[TLV][IC Inbox]

[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

audio, private

[coffinturk]

[ Event Reference ]

Alexei. There's been an incident. Ethan's dead. Common room, second level. Closest to the infirmary.

[ If Alexei was in the infirmary at the time, he might have heard a bit of the commotion before Vincent shot at and ran after an intruder who came crashing into the main area. ]

[reargunner]

What--?

[For fuck's sake-- for fuck's sake. Can this place go five fucking minutes without some nutjob appearing on board and immediately killing people?

Is that what all that noise was?]

I'm coming. Fuck--

[The line drops. He'll be there in a minute.]

and spam

[coffinturk]

[ Vincent did have the clarity of mind to arrange Ethan's body. There is a cloth over the head and neck. Did Alexei know that Vincent carries around broad, black handkerchief cotton? Now he does.

There's another body as well in the former Turk's arms. Another cloth covering the ravaged throat and the expression frozen by death.

That's probably not going to be enough to hide Aerith's identity by itself. But maybe the way he has his cloak wrapped around her is. Maybe. ]

[reargunner]

[There's a lot of Russian swearing running ahead of Alexei as his steps thud down the corridor. He stops in the doorway for a moment, looking like he's going to be sick, then he's just angry.]

How in the actual fuck does this keep happening.

[How many times in the last few months, now? He knows they won't stay dead, but they'll still have to remember it.

He stops by Ethan's body. Touches his arm. Flinches.]

Did the fucking psycho rip his throat out?

[coffinturk]

[ ...That question can cover a lot of people. Maybe Eleven who has been part of recent talk. Maybe someone else with wildly deviant behavior. ]

No. Newcomer. Arrived in a feral state.

[ For once it wasn't a person who just decided it was another Monday and went on a killing bender. Though it doesn't sound as if Vincent is any more pleased with what just happened. In fact Alexei, having now had time to work in some close proximity to Vincent for a few months, would probably recognize the man may appear his usual stoic self, but there's an air about him which is far from calm.

He doesn't like having to admit no fault to the killer. But it isn't wrong too either. ]

John has him. There is medicine. I don't know how much more will be made public.

[ And just like that, Vincent is straightening himself up. ]

I need to go take care of things elsewhere.

[reargunner]

I don't give a fucking shit what state he arrived in, if he gets near me any time soon I'm gonna knock his fucking head off.

[He'll realise later that he's just as pissed off at the Admiral for allowing it to happen as he is at the perpetrator for what they did. For all the power the prick has, and people can still get dumped here so fucked up that the first thing they do is commit homicide.

It's fucking ridiculous.

There's another few, muttered, acidic curses in Russian.]

If it has to go public just give the facts. No names. That's how it's done, yeah? [That's how it's supposed to be done, right?] If they wanna come forward themselves later then they can. Even if I don't think the anonymity is fucking deserved.

[He exhales shakily.]

I'll-- I'll take him. I sh--... I should let Norton know. [Ugh.] Who's the other one?

[coffinturk]

[ Alexei is also not wrong. And Vincent has no comeback or glance or expression to indicate otherwise.

He wish he'd used real bullets. Even if that wouldn't have made any difference; Ethan would still be dead. And...

The tall man halts. ]

If you don't want the public scorn and retaliations, yes.

[ About just how public to make the announcements. It's pretty ugly and often underserved. Does it keep the peace? ...Only sometimes. ]

...Who else would I take this much effort to hide?

[ Maybe two people on this ship if you include keeping any heat off of his inmate, Katie. ]

It can't be known. Definitely not today.

[ And that only leaves one person.

Vincent begins to walk off with those words. He trusts Alexei enough to know where Ethan needs to go. And who he'll need when he wakes. ]

[reargunner]

Vincent!

[No, he's not going to leave it at that. He wants the name. He leaves Ethan where he is and closes the distance between he and the other man with a few long strides, getting a handful of the back of his cloak.]

Don't you fucking walk away from me with that cryptic bullshit, who is it?!

[He knows. He fucking knows. But he needs to hear it.]

[coffinturk]

[ There's the halt, again. How is it so easy to stop him?

The look he casts over his shoulder toward Alexei is one of grief and anger and maybe a bit of the inhuman type that makes it hard to remember how human the former Turk professes to act for all his stoicism and lack of social integration.

He just really wants to let it all go but he can't right now. But for now, for Alexei who is suffering from Ethan already, so much so that his words are drowning in the dips and curves of his native dialect; Vincent does pause.

And then with a light flick of his rest, allows the cloak to fall away. He's not going to let the cloth covering her face dip too far. Not going to show what awful state death has left her body in.

But it's enough. Eyes closed, a familiar style of hair, accessories, clothes. It's a glimpse but it's enough.

And Vincent is quick to wrap Aerith up again before anyone else can walk through and spy her. ]

Today... [ Vincent's voice is just a whisper. Not to keep from being over heard. But because he can barely bear to speak. ] ...is her birthday.

[ And. Or... but.... ]

I'm tired of this. I need to take her where she'll feel safe. And... where I won't do something I'll regret later.

[reargunner]

[His breath catches softly when he sees her. The back of his throat drops, closes down in a nauseating lurch that he has to swallow down as the natural tan of his skin turns ashen.

He doesn't say her name for the same reason Vincent didn't. He blinks rapidly, looks from her, back to Ethan, then up to Vincent's face. The two of them have been acquainted long enough for him to read the other man's pain, for as much as he tries not to show it.]

Okay. [Softly. Inhale. Exhale. He steps back.] Okay.

[Fuck.]

If you need-- You'll know where I am.

[Which is as close to affection between the two of them as it ever gets, the words and offer and the way he carefully, briefly clasps his hand against Vincent's shoulder meaning more than something closer but forced.]

I... I'll get Ethan back to his room.

[coffinturk]

Thank you.

[ Rather than a simply 'yes' or 'agreed', there is a thank you. For everything.

He doesn't shy away from the brief connection, knowing it is meant as a form of support both of them knows he will accept. ]

I'll be in my cabin.

[ It's next to Aerith's and it's not completely uncommon that one or the other visits between them. Vincent is unlikely in the state to let her out of his sight.

Certainly, his room has more guns for her protection.

He departs with that, provided no other matters of import must be spoken of. ]