David Cain (
anewlanguage) wrote2013-10-09 05:03 pm
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[PRIVATE to DEAN and IRIS]
Bring me up to date on these murders. I was assuming they're like all the other slash and run numbers we get when it's too quiet, but sounds like people are all on edge about this one.
[PUBLIC]
Hey, kitchen staff, I say we get a little festive.
As a globe trotter, I don't really put much meaning to seasons; one hemisphere's fall is another one's scorcher, and all. But hell, maybe it'd help calm down the psychopaths if they had something regimented to focus on. They had some bullshit program like that in the prison I landed myself in back home.
Bring me up to date on these murders. I was assuming they're like all the other slash and run numbers we get when it's too quiet, but sounds like people are all on edge about this one.
[PUBLIC]
Hey, kitchen staff, I say we get a little festive.
As a globe trotter, I don't really put much meaning to seasons; one hemisphere's fall is another one's scorcher, and all. But hell, maybe it'd help calm down the psychopaths if they had something regimented to focus on. They had some bullshit program like that in the prison I landed myself in back home.
[spam. later]
Once he has Ned settled, he heads out, and he knocks twice before he walks in.]
Still up?
[spam. later]
Been asleep for hours, can't you tell? I'm doing Ned's Lassiebot. 'Cause slamming the door after an 'orse's arse is me favourite 'obby.
[She tries and fails not to sound bitter; and she tries not to ask how Ned is, because she knows the answer.]
Ned settled, is 'e?
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As settled as he can be. He's safe, but I don't know if he feels like he is yet. It'll be a rough time for him, we'll see how he pulls out of it.
And I need t'hear you say something. For me.
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She doesn't want to think about Ned any more and perhaps that's selfish of her; but they've done all they can. It wasn't and might never be enough, but that can't be helped; especially here and now.]
I 'ate to say it, but that boy needs to learn to guard 'is borders. What? I'll recite Jabberwocky in Ancient Martian standing on me 'ead if it makes you 'appy.
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So, like Iris, he just sets that aside for now. His hand gently cups her jaw and turns her face up to his, baring her throat.]
Say 'What happened to Ned wasn't my fault'.
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Jabberwocky might be easier.
[But it's not a real protest, and she lets her head rest against him.]
What 'appened to Ned weren't our fault.
[Keep her at it and she might start believing it, in time.]
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You wanna try it like you're convincing me?
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'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves... no, all right.
[She reaches for his hand then, and holds onto it, carefully feeling along the bones, the tendons and calluses.]
I know it weren't. Even if I'd stopped it, 'e were threatening Ned's dog; I might've saved Ned, I might even 'ave saved meself, but I couldn't've managed Digby as well. So it were for the best. I'm very angry.
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[He moves around, pulls her up, and moves them to the bed where they can be face to face.]
So what do we do instead?
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I usually do. Right now I only wouldn't let you do it for your sake. I told you once, the best revenge is living well; I did mean it. We 'ad a version of Lecter 'ere once before: graduated. So I 'ave to believe this one can.
[She twists her hands, very deliberately, into the fabric of his shirt and pulls, sudden and violently, hard enough to pop buttons loose.]
Oops.
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You are the real reason I thank God and my old sergeant I know how to sew.
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I'm a force for chaos and destruction by nature, I'm afraid. I can put this anger away. I keep it stashed for emergencies, you know; it's a brain thing. I 'it Victor between the eyes with it once; 'e didn't 'alf howl. I've seen you do summat like it.
[He knows how she works, possibly better than any human she's ever encountered. Definitely better than most - no, than any - Time Lords, and that's both bizarre and excruciatingly precious to her.]
...I saw 'im call you a contradiction. You setting yourself up as bait, are you?
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I can't wrap my head around which contradictions he spotted. But no. He wants to take a swing at me I'll cut his arms off, but otherwise I doubt we'll share space anywhere.
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[It hadn't convinced her either, but it would have if she hadn't known him.
And then she giggles.]
...aye, I don't s'pose 'e'll be working in the kitchen any time soon.
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[Maybe that's the contradiction, then: Cain is bored, is sick to death, of serial killers, of people to fight. But on the other hand he's curious about their unique skillsets and characteristics--and he's not entirely sure why. Sadism, perhaps; there is a part of him that wants to use everything he finds against Hannibal and people like him.
It always simmers back down, though. He's done more than enough to fuck with people in his sixty-odd years. He has no real intention of doing anything to Hannibal, unless the man is stupid enough to go after Cain or someone Cain protects.
...And leave it to Iris to break him out of his thoughts with a joke, especially a sick one. He, of course, laughs with her, and means it.]
Not while I'm there. Lord knows I already can't stand organ meat, let alone whatever he throws on the grill as penance.
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[She's speaking of herself here, more than Cain; but she's recognised the signs. Curiosity, abstract and catholic, has been Iris' lifeblood all her life and she's familiar with all its flavours - the shrewd, investigative Cain she watched speaking to Hannibal is a new one on her and perhaps, she suspects, on him too.
Not that it hasn't always been in him; but she rather thinks it's always been turned to whatever end he had in view. Possibly it's a surprise to him to find that out of all the tools turned to his trade, this one's still ready to his hand.]
...It's one of the few things I don't like so much 'ere. No real scope for investigating. Finding out 'ow people work, though. That's never not fun.
[She laughs too, and runs her fingernails from the base of his ribcage around to his back.]
I like a nice bit of liver meself. I'm rather glad I weren't in the infirmary when 'e did 'is food run.
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On the Barge it's not about that. He could protect people, yes; but he can't necessarily stop Hannibal. He's accepted that. It's how the Barge works, and it makes all of this feel very new, like it's his first serial killer.]
Hah! I wonder if you would've seen through him. I bet he had some significant tells, handing out those dinner trays.
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...I could find out. Maybe. People 'ere are funny about being hypnotised; can't blame 'em. But I can see exactly what they saw. If they let me.
...would I? Maybe. I always did think 'e were creepy.
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I don't 'ave to ask anyone. But I do. I've been on the wrong end of it too often not to. Any road, I don't mean 'im. I'm not going in there. I were thinking of the people who saw 'im. You know all the things you don't remember you see? Except you do, of course; you just don't think about 'em. They're all still there. Know your way round a mind, you can unreel 'em frame by frame like an old movie.
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I can't see them turning down some help if it'd mean keeping this from happening again.
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She doesn't think she envies Ned that. He wears it like an albatross.]
I can ask. Might come in 'andy for 'is warden, when 'e gets one. I bet you there'll be no takers, though.
[She snorts in brief laughter.]
...Babs is always griping about 'ow surveillance cameras don't work 'ere too.
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...Come to that, you've got to 'ave seen 'im in the kitchens. Want to fast-forward back over that, see if owt jumps out?
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