8th Wave

[tentacruelest]

Th' next time this Barge feels like poking around in my head, I'll be keeping to my quarters. The lot of yeh - useless dregs not fit to scrub a floor. It's bad enough I'm locked in here with you, I don't need to call any of yeh friends.

[Private to Bush]

Was dealing with me yerself so difficult that you sought to work through less offensive channels, Captain?

[Private to Arthas]

A word, my king.

[Can you feel that heavy sarcasm, Arthas?]

Comments

Private

[shakenandlimp]

I wish you would not bait'm, Iris. I understand how it is to like him despite yourself and to want to draw him out, but he is as hurt as any of us, and an inmate besides.

private

[routemistress]

Aye. I'm sorry, Captain. I started out just teasing, like. Then I got away from meself some'ow.

I'm writing 'im an apology.

private

[shakenandlimp]

He will be surly over it, but I think some part of him'll be glad for it.

You have been... you've not quite been yourself since you got back, and - what happened, in that nightmare -- was not much help. Is there something-

[He's uncertain how to quite approach the simple question. He is used to brilliant, dashing people who are very touchy, and Iris is not one of those, but he hesitates anyway.]

Re: private

[routemistress]

[She scrubs a hand tiredly over her forehead.]

No. No, I really 'aven't. I 'ave days I think I'm all right and then the next thing I know I'm in a knock-down drag-out fight I didn't spot meself starting. I need to get a grip on meself before I talk meself into a demotion.

Did you notice that big empty space in me room?

Re: private

[shakenandlimp]

I-- yes, I do, now you mention it.

private

[routemistress]

[And the tears are starting up again. Iris isn't normally someone that cries this easily; since Jupiter it seems she hasn't stopped.]

That's where my ship used to be. A living timeship. Part of me, that I've not been without since Lilith's day.

I don't know what to do with meself.

Re: private

[shakenandlimp]

[He cannot understand, not really, not even having seen poor old Hotspur sink--oh Hotspur, he did love her. But time-ship? Alive, in more than the spiritual way ships are?

He does not have to.]

Oh darling. Oh Iris. What can I do?

private

[routemistress]

[All the fight's gone out of Iris. She's not even in her own room - she can hardly bear being where she can see that huge gap, and Dean crashing in there was a welcome excuse to stay away - but the dead space in her mind, where the bus' affectionate purr has been as long as she can remember, is impossible to ignore.]

You're so sweet. Everyone's been so kind.

[She hates that she needs it so much. She's never felt this old before.]

There's nowt anyone can do. Not really. I just 'ave to 'old me 'ead together long enough to graduate Victor. And you're already 'elping with that.

Private

[shakenandlimp]

I've got it in mind to invite you and Miss Gordon to dinner in my cabin, and a few other people you should like to attend, and perhaps it would help a bit?

Private

[routemistress]

...That would be lovely, Captain. I'll be on best behaviour.

[She will, too; she doesn't drink around Barbara much, and she's always a steadying influence.]

Promise.

Re: Private

[shakenandlimp]

I don't ask that of you. There'll be nobody needs impressing--this is all between friends.