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[reargunner]

ᴛᴇxᴛ | ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ | ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ | ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ



Leave a message if you want. I'll get back to you when I pick my comm up.

Or I won't.

Comments

[reargunner]

Whatever. You want the cigarette or not?

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

I do.

I'll see you in a few?

[reargunner]

Yeah, usual spot.

[Which will be up on deck, where he usually goes to smoke.]

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

[He heads up the stairs with Mae, who collapses at Alexei's feet as they get closer.]

She's so needy when she's off-duty.

[reargunner]

Mm.

[He glances down at Mae but doesn't shift from his spot leaned against the railing save to offer Jacob his pack of cigarettes and a lighter.

Alexei's been picking up the habit more and more lately, after easing off a fair bit following the Narrenschiff.]

Help yourself.

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

[He nods his thanks.]

Your people alright?

[He assumes that they've reached out or he has.]

[reargunner]

[... sigh.]

Far as I know, everyone's fine. Ethan missed the whole thing.

[Honestly, the comas also suck.]

Just more bullshit.

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

[He turns to look at him over the flame of the match in his hand.]

Coma or - disappear?

[reargunner]

First one, I guess. Not that it matters.

[One way or the other he wasn't there.]

Doubt he'll have much riveting to say about it if you ask him.

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

It matters. The Admiral likes to kick people home for a while. Comas, at least....mean you can keep an eye on them when you're around.

[He chuckles.]

I like Ethan, but I don't trust him to give me anything more than the cut and dry facts of it.

[reargunner]

[A shrug.]

He'd know more about it than me.

[He lowers his arm to the railing, the cigarette in his hand slowly burning out as he worries the thumbnail of the other hand instead.]

You can keep the lighter. I have another one.

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

[He shakes his head.]

Nah, it's alright. I got matches back at my cabin.

[He holds it back out to him.]

[reargunner]

'kay.

[It's taken back, then, pushed into a pocket along with the cigarette packet.

Then he props his chin against the heel of his hand and huffs out a breath.]

So what did you wanna talk about.

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

[He shakes his head.]

Nothing you want to talk about. Promised I wouldn't ask and I won't.

Maybe I just wanted to actually lay eyes on you.

[reargunner]

[He frowns without looking Jacob's way.]

Didn't need me in person for that.

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

I also wanted the cigarette.

Two birds and all that.

[He taps the ash out from the railing.]

When are we going ice fishing, anyway? Been nothing but nonsense after nonsense around here.

[reargunner]

Whenever. Ain't as if I have a packed schedule even with the commissary shifts.

[The cigarette burns close enough to his fingers for him to drop it. He grunts softly and lets it fall, then gets out the pack again. Rather than immediately draw one out he just fiddles with the box.]

I'll set up a program. Not too cold. You wouldn't handle it.

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

Hey. Fuck you. I can handle the cold. I know how to dress in layers.

[He notices him fidgeting and brings the cigarette to his lips.]

[reargunner]

[He just shakes his head.]

Nah. Wouldn't be as fun. Unless you're after the real authentic Martian ice fishing experience, I guess, but it isn't really worth freezing your ass off for.

[The box goes back in his pocket, unopened.]

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

Hey, it's your show. My social calendar's open now, if you want to go.

[He shrugs.] I'll just take Mae back.

[reargunner]

Not right now.

[The box comes back out again. This time he does take a cigarette out of it.]

Head's not in it.

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

Whatever you say.

[He shrugs.]

What are you spending the day doing?

[reargunner]

Today? Mostly this, so far.

[He gives the unlit cigarette a brief wave before lighting it, pulling in a quick drag.]

Cabin feels more like a prison cell than usual.

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

I get that.

You wanna take Mae on a walk with me? I was gonna stretch her legs a bit.

[reargunner]

[He looks over, first at Jacob and then down at Mae, then grunts softly in the back of his throat.]

Okay, yeah. Where are we going?