancy once again. ]

This probably isn't helping you relax at all, is it. Sorry about that. [ a shake of her head. ] And — do me the small favor of not telling the others about my work? It's a project I'm still working on.

Edited 2020-11-06 04:53 (UTC)

[ the locked drawers pique Nancy's interest. it seems like an interesting detail. the Entity had copied the Hawkins Lab like shit, but Zarina's observation has her wondering if the other realms are more accurate to their real life counterparts ... but that information resides with the realms' occupants, and therein lies the problem. she purses her lips, clearly lost in thought. ]

We should investigate. Locks can be picked, right?

[ she doesn't want to be caught by the Doctor ... but having something to do is the only thing that's going to keep Nancy sane in this place (and keep her from harassing the killers). ]

No. [ the #kneejerk Nancy move, to reassure and smooth it over with a smile. ] It's helping. [ Zarina helps. her presence, her confidence, the stability she provides in the Fog. that's comforting. ]

I won't say anything, don't worry.

[ everything that nancy says not only brings a smile to zarina's face, but cracks out a small grin at the thought of finding valuable information at the doctor's office. she likes it already — and is immediately reminded of herself.

investigative journalists do what they do best: check things out for themselves. ]

Just tell me when. I'm ready to go anytime so long as we aren't dragged into a trial.

[ investigative journalists do what they do best: getting into unnecessary trouble. but who else is she going to learn from here? Ghostface? HA.

she gets this look on her face, something like worry. ]

What are the chances that we get out there and then it whisks one of us off to a trial, leaving the other one alone?

[ no jed pls zarina is So Tired Of Jed. ]

No idea, but I wouldn't be surprised if it happens. [ a pause. ] It's why I tend to check things out by myself — wouldn't want to leave you behind if I'm taken first.

[ the thoughts of leaving nancy behind to deal with the doctor alone... already she doesn't like the idea. getting people hurt because of her ideas? she absolutely refuses. ]

Are you sure you want to continue despite all this?

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when u go in game to doublecheck doc's office

extracurricular queen xoxoxo

but of course 💃

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