needshumility | 1.1.01.01.38: green sector east.

So we all know each other's... well buried secrets.

Except, I imagine that they're still quite well buried. They all came at once - and unless you put the effort in to go back and read everyone's... it's hard to remember who said what, except the people you were really paying attention to. Especially if you were trying to control the damage someone else was doing, or making huge confessions of our own.

[Warden filter, minus Jane]

Two questions, everyone:

Does anyone have any... technology I could ~~borrow~~ have? Nothing dangerous or lethal. It doesn't even have to be useful. Just anything that post-dates either Victor, or tractors. Some are for him, some are for other purposes.

Secondly, does anyone have... children? Just as a query.

[Filtered to Prefect, Narvin, any other painfully bureaucratic wardens]

Um.

Is there something you need to do or fill in when an inmate graduates? Like... something official?

I'd hate to miss any formalities and you seem the sort of gentlemen who would know.

[Private to the Admiral]

I'd like to change my deal. I'd like, specifically, the following Univisual paints:

[INSERT LONG LIST OF hue-brightness-saturation NUMBERS HERE]

Many thanks in advance.

[Private to Jane]

Victor's going to graduate.

I... I think I might go home. ~~mostly to punch dad.~~

Stop me, if you want. I'm not sure why, I just feel like... the longer I stay here, the more complacent I get.

I... asked for my deal to be changed back to the original. I supposed that was the less selfish option.

Do what you like with yours, but I'd... please think of Dorien.

Come to my room tonight.

[Private to Victor]

Did you have that conversation with Rex?

And... I hope you don't think I'm too much of a bad man. For... everything with Violet.

[Private to George]

I'm sorry if I was... short with you. I didn't realise that...

Things work differently at home, I think.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The finality of that jarred her a bit and she shrugged.] Yeah. I will.

[He swallowed nervously and had a drink of his tea,]

I'll...

Please don't be too upset. I'll... I'll miss this. [Missing her wasn't exactly the same thing.]

[She shrugged.] Me, too. But we shouldn't have even had this time in the first place.

[He took a step closer to her, just idly, as he sipped his tea,] No. But I'm very glad we did.

Sure, Eddie. Right. [She looked to the door.] Just go. It was a mistake to ask you to come.

[Oh, damn. He'd tauped that right up.]

Jane. Please. Don't do this.

Don't do what? This is what it's going to be, Eddie. I'm sure you know that. [She shrugged.] So go.

But this... this isn't how I want to remember it, how I want to leave it, Jane.

So what do you want me to do? [She spat that out with more venom than she had anticipated.] Give you a few more nights to remember while you share a bed with her?

[Ow. That really did sting, and he couldn't help but bite back.]

You make it sound like I want to. That I'm perfectly happy to live that life. That I didn't feel so disgusted, so much betrayal at what I had done, that I couldn't even look at myself next morning. You make it sound like I felt smug or like I was doing it for fun. When all I felt, even before you found out, was crushing, crushing shame.

So I don't know, but don't make it sound like I... like I have a fucking choice.

[She shook her head.] You have a choice right now. And you're making it. [She knew that wasn't particularly fair, but she was hurt, angry, and wanted something to be angry at him about.]

And you might not be smug about it, but she is.

And I'm not choosing you, or her, I'm choosing the Plan, Jane.

[He took a very angry breath inwards,] And I wish I could choose you. I really, really damn well wish I can. But... isn't the Plan what you want?

Yes. It is. I didn't say you had to choose between us. You said it. [She stood up and started to pace.]

The Plan is what we need.

[He watched her carefully,]

And I still... didn't choose... I'd never choose her.

I know. [She glared at the floor now.]

I hate her. I hate all of them. I hate that I have to cling to days with you because they won't let this happen. I hate that I'm going to be here and miss you, but you won't miss me. And then, even then, I have to see you and pretend I don't care, even when everyone else knows the truth!

I hate it too. I hate all of it. I really hate it, but... I don't know what to do.

[She walked over and pulled him into a searing kiss. She was angry, so very angry, but he had effectively forced her to turn her anger to something else. No longer was he the bad guy, but National Colour had resumed its rightful place in the hateful part of her mind.]

[He hadn't expected that at all. He expected to be punched. And the kiss was almost like being punched, as surprising as it was. He kissed her back firmly, once he caught his breath. This... was more like it, in a way.]

[Jane pulled him close, taking a quick breath before wrapping her arms around his neck.]

I'm not angry with you.

[He put his arms around her and smiled at her,]

I'm glad. I really am.

I'll see you soon anyway. Soon for you, at least. [She put her finger to his lips.] But you can't say anything if I don't show up right after. You know the Admiral is tricky.

[He nodded and smiled, pulling away from her finger a little,]

I won't. I couldn't say a word.

Good. [She thought for a moment and then kissed him again.] Stay?

[He just grinned a little sheepishly,]

Absolutely.

[She nodded, not even talking. She just held him close and tried to imagine that the more she kissed him, the longer she held him, the longer she could keep him with her when he was gone.]

1.1.01.01.38: green sector east.

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam

Re: spam