murder --7; voice

[heltersskelter]

[Tate's walking down the hall, his communicator at his side. the video is on, so it flashes as he walks: the wall, his leg, the wall, his leg. it's dark, wherever he is. darker than the halls of the Passenger Quarters, lacking the glow of Engineering or the Shuttle Bay.]

It's like we've come to a new stage of our relationship, now we're talking. [it's as though he's been holding a conversation with someone and the comm started in the middle of it] But you know, I think that guy, you know the one, he needs something more poetic, like: There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the Beast... Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill! ... You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you?

[he stops, for a second, and from the lowered angle you can see his other hand. his fingers drum against his leg, like he's anxious. blunted, bitten nails digging into the fabric of his jeans.]

You aren't afraid are you?

[he's walking again]

By the way, sorry about Hayden. She's kind of a bitch when she doesn't get laid, and I mean, you know how people can get on this ship. But next month is New Years, right? I think Hayley missed that. It should be one hell of a party. It's been two years since the first jump showed up. Not everyone has something back home, you know? Maybe some of you have crap to go back to, bullshit families and wives and kids. Jobs, like your lives even matter. But maybe this place isn't so bad. [his voice lowers, not quiet, just deeper:] Can't say this ship never gave you anything.

[then he stops again, all at once. it's darker than it was a second ago, like maybe he's standing beneath an awning. there's no movement for about five minutes, you can't even hear Tate breathing, and right before the video winks off he says:]

What's for dinner?

Comments

audio;

[dirtyword]

One of my favourites.. [ If Tate wants to talk about it, he'll talk about it. Right now Brendan's clinging to something familiar: a book he's read up and down and front and back. ]

video 5ever but mostly of his leg

[heltersskelter]

Me too.

audio forever dammit

[dirtyword]

Who you sharin' your knowledge with? [ 'who was there?' ]

[heltersskelter]

I dunno. Who ever's listening.

[dirtyword]

So you're recordin' on purpose.

[heltersskelter]

You were listening, weren't you?

[dirtyword]

Course. Ask anyone else you're being suspicious.

[heltersskelter]

About what?

[dirtyword]

Talkin' to folks that aren't there. Doesn't sound like it, anyway.

[heltersskelter]

Who says nobody's there?

[that sounds- vaguely ominous]

What do you think this ship is, Brendan?

[dirtyword]

Messin' with your head. Or maybe your brainpan wasn't always on, I don't know. I don't care, either. Just want to make sure you don't do nothing stupid.

[heltersskelter]

It's not all in our heads.

[dirtyword]

Uh-huh. [ Sorry, Tate. He doesn't believe you one bit. ]

[heltersskelter]

It's not.

[there's something cruel, there, insistent and sparking like a forest fire.]

[dirtyword]

That's not up to me to figure out what's in your brainpan and what isn't. But still...

[ He's hesitant, though--he knows that tone. Reminds him of Tug. He's not sure he likes the amount of times he's almost had to go to the hospital because of that guy. ]

... Keep your head clear of trouble, dig? Not that you need me to pick you up. Just be careful.

[heltersskelter]

[he pauses, it's a long one. a little uncomfortable]

Why are you so worried about me?

[dirtyword]

Told you, we drink from the same bottle. [ It's not that simple, though, no--it's because Brendan can relate to Tate. Brendan knows what it's like, he thinks. ]

[heltersskelter]

[he's quiet for a few long minutes.]

Okay.