Ω 10 Ω [voice]

[redhotsummers]

[Alex knows this post is a shot in the dark. Stupid, even, but he was tired of having things in his head that didn't belong to him.

Especially when they read as things that were supposed to warn them, of things, but gave no real solid knowledge.

The burning of the genetics lab.

The dreams of the elves.

The dream of the prisoner, and his own--of a girl fighting back against someone who was familiar and yet not, who had eaten the other crewmembers.

And the message that Carolyn had shown him.

Maybe he was paranoid; maybe he was stupid.

But this was either just an echo of the past, or a warning that history was going to repeat itself.

From who--who the fuck knew.]

Uh--Ward, you care to pipe up here?

You can't tell me that you don't know anything about this. Or that you aren't listening to what is going on, and don't have an opinion on it.

[There is a pause, and then--well.

Might as well just be an idiot.]

You too, Smiley.

Did you help the other crew too, occasionally, then unleash this on them? Is this your last little game? How many crews were there before us?

I mean you've saved us, before. Why keep so damn quiet, now?

Just saying, if there is some sort of countdown clock to insane cannibal doppelgangers, I'd like to know what time it's showing.

Comments

[mindtricks]

You wouldn't want to know even if you were? [ she thinks she might like to know, if it was true. just to be better prepared for whatever comes. ]

[redhotsummers]

Knowing I was a mutant never helped much.

[mindtricks]

If you hadn't known, you couldn't have learned to control it.

[redhotsummers]

No. But I...

[Alex sighs.]

I was doing just fine in solitary. I just--we never asked for this, Cassandra.

Sometimes being what I am is hard enough to live with. Add this little gift of memory sight or whatever it is? I don't know if I can handle it, if it keeps up.

[mindtricks]

I don't think locking yourself away is the answer.

[ and he knows how to control it, so that at least isn't so much of an issue anymore. ] You can. [ he's got people here to help him carry that load, after all. that makes a difference, doesn't it? ]

[redhotsummers]

Well maybe I can, but what if I don't want to? Sometimes people just reach a breaking point, you know?

I don't know if I can take any more of this in my head.

[mindtricks]

You will. [ because giving up isn't in her vocabulary, not really, and if he can then he's not near his breaking point yet.

and what would it change? breaking down wouldn't stop it, or at least she sincerely doubts that it will. ] I'm sure you won't break.

[redhotsummers]

I just wish I had the faith you do.

[mindtricks]

[ anderson isn't sure if it's faith, or just accepting the things that she knows she can't change and focusing on the ones she can, instead. ]

Do you trust me?

[ not with his life or anything quite so spectacular, trust is a lot to ask for, she knows that. ]

[redhotsummers]

Maybe.

[He does, actually. But it's not that easy to actually say that. He struggles with trust, a lot.]

[mindtricks]

[ she-- kind of gets the sense that he does. that's okay. ]

Then believe me when I say I know you won't break.

[ she can read his mind, right? so she should know. the logic isn't entirely perfect, but it doesn't have to be. ]

[redhotsummers]

I'll try. That's the best I can give you right now, okay?

[She has to know that's all he's got, right now.]

[mindtricks]

That's enough.

[ if he keeps trying, it's more than enough. ]

[redhotsummers]

Hopefully.

[Alex sighs.]

See you around, then?

[mindtricks]

Yes, of course.