ataraxion | .001 [VIDEO]

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.001 [VIDEO]

[On the screen, there's a tense-looking CO in full uniform moving back and forth across the room. There is always something off-putting about Anne Cunningham. It might be the way she always looks like she wants to kill everyone, or maybe it's the harsh and businesslike way she talks. But whatever the case, even in the video it's apparent, and currently she's pacing around her room. When the transmission's been going for about fifteen seconds, she stops pacing long enough to focus on the feed she's sending out, leaning slightly against the wall beside her]

I've been here a month now, and I haven't noticed any kind of law enforcement around here. Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention, but from where I'm standing, it's like anarchy around here.

[her tone is clipped and she leans her head back against the wall]

I guess my main question is, who exactly's keeping order around here?

[private video to Murphy Pendleton]

How're the birds? They haven't escaped yet, have they?

[what she really means is "how are you and how's that drinking problem?" but she keeps it professional. Well... as professional as one can be when talking about birds that you're unwittingly sort of a surrogate mommy to]

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[Hello, Anne. Meet Rey. Ignore the fact that she's totally high right now while still able to maintain some level of coherent aptitude:]

Negative. No typical law enforcement that I have heard of. Independent security force instead, if you're interested.

[Anne will ignore it, for now. Fucking hippies]

Independent security force?

[that's got her attention, and she sounds less like a bitch and more like an actual person. Which is weird on a lot of levels]

Is this a thing that anyone can join?

Correct.

"Anyone" can simply sign up here... [Unlike with Natalie, Rey just sends this over the comm device, rather than tricking Anne into meeting her in person. How kind. Even though it would sure have been lovely to meet new people right now, wouldn't it?

[But no, Rey is going to keep a straight face, for now.] Gunnery will provide you with standard issue weapons. Those who do end up joining security are tasked with jobs such as aiding others in need-- [even though Rey has slacked off on this in the past due to NOT GIVING A SHIT but oh man that should totally change now shouldn't it oh yes] --patrols, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera...

[Anne gets the sent message, reads over it, and then realizes she's more or less started ignoring Rey. Now, she starts listening, nodding occasionally because all of the things she's saying are waking her up. Especially after a month of not accomplishing anything but wandering around in space]

That actually sounds pretty good.

[and then a pause, because how does she even show gratitude]

Thanks. And you are?

[It's okay, lady, this one has no problems with waiting. She's very patient! Could totally stand in one place all day if she has to. Good thing she actually doesn't have to, because the world's so pretty right now, and she could just--

[She eventually gets a reply, then snaps back into attention:]

...Rey.

[Simple, one-note, same monotone, somewhat lightheaded. Really, Anne couldn't have shown gratitude at all and Rey wouldn't have noticed. The lack of hostility in her tone helps. She tends to respond pretty well to that.]

Rey gets a long, long stare, and then Anne tilts her head slightly to the side]

You feeling alright?

[Oh Anne, do you have a staring problem, too? Rey can relate.]

Alright. Better than ever. [So blithely:] In fact, I know it won't be until these effects wear off that I'll be feeling dead inside again.

[Don't sound happy when you say that, Rey. Don't do that. Goodness.]

[Have a raised eyebrow. Already Anne thinks this girl is weird, and that's saying something considering for her grown men trying to kill each other over cigarettes is normal everyday life]

Effects? What are you talking about?

[You have no idea, woman.]

I'm talking about the bottle of emotion that I bought last month.

...Technically, I didn't buy it. More of a trade than anything.

[and Anne will just look at her like she's on drugs for a moment]

... you're telling me you can buy emotion.

[Welp! Not that Rey cares. People doing drugs are kind of an everyday thing where she used to be at.]

Affirmative.

Correction: I gave him a gun, not money. More like traded for emotion, I suppose.

[oh wow, that's something Anne's having trouble even comprehending]

You traded a gun. An actual working gun. For feelings.

[to someone who would oftentimes not feel anything at all, that notion is just ridiculous]

Correct.

It was justified. He needed it for defense reasons. [Or so she figured. Because why the fuck else would someone need to trade for a gun?] It isn't a considerable loss.

..."Yet"? [What are you implying?] They're... fine. Been keepin' them fed, and... uh. Yeah.

[Awkward.

[Because you're not really calling him to talk about birds, are you?]

Well, birds tend to escape, don't they?

[there's nothing malicious in her tone, though she might be faintly irritated with him for the whole alcoholism thing. Because as far as she's concerned, nothing justifies him wandering around like a drunk frat boy the way he was]

Good. I'm glad they're still alright. I'll keep popping in to check on them in the mornings. Between the two of us, I'm sure they'll be fine.

[and then a long pause. Nope, she definitely didn't call to talk about the birds]

How've you been holding up, Pendleton? And don't lie, I'll know if you're lying.

Sure, if you let 'em.

[He gets that, and he isn't going to go blaming her for it. After all, it was pretty damned stupid. He'd choose irritation over having a gun in his face, but Murphy isn't about to press his luck with Anne here.]

Thanks, I really appreciate it. I've been... tryin' to keep busy, anyway.

[Or distractions are more like it.

[He blinks at the screen at first, maybe a little surprised at the question.] I'm fine, really! Like I said, just keepin' busy. I did, uh...

[He pauses again.]

I did talk to someone... recently. She... [His eyes shift a bit. Seriously. Words. How do.] She knows 'bout that place we were in. The town. Y'know. I mean, she's been there. We talked, and...

[He smacks a hand over his face.] Shit. I dunno why I'm tellin' you this... but I thought it's important that you know. I guess it's just... that we aren't the only ones, and... Christ, I'm still tryin' to figure it all out.

[Except that he also doesn't even want to think about it. Hence: Distractions.]

Well, I guess we just can't let them.

[and the faintest of smiles comes across her face when he thanks her, though her seriousness returns shortly afterward and she just watches him briefly]

I'm glad to hear you're doing okay. I worry about you, you know? It's hard not to worry in a place like this.

[A quick shake of the head, and then she tenses slightly at the mention of That Town. Her eyes dart away, and then back to him, and she fixes them with a stare full of all her usual intensity]

Someone else... so it wasn't just us? We weren't...

[That's a heartening fact. Because it means maybe... maybe the two of them weren't just being punished for all their collective sins, which is something she's considered being reality now and then in her darker moments]

It happens to other people too. When they go there. Is that what you're telling me?

[Murphy nods. Admittedly, he's pretty sure he'd be at least a little upset, if anything were to happen to the birds.

[His face drops a bit when he hears her say how she's worried, and shakes his head.] Christ, Cunningham... I'm a grown man, here. Don't you think you have better things to worry about than me?

["Like, for one thing, yourself?"

[He may sound a little unintentionally snappish, when he actually meant to be sincere. Because he's a hypocrite who can't hide the fact that he's been concerned for her well-being as well, and wants to check up on her more without coming off as... creepy.

[The subject of his conversation with Heather distracts him from those feelings of guilt.]

I guess. We went through... similar things, it seems, like, erm... stuff just gets pulled outta your head. Like that.

[It's an unpleasant thing to think about again (not that he never thinks about it), but suppose it helps Murphy feel like he hasn't lost his mind completely.]

[she shakes her head, vigorously, adamantly. She doesn't even notice if he's snappish; she's basically the most snappish person there is]

No. I don't have better things to do because worrying about you is important. Because you are important. How many times do I have to say it before you understand?

[Anne doesn't want to think about Silent Hill, but it's hard not to. Especially when he's bringing it up like this. All of this is disconcerting and relieving, and a million other things she doesn't even understand, because her feelings about Silent Hill are like that. They're jumbled, and they're guilty and painful but somehow full of redemption]

So we're not crazy. Christ. I was starting to wonder...

I dunno, maybe 'cause I just didn't think I was worth a damn.

[...Shit, he shouldn't have said that, but by the time this occurs to him, it's already fallen out.

[His head drops.] S... Sorry.

[Anyway: Silent Hill. Because there's that to contend with, now.]

It was a bit... vivid for somethin' that wasn't real. But I guess that's what a crazy person would think, huh?

Well, you are. You're worth a hell of a lot more than you think. Especially to me.

[when he apologizes, she just shakes her head]

It's fine. You don't have to apologize.

[a moment of thought, and she nods]

Yeah, I guess. But then again, we both saw it.

You're not just sayin' that 'cause you feel guilty, do you?

[Murphy shakes his head, realizing that that kind of statement might've been a little out of line. But he's seen it, and Anne isn't as good at hiding it as well as she might think. It's not like he resents her for how she treated him. It does, on the other hand, confuse the hell out of him.

[He's having a hard time focusing on the screen when he continues:]

You never know... always could've been a shared hallucination, but I just wouldn't hold my breath on that theory. Not now.

Edited 2012-09-21 08:46 (UTC)

[Here's a young man with a grim manner and wet hair.]

My name is Miles Edgeworth; I've arrived but recently. Do you honestly mean to say that there is no authority in this place? What of the so-called "Captain"?

Well, good luck with settling in. This place isn't exactly a picnic.

[she nods a little at the introduction]

CO Cunningham. [the introduction comes out automatically, even though she's not exactly a Correctional Officer anymore since she's ended up in this place. Introducing herself with her first name has become a foreign thing to her]

No, not that I've seen. I don't know anything about the damn captain, either. Nobody seems to know what's goin' on around here.

So - what, then? Is it pure anarchy?

Far as I can tell. But then again, I haven't been here that long.

What she said. You've been here a month, you didn't once see the sign up for security?

Well I've seen it now. It's not like I've been wandering around here looking for career signups.

[she delivers this coolly with a hint of annoyance in her tone]

[ He responds to the chill with his own. ]No, I suppose we can't all prioritise integration, can we?

[ And when he leans forward his voice is warmer, softer, offering her the opportunity for this to not be a row. ] Security would certainly appreciate the extra hands, if you're volunteering.

[She'll just ignore that. Anne is a master of ignoring things she'd rather not respond to. When he gets slightly more friendly, she seizes the opportunity and nods a bit]

Yeah, I'm volunteering. Good to hear I'll be able to do something around here, for a change. They a little shorthanded, or what?

When you’ve got a crew as big as this one, everything’s a little shorthanded. Pretty sure we’ve only got three or four people in medbay, and I have no idea about the security team, but I’d guess it was probably just the same.

You got a name?

Well, glad I'll be lending a hand to a group that needs it, then. This place is huge, guess you're right, they probably need all the help they can get.

[and a nod]

Cunningham. And you are?

[ She's a bull. Brendan can spot the authority a mile away, even if no badge has been flashed. She's a cop and it shows, even right down to that no-nonsense attitude. The teen has managed to get it to audio, which is far more familiar to him than anything else. ]

Been wonderin' that myself. Whole lot of talk for a busted flush.

[she hesitates for a moment, and then switches over to audio herself, because she feels awkward staring at a blank screen and knowing he can see her]

It seems like nobody's really bothering to do anything around here. It's ridiculous.

You authority? [ Quick and to the point. ]

Authority? You could say that. I'm a CO at Wayside Max back home.

[a beat]

Was it really that obvious?

You walk like a badge and talk like a bull. [ basically: yes. ]

[There's a pause, and then a small sound that sounds almost like a chuckle]

Well, yeah, I guess most of us wear our colors on the outside, if that makes sense.

What about you? I'm guessing you're not exactly in the same field.

[ Brendan sighs audibly, fumbles with the tablet and turns his end on video: he can't be a cop. He's only 17, with lanky limbs and rounded glasses topped off with a mess of curly hair. Unusually perceptive for his age; more detective material than cop. ]

Not exactly old enough for it.

[oh, wow. He's just a kid. Something about that makes her wonder how easy she really is to read, if someone so young can tell things about her so quickly]

Yeah, I guess you wouldn't be. Any plans for it in the future?

[ The response is quick: ] Nah, bulls only gum up the works. I flash a badge and the wide-eyes scatter.

James T. Kirk. You'll want to talk to him.

Will I? Who is he? I don't like going on wild goose chases until I know who I'm chasing.

Captain Kirk's been running this ship. Since he got here, or so I understand.

He's been running it? Alright. I guess I'll have a chat with him.

[and a pause. It won't kill her to be polite]

I appreciate the tip, Mr...

Mr. Sulu. Lieutenant of the USS Enterprise.

[well that's a hell of a fancy title, and it takes her a moment to process it before she can introduce herself in turn]

Cunningham. It's good to meet you, Mr. Sulu. Glad to see someone has some damn sense in this insane asylum.

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