(no subject)

[anewlanguage]

Everyone make it back?

[he's, perhaps, a little more gruff than usual. And also he's bandaging his own arm, which promptly stains right through the bandage, and he tsks and applies heavier pressure to it.]

I think it's about time for another camping trip.

Comments

[tucky]

I heard about that. But no, I missed it.

[Thank. God.]

[spam]

[anewlanguage]

[He grins] You mean you wouldn't have fallen for it for long. I bet you would've let the ghosts paint a couple toenails before you shooed them away.

[He strokes her hair as he listens to the rest of the story, and he's still smiling at the end, no thoughts of his own time there in his head.]

I almost wondered if she'd ever get through and graduate. She's been around longer than me, you know? We oughta bake her a cake.

[anewlanguage]

[He's glad for that. A little envious, though.]

That's where I got stuck.

[tucky]

Was it... bad?

[It must have been; he didn't sound so happy in his initial post.]

[anewlanguage]

[He can't say 'yes' because it wasn't anything untrue, and it wasn't anything he didn't deserve to hear.]

Let's just say she hadn't even got to the middle of my list of sins when I finally got out.

[tucky]

You can't be that bad, since you're a warden and all.

[anewlanguage]

I graduated but it doesn't mean the shit I did didn't affect people.

I mean... My kid was a warden when she got here. She left, came back as an inmate.

[tucky]

You have a daughter? Who is she? Is she still here?

[spam]

[routemistress]

I am a sucker for a pedicure, it's true.

[Iris is way more susceptible to that sort of glamour than she'd like. And so very, very happy to be leaning on someone who charmed her with nothing but honesty.]

...that's a bloody good plan, my love. Let's do that. And maybe drive 'er home. Or wherever she's going. I'm going to miss 'er.

[anewlanguage]

[A muscle in his jaw twitches]

Yeah, she is. Cassandra. I don't know if you've met her.

[tucky]

Hmmmm... nope. I don't think so.

Is it weird having your kid here? My parents have been in prison but not at the same time as me, or in the same place.

Re: [spam]

[anewlanguage]

I never got to know her up close. What's her story?

[He's already gathering socks, boots. They'll go make a cake.]

Private

[anewlanguage]

I haven't spoken to her in more than a year, but--yeah. It's weird still. When she was here as a warden it was different. Now she's here as an inmate and...I feel guilty. You know?

Private

[tucky]

Why, do you feel like it's your fault or something?

[spam]

[routemistress]

I don't know a lot of it, but she's a writer. She's... I only know bits. Summat like a cross between boarding school and Arkham out your way, from the sound of it? She's got 'er own alter ego on board and all - the sort that splits off under really bad pressure, if you see what I mean.

I wonder what sort. I think summat refined like lemon drizzle cake. With crystallised flowers on it and maybe a touch of cardamom, does that sound good?

Re: Private

[anewlanguage]

It is my fault. [A short, sharp exhale] I was awful to her. She ran away when she was still a kid, just to get away from me.

Private

[tucky]

Really?

That don't seem like you, though.

Re: Private

[anewlanguage]

I'm gonna take that as a sign I'm doing something right.

Private

[tucky]

Yeah.

So are you going camping?

[bodilesswarrior]

[A slight grimace, as she nods.] If it doesn't work, let me know. [The offer tastes strange in her mouth, but it's not bitter or stilted.]

I - did okay, really. [She gestures at her injuries, ugly but shallow.] Managed to avoid any serious trauma. [Physical or emotional, thank God.]

Re: Private

[anewlanguage]

Course! Never miss a chance to test yourself in the woods, right?

Private

[tucky]

Uh-huh, sure. Is it a group trip? Can I come?

[anewlanguage]

[He's surprised, but doesn't want to make too much of a reaction to the offer. it's like testing very thin ice, or at least that's the nearest thing he can compare this to.]

Yeah? No demons got hold of you, or you just managed to deal with 'em?

Re: Private

[anewlanguage]

More the merrier, kid. You done much camping back home? Fishing, that kind of thing?

Private

[tucky]

Oh, yeah. Lots of people in my family hunted, and when I was a kid I'd go along. They did overnight trips sometimes.