ataraxion | voice

[...there's a second of white noise, because-- well, this is weird. It's like online chatrooms, which Mitchell has never been keen on, to say the least. One on one communication hasn't been so bad--better, actually, considering he's been mostly holed up in his room, avoiding human/werewolf contact. But, right--necessity--]

If people are going t' go through those tubes and get onto that other ship, do their phones keep on working? These devices, I mean. Do they go that far? If they do, and if this can be heard over there, I'm making a request. Space pirates had to have cigarettes on them, yeah, and I'm in need of cigarettes. Sanctioned looting can include a bit of personal stuff, yeah-- and it's sort of a, a desperate need. Please and thanks in advance.

[Like very desperate. Like the more he talks about it, the more strained his voice goes. Vampires with nicotine addictions, it's a hard life. A pause, then, he might finish there--but instead he sucks in a breath. Right. Normal.]

Actually, there's a lot of questions on how things work around here, and not all of it is out of our control. Like--so there's a cast of, what, a hundred plus of us, and we have t' trade for things that we need, if someone else has got them. But if you don't have anything t' trade, is it just-- begging for it? Hoping for a bit of Christian charity? Every man for himself? Not that I'd be much surprised by that one, given the... [Maybe it's better not to finish that one, in light of recent events, but given his low faith in humanity, and given his own recent exploints, none this is really all that surprising. So, wry once more:] ...given the situation.

[An awkward pause.]

Anyways. Thanks again.

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[He flinches a little, and he hates that he flinches-- (and there was a pirate, actually, but that wasn't his fault, and he's not confessing to that) --]

Is this your idea of helping?

We both know that nicotine's not going to cut it. You're delaying the inevitable.

Christ, how many ways do I have to say it--I'm clean now What d'you want from me? And what's my alternative? Your way? D'you want me to admit that you're right and coming running back, because I'm not going to.

I've done all right before. I can do all right now.

I don't doubt that you've done all right before. What I want is to prevent what comes after that.

[And that little comment--with all of the others, too, with the implication that he will fail (made worse by the fact that Cutler is right, there is always an inevitable)--all of it sets him off again, and he laughs, harshly.]

So, what, your solution is just come on over, have a glass of blood, and welcome back--and that's it? That doesn't prevent anything, that makes it worse. Listen to me: there's not going to be an after, because there's not going to be anything in the first place.

You haven't spoken to Hal yet, have you? [because clearly that would solve all of the problems]

[Irritated, he heaves a sigh. Just change the subject why don't you--]

No. I haven't. And?

He barely lasted a month without blood. You won't do any better.

[A beat of sullen silence before he asks:]

And how long was he clean, before that.

Longer than you. [Bar a few Cutler-created hiccups but they don't count for this.]

That's not an answer.

[Christ, but they need to stop talking about blood, about all of it. Mitchell pushes his hand over his eyes, trying to get himself together.]

But you're well-informed, maybe you can answer this one for me. Why was Hal livin' with Annie?

[He's heard the name Annie mentioned as living with Tom and Hal and the war child, but that's about it. That said, he's certainly not about to reveal his ignorance to someone who's just called him well-informed, so he cobbles together an answer based on what little he does know.]

He wanted something different.

[Definitely some bitterness in that answer.]

[Something different like what, like Mitchell's life? It's stupid, but there's the taste of something very much like jealousy when he thinks of that. Annie and George, they're his--but it's stupid, he shoves all of that away,with a grim little laugh.]

He wanted something different. Trying at being human, maybe? That's about as different as it gets. Not your kind of thing, I s'ppose.

[Cutler just laughs. Mitchell has no idea what an irritation that particular topic has been for him.]

I don't pretend to understand it.

Yeah, you don't seem like the type who would. How old are you?

Close to your age, I'd say. [Well, depending on your perspective anyway. He knows Mitchell's over a century, but this is as honest as he's willing to be right now.]

Why do you ask?

Because I've not heard of you, and I was wondering if it was worth it t' waste my time asking you any real questions.

[He says it flatly, a little meanly, just because he can.]

You know Tom, I'm guessing. You seem like you try to know everyone.

[Cutler's reply comes back, well, cuttingly.] I make the effort to know people who might be useful.

[GUESS WHICH CATEGORY YOU WERE IN MITCHELL]

[Oh, that's really amusing. He laughs, once, short. Good thing he doesn't want to be at all useful to you anyways Cutler!!!]

Is that a yes, you know Tom, or a no.

Yes, I know Tom. We're friends. [And that last word is definitely less than sincere. Tom might think they're friends...]

[Cutler's inflection is enough to describe the sort of "friendship" they're talking about.]

Friends enough that you can tell him t' stay away from me?

I can't guarantee that he'll listen, but I can try. What do you have against him? Aside from the general lack of scintillating conversation.

I asked if you could do it, I didn't offer t' tell you a story. D'you really need to know?

I know his favourite hobby used to be hunting vampires, but he's been remarkably willing to compromise since we found ourselves here. Unless you know something I don't...

It's not like putting away your knitting needles, it's not the kind of hobby you just-- give up.

[And he's not going to respond to any fishing for information, or offer what it is that he knows (or suspects, really). He's shown too much to Cutler so far, and he'll probably have to tell him more, in the end, but for now--]

What's it take t' get a compromise out of him? You didn't give up feeding. What did you offer him?

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