[19:38] * Rembrandt_Hauer arrives just outside Tamara's room in the afternoon. He clears his throat and knocks on her door.
[19:45] <Tamara_Ushakov> "The door is unlocked," Tamara shouts from inside. Her dorm room is fairly spartan, though a couch and modest television have been set up in the living area. The adjacent kitchenette smells like popcorn and burnt popcorn, Tamara's first attempt at using the microwave is sitting in the trash. "Good afternoon Remmy," she says cheerfully as she leans against the countertop and the microwave hums and counts down behind her.
[19:51] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "Hey Tam." He enters her room and sniffs. "What's that? Burnt something?" He asks as he traces the smell to the source of it. He peers down, poking through the trash till he quickly spots the burnt popcorn which causes him to frown. "First time Tamara?" He smiles at her.
[19:59] <Tamara_Ushakov> "Yes. I did some research and popcorn is a required element to the movie-watching." She nods sagely. The microwave beeps at her and Tamara removes the packet from it. She pours the popcorn, unburnt, into a bowl and passes that to Rembrandt. With a hand on the counter-top she makes her way over towards the couch on shaky legs. She is wearing blue bermuda shorts and a white t-shirt one-size too large. "I acquired 'Casablanca' for
[19:59] <Tamara_Ushakov> today"
[20:06] * Rembrandt_Hauer takes the bowl and tries out the buttery snack. "Hey..this isn't bad at all." He sets the bowl down on the arm rest of the couch and helps her to her seat. He wore his standard black blazer over a plain grey shirt with dark blue jeans as he always does. "Casablanca.." He mutters with an air of recognition, "why does that name sound familiar? I think one of the staff might've mentioned it a...
[20:06] * Rembrandt_Hauer ...while back.."
[20:13] * Tamara_Ushakov thanks Rembrandt as she parks herself on the couch. She wordlessly removes her prosthetics and then throws the blanket she had kept on the couch over her lap and legs. "It's a classic," Tamara says with mock indignation. She takes the remote and turns on the TV. The old thing takes a moment to resolve the picture properly, but it seems that the movie is in the player and ready to go. "Anyways, you should pay attention to
[20:13] <Tamara_Ushakov> Humphrey Bogart's character."
[20:24] * Rembrandt_Hauer takes the bowl of popcorn and places it between them on the couch. He leans back on the couch, arms spread and elbows rested on top of the couch. "Whoa..this is in black and white? This must be *old*..!"
[20:30] <Tamara_Ushakov> "Yeah, it's a piece of pre-Impact history. It was filmed during the great war prior to that. Won a lot of awards." Tamara says before popping some of the popcorn into her mouth.
[20:34] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "Hm..you like this kind of stuff, Tam?"
[20:37] <Tamara_Ushakov> "Yeah, NERV Moscow had a big library of old films on microfilm so I watched a lot of these," Tamara explains, her eyes glued to the TV screen.
[20:39] * Rembrandt_Hauer watches the movie as it plays along, a casual expression on his face. "But aren't they old Tam? Why watch them when there's newer films? Eh.."
[20:43] * Tamara_Ushakov turns to look at Rembrandt, "I like these old films though, they're from before the world was irreparably broken. Casablanca, the city, must be underwater now you know."
[20:47] * Rembrandt_Hauer looks at Tamara back. "That's true.. I've never really thought about it that way since I was never... born before it happened." He scratches his scarred nose and turns his attention back to the movie.
[21:03] * Tamara_Ushakov goes back to the movie as well, appreciating it in silence
[21:08] * Rembrandt_Hauer follows along the movie for the whole length. His initial disinterest at first melted more and more as each scene passed. He'd stopped eating the popcorn, apparently forgetting it and everything else in the room entirely until the movie ended. He sat there, staring at the screen, blinking.
[21:11] <Tamara_Ushakov> Tamara mechanically chomps her way through the popcorn bowl during the movie, similarly entranced by it. Once the credits have scrolled by and the music died down, she pokes Rembrandt's shoulder. "So you like that 'old movie'?" she teases him, grinning
[21:14] * Rembrandt_Hauer turns to face her. "Well, yes..but why didn't he stay with her? He ah, loved her, right?"
[21:22] <Tamara_Ushakov> "He did, even after she broke his heart in France. I think the point is that he loves her enough to send her to safety."
[21:24] *** Havicus1 is now known as Havicus.
[21:29] * Rembrandt_Hauer ponders on her words for a moment, tapping his chin. "Love can do that?"
[21:35] <Rembrandt_Hauer> (oh hi lydia. don't mind us, we're just sitting on the couch, cuddling in each other's arms)
[21:35] <Rembrandt_Hauer> (with a blanket wrapped over us)
[21:36] <Tamara_Ushakov> "Love is a highly illogical force, people do all sorts of things in its name," Tamara says with a shrug
[21:38] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "Hm..well, I would've done the same thing in the ending..really.."
[21:39] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "And it doesn't have to be love."
[21:41] <Tamara_Ushakov> "Well, Laszlo does have a very important job to do. I suppose duty is an important motivating force as well."
[21:43] <Tamara_Ushakov> "Especially for us, huh?"
[21:44] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "I'd choose friendship over love, if I had to.."
[21:48] <Tamara_Ushakov> "Are those things that far apart?" she asks, shifting in the couch so that she's facing Rembrandt. Her knees are drawn up to her chest under the blanket.
[21:52] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "Well.. well I'm not really qualified to answer that but..hm."
[21:53] * Rembrandt_Hauer sits forward on the couch, leaning and placing his elbows on his knees with his cheeks rested on closed fists in a contemplative position.
[22:00] <Tamara_Ushakov> "Haha. Well, neither am I. I don't think asking the doctors and officers is a good idea either. They'd just pry further into it." Tamara leans against the arm-rest. "So, what's the deal with you and Lydia?"
[22:00] <Tamara_Ushakov> 'Very smooth Tamara,' she thinks and cringes.
[22:04] <Havicus> (So.. proceed..)
[22:04] <Havicus> (*steeples fingers*)
[22:07] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "Lydia? Oh, we've known each other since we were young. We actually lived in seperate facilities, but we got to visit each other once or twice.. and..yeah. Why do you ask?"
[22:09] * Tamara_Ushakov stares at Rembrandt, "Come on man..."
[22:12] <Tamara_Ushakov> "She's obviously interested in you," she blurts
[22:14] <Rembrandt_Hauer> (*disc scratch*)
[22:16] * Rembrandt_Hauer freezes up. He starts to turn red in the cheeks. "Lydia..?"
[22:17] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "Oh, you uh, you must be kidding, right? Hah..hah.."
[22:20] * Tamara_Ushakov gives Rembrandt the most icy, stoic, stereotypically Neo-Soviet look she can muster. "Well, I'm not an awful judge of character. I strongly believe she is."
[22:22] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "Now hold on..she's, well she's like a little sister to me Tamara..what makes you so uh, sure she's.. you know? I mean if she did she would've just came up and told me..right?"
[22:23] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "Are you sure you're not just mistaking things..?"
[22:25] <Tamara_Ushakov> "Perhaps. Perhaps not. People tend not to be forthcoming about these sorts of things. And if she is, I can't really blame her."
[22:27] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "What's that supposed to mean, Tam?"
[22:28] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "What makes you think she likes me anyway?"
[22:30] * Tamara_Ushakov waves off her comment. "Nothing, nothing." She rests her hands on her knees. "It's just the way she talks with you, looks at you, those little social cues, you know? But hey, maybe I'm wrong and she's just looking up to you as her brother."
[22:31] *** jinxtrap`out is now known as jinxtrap.
[22:34] * Rembrandt_Hauer shakes his head, "I don't know whether to hope you're wrong or not." He stood up and stretched his arms. "First I hear you like me, and now this.."
[22:39] <Tamara_Ushakov> "Well, I was warned that growing up would be difficult. Honestly I'd rather fight an Angel than figure these things out." Tamara finds something on the ceiling very interesting
[22:41] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "What do I do, Tamara? What do I do?"
[22:41] <Havicus> (doushio)
[22:43] <Rembrandt_Hauer> (que?)
[22:45] * Tamara_Ushakov snorts as if told a funny joke. "I already told you I don't know. You think of her as a sister, you said. What do you think of me?"
[22:46] <Rembrandt_Hauer> (oh snap)
[22:46] <Havicus> (Heaven or Hell, Rembrandt.)
[22:49] * Tamara_Ushakov looks away from the ceiling, staring at Rembrandt with her slighty-unfocused brown eyes and waits for a response.
[22:54] * Rembrandt_Hauer sat down next to her, twisting to face her and resting his arm closest to Tamara on the top of the couch. He stares back at her, and then smiles. "We've been through a lot together, Tamara. You hold a place in my heart."
[22:58] * Tamara_Ushakov blinks at Rembrandt, before she frowns. Tamara removes the pillow from behind her and throws it at Rembrandt's face. "Duh. That's a pretty bullshit answer."
[23:02] * Rembrandt_Hauer deflects the pillow instinctively. "Wha..what's wrong Tamara? You asked me what I think and I said it..right?" He blinked, ""I don't quite understand.."
[23:06] * Tamara_Ushakov realizes she's frowning and puts her emotionless facade back up. "Your answer doesn't really explain the nature of your feelings."
[23:07] <Rembrandt_Hauer> (you're confusing the poor boy)
[23:07] <Rembrandt_Hauer> (what can change the nature of a man?)
[23:09] <Havicus> (I'm investing in Interrogation.)
[23:10] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "Erm.." Maybe she wanted something different? Let's try this.. "Well okay.. I think you're a great person. I really admire your dedication."
[23:13] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "I've never really thought of anything else but to protect you as best I can, especially after that incident."
[23:13] * Tamara_Ushakov blinks at Rembrandt, absorbing the compliment like any of those given to her by a superior officer.
[23:15] * Tamara_Ushakov looks away uncomfortably.
[23:19] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "Does that help? I'm sorry if I'm doing it wrong."
[23:19] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "I'm just not entirely sure how I should feel. I've never thought about it."
[23:22] <Rembrandt_Hauer> (you're confusing the poor boy)
[23:22] <ktforg> (you're terrible at getting laid, remmy)
[23:22] <ktforg> (remember, lie early and lie often!)
[23:23] <Rembrandt_Hauer> (but he's attractive because he's fearless and dives right into things)
[23:24] <ktforg> (then why is he dancing about here? =p)
[23:25] * Tamara_Ushakov sighs and shakes her head, her long brown hair flipping back and forth. "I don't need someone to protect me Remmy." She delivers the next line carefully, keeping any bitterness out of her voice. "I'm not that crippled."
[23:27] * Rembrandt_Hauer places a hand on her shoulder. "I didn't say that."
[23:30] * Tamara_Ushakov leans her head, resting it on his hand, and keeping her brown eyes fixed on Rembrandt. She grunts, "That was out of line, sorry. I'm good at reading third parties, but I'm still not sure about myself, or you."
[23:35] * Rembrandt_Hauer lets her rest against his hand. "It's alright, Tam. I think you're more sure about yourself and me, than I am with any of this."
[23:36] * Rembrandt_Hauer stares into her. "You look nice like this."
[23:41] * Tamara_Ushakov absorbs that compliment as well, though she blushes a little. Her cheek is warm against the back of Remmy's hand. "I'm less sure than you think... Well, I'm sure we can muddle through this together."
[23:47] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "We'll figure it out, Tam. We'll figure it out."
[23:55] * Tamara_Ushakov raises her head and removes Rembrandt's hand from her shoulder. "Sorry, you can have your hand back," she jokes half-heartedly.
[00:01] * Rembrandt_Hauer blushes, "Oh! Uh..that's alright.." He mutters, with what seems to be just a little teeny bit of disappointment in his voice. He pulled his hand back. "I.. I guess I should probably get going now, anyway. Work out and all." He gets up and heads for the door and pauses halfway. "Thanks for showing me the movie Tamara. I enjoyed it."
[00:05] <Rembrandt_Hauer> ("my heart.. why is it beating so fast?")
[00:06] * Tamara_Ushakov nods slowly. "I suppose so." She watches Rembrandt as he walks away, not leaving her place on the couch. "Good to know. I'll try to pick something newer for next time."
[00:11] <Rembrandt_Hauer> "Bye." He says just before closing the door on his way out. He stood just outside her door and looked at his hand that Tamara rested on. Then he gently pressed it against his cheek. And again. And again.
[00:13] <Rembrandt_Hauer> (well that's that for me)
[00:14] * Tamara_Ushakov pulls her knees tight against her chest and sinks into the couch and thought. She continues watching the door after it closes.