interested taking in a puppy?
well, half-grown dog technically. but still pretty puppy-ish
[And he attaches a picture of the puppies in question.]
Laura and I are taking care of them right now
well, half-grown dog technically. but still pretty puppy-ish
[And he attaches a picture of the puppies in question.]
Laura and I are taking care of them right now
How about that drink? Before we're hit with something even worse.
Hello, my apologies for the delay in my reaching out, it seems the pairings were rather ill-timed with the arrival of the breach. I'm Gale, your assigned warden, and while I've come to understand that most don't seem to take much stock in the temporary assignments, I would still like to aid you however I may be able to.
[She doesn't answer immediately. In fact, she strongly considers throwing her communicator against the wall hard enough to shatter it, the better to have an excuse to completely ignore the existence of every warden on this fucking ship.
Unfortunately, ignoring them won't make them go away.]
I do not need anything, and I have no plans to go on a murder spree in the near future. Those are the things you want to hear, yes?
Unfortunately, ignoring them won't make them go away.]
I do not need anything, and I have no plans to go on a murder spree in the near future. Those are the things you want to hear, yes?
B raps smartly on Yelena's door. He's put aside any potential freak-out he might have, because he knows hers is going to be exponentially worse. And hers is going to have more rage, he's sure. Also, it definitely has not been enough time for him to read her file-- to check and make sure he had one, but not to read it. He doesn't even have it with him.
"Come on," he calls through the door. "We've got a date with the Enclosure."
Talking is not a thing he expect will happen very quickly. Maybe not even today, but he hopes so. So he goes with the next best thing that still involves her having to see him: obstacle courses to hurl yourself through.
"Come on," he calls through the door. "We've got a date with the Enclosure."
Talking is not a thing he expect will happen very quickly. Maybe not even today, but he hopes so. So he goes with the next best thing that still involves her having to see him: obstacle courses to hurl yourself through.
A happy bark greets his voice, quickly silenced. For a long moment, there's nothing, like she's silently counting down the seconds in hopes that he just leaves, and watching Mila's body language to see that he isn't.
"Fuck off," finally comes, curt and clear, and even with the closed and locked door between them, it carries with it the sense of a snarl, lips skinned back, teeth bared, feral.
"Fuck off," finally comes, curt and clear, and even with the closed and locked door between them, it carries with it the sense of a snarl, lips skinned back, teeth bared, feral.
Hey. I think we should talk.
So uh do I need to find some way to get exlax into your warden's morning coffee?
[Because that looked awkward and uncomfortable, to him, when he caught sight of them through the pool room windows. He'd been laying tile with Ye Zun for the new pool decoration and looking for anything else to look at besides bits of rock and cement to glue them down with.]
[Because that looked awkward and uncomfortable, to him, when he caught sight of them through the pool room windows. He'd been laying tile with Ye Zun for the new pool decoration and looking for anything else to look at besides bits of rock and cement to glue them down with.]
Late evening, and B is back to himself, and he's hustling to find Yelena, hoping she's still herself, too. He knows she met Rebecca, but that was at least a day ago now.
He tries her cabin first.
He tries her cabin first.
The first thing he might notice as he approaches her cabin is the small, unobtrusive bit of metal and glass mounted above the frame, positioned such that most people will not notice it at all, and those who do are likely to have very specific training.
Someone has jury-rigged a door camera.
His knock is met by a couple of happy barks, and when Yelena opens the door a moment later, Mila's right beside her to greet him, tail wagging happily.
"You're back," Yelena says, and if there's a hint of relief in her voice, it's probably because there's one less civilian around to be caught in any spate of violence driven by the latest flood.
Someone has jury-rigged a door camera.
His knock is met by a couple of happy barks, and when Yelena opens the door a moment later, Mila's right beside her to greet him, tail wagging happily.
"You're back," Yelena says, and if there's a hint of relief in her voice, it's probably because there's one less civilian around to be caught in any spate of violence driven by the latest flood.
Hi Yelena. No need to answer this right away - I figure if it's a "don't talk to B" day, then that counts for me, too.
But I just wanted to check in with you. I'll even throw in some cookies or fresh bread, if you prefer the excuse.
But I just wanted to check in with you. I'll even throw in some cookies or fresh bread, if you prefer the excuse.
[Several minutes after this.]
I'm sick of getting talked over and gaslit so I'm not sticking around over there, but I didn't want to leave you on read.
I'm sick of getting talked over and gaslit so I'm not sticking around over there, but I didn't want to leave you on read.
[ someone is in Zero and he's bored. So about thirty minutes after Yelena makes her opinion known, Hilbert will message her with a, ]
You know, there is very interesting feature of these devices. You can make a post locked to wardens or locked to inmates. Something I am sure you already knew, but something Bright deliberately did not do with that network post of his.
Long way of saying you were right to chastise him.
You know, there is very interesting feature of these devices. You can make a post locked to wardens or locked to inmates. Something I am sure you already knew, but something Bright deliberately did not do with that network post of his.
Long way of saying you were right to chastise him.
That would be too small an audience for all the grandstanding, and he might have to actually listen to something other than the sound of his own voice.
B said you were in Zero. Do you need anything? A book to pass the time, since the selection down there is terrible?
B said you were in Zero. Do you need anything? A book to pass the time, since the selection down there is terrible?
[ she's deeply distracted by thoughts of the breach and how the Barge has been testing her staying straight ever since Dreykov made his appearance in place of Yelena. now she's back to questioning if she really was that person she fought so hard to become. or if there's still that dark side that she will never be able to shake.
it takes her some time to reach out, but when she does, it's a new text message that chimes on her sister's device. ]
Doing okay after that breach?
it takes her some time to reach out, but when she does, it's a new text message that chimes on her sister's device. ]
Doing okay after that breach?
No, but nothing in this place is ever okay.
[There will definitely be new nightmares coming out of this, to mingle with the old, familiar ones. Being someone else is bad enough. Being something else is a whole new brand of horror.]
Are you? Was this your first, or just your first since being back?
[There will definitely be new nightmares coming out of this, to mingle with the old, familiar ones. Being someone else is bad enough. Being something else is a whole new brand of horror.]
Are you? Was this your first, or just your first since being back?
is the spider from you?
[Guess who's up, Yelena?]
[Guess who's up, Yelena?]
[ natasha has checked in with yelena several times over the week and they'd been successful with that contact until the very last day when every attempt at contact was left undelivered.
que the concern. natasha starts a more hands on search, while continuing to call, muttering under her breath: ]
Come on, pick up. Goddamnit, Yelena, where are you?
que the concern. natasha starts a more hands on search, while continuing to call, muttering under her breath: ]
Come on, pick up. Goddamnit, Yelena, where are you?
[Since the wee hours of the morning, every attempt to reach Yelena by voice or video call has been met with a grating cacophony, the bastard child of modem shrieking and demonic wailing.
This time, there's a sharp, high-pitched whine, then Yelena's voice, garbled and punctuated by static, but with the bones, at least, of her familiar voicemail greeting.]
This time, there's a sharp, high-pitched whine, then Yelena's voice, garbled and punctuated by static, but with the bones, at least, of her familiar voicemail greeting.]
[Walter had been pretty touched that Erskine actually wondered how he was doing, and when he contrasted it with Yelena's meticulous reports that went cold right towards the end of the shitshow, he found himself a little worried. Felt bad that he'd gotten inside his head and not reached out earlier. So... now? He's going for it now. Alright.]
So hey. Just letting you know the library is running a movie delivery service, courtesy of: me.
So hey. Just letting you know the library is running a movie delivery service, courtesy of: me.
New phase of pop culture outreach?
[There's a slight, raspy edge to her voice. By this point, it doesn't sound like much more than a cold - if it weren't for the fact that people don't appear to get colds on the Barge. Or any other sort of mundane illness, for that matter.]
[There's a slight, raspy edge to her voice. By this point, it doesn't sound like much more than a cold - if it weren't for the fact that people don't appear to get colds on the Barge. Or any other sort of mundane illness, for that matter.]
[Shortly after this conversation...]
Hi Yelena. Turns out we were right, the Capn definitely did not have the Admiral's okay to pick us up. Now the Admiral is coming after us.
I just wanted to give you a heads up because I have no idea what's going to happen when he gets here, and I want to make sure you keep Mila close, just in case.
Hi Yelena. Turns out we were right, the Capn definitely did not have the Admiral's okay to pick us up. Now the Admiral is coming after us.
I just wanted to give you a heads up because I have no idea what's going to happen when he gets here, and I want to make sure you keep Mila close, just in case.
Of course you know what is going to happen. Someone will do something stupid, a lot of people will die, and the Admiral will bring us back to torture some more. Unless this ship blows the Barge into matchsticks.
[There's a pause, and then she follows up with:]
I think maybe some of our people will be rooting for that outcome.
[There's a pause, and then she follows up with:]
I think maybe some of our people will be rooting for that outcome.
B is quick to get out the door after Jedao calls him, using the locator map in his notebook to track down where Yelena managed to hide. He starts out at a run, but slows to a walk when he approaches, ready with a metal arm to block any potential attacks. If the memory potion hasn't worn off yet, depending on how complete the loss is, she probably won't know who he is.
He puts the notebook away a few meters away from where the little dot in the map is and says, "Yelena?"
She might not even know her name. He doesn't know. But it's better too announce your presence to a frightened assassin than to not, he knows.
He puts the notebook away a few meters away from where the little dot in the map is and says, "Yelena?"
She might not even know her name. He doesn't know. But it's better too announce your presence to a frightened assassin than to not, he knows.
She's hiding in the library. Not out of any recollection of the time she's spent here, or the fact that some of the people she would call friend if she even remembered the word visit frequently, but because there's room to manoeuvre, ample cover, and options for vertical escape that she hasn't found elsewhere in this trap.
She doesn't respond to B's voice. The name - at least she assumes it's a name - means nothing to her. But he's here, and he's free, and he's looking for someone, which makes him more dangerous than the other people she's so far managed to avoid entirely. She edges away from the voice, around one of the wide shelves, attempting to circle around behind him.
She doesn't know why she's the kind of person who carries concealed knives, but they fit her hand comfortably.
She doesn't respond to B's voice. The name - at least she assumes it's a name - means nothing to her. But he's here, and he's free, and he's looking for someone, which makes him more dangerous than the other people she's so far managed to avoid entirely. She edges away from the voice, around one of the wide shelves, attempting to circle around behind him.
She doesn't know why she's the kind of person who carries concealed knives, but they fit her hand comfortably.
[ Vincent is brief as ever. ]
If you have a moment, I'd like your help picking out an outfit that'll fit in.
[ Does he know she's from an Earth? Or is it that she tends to go around wearing clothes that look more suited to the current outside? ...Well, not all of it. But there's a wide variety out there and it definitely looks nothing like what Vincent Valentine wears. ]
If you have a moment, I'd like your help picking out an outfit that'll fit in.
[ Does he know she's from an Earth? Or is it that she tends to go around wearing clothes that look more suited to the current outside? ...Well, not all of it. But there's a wide variety out there and it definitely looks nothing like what Vincent Valentine wears. ]
[B gives her an hour and a half to cool down after this conversation before texting:]
you okay?
need somewhere to hit something?
you okay?
need somewhere to hit something?
I'm trapped on a prison ship full of smug fucking assholes who think rights are something that are given top down out of sheer fucking magnanimity. What do you think?
[There's a brief pause, then another message.]
Unless that something is Arthur Lester's face, not really.
[She's probably joking. Maybe. Mostly.]
I could maybe go for one of your obstacle courses, though.
[There's a brief pause, then another message.]
Unless that something is Arthur Lester's face, not really.
[She's probably joking. Maybe. Mostly.]
I could maybe go for one of your obstacle courses, though.
I read your exchange with Saga on the network. It was an excellent summation of my own doubts.
hi can you come over?
[Chase has agonized over what to say and that sounds awfully abrupt, but he can't talk about this over text. He adds a couple seconds later:]
I already have snacks here so you don't need to bring any
[There's still like six cookies left even though he's already eaten several himself. And he doesn't know if she's going to want any, anyway. If she'll still want to even talk to him now. He just doesn't know. But if she brings more food he won't know what to do with it.]
[Chase has agonized over what to say and that sounds awfully abrupt, but he can't talk about this over text. He adds a couple seconds later:]
I already have snacks here so you don't need to bring any
[There's still like six cookies left even though he's already eaten several himself. And he doesn't know if she's going to want any, anyway. If she'll still want to even talk to him now. He just doesn't know. But if she brings more food he won't know what to do with it.]
Text, backdated to the day Wen Ning semi-announced the graduation
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
worthallthis
2025-05-04 03:18 am (UTC)(link)
hey. Steve's made some extra cupcakes we can share somewhere if you're in the mood
[Given the timing, she can guess what this is about. On the one hand, she's not certain she wants to talk about it with B, of all people.
On the other hand, cupcakes.]
What kind of cupcakes?
On the other hand, cupcakes.]
What kind of cupcakes?
Re: Text, backdated to the day Wen Ning semi-announced the graduation
worthallthis
- 2025-05-04 06:04 (UTC) - ExpandRe: Text, backdated to the day Wen Ning semi-announced the graduation
musicdied
- 2025-05-04 06:15 (UTC) - ExpandRe: Text, backdated to the day Wen Ning semi-announced the graduation
worthallthis
- 2025-05-05 02:30 (UTC) - ExpandSome strictly fictional gunfire for tonight, Walter had said when he invited Yelena over for the evening to watch The Thin Man. That's just kind of a thing people watch when they want to... spend time with someone. Right? Such things had started to happen more frequently in the past month ever since Walter requested his cabin be made to resemble a hotel room he'd visited in the past, complete with a magical mini fridge - the sweet contents of which might be combined with liquor that Yelena brought over.
At some point as the dialogue about debauchery in the movie should seem to make it natural, he'll say it: "... Sometimes the wardens will come out and say it, just get over yourself and get in bed with someone," he says, chopping the air. "All the more power to anyone who has, but it's not something I'm particularly interested in." And yet he's being bizarrely bold to mention the topic at all.
At some point as the dialogue about debauchery in the movie should seem to make it natural, he'll say it: "... Sometimes the wardens will come out and say it, just get over yourself and get in bed with someone," he says, chopping the air. "All the more power to anyone who has, but it's not something I'm particularly interested in." And yet he's being bizarrely bold to mention the topic at all.
"Get over yourself by getting under someone else?" Yelena asks, eyebrows lifting a little. "I have never heard that particular variation before, but it would fit this place."
She hasn't missed the sheer number of hookups going on across the Barge. She can't say she's really surprised by them, either - the alternating stagnation and violent chaos couldn't be more conducive to it if it were by design. She takes a sip of her drink - she'd brought rum, today, the better to mix with cola - eyeing him over the rim of the glass.
"Did someone actually tell you to just go out and get laid?"
She hasn't missed the sheer number of hookups going on across the Barge. She can't say she's really surprised by them, either - the alternating stagnation and violent chaos couldn't be more conducive to it if it were by design. She takes a sip of her drink - she'd brought rum, today, the better to mix with cola - eyeing him over the rim of the glass.
"Did someone actually tell you to just go out and get laid?"
Hey can I crash at your place tonight? Or at least come over and get into your stash of booze?
[A pause, then:]
You didn't die, right? you're okay?
[A pause, then:]
You didn't die, right? you're okay?
You can crash with me if you want. If I'm not there when you get to my cabin, you can let yourself in. You're on my filters.
[He's the only person on her filters, aside from B, who's there by default as her permanent warden.
I'm fine. Just getting something from the dining hall. I'll bring two plates.
[He's the only person on her filters, aside from B, who's there by default as her permanent warden.
I'm fine. Just getting something from the dining hall. I'll bring two plates.
It's a day after John and Sokie's wedding and Laura makes a plan after getting up to rustle up some ingredients and make a few pizza's at Will's cabin where Sweeney was staying. They aren't anything fancy. One was a margherita. Another was a salami type meat with mushrooms and onions. The last, a simple pepperoni.
When they were all done, she set them on a wooden cutting board and headed over to Yelena's and with a few short raps on her door, she waited.
"Yelena, it's me, Laura. I hope you're hungry!"
She really was taking a chance that maybe she wasn't.
When they were all done, she set them on a wooden cutting board and headed over to Yelena's and with a few short raps on her door, she waited.
"Yelena, it's me, Laura. I hope you're hungry!"
She really was taking a chance that maybe she wasn't.
There's no sound on the other side of the door before it opens - Mila's off on a play date, out of sheer serendipity. Yelena herself looks like she's just gotten back from a workout, dressed down, with shower-damp hair twisted up so it doesn't drip down her neck.
"That is a lot of food," she notes with a little grin, though there's a flicker of concern through her eyes when she adds, "What's the occasion?"
Has she forgotten something important in the mental haze she's still pulling out of?
"That is a lot of food," she notes with a little grin, though there's a flicker of concern through her eyes when she adds, "What's the occasion?"
Has she forgotten something important in the mental haze she's still pulling out of?
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