eleven ➢ private + spam

[patheticvillain]

private/video | chris

[Cassel is looking just - crazy excited right now. For him, anyway; he's grinning wide, one of his legs jogging as he speaks.]

Hey, Skywalker. [Guess who got out early. And guess who's caught up with what you've been doing.]

Point one, hi, but I said that. Point two, you totally are a weapon of mass destruction, I don't know why you never used that line on me before. Point three, I have a billion things to tell you, starting with - Star Wars?

spam 1 {mid-afternoon 5/13; deck}

[The first thing Cassel does when he gets out of Zero - besides calling Chris, which always comes first - is he takes Patches up on deck. It's kind of stupid, but he's missed this dog like crazy, and he's more than happy to spend an hour or two in the fresh air throwing a ball for him.]

[For those who know him, he looks weirdly content, like a weight's been lifted; for those who don't, he looks a hell of a lot more like a normal kid than he's ever looked before.]

spam 2 {mid-afternoon thru evening 5/13; gym}

[When Kon suggested he start working in the gym for real, it had seemed like a weird idea at first, but the more he thinks about it the more it seems like - maybe it wouldn't be so bad. So he says he'll try it out, at least, and if he's going to try he's going to start right away. No point waiting.]

[He's still learning the ropes beyond just cleaning tonight, but he's around, keeping things as organized as he can on Kon's direction.]

private/video | doyle

[The camera's on to prove a point: that he's genuine about this, because he is, extremely. Discomfort shows on his face, because he's not used to apologizing, and he can't look at the camera for more than a couple seconds at a time, but he goes for it anyway.]

Hi. Um.

I'd like to talk to you, if that's cool. Here or in person. Or I can just text if you'd rather do that, I - you know. Whatever you want.

private/voice | steph

Do you still wanna skip the apology? Because I have one. Up to you.

private/voice, later | zane

[It's tempting to yell at Zane, or to ask if he's okay, or to say nothing at all, or to go find him in person now that he can. None of these sound particularly right, though, especially after everything he's stalked read over the last hour or so, so he reverts to sarcasm. Decently affectionate sarcasm, but sarcasm nonetheless.]

You're such an idiot. I feel like you should win a prize for being as much of an idiot as you are.

private/text | barron

pizza?

Comments

[patheticvillain]

For now, yeah. Kon thought it'd be a good idea.

[He sticks his hands in his pockets, a little awkwardly.]

I think he's trying to keep me busy, too.

[bodilesswarrior]

That's not a bad idea for anyone, frankly. [An exaggeratedly furtive look around.] Think he'd mind if you snuck out for a bit?

[patheticvillain]

[He's so tempted. :| :| :| But at least for now he doesn't wanna fuck this up, so.]

Gimme half an hour to finish up?

[bodilesswarrior]

Of course. [She backs up, spinning deftly towards the punching bags.]

[patheticvillain]

[He finishes up doing all his cleaning and that jazz, then waits for her to finish up.]

[bodilesswarrior]

[Barbara finishes with a series of X strikes before lowering her sticks, breathing slow, careful breaths. She sets them on her lap, pushing back from the bag with a fierce, satisfied smile.]

Ready?

[patheticvillain]

Yeah, I'm ready.

[A beat.]

Anybody ever tell you you're a crazy badass?

[bodilesswarrior]

[Her grin widens.]

Once or twice.

[Then she considers him.]

You been training for port?

[patheticvillain]

Yeah, starting yesterday.

[He doesn't sound concerned about it. In truth he is, a little, but he's a lot more confident about his chances now that he and Kon are actually working together.]

[bodilesswarrior]

[She nods.]

Good. [And she starts to move.] What are you working on, specifically?

[patheticvillain]

Uh, general hand-to-hand right now. Basics. Since my work'll probably be dampened when we get there, apparently, and even if it didn't I don't know if I can do anything about Godzilla or whatever we'll find.

[bodilesswarrior]

That's always a good bet. Of course, the biggest problem is we don't know how much longer we have, and learning takes time.

...Do you know Kon's stance on weapons?

[patheticvillain]

I think his stance is about the same as mine, which is - I've never really trained with weapons, I've never needed them, and if I go out there with a weapon I don't know how to use well somebody or something'll use it against me.

[bodilesswarrior]

[Barbara nods.]

Sensible.

What if someone taught you to use it?

[patheticvillain]

Is there time, though?

[bodilesswarrior]

There might be. With the right teacher.

[patheticvillain]

You?

[bodilesswarrior]

If you want. [She hesitates, then. She hasn't shown anyone this. It's not something she ever did before the Barge.

But after a few long moments, she reaches back and pulls out the gun strapped to her back. It's her preferred firearm, a nine millimeter Glock. Her father's gun.]

I have no idea what we're going to face out there, but "shoot it in the head" is usually a safe bet.

[patheticvillain]

[It's the strangest thing: he flinches.]

[This is not a reaction he expects, and surprise shows on his face. Guns are not as necessary in a world of death and physical workers as they might otherwise be, but he's seen plenty. He's seen Sam shot, bleeding out on a table.]

Not that.

[bodilesswarrior]

[Her smile is a sad one.]

I get it.

[How could she not?

She'd gone to the range, after. Every day, until the sound stopped making her feel sick and terrified, stopped making her heart race and her breath ragged, stopping making his laughter feel her head. Every day until she felt nothing at all.]

Guns are only good for one thing, really [hurting, killing, maiming] and I don't blame anyone who doesn't want to use them.

[And she's quick to put it back. It's strange, but she feels almost vulnerable, having it exposed without reason.]

[patheticvillain]

Sorry.

[He doesn't know what he's apologizing for.]

I . . . do want help.

[bodilesswarrior]

[She leans forward slightly, gaze insistent.]

Don't be. It took me a long time to be able to use one myself. I never would have, except... [Her smile, this time, is slight and sharp and bitter.] Someone else decided to make me a target.

[She wasn't going to let it happen again, no matter the cost.

And she's not going to let it happen to Cassel, either. She's not going to see another boy die.]

There are other options. ...How do you feel about crossbows?

[patheticvillain]

[He nods.]

That might be easier.

[There's more effort. He needs effort, to remind himself of what he's doing.]

[bodilesswarrior]

[Barbara nods.]

They're not a preferred weapon of mine, but I know how to use them. Hell, my skills could probably use some sharpening. [...Her lips quirk. Pun intended.]

[patheticvillain]

[He grins.]

Well, I'll do what I can. [A beat. Sharpe puns need time to be appreciated.] At least looking at me, you can remember what not to do.