fifty-three ➢ video

[patheticvillain]

[Cassel's in his room, rearranging his drawer of scraps in some order discernible only to him. Ilia is perched on a high shelf, his eyes narrowed and tail twitching, disturbed by the commotion and looking ready to jump down onto Cassel's shoulders at any moment. As he rummages, Cassel addresses the camera; the moment he turns towards it, a bruise slides into view on his left temple, light and mottled black. He seems not to notice it.]

A few things. First of all, if anybody who's not all Admiral-ed up has a problem with the power outages, I think - I think I can make flashlights and lamps that don't need to be powered. [He's speaking specifically to Morgana here, but he doesn't know everybody's hangups, either, so he's leaving it open to the Barge as a whole.]

Second of all, has anybody actually gotten anywhere with the ship? Steering it or anything? Because this seems like it's getting kind of. Critical. [As Dean so astutely pointed out.]

Last thing - I know nobody cares right now, but we still need staff for the gym. At least one more person. If you feel like going slightly less stir-crazy while we're marooned in the middle of nowhere, apply now.

Comments

private

[tucky]

Yeah, me neither. I never met anybody like any of those guys before here.

Okay, now it's your turn. I talked about a person, so now you talk about a person. Then I can go again if you want.

[maytakecenturies]

[She doesn't quite scoff, but wow does her body language scream fuck.]

Trust isn't exactly key to survival.

[formerself]

No shit. So how come you ended up workin' here?

[And he does specifically mean 'in the gym, if you didn't know anything about gym equipment' because broader questions about why people are on the Barge seems to be one of those things you don't ask.]

[mistconduct]

I'd volunteer my inmate for the gym.

If I had one.

[patheticvillain]

Sometimes it can be.

[But he gets how it sounds like a line.]

private

[patheticvillain]

I guess Chris. He was the first person I trusted here. Kind of the first person I trusted ever? He's always taken care of me and made sure I was taking care of myself, and he's just. He's funny and a good person even when he's acting like an asshole, and I love him.

[patheticvillain]

My warden wanted me working. He worked in the gym. So I did too.

[Cassel shrugs. It's not a terrific story; it was more a matter of convenience. But he's gotten so used to it that he can't imagine doing a different job.]

[patheticvillain]

Getting impatient?

private

[tucky]

He's your boyfriend, right? You guys are dating?

private

[patheticvillain]

Yeah. We have been for, like, a year and a half now.

[thelastbullet]

I could use a light.

You get into a fight?

[patheticvillain]

Little bit.

[You mad? he wants to ask, but just chews his lip instead, cocking his head.]

private

[tucky]

Wow. That's gotta be some kind of Barge record.

private

[patheticvillain]

I think it's because we got here at the same time. I couldn't imagine being here without him.

. . . He keeps talking about leaving, though.

private

[tucky]

[Well, that pings her Merlin feelings again. Her Simon feelings, too.]

I'm sorry. I'm-- do you think he's going to?

private

[patheticvillain]

Probably eventually. Maybe at the same time as me, maybe not.

[He's seriously bummed about it, though.]

private

[tucky]

Does he wanna do what you do, and never leave the Barge forever?

[thelastbullet]

No use getting into a bit of a fight. Best do it right.

[He twitches a little smile at the way Cassel is looking at him, the way he's tilting his head. It's such a familiar sight by now. He's not mad- not yet, anyway. These things change.]

private

[patheticvillain]

That's what I thought for a while, but now I don't know. Probably not.

private

[tucky]

Maybe he'll change his mind. I did. Last month I thought I wanted to leave.

[patheticvillain]

[Oh. Well, that's good then. He smiles a little right back.]

I'll do that next time. [Even though Mickey'll get even madder. Oh, well.]

private

[patheticvillain]

Maybe. I hope so. It'd suck here without him.

. . . I mean, it wouldn't suck. But it'd be too different.

[thelastbullet]

Good. You need any tips, just let me know.

I hope the other guy looks at least as bad?

[patheticvillain]

. . . Nope.

[Whoops. Are you mad now, Jimmy?]

private

[tucky]

I know what you mean. It does suck. It don't mean the Barge has got nothing going for it anymore, but it's got less than before.