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[subplot]

Karen Page USERNAME: page voice ⇝ video ⇝ image ⇝ text ⇝ action

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[oorah]

Yes, ma'am.

[ he calls as she shuts the door. wait - is she kicking him out of his own room? he doesn't actually have anywhere to go for once so he takes his jumpsuit the rest of the way off, laying back on the bed while he listens to the water. he didn't realize how tired he was until that moment, falling asleep just like that in his bloodstained undergarments and socks on top of the bedspread, one big hand spayed over his stomach. ]

[pampa]

[ he turns towards her, narrowing his eyes at the comment about kovacs. but THEY DOn'T TALK ABOUT FIGHT CLUb aka their feelings so drop it. he's walking backwards now so he can watch her, nodding like so-so to the first statement but then he's taking her wrist with his free hand and shaking it in a more pronounced way, correcting. ] Oye.

[ since it was adapted with chinese settlers in mind, it is vaguely tonal. he shrugs. ]

Not bad for an Earther. Fo keng to im gut, Inyalowda. Nice to meet you. [ his eyes shine with something like bemusement. then he glances at max. ] What are you lookin' at? You wanna learn Belter too? To pochuye ke? You understand me, koyo keyá? Smart bastard.

[subplot]

[She doesn't really take that long in the shower, and by the time she comes back out he's asleep. It's tempting to press a kiss to his forehead, but she doesn't want to wake him so she gives Max a kiss to the top of his furry little head instead. She makes her way up to the bridge to keep working, doubling her efforts after taking so much time away.

As per usual, she loses herself in her work and doesn't really know what time it is or how long she's been there. It doesn't even dawn on her how late it is until Frank and Max show up. It's the sound of the dog's magboots that get her to stop and glance over at them, smiling as she sits up straight in her seat.]

Hey. [It's tempting to just hop right out of the chair and go over to him, but she plays it cool and waits for him to get in closer to her.] I'm just finishing up.

[oorah]

[ frank wakes up from his shortlived nap shortly after karen leaves and then it's time to have the most emotional conversation of his life with kamala. she watches max for him so he can look after their new favorite ward and before frank knows it it's nearing 10 pm. he's a tiny bit early, even after picking max up from wherever he's been for the last several hours and heads to the bridge. he feels a strange nervousness in his tummy that makes his steps a little lighter, maybe, or maybe that's in his head. all of it's forgotten anyway when he sees a familiar mess of blonde hair, he can always tell when karen's been working, pushing her fingers through it over and over until it's static from the attention. as ever max approaches first, trotting over while frank takes the slow way down, doing a gentle little jog though it's not anywhere near necessary to close the short distance. ]

Don't let us bug ya. We'll wait. [ he perches on the desktop of the console next to the one she's working at, making a little face at her. it doesn't mean anything, it's just kind of silly tbh. ]

[subplot]

I've been here for hours.

[Her hand reaches up to push fingers through her hair, making it more static and messy. It's obvious that whatever she's been working on today has her more frustrated than usual, since her hair is all over the place from her touching at it so often. But she's unaware that anyone else notices that she does it.]

My back is killing me so I think that's a good cue to head out.

[She gathers up her notebook and the instruction manual pages she's been working with before prying herself out of the chair to stand. A couple of attempts to turn and pop her back later, she's making her way over to him. Standing between his legs at his knees, she just takes a moment to appreciate the fact that this is her life now. Her hand drops to briefly touch at his knee, right as Max butts against her leg like he's annoyed at being left out.]

[oorah]

[ it's not easy for him to reconcile with either, trying not to think about what happens when they get home. if they do, right? karen doesn't seem so sure. they can't have this same kind of relationship there, can they? with their history... but here it's become normal, even after he avoided her all week, guilt pinching between his eyes even as he draws in a breath when she comes that close. it's damn near pressing the boundaries of what he might usually be (or have been) comfortable with pda-wise, but then he remembers their kiss in the corridor earlier and maybe it doesn't matter. maybe nothing really does anymore. his hand comes up to rub over her back soothingly, his other hand reaching for max to let him wedge in between them. there's a noticeable speck of blood near the cap of one sleeve on the faded fabric of his jumpsuit matt's, obviously. ]

Don't make me carry you too. [ he complains like it would be a hardship ]

[subplot]

[That earns a sound of amusement, something between a scoff and a laugh. She isn't really big on pda either, especially with their relationship being as new and developing as it is. So when she leans in she just presses a kiss to his cheek, hoping he isn't offended by either too much or too little affection.

It's Max's turn next, and she crouches down to pet and scratch him. ]

How's Matt doing?

[She caught sight of that blood, because she's freakishly observant when she wants to be. Her head tips just enough to glance up at him before she stands upright, her back snapping and cracking on the way. She visibly winces even as she makes a nodding motion toward the doors. It's time to get out of here.]

[oorah]

[ his eyes flutter closed at the kiss, definitely not offended one way or the other. ]

He's... himself. Not dying anymore though, if that's what you're asking.

[ frank hops down in a smooth arc, hand touching at the small of her back on the way by before max immediately falls back into step next to him, the clang of six mag-boots stirring up a cacophony of sorts as they stride down the hall. no wonder matt hated them when they first approached. ]

You really should wear your boots when you're down here alone. [ he knows she likes wearing her own clothes, makes her feel normal. he hasn't lectured her overly, or he's tried not to. but it's worth nudging her over anyway, if only for safety's sake. ]

[subplot]

[That's exactly what she was wanting to know about Matt, so she gives a pleased nod of her head as she walks at Frank's side. She's just about to comment on the fact that she probably should visit their friend again now that she's calmed down when Frank makes a remark about her shoes. That gets her to glance up at him with curiosity.

He must be pretty concerned to actually mention it out loud.]

Do you think the gravity will go out again?

[oorah]

[ that earns her a sideways glance. ]

Of course it will. You think this place is done throwing us loops already?

un: orchids

[blacksky]

Would you like to hear a curious, but distressing riddle?

While I'm at it, hello. How are you? [She barely restrains herself from adding I miss you, but that's a bit much, she thinks.]

un: slothbaby

[morphogenia]

Totally random, but I talked to Frank about a lot of stuff that happened with you guys back home. You know serious stuff like the trial and government conspiracies. I know you didn't do any of that stuff to be praised, but I wanted you to know that I'm really proud of you. It's really hard to stand up for anyone especially after they do crazy stuff like shoot at you. You did. You saved him even though he didn't give you much of a reason to.

I think you're a good person and an even better friend. I hope someday I can be as brave and kind as you are. I just wanted you to know that's what I took from all that craziness.

[subplot]

I've been busy. [You know, with Matt showing up and her working on her things like she has no life. Which she doesn't.]

I've missed having you around. So go ahead, tell me the riddle.

[How distressing could it be?]

[subplot]

I helped Frank because it was the right thing to do. He wasn't the monster they were trying to make him out to be. If he had wanted me dead that day he shot at me, I wouldn't be here right now. But he's not the kind of man that kills people who don't deserve it. What he did to the people he did kill? I think he probably does deserve to be in prison if you look at it from a legal perspective, but I learned a little before I met him that you can't depend on the legal system to do the right thing. It's just as corrupt as the people Frank killed in the name of revenge.

I'm not as good as you think I am, Kamala. Do you want to know the reason Frank and I connected so quickly when we took on his case? Frank has a lot of darkness inside him. Something inside of me is the same. Things have happened to me, horrible things. I've killed someone before. It's been my fault that other people have died. So please, don't want to be like me. You're so much more brave than I could ever be. Do you know how strong you are to be able to survive here at sixteen?

[subplot]

[Karen laughs and places a steady hand on Max's head. He seems to always know exactly when he's being spoken to, and is currently looking up at Miller like he's a dumb asshole that he knows is insulting him. ]

Of course I'm going to teach him. I'm pretty sure he already understands morse code. And sign, obviously. He's a smarter than your average dog.

[She'll take his praise though. Karen always soaks it up from people she likes.]

Come on. Let's go get some coffee and keep going. My treat.

[Ha ha her jokes are the worst.]

[subplot]

No, of course not. I just was hoping the gravity problem was fixed.

[She glances up at him with a what? look on her face.]

Besides, I like wearing my own things. Even if I don't trust the fact that they pop up randomly.

[oorah]

[ frank shrugs, having more-or-less anticipated that answer. ]

Alright, don't say I didn't warn ya. [ it's obvious he's exhausted. he would usually drive the point home, but matt took all the fight out of him, honestly. ]

[subplot]

[She can see that he's tired, and it makes her frown. She's exhausted too, and isn't in the mood to push him to talk about something that has a simple solution. As they walk, her fingers brush against his, pinkie finger curling to take hold of his for a few seconds.]

I'll start wearing them again tomorrow.

[oorah]

[ he looks down at their joined fingers, heart squeezing uncomfortably, then gives a drowsy bob of his head in place of a nod. ]

Just while I'm not around, in case... [ ugh. he's really not up to saving anyone else either, he doesn't even want to talk about this really. ] It's your choice.

[subplot]

[Of course it's her choice. Everything she does is her choice.]

Maybe. [She agrees with him, letting her hand gently fall away from his.]

But when you want to be with someone, your choices aren't just about yourself. They impact the both of us.

[Because if anything happened to her, regardless of whether or not he was around...she doesn't want him to live with further guilt because someone he cares for did something selfish and stupid.]

So I'll wear the boots. Okay?

[oorah]

[ he keeps bobbing his head as he steps into the elevator and engages max's boots out of habit more than any thought. max wags his tail and tugs at frank's pantleg until he remembers to lean back and engage his own boots, knocking the '6' with his elbow. he presses the close door button before snagging karen around the waist to hold her at his side while the gravity momentarily goes. see? it's important. but he's not smug tonight, he doesn't have it in him. ]

[subplot]

[She leans against him, hand resting against his arm. The urge to tell him that she can take care of herself is strong, since it's always her instant retort for anything that anyone feels they have to do for her. She's so used to having to be independent to survive and prove herself, that the knowledge she doesn't have to always take care of herself leaves her feeling somehow more tired.

They can take care of each other now. Much like she's picking up they're going to have to do tonight.]

What did you and Matt talk about?

[She's not stupid, she knows exactly who made him this worn down.]

[oorah]

[ he was already rolling around the words to spit them out, so when she asks the phrase comes far too quick, right on the back of her question mark. ]

He asked if I was at peace.

[ the gravity blinks out as the elevator jumps, longer than his usual trips as it travels from deck 2 all the way to 6. he keeps her close, fingers pressing into her hip protectively as her body tries to float away. there's no resistance, he doesn't have to hold her that tightly, but he does long after her heels hit the ground again and the door slides open. ]

[blacksky]

I've missed you too. Here it goes: if a woman died twice, is buried once, and there's no signs of trauma on her body to reflect any of those things, she cannot recall them either, did it actually happen?

[subplot]

[Her fingers dig into his arm a little more firmly, and she doesn't think twice about the fact he'll take it without complaint. He holds her like he has something to lose, and that alone is enough to convince her that she needs to always wear the boots from here on out.

Even after her feet touch ground again, she's leaning and pressed against him, clinging hold of him to keep him close.]

What did you tell him?