005 | video

[chromosomes]

[ John's dressed down for once, shirt missing and all. The Grim Reaper tattoo on his inner arm is visible, scythe and all, where most people's nanites are -- his are visible on the other arm. One hand is beneath his head and the other is holding the camera at a bit of an odd angle; he's laying down, apparently in bed. Despite that, he doesn't look like he's gotten a lot of sleep. ]

So. [ He starts, stops; clears his throat to make himself sound a little more awake. ] This place is hell, but we manage to relax sometimes. How do you all do it? [ There's a pause, considering, and he adds: ] Other than getting drunk.

[ That's not going to help him, considering he can't anymore. At the end of the day, what John needs is for nightmares of dead teammates and monsters in the dark to stop haunting him, of the dead on the ship that he could have (should have) been able to help. But for now... he'll take what he can get. Not that he necessarily wants everyone knowing he can't relax. ]

Call me curious, I guess. I would've bet on more nervous breakdowns.

Comments

[handelaar]

Hn. There's three nations on the ship. Personifications, whatever. America's the loud moron with the alien. Russia - keeps to himself, lot of the time. Might've seen him with me at work. Scarf, kinda bigger than I am.

[Sigh, anyway. What else does everyone ask, what kind of questions would he be wanting to know if their positions were switched, and can he get it over with in one whack...]

Doesn't matter much here. Just, uh. I'm real goddamned Dutch, I guess. Old, too. Stronger than citizens.

[chromosomes]

[ There is a very, very long pause before: ]

Of course America is a loud moron with an alien.

[ weeps bitter US Marine Corp tears ]

It's an honor to meet you, though.

[ Diplomacy or something he doesn't even ]

suddenly video;

[handelaar]

[Just. Gonna flip to video and raise a brow, rows of the Gardens in the background.]

An honor. [Wat. He gives his head a small shake before tipping it toward the screen, a nod that's a lot more courteous than his next words would imply.] Sure, whatever.

[Anyway he lights a smoke and gets on with the real reason they probably know so damned much about one another:]

Takeshi likes you. Could play with him, teach 'im a few things.

suddenly video;

[chromosomes]

[ You're a goddamn country Ned, you're damn right it's an honor. ]

He's a good kid.

[ But- ] What sort of things?

[handelaar]

[A smoky sigh as he nods.]

There's a lot he needs t'know. Just in case. Survival shit, reading, fighting. Prob'ly the most important right now.

[chromosomes]

I can try to teach him. Not sure how good at it I'll be, but he listens better than most new recruits I've dealt with.

[ And he wants Takeshi to stay safe. ]

[handelaar]

[So does he. And with that he's rubbing the back of his neck, awkward and resigned all at once.]

Teach him - which.

[The voice of a guy who has mused over a plan and potential prospects for a long while now.]

[chromosomes]

Survival shit and fighting. Not sure I'd be great at teaching the others.

[ But he's helped out rookies before. ]

[handelaar]

Yeah.

[Breath out, and his hand drops out of the screen.]

Should do that.