26. » private, video, spam

[tolaywaste]

spam } aeryn & charles

[Alex has spoken to both his inmate and his now-legal guardian, trying to figure out a way to address the part of Aeryn's rehabilitation he feels least equipped to handle: her anger. What he hasn't done is gone into any great detail with either of them about how he wants this guidance to proceed.]

[In a way, he wants it to be something he and Aeryn can do together; in another way, he wants it to be as organic as possible, and so he pushes thoughts of structure away.]

[He calls them both to the CES. Bring jogging clothes, he says, because in his experience, just talking without moving can be a little bit terrifying. He waits just inside the entrance, stretching and plotting a path through the high grasses the room has given them today.]

private/voice } anya

Hey. We need to talk. [He hesitates, thinking of Snow and of Ben who would want him to actually be honest, not just truthful.] I mean, I need to talk about a bunch of things. But you, too.

Do you, you know. Have a minute?

private } crichton

We need to talk about Aeryn.

public } video

[See Alex. See Alex at the skating rink, with all necessary hockey accoutrements, just finishing up playing some solo hockey. Badly. The communicator appears to be resting on the wall of the rink; he waves at it pretty vigorously, his breath hanging in the air.]

Hey! So as some of you know - some of you new people, I guess, maybe don't - we have a skating rink. I have the keys and everything, but as long as you don't stab anyone with skates you're welcome. And we've been talking about having a serious hockey tournament for ages, so - here's phase one: try to beat me into the ice. Because seriously, it's the only way I'll learn.

Or come out and do some one-on-one, whatever you want. I'll be out here all afternoon.

open } spam

[And he is - out on the ice for the rest of the morning and into early afternoon, until he has to run to cover Ben's kitchen shift. He's been doing this more frequently lately than usual because Ben's been sick, but even now he's not the best at it. Kitchen work doesn't come naturally to him, but at least he follows direction well.]

[Immediately after lunch, he takes a walk in the CES, then attacks the CTS full force. The simulation it provides is terrifying in its sterility: robots twice his height, slow-moving but determined to capture rather thn terminate. His endeavor is to dismantle rather than destroy - a finesse exercise.]

[He leaves the CTS a smoking ruin. He's not much for finesse these days.]

Comments

[mistconduct]

Who do you think you are? Iceman?

[tolaywaste]

Nope. Havok. On ice.

[mistconduct]

That is an incredibly shitty icecapades show name.

[Private]

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[It doesn't take very long at all for Scorpius to make a list of all Persons of Interest; Alex shows up on it later by default of being Aeryn Sun's warden]

Alex Summers. May I have a word?

[Private]

[tolaywaste]

[Well, this isn't entirely unexpected. Alex gives his patented Do-Gooder Grin, which almost completely conceals the fact that he hates your guts, buddy.]

Sure. What can I do for you?

[Private]

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Are you the warden of Officer Aeryn Sun?

spam;

[semifreakingnormal]

Dude, this is awesome.

[He has the skates Nathan gave him for Christmas hanging over his shoulder, yet to see any use. He has no idea how to skate, and he's much too confident in his ability to just sort it out. He has werewolf balance! He'll totally kill it.]

Any takers, yet?

spam;

[tolaywaste]

Nope. You're first on call to kick my ass.

[He grins. Grins, grins, grins.]

Ben's probably not coming, so you might even have a chance.

[With a dubious look at Scott's feet:] Skates, maybe.

spam;

[semifreakingnormal]

Oh, yeah. [He kicks off his sneakers and sits to tug on the skates, lacing quickly.] Ben's probably like, as terrifying on the ice as on the network sooooo that's cool.

[When he stands, skates on, he wobbles just a little bit, and holds onto the side of the rink as he steps out onto the ice.]

How long has this been here?

spam

[youwillgotohell]

[She doesn't own skates, doesn't really know how beyond faint memories of sliding across frozen over lakes as a child. But she comes to the rink, slipping inside and looking around. Morgana has never been here, and though half a year ago she'd have seen no reason to look, now she sees no reason to sit still. She smiles when she sees him, and some of the edge has softened, but it hasn't faded completely.]

Would you call yourself a competent teacher?

spam

[tolaywaste]

[He smiles when he sees her, but it's a little strained. As always, Morgana remains someone he can't help. That hurts, and he knows it's selfish, but he can't make the hurt go away.]

Hockey? No, honestly. I'm still working on it. Skating, though . . . I think I'm okay.

spam

[youwillgotohell]

I've never been. [She looks over the skates, wonders if she could make her own. She decides not to - it might ruin the boots - and finds a pair that looks like it might fit. Her hair is pulled back, curls tamed for the moment, in a loose ponytail. She wears jeans and a sweater from his time, a gift from Charles, rather than her usual fair.]

Can you tell me the rules, at least?

[darknessb4me]

[Tempting.]

What do you mean by beat you?

[tolaywaste]

Beat me at hockey.

[Obviously this is exactly what he meant and his phrasing was not ambiguous at all.]

[darknessb4me]

What are the rules?

[Is there anything in the rules about stabbing?]

voice

[worthyofalittlework]

That's idiotic.

[an opinion on ice skating you never wanted.]

voice

[tolaywaste]

You're idiotic.

[Oh, what now.]

[private]

[fridgetothefire]

Sure thing. Come over, I'll make you lunch.

[It's easier to talk over food, right?]

[private ~~> spam]

[tolaywaste]

[Always and forever.]

I'll be right there.

[He snags a loaf of bread from the kitchens, just in case she wants it, and heads over right away. This time, he goes ahead and just pushes the door open, assuming her hands will be full.]

[Private]

[neverfeltbetter]

[Uh oh. Can't say it doesn't make him a little nervous hearing that.]

Sure thing. Is anything wrong?

[Private]

[tolaywaste]

Nothing new. I just have some concerns about the way Scorpius is treating her. He's treating her like a pawn. I want to know - do you have experience with him doing that before? Even if it's experience she doesn't have?

[ Spam ]

[warisart]

[Ben has been scarce ever since checking himself out of the infirmary; he's deep in thought whenever he's caught unawares, and from the absolute neutrality of his expression, they aren't always good thoughts. But he doesn't want to talk about any of it and so he doesn't.

He's still tired all the time, which is highly unusual for him; but he doesn't have any more grand mal seizures, and while the fogginess of the condition leaves him unable to reliably perform as would be necessary to work in the kitchens responsibly, he seems to be recovering. He's doing his best. He's been doing his best, but Alex has it all locked inside, attempting not to worry anyone and attempting not to admit to it.

So Ben doesn't respond on the network when he sees the message; neither does he intend to accept the challenge. He probably could at this point, but the irony to being absurdly healthy is that when he's even remotely unsteady, he's all the more off balance for it, so instead he stands at the edge of the ice rink and watches his friend, and does not call out or wave for attention. He just waits.]

[ Spam ]

[tolaywaste]

[Alex could easily postpone this by pretending he doesn't see Ben - acting like he's distracted and waiting until Ben goes away, although, to be fair, his friend is possibly the most patient person Alex has ever met. Or he could act sorry, hang his head and push his shame to the surface.]

[The truth is, he doesn't want to. Because what he's feeling now more than anything - besides loss, besides loneliness and sorrow - is anger, and what he said to Aeryn was right: he doesn't know how to handle his own anger.]

[So he makes a beeline for Ben, skidding to a stop in front of him so powder flies, and fixes his friend with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes.]

What's up? Problem in the kitchen?

[Probably his fault.]

running spam;

[soliterraneous]

[ Aeryn interprets 'bring' as 'wear', probably correctly; either way, she's there not long after she receives Alex's summons, hair in a high ponytail and looking ...well, guarded.

Not that she doesn't usually. ]

running spam;

[wedonot]

[Charles looks considerably less guarded when he shows up in his hideous totally groovy all gray sweatpants and sweatshirt. It would be safe to say that he actually looks downright chipper when he shows up soon after Alex summoned them to the CES. He doesn't seem especially bothered by Aeryn's expression and greets them both with a smile.]

Good to see the weather's cooperating.