02 ✡ video

[growling]

[ Second video, same as the first – set up on a desk, as formal as these things can get. Except for the fact that Josh is the one talking, so there’s absolutely nothing formal or professional about the transmission. ]

So I hate to play Space Meemaw already, but seriously, what’s with the standards of hygiene around here? If I have to put a chores rota on the tenth level fridge, I’ll be severely disappointed. I feel like it’s not unreasonable to ask that a society capable of interstellar travel do its own dishes.

[ A pause for consideration, then- ]

... although I guess "interstellar travel" might be a bit generous. This thing probably isn't the shining beacon of achievement they were going for.


[ TEXT; private to Isaac Lahey ]

So is this blind date happening or what? Because I’m not saying there’s a deadline, but there’s a deadline. [ The more-irritable-than-usual kind of deadline. ]

Comments

( text : voice | private )

[abrahamic]

[ This is Isaac sounding like he fought a minotaur over the past couple days. It's not too far from the truth. ]

Dude, I know. It's like everyone's synching up. Don't make the joke. Anyway, I'm working it.

So we have no laundromat, and no dishwashers either?

( voice | private )

[growling]

There are dishwashers... dishwashers in desperate need of some maintenance, but dishwashers. Somehow rinsing off dishes and putting them in said dishwashers is still too much physical exertion for some people.

And you're the one that said synching up, not me. I think the joke's already been made.

ETA is - I'm not exactly sure, hard to keep track of day cycles around here. I'll probably lock things down tonight to be safe. [ Then a few beats before he asks- ] You doing okay?

( voice | private )

[abrahamic]

Dude.

Remus shifted the other night. Two nights ago? He can throw one like a mother. I'm just holing up in here until I feel less like I ran a million suicides without my gear.

[ Isaac's lying in bed and being a general whiny-ass, but Derek also texted earlier about vague things, and being AWOL for a while, and it's just making Isaac a little more non-social than usual.

Josh is cool, though. He hasn't told Isaac off yet. ]

Where are you locking up? And which kitchen were you using? Did you find any Reese's Pieces?

video »

[resurgent]

Unfortunately for you, I don't think the society capable of interstellar space travel is still here. [ otherwise, what would they need all these people for? ] Are the dishes that backed up?

( voice | private )

[growling]

[ ... Reese's Pieces. What are your priorities, kid. ]

Tenth floor and... no, no Reese's. But everything went okay for you guys? Did you shift yet, or - ?

[ But right, Isaac had his own questions. Focus for a second. ]

I'm going to go up a level. Security is... basically non-existent, and I found a walk-in freezer. Power's cut to it for now.

video »

[growling]

You've got a point there. And I've seen worse, but I figure I should get a head start if I don't want to end up the resident dishwasher. [ Not like it's a big change from being the glorified janitor he was back home. ]

... that said, I already washed what was in there, so it might be a lost cause.

( voice | private )

[abrahamic]

[ His priorities, in order: not disappointing, not getting left behind, passing chemistry, not dying. Since he's doing pretty well on the first two and jury's out on the last two, he's gonna go look for Reese's Pieces in the meantime. Bite him. ]

Oh huh. I snuck some stuff from the first floor when I went there, it was pretty nice. They had space soda. No candy.

[ The walk-in freezer, though — Isaac goes from petulant and bored to tense and inches from seizing in no time. ]

No. No freezers. Find something else.

( voice | private )

[growling]

[ NO no biting ]

What, seriously? Soda? You wouldn't - [ And then there's the dramatic shift in Isaac's tone; even if Josh can't see him, he can hear the tension, especially this close to the shift. He's slightly exasperated when he replies, but he's trying to be considerate. Really. ]

Look, I don't think we've got the luxury of being picky, here. It's got what I need; the walls are thick and the door is heavy, and it locks from the outside. Unless you've got an alternative?

[ Sorry, Isaac. He's got no idea. ]

( voice | private )

[abrahamic]

You're not going in a freezer. Why would you even—

[ The sour stench of his own fear - he never really likes it, even when he wasn't a werewolf. The feeling of having your guts pull in, the acidic tickle of it at the back of his throat, the ghost texture of cold solid walls that he never thought he'd get out of, even know - he doesn't miss them.

He doesn't even get why it bothers him. It's not like he's the one going into the freezers, Isaac recognizes that this isn't about him. Why now? Why here? ]

You can find something else.

[majestyofthethrone]

Hi Josh.

permatext;

[growling]

Hey - you feeling any better?

( voice | private )

[growling]

[ Josh is about to argue, but the signals are too strong to ignore. Isaac's been pretty laid back, sometimes absurdly so, up until this point - clearly, something's up with the freezer.

But instead of pushing to find out exactly what that is, he backs off, voice placating and only slightly irritated. ]

... okay. Fine, yes, I can find somewhere else. I think there were general storage rooms, as long as someone's willing to hang out and make sure the door's reinforced - they should work.

[ A pause, then he hedges- ] ... unless all storage rooms are off-limits?

[majestyofthethrone]

Yes.

I'm sorry I posted that. I was upset.

[growling]

You don't need to apologize. Sorry I didn't do more to help - I'm glad you're feeling better, though.

[majestyofthethrone]

Is there someone really messy on your floor?

video.

[ex_sorted385]

Chores rota doesn't sound like a bad idea for every floor. I'd say just throw everything in the refrigerator away once a week but we probably shouldn't waste our food like that.

Could set up surveillance and see who isn't picking up after themselves properly, and lock them in the kitchen until they clean it up...

[ Because the best solutions always involve covert surveillance, right? ]

[growling]

Several someones would be my guess. Your floor luckier?

[majestyofthethrone]

It's not so bad. I made a cake, it's really plain, do you want some?

permavideo;

[growling]

[ Nice to see that someone takes chores seriously around here. Although - on second thought, maybe Big Brother isn't the best solution. Not quite yet, anyway. ]

I'd like to argue with the ethics of that idea, but give me a few more weeks of cleaning up after teenagers. I might come around to it.

[growling]

[ Oh wow, plain cake. Really selling it. Thankfully this is text, otherwise he would be doing that nervous fake smile thing and it'd be blatantly obvious that he doesn't want cake. ]

Sure! I'd love some. Err, you mean now?

[majestyofthethrone]

Only if you want.

[ex_sorted385]

Now I feel sort of bad I moved off the tenth floor. Are there that many teenagers up there? I suppose I could come by and lend a hand if you need it. Though considering some of the things I've found in my own kitchen after pulling too many all-nighters in a row at work, making them clean up their own science projects might be the best lesson.

[growling]

Science projects is definitely the word for it. I'm pretty sure some of the bacteria I've found is actually alien. As for teenagers - I know there are at least a couple, only really met one. More than I ever planned on living with, I can tell you that much.

And thanks for the offer, but it sounds like you've got enough to keep you busy on your floor.

[ But really, a responsible workaholic? Be still his heart, another real adult on the spaceship. ]

I'm sorry, did you say your name... ? I'm Josh.

[growling]

[ Let's see, social visits on the theoretical full moon. That's a bad idea, right? Yes, definitely a bad idea. ]

I would really love to, but I think I'm coming down with something. Do you think it'll hold up 'til tomorrow?

[ wow rude turning down cake from a little girl, he feels like a jerk. ]

[majestyofthethrone]

I couldn't eat it all by myself, so I think it'll still be here.