oo5 video;

[mstitel]

[Hey Tranquility. This is a face that's been kind of missing for a while, and boy does he look tired. Tired and worn and just kind of like a kid who's seen way too much shit in way too short a time.]

Hey, um. [Well, that's eloquent. And kind of scratchy, like he hasn't actually spoken in a few days. He clears his throat, shifts around a bit, and tries again.] I'm back, sorry... for disappearing, I guess. We got stuck in a weird part of the ship when lockdown hit.

[There's a long bit of silence where James just kind of looks off to the side of his communicator, spacing out. And it's more than obvious that he's pale, with dark circles under his eyes. A bit gaunt from not really being able to find much food from his little getting lost thing.]

Libby's... gone. And I found... if I can just- if a Miles and a Jesse who knew her can get in touch, that'd be... she told me to tell you.

[For now, he's saying nothing about the latest addition to his room.]

Comments

[ video ]

[hostage]

[Okay. It happens. He knew it would happen eventually. It's going to happen to all of them. He just... focuses on keeping it together for the camera.]

I'm Jesse.

[ video ]

[mstitel]

[Keeping it together has become James' default as of late. Tucking away just about everything other than a quiet, tired acceptance of the shit that happens.

It does make it easier, though, that Jesse's managing to hold it together as well.]

The one that knew her?

[He just wants to be sure.]

[ video ]

[hostage]

Yeah.

[ video ]

[mstitel]

She wanted me to tell you something. She- [He breaks, a little, closing his eyes, taking a breath, and finding himself smiling. A small, tired expression.]

She wanted you to know that these have been the best months of her life. That you helped her believe in something again. That not everyone was... "fucked up".

[Little does he know that the very fact that he's talking to Jesse right now is triggering something, deep down in the layers of code, through the connection his communicator has to Libby's laptop.

Because, even as they speak, a little message is being sent Jesse's way.]

[ video ]

[hostage]

[He listens attentively to James's words, even if he isn't looking directly at the camera. The second message goes unnoticed for now, but he'll see it and open it later, likely play it over and over and watch it anytime he misses her in the weeks to come. For now, though, he reacts only to James. And those words are enough to bring tears to his eyes. Jesse doesn't say anything, but he nods.]

[ video ]

[mstitel]

[He watches Jesse for a moment, letting the words sink in, swallowing against the almost painful feeling of fondness rising in him as he repeats them.

Finally, though, he clears his throat and... does his level best not to seem too awkward about this.]

She... [A short roll of his eyes] She said to tell you to look out for me, too. And that's- I can do fine on my own. But...

I'm James. Rogers. Libby and I were... we were together. [These people, Jesse... Miles. They were important to Libby. He owes it to her memory, their shared love of a girl gone, but never forgotten, to at least try to get to know them.]

[ video ]

[hostage]

[Jesse clears his throat, too, trying to find his voice again.]

Yeah? That's great. I'm glad she had somebody.

It's, um, nice to meet you, James. Sucks it had to be like this, but yeah. And she's right, you know. You need anything, you can ask me.