068 [voice]

[batmanschmatman]

That wasn't that bad. I mean, I know not being able to swear and cause too much havoc might have been annoying for some of us, but we complain enough about ports where monsters are trying to eat us and floods that leave everyone psychologically damaged and/or death tolling. If I've got to choose between not being able to swear, or psychological trauma? I'm pretty much always going to go with the former.

[And added later, after the private messages, in a considerably more 'fuck everything' tone of voice:]

Costigan's gone. Again.

[And deleted a few seconds after he posts it:] Why are we losing so many people?

[Private to Buffy]

This is um. Incredibly awkward, but I just wanted to apologize for how blind he, I, whatever was. He did think of her as a good friend, he was just... really in love with Summer.

[Private to Jon]

I found Summer.

[Private to Tim]

So Timker Bell, how does it feel being regular people sized again?

[Private to Martha]

I heard about Coyo. If you want to talk or do something distracting or something... let me know.

[Private to Costigan]

Did you head into port? I didn't see you, but that might have been more to do with looking for the girl I was desperately in love with.

[Private to the Admiral, after he's noticed Costigan's gone]

Why bother bringing him back at all if you were just going to toss him overboard again?

What the hell's the point of all this, if we can spend that long trying to help someone out only for them to just get ripped away like that? And then literally ripped away when they're just... gone?

... I want to change my deal. Or add an extra one or something. When I'm done with my original deal, for the people who were killed in the nuclear strike on Bludhaven, the next inmate I graduate afterwards? Is for him. You guarantee me Costigan gets a happy ending. Do we have an agreement?

Comments

[truth_is_cold]

I doubt the Admiral would give more than a speculative answer at best.

[batmanschmatman]

I don't understand what he has against giving people a straight answer. If he doesn't know, he doesn't know.

[truth_is_cold]

He has been saying he doesn't know. Frequently. I'm grateful for the ship I had, in that she was as least passionate about her crew.

[batmanschmatman]

That's what I don't understand. He's the one bringing us here, shouldn't he care when people vanish? Why bother making the effort if he doesn't give a damn?

[truth_is_cold]

I don't know. About half of us had no choice in being here. We also seem to have no choice in going, occasionally.

[batmanschmatman]

Yeah, well, it's not fair on you. Any of you.

[justareverie.livejournal.com]

How is psychological trauma any good for what we're supposed to do?

[batmanschmatman]

Beats me.

[truth_is_cold]

It's a little difficult to not be bitter, under the circumstances. I doubt that will be-

[Oh, oh.... he's having a thought.]

...I doubt that will be the last of them. [And on with that train of thought.]

[batmanschmatman]

You're probably right.

[Private]

You alright?

[Private]

[truth_is_cold]

I'm fine. [Just concocting schemes in case he loses certain other friends.] ...As fine as can be expected. I'd spent the night with Coyolxauhqui not long before her disappearance. I find the idea that she might still be back there stripped of her identity intolerable.

[Private]

[batmanschmatman]

Yeah. I know the feeling. Do you think that's what happened to her?

[Private]

[truth_is_cold]

The timing is admittedly suspect.

[Private]

[batmanschmatman]

Did you see her in port?

[Private]

[truth_is_cold]

No, I only saw the Doctor, Braxiatel, Tirion, and Arya. I didn't have my journal to report them missing so I told a warden who was unaffected.

...Perhaps it is important that people be brought back or recognized.

[Private]

[batmanschmatman]

They would have been brought back as soon as they'd walked through a door, though. That's what happened to me.

But you're right. We should keep better track of where people are in a situation like that.

Private.

[toldastory]

Thanks love, nothing like a Barge crisis to get us through, yeah?

I'm sorry about Costigan.

[Private]

[truth_is_cold]

That's what we're led to believe anyway, but there are a lot of people missing this time.

Though I don't think spontaneously ceasing to exist in any capacity is much of a better option. I hate sitting around waiting for the people I care about to vanish. Or giving last words to a friend that might depart himself just so I don't leave him without anything.

Private.

[batmanschmatman]

I'd say only on the Barge, but I guess it's not all that different from back home.

Me too. We're losing a lot of people.

[Private]

[batmanschmatman]

Me too. I feel like I'm going to have to start hand cuffing myself to the people I care about to keep them from just vanishing when I turn my back. [Attempting to joke! ... Not really sounding that cheerful though.]

[Private]

[truth_is_cold]

I wouldn't recommend it. You wouldn't like having to go in the inmate bathrooms. Sometimes you find surprises in the floor.

...Unconscious bodies being the lesser of them.

[Private]

[batmanschmatman]

... I'm almost afraid to ask what the more surprising stuff is.

[Private]

[truth_is_cold]

Nothing worse than any gymnasium shower would have. [Which would say a lot on its own]

[Private]

[batmanschmatman]

Huh.

Well, regardless, if braving all that would have kept him on board? I would have done it.

[Private]

[truth_is_cold]

He probably had something to return to. I did once, when I was sent back, and it's happened to other inmates.