cactusy | IC contact for lastvoyages

Shall we go about setting up our French lessons? If the notion still appeals to you, of course.

Met your girl.

This mean we ain't fucking anymore?

Hello, my name's Xie Lian. You're Sameen Shaw, right? [Even after a couple of years, he's still a little uncertain when it comes to sending messages directly.]

[ First, a series of pictures:

-the gun safe
-Root's assortment of safe-cracking tools (nothing dangerous, mostly just basic things tbh)
-the safe, with the door now slightly open
-Root making an exaggerated look of surprise

Then, a message: ]

you're spoiling me!

It's Three Stooges Movie Night at Casa de Caffrey, and Shaw is sprawled out in the middle of a couch, her attention half on the TV and half on the cat that's tentatively sniffing at the toe of her boot.

"You boys want to go to a wedding?" she asks, apropos of nothing and out of fucking nowhere.

[From here.]

You-- do you think I actually wanted to talk about this with you. Why would you actually want to talk about this with me? Serious question.

[ The chaise on the porch is cozy, made even cozier by the luxurious, fluffy blankets that came with the room, some hot coffee courtesy of the in-room espresso machine, some flaky pastries from the city below, and the serenity it gives Root to hold Shaw in her arms. ]

You scared me. [ Her voice is as soft as the touch of her fingers along Shaw's cheek, down her hairline, behind her ear. ] Makes me think I can't let you go anywhere by yourself.

Soooooooooo.

[This can't be good.]

Miss Shaw:

Will has just shown up with the corpse of another inmate. He indicated a desire to go down to Zero himself but I thought it best to attend to his wounds; only some bruising and scuffs on the knuckles, please, do not worry for him. I'm happy to assist you in any way I may.

Hey, Will told me what happened with Avalon.

You doing okay?

Hey, honeymooner. You got time for a chat?

Neal Caffrey really doesn't like you.

I spoke to Malcolm. Neal was there, and he lost it when I told Malcolm that he needed to listen to you.

The fact that it's Hera who calls is what gets Neal on the move instantly. With how angry he's been--with how the anger flashes up again every time he thinks about what's already been said--there's a smoldering terror underneath that Eiffel will cut him off. That he'll hear Shaw's version of events and see Neal's support for Malcolm and decide that one independently adopted sibling is enough. Eiffel calling him for help with something important would have made Neal happy, but wary. Hera calling him and saying Eiffel needs help with something important gives him a very different kind of fear. Even if he knows no physical death is permanent.

She's waiting for him outside of Eiffel's room when he gets there. He's slightly out of breath, having almost sprinted from the gazebo in his slacks and rolled-up shirtsleeves. He left his suit jacket there, one of the ones from home, but other than the OCD itch to remind him that it might be gone when he gets back, he doesn't care.

"He's insi-ide," Hera says, her eyes huge, her face a weird mix of anxiety and forced innocence.

It's the forced innocence that gets Neal's mental wheels turning again in any capacity. Neal opens the door to Eiffel's room and stops short on the threshold, his expression going slack with surprise. Shaw, floating with a blank and exhausted look on her face, out of reach of the door. Neal doesn't get a chance to see where Eiffel is before Hera says, "Sorry about this, I think?"

She shoves him, hard, hard enough that he almost loses his balance as he staggers forward--and his very small amount of momentum immediately makes him lose contact with the ground.

Jesus Christ he hates everything about this.

Edited 2023-10-13 03:59 (UTC)

Thank you for letting Will stay here last night. I appreciate it. Francis came to see me this morning. If you’ve teed up any more of my friends to come lecture me on your behalf, you can call them off. You’re making things worse. If you want me to do something or not do something, send me a text. Be specific. Thanks. Have a good day.

[Eiffel sounds hoarse, but very much alive and alert. And also worried.]

This is U.S.S. Red Headed Step-child hailing Gonna Need A Bigger Gun. Repeat Bigger Gun, do you copy?

[ Tim had her sit in Zero for a few extra days. Root hated it, even though she saw his point, because she thought his point was the opposite of what she wants. But she also couldn't have been with Shaw anyway, because she promised to respect her wishes when things get this bad. It's been really difficult, and Root has not learned her lesson, but it's over. She's free to go. The worst is over.

She's almost used to the ache of being separated from Shaw, so she's much more subdued than when she got brought here. Whether or not she's learned to be more patient, Root has at least lost the energy to be pushy right now. When she stops at Shaw's cell, she is resigned, almost tired. She misses their comfy bed, okay. ]

Hey, baby. You ready to go home?

Hi. I just wanted to apologize for the text I sent you before the whole... sword thing went on. I mean, not for the whole text. I stand by being mad about your overstepping in my life like crazy and spreading horrible stupid rumours about me, but I apologize for the worst person I've ever called a friend thing. That was harsh and not true and intended to wound and I don't want to be the guy that tries to wound people. I hope you're feeling better, since I know you won't let a healer heal your injuries. Just so you know, I didn't let them, either. Down in Zero. That Hakkai guy showed up to do it. Apparently Jesus sent him. Now there's a meddler you never need to talk to about me ever again. Anyway, I understand if you don't answer, but I wanted to say it. See you.

Hi, Shaw. My name is Lark Tennant, Will said we should talk.

I hear you’re up. So are we still doing this or what? We need to schedule the meeting with Kiryu, too. For setting boundaries for when there’s an incident.

You experience emotions differently than most humans. My Breach self could feel. I was wondering if you have had a similar experience.

Don't kiss your wife.

[ Samantha actually kind of likes Sameen. She's like no one she's ever met before, and that's great, because everyone she's met before has been terrible. This is why, even though she has her own cabin, and even though Tim lets her use his cabin, Samantha comes back to the cabin she woke up in. Someone has to feed Sameen, and Samantha doesn't trust adults as a general rule.

So when she finds an adult in Sameen's cabin, Samantha almost turns right back around to go to her own-- until she recognizes the adult, in a distant way. Familiar but not. ]

...Shaw. [ Somewhere between statement and question. ] Should I leave, or...?

[ Root stays for a little while after the show to thank Una for organizing our, hang out with Jesus and chat about how much fun their act was, and congratulate the other performers on a job well done. It's fun, but it's also a lot of socializing for a misanthropic introvert. Luckily, she has the perfect excuse to slip away early: she's going to wind down with her wife.

Said wife is waiting for her in the hallway. Root goes right up to her and hooks her elbow around Shaw's. ]

Hey. How are you? I'm sorry we were the last act.

Hey.

You want to ask me something, fucking ask me, don't go behind my back.

Edited 2023-12-28 12:10 (UTC)

After this convo B prowls the ship until he tracks down Sameen. "Cookies and coffee delivery," he says, even if it's through a door. He looks and sounds serious, maybe a little stressed himself, but not as bad as he knows Sameen's going to be. Eiffel is one of her favorite people, and the chip thing is even closer to her fears than his own.

IC contact for lastvoyages

text;

Text Concerning Root

after Norton's post

thursday the 17th