(no subject)

[vance_prime]

The Combine had drained the lake. It seemed so damn obvious in hindsight, but no one thought of it. Alyx didn't think of it, and now the entire Resistance is paying the price. Some of them paid with their lives. If they can't get the ship up and running again, they might all pay with their lives. And as much as Alyx is trying to concentrate on fixing things and proceeding forward, it's damn hard for her not to blame herself for not seeing this coming.

Also, it's difficult to concentrate on anything when you're almost seven months pregnant and need to pee four or five times an hour. Thank God the toilets still work.

Except when the restroom door unexpectedly leads to Milliways, that is.

...

"Oh."

That's about all Alyx can muster, just now.

[ooc: Open until it scrolls, but subject to slowtime in the near future as I gotta go to bed.]

Comments

[crabbycustomer]

"OH IT'S YOU."

Karkat looks up from his purple laptop with all the legs, from his position cross-legged on top of a table.

[vance_prime]

Alyx just looks in his general direction and grunts in acknowledgment. She's too strung out for a stronger response just now.

[crabbycustomer]

He taps the space bar irritably and pauses his movie. "HEY DON'T BE A DICK ABOUT IT, MAYBE I'M TRYING LEAD INTO TO APOLOGIZING FOR PAST ME BEING SUCH AN INSUFFERABLE CRYBABY, DID YOU EVER THINK OF THAT?"

[vance_prime]

"Save it. I gotta use the bathroom."

She waddles toward the back hallway door as fast as she can waddle.

Maybe she'll be better company once her bladder's empty? Maybe?

[crabbycustomer]

Karkat makes a noise of disgust and unpauses the movie, glaring at it like it owes him money.

[vance_prime]

When she returns, she's looking much less uncomfortable but no less exhausted. She sags heavily into the nearest chair, which happens to be not too far away from Karkat's table.

[crabbycustomer]

Karkat sighs to himself and pauses the movie again. "YEAH SO LIKE I WAS SAYING PAST ME IS BASICALLY THE WORST, JUST FORGET ALL THAT HORSESHIT I SAID BEFORE."

[vance_prime]

"...'past you'?" says Alyx with a bewildered look.

[crabbycustomer]

"THE ME WHO I AM IN THE PAST, WHO DOESN'T REALIZE WHAT A SNIVELLING FUCKTARD HE IS FOR DUMPING ALL HIS BULLSHIT SURVIVOR ANGST ON RANDOM ALIENS, AS OPPOSED TO THE BASIC PARAGON OF LEADERSHIP AND CIVILITY I AM IN THE PRESENT OR THE VINDICTIVE DOUCHEBAG I APPARENTLY AM IN THE FUTURE."

[covert_bandage]

One can only spend so long trying to coax legible information out of a ruined old true crime text before one gets frustrated. Arcade pushes his book away and slides his hands under his glasses to rub at his eyes. When he looks up, he spots the new arrival. "Oh, hey. Hi there."

[vance_prime]

Alyx blinks at him a couple of times before her brain reminds her she's supposed to respond.

"Hi."

[covert_bandage]

"You look like you've had a exceptionally long day by anybody's terms," says Arcade. "I'd offer you a distraction, but I don't seem to have brought one with me..."

[vance_prime]

"Thanks, but I'm feeling stretched thin enough as it is." She sags into the nearest chair and buries her face in her hands.

[covert_bandage]

"Fair enough. Overwork, or...? I'm perfectly happy to drop the line of conversation if you'd rather."

[vance_prime]

"Try crashing a ship full of people in the middle of fucking nowhere because there wasn't a lake where you thought there was."

[covert_bandage]

"... oh."

He's just going to take a minute to think that one over.

"Not that I'm not sorry it happened, but... how did you manage to- ?"

[vance_prime]

"Teleporter," says Alyx shortly. She doesn't really have the energy for the whole story just now.

[boston_bruiser]

Voodoo glances up from a battered old paperback. Courtesy of Bar, of course - for some reason, all he's been able to get is Hemingway. And some Kipling.

"Has a way of sneaking up on you."

No doubt the beard and faux-turban'll draw a look or two.

[vance_prime]

Alyx quirks an eyebrow at him. She knows that voice, but...

"What's with the outfit?"

[boston_bruiser]

Voodoo shrugs. "Got deployed. Helps us blend in with the locals."

[vance_prime]

"Locals where?"

[boston_bruiser]

"Afghanistan. CentCom wanted some SEALs to go in and get the lay of the land near a town called Gardez. Got stuck here entering a safehouse nearby."

Cover? What cover?

[vance_prime]

"--waitasec. I thought you were retired from active duty?"

[boston_bruiser]

Voodoo shrugs. "I lied," he replies. "That 'defense contractor' business was my cover story. I didn't want to risk a security breach in a bar, but no point bothering with it now."

Grr. Grumblegrumble. Idle threat to Bar involving chainsaw, matches, and a can of kerosene.

[vance_prime]

"...no offense, dude? But I think when you're outside of time and space, that ship has kinda sailed."