ataraxion | [ video + action for Nick ]

[ there's a crackling stream of static in the video as it bursts in to life - Cambridge is attempting to do her usual technopathic shit by mentally logging in to the network but she's not really giving it her all. Probably on account of the fact that her attention is half-drawn by the fact she's having to bicker irritably with someone off-screen as she does so: ]

Do shut up - no, just shut your mouth, Justin Bieber, I am trying to transmit here, for the love of God--

[ the feed adjusts itself and Cambridge's face - petulant, frustrated and visibly worried - swims in to view. The backdrop to the feed is one of those hideously never-ending corridors and in the crook of her elbow is an over-sized black leather handbag containing one (1) cat. Which definitely doesn't belong to her. And she's largely ignoring. Guess who hates small furry creatures. ]

Listen here, all of you: for God's sake, don't go out in to the corridors. Evidently someone is playing silly buggers with the ship because it's certainly not making any sense. It's all rather ridiculous out here right now...

[ There's a quaver of fear in her voice that she quickly swallows in an effort to keep a stiff upper lip and SHOW NO FEAR etc etc. ]

Dearest Aberdeen - if you're not dead or sulking or what-have-you then I do believe I've found your horrid cat.

[ A quick shot of the newly-christened Cat the cat in Cambridge's handbag; needless to say this is not that particular Motherfucker. ]

If it survives this horrible door-less ordeal then someone had better take it off my hands before I turn it in to gloves.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Where are you?

[ It's very difficult for Oxford not to worry immediately, because this is Cambridge, and there is a natural sense of protection that arises in him when it comes to her. The instinct that first grips him is to get up and go, look for her, but he is obviously restraining himself as best as he can. ]

[ after a delay of a little over a minute there's a sudden text reply; most of Cambridge's face - her mouth included - is currently preoccupied with sorting out with Nick what exactly is Going On Here and Will This Cat Ruin My Handbag. But HURRAH MULTITASKING because Cambridge has quite neatly discovered that she can argue with Nick and use her mind to text Oxford at the same time! ]

we were en route to the oxygen garden. now I have no idea.

[ Nick holds his hands up as if raising a white flag, not really getting the Justin Bieber reference because he wasn't even born yet in 2001 - or if he was, whatever, same difference. The thing is, he didn't have to suffer through the hideous noise invading national radios, so he's missing the reference and that's just mean. ]

Fine, whatever. [ He crosses his arms, watching Cambridge talk into the communicator as he just stands there; he's still refusing to use the hideous spacesuit and still likes to walk around with his bag - old habits and all that - and his sunglasses. For douchey touch, of course. ]

It might shit on you. [ A pause. ] The cat.

[ oh dear, what a waste of a pop culture reference! But, no, Cambridge doesn't care.

She tucks the comms device away in to a subtle pocket located somewhere around the mid of her dress - no hideous black jump suit for her, not since the second jump - and glares down at the rather contented-looking cat in her handbag. ]

Unless it's got damn good credit at the Milky Way branch of House of Fraser it had better bloody not.

[ But with that in mind she heaves the bag out of the crook of her elbow and attempts to pass it to Nick. ]

Here, you take it.

[ For him, it's more of a sense of owning something. A bit of a nomad, this one, and he likes to have something that belongs to him with him because it gives him some sense of fake stability. Or something like that. ]

You speak in tongues most of the time. [ As a shrug, really, but you know how those damn brits are.

And then he stares at the cat who mrows at him. He grabs it and stares at him for a while, before it paws his nose. Then Nick is just going to grab it and stroke the furry thing. ]

Better company than most.

It's English, you cretin.

[ Now that she's thoroughly de-catted Cambridge turns her attention back to the never-ending corridor before them. She's never particularly been one for claustrophobia but now that there's clearly no kind of exit to be seen apart from the dark, shadowed stretches of metal walkway in either direction she's suddenly finding herself battles an acute attack of the nerves. Cambridge swallows awkwardly and wets her lips. ]

Perhaps we're going in circles. I don't suppose you have a pen or anything like that on you?

[ Okay, he has to laugh at that. Nobody says "you cretin". Unless they are old English dames, fluffing their fans about and looking appalled at some lower class idiot.

Well, at least, it's like that in his head and he has a strong mental image regarding the whole situation so Nick is just going to be laughing under his breath as he scratches his fingers underneath the cat's chin, letting her purr like a motorboat. ]

I don't have a pen, but I think I got pencils around here. [ He holds the cat back to her to rummage through the bag. ] What do you want it for?

[ a minute pause. because this, doesn't look promising. in the slightest. ]

I presume that you are equally unable to access an exit?

[ as with Oxford, Cambridge has realised that she can multitask! Whilst her mouth is preoccupied with arguing with Nick and shouting at the cat Cambridge switches to text replies for the rest of the crew. ]

exactly how stupid do you think I am.

I assure you, Miss Cambridge, of my myriad thoughts on your person, stupidity is not among them.

Oh, thank fuck.

[His face might as well be in his hands.]

That's not her cat, it's mine.

I suppose I shall be looking after it for the foreseeable future. I will accept cash payment.

[dryly:] I was hoping my gratitude would be rewarding enough.

[a little sigh. Why is he such an asshole. WHY DID HE FORGET HIS CAT. Etcetera, etcetera.] Where did you find her?

Gratitude in itself is to be expected. I'd rather hoped that it might have a more financially rewawarding manifestation. I do believe she was on her way to the oxygen gardens. Where did you lose her?

Edited (shaz can't english) 2012-02-19 20:51 (UTC)

She followed me around after I found her in the locker. [Whoever the fuck thought it'd be a nice idea to leave her there needs a punch to the throat is what he thinks. Then again he fucking forgot she was even his, so. That's special.] Then she wandered off, I guess.

Think you could bring her to me? She's kind of important.

I feel sorry for the cat.

[Guess who loves small furry creatures.]

you can feel sorry for it if it shits in my handbag but not a moment before.

[She switches to text for convenience.]

How can you be so cruel to a harmless creature?

hardly harmless. right now it is holding my handbag to ransom.

Perhaps putting it in your bag in the first place was a bad idea.

Might wanna keep it around for somethin' other than gloves.

I'm not sure how many uses a cat might have on board a spaceship but I think they must be rather limited.

[Flatly - ] Depends on how long you're stuck there. Could be useful.

Where were you heading before this? [ least that way, she can attempt to pinpoint your location on the map. ]

[ video + action for Nick ]

( video )

[ text ]

action;

action forever blah blah blah

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voice;

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video;

text, sorry, she's multitasking

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text, for multitasking reasons!

voice, because texting with big hands is hard

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