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]

[She keeps going, regardless of the slip, and she successfully sweeps the rest of the building without incident. When she's back to where she started - all hot zones cleared, all targets neutralized - she comes to rest by the front door, planting her hand against the wall and finally taking a breather.]

[empathicfault]

[ Will stands nearby, giving her a minute to breathe and- maybe- relax the tiniest bit. He doesn't expect it'll help. ]

You're an even better shot than I expected.

[cactusy]

Thanks.

[She says quietly, focusing on keeping her breathing even.]

I need to get out of here.

[empathicfault]

[ He nods. ]

Yep. Let's go.

[ He heads over to the entrance and holds the door open for her, leading back into the Barge. He's not sure just how much work she's doing keeping herself together under there, but he thinks it's probably a lot. ]

[cactusy]

[Ah, right - the door. She can just walk on out, from this not-real office building right back into the probably-not-real Barge. Her pace is quick, arms folded tight across her chest with her fingertips shoved into her armpits.]

Could've been worse.

[She says, once they're back out on the deck. It's not optimism: it's realism.]

[empathicfault]

[ He figured she might've forgotten, but he hadn't been sure if she was just testing herself further or something. ]

It really could've.

You need anything? Water?

[cactusy]

What would you have done if I'd attacked you?

[She asks instead of answering, closing her eyes in an effort to stop her head from spinning.]

[empathicfault]

Run for the exit.

[ The corner of his lip twitches up. ]

I've crawled away from plenty. Didn't expect this would be any worse.

Why do you think you might've attacked me?

[ He's not implying she shouldn't be worried, he just doesn't know what exactly would be going through her brain in that situation. ]

[cactusy]

I've done it before. Hurt people I didn't want to, in fake scenarios that messed with my head enough.

[She looks over at him, finally.]

Running's good, but I probably still could have killed you. If we're going to be patrolling together, I should teach you some tricks to disarm me.

[empathicfault]

[ Will nods, looking serious. ]

Yeah, something more formal and less...training from twenty years ago would probably go a long way.

I have had a lot more hand-to-hand encounters than expected, the past few years, but those were pretty unique circumstances. Serial killers approach things a little differently.

[cactusy]

How much does it hurt you to hurt somebody else?

[empathicfault]

[ He opens his mouth, stops for a moment, then closes it. ]

It's already done all the hurting it's going to. Depending on the person, I might have to worry about liking it too much.

[ And since he's pretty sure he knows what she's getting at: ]

I wouldn't enjoy hurting you, but I would if I had to.

[cactusy]

But your-- empathy thing. Having to hurt me wouldn't make you hurt?

[empathicfault]

[ Will shakes his head, looking slightly apologetic. ]

I'm too used to chasing murderers. I mean, I'd empathize with the victims too, you know? I've gotten used to enacting the violence I need to in order to save other people from those fates.

I don't know if that means I'm desensitized now, or if I'm broken. But either way, I can do it.

[cactusy]

That's not a bad thing.

[In this context, it's actually something of a relief.]

Wouldn't want to ask you to potentially do something like that if it'd hurt you, that's all.

[empathicfault]

Thanks.

[ Simply said, but after a moment he realizes he might need to explain. ]

That's more consideration than anyone back home would've given me.

[cactusy]

It's consideration I had to learn to give. And I'm still rough enough around the edges that I keep making people here think I can't give it at all.

[Pushing away from the wall, she moves shakily towards the railing, seeking open air (or as much as she can get on a magic spaceship surrounded by an airpocket, anyway). ]

But it's important.

[empathicfault]

It is.

[ Will follows her lead, leaning on the railing a few feet away from her and looking out. ]

I'm glad you learned it. And don't be too concerned about the rest of the ship. I think time will soothe their worries about you. -well. Not sure about Harkin, but it's not gonna work out with everyone.

[cactusy]

I think he and I have an... understanding. Kind of.

[She presses her forehead to the topmost railing for a moment, then straightens, exhaling as she stares out at the stars.]

Usually it takes me a while to soothe people's worries about me - that, or I don't have to work long-term with them at all.

[Which is usually the better option all around, honestly.]

Here, I don't have that kind of time.

[empathicfault]

[ Will's eyebrows raise in slight surprise at hearing that they worked something out. He's not sure what could've happened, but he's glad to hear it. ]

Why not? [ It's genuinely curious, not accusatory. ] I've heard time stops while we're here. Does that not help?

[cactusy]

He still kinda hates me.

[Shaw adds, catching that eyebrow-raise.]

He did some tattoos for me, though. Gonna see if he'll do them over for me again, now that I've lost them.

[That's an easier topic to tackle than his question, which she isn't exactly putting off so much as still mulling over.]

[empathicfault]

I mean, you did pretty much call him a slave. From what I've heard.

[ Just...getting that out of the way. It wasn't the best first impression. ]

But if he did 'em before, he probably will again.

[cactusy]

I meant it like "you're a slave to this stupid curse and it's bad that someone did that to you", not "you're my slave". But, uh-- he wasn't a fan of the sentiment either way.

[empathicfault]

Yeah... [ But he trails off, because some part of that sits wrong. ]

Wait, you were talking about a curse? Not his whole deal-making thing?

[cactusy]

From what I understand, they're a part of the same thing. If he makes a deal, he can't adjust the terms or get out of it even if it ends up sucking for him.