They don’t need explained, those numbers. Mark’s seen things like them before, in history books. His father had been such a history buff, and so there were plenty of ‘primary source’ resources in their house growing up. So of course his mind flashes to the most obvious parallel in his own world, the one most people would come up with. And then his mind leaps to something else, something other people wouldn’t think of.
17-E-5-L5. He knew how traumatized that had left him. Imagining it marked on his skin would have made him sick. Of course they never would have been able to do it, because they had tested him around people who could heal, so the tattoo would have been lost if they had tried.
That said, he has to think that Huvrye has a date with someone good with ink in the future if he wants it. But that isn’t what he is going to say now.
“Huvrye, I’m going to say something that is going to sound like absolute insanity right now, but I need you to answer me seriously, okay? Because there’s a point to it. I hear everything you’re saying, and don’t get me wrong, we’re going to take the time and unpack the clearly fascist dystopia you grew up in, and how people are never property, and so many other things, but for the moment, I need you to take the next thing I say very seriously, okay?”
He gives it a moment, gives Huvrye the chance to think about the request from Mark. And then he goes forward with it.
“I’ve introduced you to coffee a few different ways. What’s your favorite kind of coffee so far? Remember, think seriously before you answer. And think about why it’s your favorite.”
CW: dehumanization and Nazi imagery (discussed and approved beforehand) [Confirmed prior approval]
17-E-5-L5. He knew how traumatized that had left him. Imagining it marked on his skin would have made him sick. Of course they never would have been able to do it, because they had tested him around people who could heal, so the tattoo would have been lost if they had tried.
That said, he has to think that Huvrye has a date with someone good with ink in the future if he wants it. But that isn’t what he is going to say now.
“Huvrye, I’m going to say something that is going to sound like absolute insanity right now, but I need you to answer me seriously, okay? Because there’s a point to it. I hear everything you’re saying, and don’t get me wrong, we’re going to take the time and unpack the clearly fascist dystopia you grew up in, and how people are never property, and so many other things, but for the moment, I need you to take the next thing I say very seriously, okay?”
He gives it a moment, gives Huvrye the chance to think about the request from Mark. And then he goes forward with it.
“I’ve introduced you to coffee a few different ways. What’s your favorite kind of coffee so far? Remember, think seriously before you answer. And think about why it’s your favorite.”