[006] you blow it all with paranoia; you're so insecure you self-destroyer

[notafuckingnut]

[After the conclusion of this, there is a very worried looking Richie on-camera; wild eyes, twitching fingers, general restlessness - it's clear he's had some kind of shock and isn't handling it at all well.]

WILL SHE'S-

[Feed cuts out, only to click back on a few seconds later mid-rant]

- I FUCKING SWEAR I'M GONNA -

[Cuts out again]

[Private to Graham, only this time it's text]

WILL SHES HERE. SHES GOING 2 TRY 2 KILL ME AGAIN I FUCKING SWEAR. I NEED A GUN OR SOMETHING.

I had a visit 2. From some guys who seemd 2 think I did something I didnt do. A few nights ago. Thought u should know.

Comments

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

Screw that. [What is this "emotional attachment" thing?] I'm talking the actual dying. I mean...fuck. You ever drown in your own blood? Fucking gross. You can't get rid of the taste for hours. [Not to mention DROWNING IS SCARY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE NOT IN WATER, but like hell he's actually going to say that.]

*facepalm* Stupid typo.

[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

Not my own blood, no. [Just water. And fire, did that count? Still suffocating...she frowns as she mulls this over.] It's not we want you guys to die or kill each other. That's one of the reasons we're here. To help curve that urge or temptation. Consequences for your actions and all that.

Pshhh it's all goodddd

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

...I guess.

[Pause pause]

You don't seem to be doing that great a job of it, though.

[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[She instantly grows defensive.]

Me personally or the Wardens in general?

Re: spam

[dovehearted.livejournal.com]

[hey Richie Lua knows how to deal with unpredictable homicidal maniacs you never knew what someone else would do that set Ladd off.]

It's just the kind of thing they wouldn't take from you if they thought you were gonna kill a guy. That's all. They left me as much as they left you.

I don't think you're a nut like that. [Lies.]

spam

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't seem entirely convinced, but he likes her, so he'll let it go.]

Good, 'cause I'm not. I mean, I don't just go around killing people for no reason.

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

[Hastily]

No, no, the wardens in general. Not you. I mean, unless you personally tried to stop the last one and failed, but...I'm not saying you. Just...in general.

[He would NEVER intentionally badmouth you, Claire. That's just counterproductive.]

Selective word choices? Noo, what are you talking about?

[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

[GOOD, because he barely knows her. Still, she huffs because some of these Wardens are her friends...though not a lot.]

It's challenging, yeah, but what would be the point if this was all easy? We get all sorts of Inmates coming through, some more manageable than others, but it's never easy. We can't just take everything away from you guys or always lock you away. You need to be able to control your urges, to...take responsibility for your own actions. It can't always be up to us because then you'd never learn. And what sort of life would it be if we were nothing but dominating? You'd all resent us and we'd just be stuck in this vicious circle with no one ever progressing forward. That's why we discourage constantly resorting to Level Zero.

[Holy hell, is she rambling.]

Is any of this making sense? It did in my head.

BAH, I say

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it kinda is. I guess.

[It just doesn't apply to him. CLEARLY. Because he is the Exception.]

[some-kinda-hero.livejournal.com]

Okay, well, good.

[Nods.] So, yeah, I'll see you around, Richie.

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

[Nod nod]

Definitely, yeah.

Re: spam

[dovehearted.livejournal.com]

Yeah. [She nods as if to say it again.] Got your reasons to fight back.

What's this woman look like?

[Spam!] laaateness fail

[grahamcommawill.livejournal.com]

[A Barge clone. Had to be. The second Richie tried to pronounce her name, Will knew who he meant. In this situation, he opted against keeping his distance. He closes the gap between them, and puts his hands on Richie's shoulders. Not knowing if Seth did it as well, but the gesture has the same brotherly intent. Keep him in this reality. Give him something to focus on.]

I need you calm down here, alright? Just listen to me. That's not the one who killed you. I know that won't make sense. I should've explained Barge clones to you before, but I didn't.

The woman you saw is called Coyolxauhqui. [His pronunciation was only slightly better than Richie's.] She's an Aztec... goddess, I believe. She's been here for quite a while, and far as I know, isn't a vampire. Okay?

[Spam!] <3 <3

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

But...she looks the same. Why does she look the same?

[He won't meet Will's eyes. He refuses; he's not Seth, he will never be Seth, and while he's happy to allow this kind of thing from his brother because it's what he does and what he's always done and just how they are, it feels wrong to let Will do it. He raises his arms to grip Will's, moving as if to pull them off, but he doesn't, instead just sags in place, fingers tightening but not tugging, a silent plea for him not to let go, a reassurance of solidity and fact that he doesn't even realize he's looking for. Maybe it's okay just this once.]

She's been here a year. That's what she said. She said she goes by other names too. It could still be her. And she was in Mexico; Aztecs are Mexican, right?

[But he sounds less certain; he wants to believe Will's right, he really really does.]

spam

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

Idunno. Shorter than I am. Dark hair. Mexican. Looks like a stripper, but not one of those creepy old ones they use the lights to make look younger but they're really the crypt keeper. Like a real stripper, the kind you pay really good money for.

[Too much?]

spam

[dovehearted.livejournal.com]

[A little too much, but she knows how he is about girls.] Got it. I'll stay away. [She likes him but not yet enough to get into his trouble directly.]

spam

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

Good. You do that.

...Let me know if you do see her though.

Re: spam

[dovehearted.livejournal.com]

[She nods quickly; she'll let you know, yeah. But after she's left the scene.]

[Spam!]

[grahamcommawill.livejournal.com]

[Will remains in place, not moving his hands away. If anything they tighten, just once, as if to reassure of him that yes, he was here, and not going anywhere. Listen for that scream, Hannibal had said and, not for the first time, that had influenced Will here. Not that he'd admit it to anyone. Will knew he couldn't replace Seth, but if Richie could trust him as he did his brother, that would be a good starting point.]

I've been here nearly a year as well, Richie. I'm telling you, she's not a vampire. I would've known. The wardens would've been told. She just looks like woman who killed you. There are other clones like this. I have one, too. It's... unnerving, I'll admit that, but just like the floods that happen? There's really nothing we can do about it.

[He could mention the Aztec takeover, but doesn't. Not yet. That's a last resort.]

[Spam!]

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

How do you know she's not, though? Maybe she just hasn't eaten anybody yet.

[But he knows even as he says it that it's just words. Not that he doesn't believe it's a possibility, because he does, down to every last nerve ending, every beat of his heart, every firing neuron. But he believes Will too. More importantly, he believes that he believes it, and that he wouldn't just make it up to make him feel better; he may occasionally patronize, he may come across like he's got something shoved painfully up his ass, but he hasn't lied to him, not so far anyway.

So he looks up, finally, watches him carefully, and if he's grinding his teeth out of uncertainty and indecision he hasn't noticed yet.]

...Okay. Okay. You're sure? You're not just saying that, you're sure?

[Spam!]

[grahamcommawill.livejournal.com]

[Will says nothing, just waits for him to work through things. When Richie finally does, he's relieved. Not just because he didn't need to mention the Aztec thing, but also he felt they were connecting. Maybe just this one instance, and maybe it'd vanish tomorrow or the next day, but the important thing was Richie believed him. Building trust. That was definitely key.]

I'm absolutely sure, Richie. I wouldn't lie to you about something like this. If she was who you thought, I would've told you that from day one. She's not.

[Spam!]

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

[He takes a few long moments to consider this. It seems to sit okay; from everything he's experienced so far this has the ring of truth, he has no reason to doubt it. But...things still aren't quite right. She might not be Satanico, but she was still creepy in her own right.]

So...I don't have to worry about her? She's okay, she's not gonna try to do anything?

[Spam!]

[grahamcommawill.livejournal.com]

She is still an inmate, so always take that into consideration. [That's not a good enough answer at all. Withholding is the same as lying, or damn close to it. He lowers his hands from Richie's shoulders, only then seeming to become aware of their prolonged contact, but doesn't move away from Richie's hold.]

A while back - at least six months ago, if I'm right - she took over the ship. I don't know how she did it, but suddenly several Barge people became "vessels", for lack of a better term, for her siblings or whoever they were. Other Aztec gods.

I know that all sounds crazy. [Or maybe not, given that this was the Barge.] I stress that this was quite a while back, and it may never happen again. But I'm telling you that she does have power and you should be cautious.

[Spam!]

[notafuckingnut.livejournal.com]

[Richie lets go almost as soon as Will drops his hands, as if just realizing what he was doing. He gives a little embarrassed smile but doesn't comment, instead opting to act as if it didn't happen at all. But even if he doesn't want to acknowledge it, it served its purpose; he's calmer than he was to start, more present. More willing to listen to reason rather than going off half-cocked due to partially-imagined impressions.]

...What, like...possession? C'mon, that shit's only in movies, that doesn't really happen.

[Spam!]

[grahamcommawill.livejournal.com]

[Will's as content to not talk about it as Richie is, but won't forget that it did happen. He knows a way to reach through to him now. He smiles a little at the comment.]

We have vampires, aliens, clones, wizards, and who knows what else on board and your belief stops at possession?