10. » private/video

[tolaywaste]

for ben

[His posture says it all: concerned, tense, but not afraid for his own safety. Not afraid at all. He's leaning towards the camera, though, like he can express worry just by being closer.]

Hey, Ben? I'm worried about you. Can you check in with me?

filter: bruce + rorschach + barbara

I'd like to help with Ben. I'm not as good at this as you all are, but point me where you need me and I'm there.

just bruce

Which means you're helping. He's my friend.

for oliver

I need your help with something, if you're willing to give it.

for charles

Check in. Did you hear about Ben?

Comments

Private

[wedonot]

I did. Rhade had me speak with him, ["Speak" really meaning "telepathy", but anyway.] he's not the one responsible for Kozak's murder.

Private

[tolaywaste]

I know that.

[Well, he hadn't known, not until right now. But he had known, in his way.]

Why did Rhade want you to speak to him? To check?

Private

[wedonot]

And to make sure no one else had tampered with his memories, or coerced him into committing the act. Unfortunately, I don't have any evidence as to who was responsible, but it certainly wasn't him, under the influence of someone else or no.

Private

[tolaywaste]

Okay. Good. Well, not good, somebody's messing with him anyway, but - good that it wasn't his hands that did it.

[He runs his hands through his hair, frustrated.]

Are you going to - I need you to stay on this with me, okay? He's my friend.

[Private]

[theonlyresponse]

It goes without saying.

You may want to make copies of the infirmary's records.

[He creeps on everything, and anyway he saw the earlier messages.]

[Private]

[tolaywaste]

Thanks. Thank you.

I can do that. I need you to just - do the superdetective thing for me, okay? I'll get whatever you need.

[Private]

[theonlyresponse]

If someone framed him it's possible they may do so again.

Make a list of his enemies.

[Private]

[tolaywaste]

I will. What else?

Private

[greenarrowed]

What is it?

Private

[tolaywaste]

A friend of mine is in deep trouble. I'd like your help with helping him out, but I'm not going to bribe you or browbeat you into it. You do the right thing right now or you don't.

Private

[greenarrowed]

[Do you just need someone to intimidate someone else :|]

Why me?

Private

[tolaywaste]

Because I know you know what it's like to want to help and feel helpless. And because I can't do it by myself, and because I trust you.

[ Private : Audio ]

[warisart]

[Ben, for his part, is concerned as well; he's afraid, and upset, and confused, so confused. He understands the theory of being framed, knows how it works in the intangible sense; he just never thought it would apply to him. No one's ever bothered to set him up before. He's never had the ability and the right to hold anyone off from doing whatever they want to and with him.

So he's fallen back on old habits: shades of X5-493 marring what, who he'd been becoming outside of his own head. His voice is calm and steady, not as crisp and precise as the brainwashed version of himself had been, but much closer than he'd been since his arrival.]

There is no need to be worried. What would you like to know?

[ Private : Video ]

[tolaywaste]

[The sound of his voice, the audible proof of steps back, it tugs at Alex. He frowns, leans in closer.]

I don't need to know anything. Just if you're okay. I already know you didn't do this.

There's a need to be worried, man, somebody's trying to hurt you. Do you get that?

[ Private : Audio on Ben's end until FURTHER NOTICE ]

[warisart]

I am fine. I was not the one attacked.

[But his voice changes subtly at the assertion of his innocence; along with the strangeness of being framed has come the assumption that it will, ultimately, be successful. And yet...

But as he continues, Ben's voice remains almost casual and definitively calm. The answer to this is simple.]

That has been true for most of my life. Either they will succeed or they will fail, and I have done all that I can in either case.

[ Private : Video on Alex's, ditto ]

[tolaywaste]

You were, though. This is an attack. I don't know why, but that's what it was.

[He runs his hand over his face when Ben says that, because he's right. He's right: he has always been hurt, he has always been hunted, and maybe he thinks he always will be.]

[But Alex doesn't want Ben to see him upset. Ben needs hope.]

[When he speaks again, his voice is forceful, insistent, but not raised. He's just stating facts.]

It's been true, yeah. But here and now, it shouldn't be. Maybe you've done all you can, but I haven't, and I'm going to starting right now.

Nobody gets to hurt you while I'm around, do you hear me?

[Spam]

[unknownsoldier]

[Zack doesn't walk with Ben, he keeps an eye out from a distance. The corners of corridors, a distant table at meal times; it's served him well for ten years and it'll serve him now. All his life he lived with the fear that his siblings would be taken and this incident - this place that is too much like the one they left behind - has only made it acute, darts piercing a target. He lost Ben once. It won't happen again.

He hears someone approaching, of course, and he buries himself in a book, showing no other outward reaction. Sam the delivery boy isn't supposed to know these things, after all.]

[Spam]

[tolaywaste]

[Alex has been checking on Ben. Of course he has. Because Rhade wanted him to, and because it's Ben.]

[He's seen this new guy, this Sam, too many times, though, and he's about to confront him about who are you, why the hell are you stalking Ben, when he sees the barcode and stops dead in his tracks.]

[Like Ben's.]

[Which means Ben has to know. Which means maybe Ben wants him here?]

[Alex clears his throat deliberately.]

[Spam]

[unknownsoldier]

[Zack turns as anyone without super senses would and waves cheerfully to Alex.]

Hey neighbour! How's it hanging?

Filter

[bodilesswarrior]

Of course. [He's Ben's friend. If she says no, he'll get involved anyway. Better that he does it with their guidance.]

Right now I'm going through Ben's public conversations, looking for anyone with a motive.

...I don't suppose he'd lend you his communicator.

Filter

[tolaywaste]

Check out Touko Fukawa. Rhade said she was interested in the way he killed, before.

[Just dripping with distaste right now.]

He might. I'll ask. But if he says no I'm not pushing. He's worried I'm going to get hurt, too.

Filter

[bodilesswarrior]

[A slight grimace.] That doesn't shock me. [She's never spoken to the girl, but she's made note of her, because she makes note of everyone.]

[She nods.] Of course. [A slight smile.] Make sure he knows you're not alone in this. And that he isn't, either, regardless of whether he wants to be.

[wemaketheworld]

Will let you know.

[What. People want to help. What is this.]

[tolaywaste]

Thank you. I'm trying to figure out a couple of things - who might have known about the teeth. But you should talk to Charles. Ben let him read him.

[wemaketheworld]

Hurm. Yes, was planning to. His warden suggested it too.