IC contact for lastvoyages

[cactusy]

[If I don't have an active post up, feel free to use this post to have your character call, videochat, text, or knock on Shaw's door.]

Comments

[cactusy]

[And Shaw, blissfully unaware, just continues.]

You can get a little kid to eat broccoli and carrots. There's no way you can get one to eat lettuce.

[themostfun]

Fine. Sorry I bothered.

[ She doesn't bother to look at Shaw as she walks past, taking a seat at the foot of the ladder to the top bunk, the better to pet the dogs. ]

[cactusy]

[... Well, crap. Teenagers.

And okay, yeah, maybe she was also kind of being a dick to someone who did her a favor. Shaw pauses, then goes over to stand next to her (following behind Jet and Bear, who gamely trot over to be petted). ]

Hey.

Thanks.

[themostfun]

[ Sure, she says thanks now when she knows she was a jerk. But then again, she's not making excuses or giving platitudes.

Sam stays focused on the dogs as the thoughts roll in. Maybe when she's older, she's better at dealing with people. She's definitely better with Shaw. Slowly, the scowl dissolves from Samantha's face, turning to the usual almost-neutral, mostly-distant look. ]

Sure. Salads are easy.

[ No trouble at all. ]

[cactusy]

[Shaw is quiet for a few moments, just watching Root (is she calling herself Root yet? It's hard to think of her as anything but) with the dogs.]

So, uh. The good news is, when you grow up, you end up with a really hot wife. But the bad news is, that hot wife is the worst with people.

[themostfun]

[ She gets to leave Bishop, change her name, have all the money she wants... and get married to a woman. And nobody thinks there's anything wrong with that. It's just two people in love. That's... really, really cool. ]

People suck anyway. [ Bear lies down next to her. Jet stays sitting, perfectly content. Samantha glances at Shaw. ] You're pretty good with people.

[cactusy]

Pretty good with shooting people.

[Shaw counters, raising an eyebrow.]

[themostfun]

So am I. Later, anyway.

[ How is she supposed to talk to the woman she grows up to marry when she still isn't old enough to legally drive? ]

You're better at being around people than I am.

[cactusy]

Depends on what you consider "being around people", I guess. You're a way bigger misanthrope, but you're more charismatic.

[Shaw hesitates, then lowers herself down to sit cross-legged on the floor next to Bear.]

You end up with a team that cares about you. That doesn't happen by accident; you earn that. And you deserve it.

[themostfun]

I earn it by killing one woman, kidnapping one guy, and torturing another guy?

[cactusy]

Oh, god; you're still a smart-ass.

[Shaw grimaces, but she also nudges Root's ankle with her foot. Not really mad.]

You earn it by changing. Personal growth or whatever.

[themostfun]

[ Hell yeah she's a smartass. How do you think she survives high school in small town Texas? ]

I force my way onto your team. Nobody chose to let me in. You guys put me in a cage and only let me out because you need my skills. You don't even like me for like... a year.

[cactusy]

Does all that stuff matter so much if you're with us now?

[This is a genuine question.]

[themostfun]

It means nobody chooses me unless they can get something from me. Nobody just wants to get to know me.

[ That isn't fair. Her future self clearly doesn't see it that way. But at fifteen, still trapped in Bishop, still looked upon with scorn by more than a few members of the community, that's what it feels like. Nobody respects Samantha Groves, and nobody likes Root, but they need Root. That's how everything always starts. Someone needs something she can do, and then they bother compensating her, or giving her the time of day. ]

[cactusy]

[Oof, what a teenage thing to say. Shaw sighs, leaning back against the ladder as she studies Root.]

I thought you were cool and interesting, even when I didn't like you much. You ever show up from 2012, though, and I'm denying it forever.

[themostfun]

You're kind of proving my point.

[ She lays a hand on the back of Bear's head and watches him relaxing. She's trying so hard to be strong, to become impermeable, but being here, away from the sufficating small-town air, is making that difficult. She's not angry. She's frustrated and lonely and desperate to grow up. Her future is pretty awesome. ]

I'm not mad at you. You never do anything wrong to me.

[cactusy]

I mean, I thought you were cool and interesting because of who you were. I'm talking back before we were working with you, when you were just a pain in our asses. You were a cool, interesting pain in the ass who I wanted to catch and take down.

[She pauses, clears her throat, and mutters under her breath:]

I dunno.

[themostfun]

[ Sam shrugs, keeping her eyes on the dogs. It still feels like she's forever away from the way things end up. ]

Okay.

[cactusy]

[Shaw's quiet for several long moments: watching Sam pet Bear, watching Jet sniff at the collar of Sam's shirt.

She makes a small noise in the back of her throat that's halfway to a chuckle.]

Told you I suck at people.

[themostfun]

[ Finally, Sam looks at her, barely moving her head, reaching up to pet Jet. ]

I don't think you suck at people.

[ Just sitting quietly with her is more than pretty much anyone has ever done for her. ]

[cactusy]

[Guess your weird taste started early, Shaw almost says - but this little proto-Root is so sensitive. So this time, she just shrugs, clearing her throat again.]

Thanks.

[themostfun]

You too.

[ She's not really sure for what, but at the very least, Shaw has let her stay and pet the dogs. That's cool.

Not that she doesn't feel awkward at all-- she's still just fifteen-- but still. ]

[cactusy]

And-- whoever hurt you and that friend you talked about, when you were a kid.

[Shaw shifts on the floor, drawing a leg up to wrap her arms loosely around it.]

He get what was coming to him, or do we still have some work to do?

[themostfun]

[ Sam looks away again, tensing for a second. There's nothing to be done about it. The truth comes out in the end. Hanna gets justice. ]

I took care of it.

[cactusy]

[... Huh.]

You're what, fourteen? Fifteen?

[There's no disbelief in her tone, but that's still a hell of a thing for a teenager to take on.]