(no subject)

[anewlanguage]

Hey, if you don't learn anything else from this, at least you'll come out knowing who likes you and who really wants to melt you in a microwave.

[He's choosing to laugh at all this because otherwise it's horrifying.]

Yeah speaking of: what's been done to you lot so far?

Comments

[private]

[routemistress]

[So smug she can't even.]

Babs 'as got mine.

[neverfeltbetter]

So, you're a silver lining kind of guy?

I can't complain too much personally, I got off with mostly mild annoyances.

[Cat scratches and pinching for the most part.]

[private]

[anewlanguage]

It'd be nosy of me to ask details.

[He's asking for them with his smile, with the subtle lift of his eyebrows.]

[anewlanguage]

Yeah, you could say that. It's a trick I picked up to keep from losing my mind back home.

Whose doll did you have?

[neverfeltbetter]

I hear you on that one.

[No really. Why do you think half the shit he says sounds like a joke? He's gotta laugh or he'd just far apart in tears.]

I ended up with two. That walking glow stick Derek Powers was the first one. After that Ceres' showed up.

[private]

[routemistress]

It absolutely would. I'll ask 'er to pass it on to you, shall I?

[She almost said and then I'll award points, but she almost regretted it last time she got him feeling competitive.

Almost.]

[anewlanguage]

[And with his training, he's noticed some of that. He gives him a small smile. And then a playful grimace]

Ceres--hope you treated hers well or she'll try to gut you.

[private]

[anewlanguage]

Maybe. Maybe I'll pay her a visit and see what two sets of hands can do!

[filtered/visible Babs too]

[routemistress]

[Iris doesn't say yes, but the highpitched noise of combined excitement and apprehension and the way her eyes light up say it pretty clearly for her.]

Where'd you want me?

[In reach or not?]

[neverfeltbetter]

Don't worry, she took most of it out on my desk lamp.

Did you end up with one at all?

[filtered/visible Babs too]

[bodilesswarrior]

I think we should start long-distance.

[filtered/visible Babs too]

[anewlanguage]

I'm thinking so. Let her guess what we're up to.

[anewlanguage]

Not that I could tell. Lucked out on that one, probably means I'm in for it double next flood.

What was it like?

[filtered/visible Babs too]

[routemistress]

...You expect me to talk? 'Ave you two met me?

[neverfeltbetter]

Which part? Receiving or giving? I honestly can't say which one disturbed me more. I'd like to think I'm not a naturally violent guy, but hurting those dolls, and by extension their owners, that felt...good.

[And now it makes him feel dirty.]

[anewlanguage]

[Cain wouldn't think anything of a response like that from most people, but he can see the hesitance.]

Did you discover part of you likes revenge this flood?

[neverfeltbetter]

Revenge implies that they did something against me first. They didn't. I'd never even spoken to Powers before this.

[He doesn't like revenge; he won't be like Scorpius!]

[anewlanguage]

Well, he's an ass. You probably would've had the urge to put your fist in his face sooner or later.

[He sounds flippant, but.]

What'd you do?

[neverfeltbetter]

You might be right about that. He's not the most cuddly guy I've ever met.

You ever do that thing on the playground called 'Skin the Cat'? Let's just say his doll got some good gymnastics practice in. Along with some other stuff.

[anewlanguage]

[He grimaces a bit]

Well he's the type to hold a grudge, so watch your tail.

[neverfeltbetter]

Oh good, another one. Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.

[anewlanguage]

[He grins, eyeing him] Tell me you've made more friends than enemies around here?

[neverfeltbetter]

You know, for once, I have.

How well do you know Stephanie?

[anewlanguage]

Pretty well. [He's being generous, really.] We're from the same place. She's a good kid. Why?

[neverfeltbetter]

Oh you are? Didn't know that.

Really, I'm just trying to see where our social pools overlap. I consider her a close friend.

[anewlanguage]

You're a lucky guy, then. Did you know her when she first got here?

[neverfeltbetter]

No, I didn't. I've only known her since I came on in December. I hear she was a handful at the beginning, but I guess that's normal for here.

[anewlanguage]

Ah...normal-ish. I mean...Steph was here before. When I first got here, she was a Warden. Then she left, seemingly for good, and when she came back she was younger and a hell of a lot feistier.

I wake up in cold sweats thinking about what it'd be like to go home and then get dragged back here as a younger inmate. Good thing she doesn't remember her last stay, I guess.

[neverfeltbetter]

I'll add that to the list of nightmares this place is giving me. I didn't know that was possible...

Damn if that wouldn't be the the biggest kick 'n the ass.

[anewlanguage]

Why? What would you be like, if you ended up here ten years ago?

[neverfeltbetter]

I'd be screaming my damn head off. Ten years is a lot of difference for me. I've only been exploring space for not quite three.

[Meaning, it's only been three years since he got used to aliens, and super powers and people trying to kill him all the time. Ten years ago he was just some nobody at NASA reaching for the stars.]

I'd have been eaten alive outside of three days.

[And...well, knowing some of the people on this boat, that could almost be literally.]

[anewlanguage]

[Cain laughs--a sort of bark of a sound that's there and gone--and shakes his head]

I respect a man who can own that. You changed a lot in a decade; you ever share the story how that happened?

[neverfeltbetter]

I might over a beer, if you're interested?

[anewlanguage]

Yeah, in the garden? I'll bring the drinks. Quieter than the pub.

[neverfeltbetter]

Sounds nice. I'll meet you there.

[And he's on his way now. Be there in less than ten.]