bodilesswarrior | 12

12 - Video

[Barbara looks exhausted, but if anything, the light in her eyes is fiercer than ever. She was thrown some curve balls, sure, but nothing that could crush her.

She's becoming inured to trauma, she thinks. She's not sure how to feel about that.

Her voice is a bit dull when she speaks, thick with deep weariness and deeper aches, but it's steady.]

If you know me at all, please check in.

[The worst part, really, was what she couldn't see. She hadn't contacted anybody, save her hijack of Iris' call, and it ate at her, what the people she loved might be facing.

She needs to know they're all right.]

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[The overgeneralization of audience, combined withe the tinge of desperation in such a request...her curiosity was piqued. So much had happened during this Port. So many things beyond her control, when she was supposed to have overcome Emotion in favor of Absolute Control.]

Why?

['What happened?']

[Her eyes widen, slightly. She hasn't spoken to Aya since she came back - since she changed.

But if she's here, that means she can change back. She ought to help with that, if she can.]

I'm worried. That happens, when you care about people.

Still kicking.

Yes. I remember.

[Past tense. Implying she no longer cared.]

Should your concern not be equally directed to asking the right questions?

I'm a little bit laid up, but Merlin's dropping by so I should be mobile enough to get to the engine room and back.

[ and he sounds fucking exhausted but honestly, who isn't right now? ]

[Barbara's expression is the picture of reluctant concern.]

You sure? I can take your shift for a bit.

Memories are powerful thing.

[She shakes her head.]

That is the most important question, when you have time to ask it. [She's put such concerns on the backburner before, and she'll do it again if she has to - but she doesn't, not right now.]

[A smile spreads across her face, warm and fond.]

Glad to hear it.

[ Seeing her smiling face, he couldn't turn the video on for her. He didn't want her to see him in the shape he's in. He's not so much beat up as covered in the blood of other things.]

It's good to see you can smile. Don't let go of that for anything.

I need to work.

[ If he sits in the quiet of the the lair and focuses on feelings he's liable to build a doomsday device at this rate. ]

Edited 2013-05-30 01:57 (UTC)

No. It is not.

The current conditions of survivors will, for some time to come, remain relatively unchanged. To inquire about such personal matters is to ignore the greater underlying question: we were obviously forewarned, albeit indirectly, a great deal about this particular Port. Which meant that it was planned. But why? And by whom?

[Past experience gave her little faith in the Admiral's ability to control such things.]

I'm fine, I'm okay. [ There's definite relief in her voice, though it's clouded by exhaustion and, well, lingering nausea. ]

So's everyone I was with. Have you heard from Cass?

Thank God.

And no, not yet. [She doesn't bother to disguise the naked worry in her voice, not with Steph.] She's probably ignoring her own injuries and checking on everyone else.

And we can pool our experiences and resources when we know who's still here. When everyone has sufficiently recovered.

[Her mind has already spun several theories, of course, but that's all they are.]

Better to do it with clear heads.

[A thin, wry smile.]

I hear you.

[Bear with him, he hasn't had a reason to ask this question in literally thousands of years. He's going to flounder through it a bit, but he knows it's A Thing People Do.]

[And... maybe he is actually concerned. Maybe.]

Will you... be... all right?

Were you to shut down your emotions as I have, your mind would already be clear. You would be able to properly focus on the task at hand.

[Though there is an odd hollowness to her words. As if they were echoes of something she had heard before.]

[ Steph can't even deal with all her emotions right now, so she hides behind the audio feed and pushes it all down. She rubs her head and tries very hard not to throw up again. ]

I didn't see her down in the infirmary but the whole frickin' barge is down there basically. I'm sure she'll be in touch soon.

Edited 2013-05-30 02:11 (UTC)

[Her voice lowers.] Someone tried to take it from me, once. I won't let that happen.

How are you? [Her eyebrows arch.] And no bullshitting me. I can smell that a mile off.

[Her voice turns stern.] Is there a reason you're not down there? [Hypocrisy, thy name is Gordon.]

[ She almost holds her hands up in surrender before she remembers she doesn't have video on. ]

I took care of everything I could reach myself, they finished with me hours ago. [ Advantages of having medical training from a nurse, a doctor and three over-prepared vigilantes. ]

Edited (I KEEP DOING THAT) 2013-05-30 02:15 (UTC)

Besides, if Trip makes it back, we're golden, right? We got help.

I'm good.

You sound like you need to take it easy.

Smiling more sticks it to them then. Good job. I've been better, but I'll live. See no bullshitting, A wise man I know told me what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

[She's touched, and it shows.]

I will, Davros, thank you. [She's got some new scars, physical and otherwise, but the day she can't handle that is the day she dies.]

How about you?

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