deadliestviper | 001 VIDEO LIST ONE

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001 VIDEO LIST ONE

[The screen switches on, revealing a face caked in dirt, covered in dust, streaked with sweat, and smeared with blood. A pair of troubled, if clear, blue eyes look out from it, and then there's a shake of the head, followed by a swirl of long, messy blonde hair – underneath all the grime, the new arrival's a female. She gives a bright smile, the sight slightly disarming on such a gritty face.]

Hi. [Her voice cracks when she speaks and she coughs, then clears her throat.]

Sorry to bother you folks, but it appears I've got some new business to attend to and I'm a little out of sorts. [Her smile turns apologetic, a little self-deprecating. It might be cute if she didn't look like an adult female approximation of Peanuts' Pigpen.] If one of you would be so kind as to point me toward the showers, I'd be in your debt.

[One last thing: her voice lowers, the sparkle gone from her eyes.] Budd... If you're here, I'll find you.

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Straight's fine. Hard to improve on a classic.

Never met a woman who drank a martini.

[It's worth noting that it takes a moment for Hoffman to get said drink. There's some gesturing and pointing on Hoffman's part and then Hoffman's sliding back looking mildly annoyed.]

...It'll be a warden's responsibility to let you in here, but...new and scraped either way a drink's the least I could do.

[Hoffman for his part has a can of soda.]

Too the barge. [He raises it in a toast] Good fucking luck.

Well, you probably never met another barefoot woman dressed in a flowerbed's worth of dirt either.

[She watches him as he fetches the drink, catching the slight look of frustration on his face, and when Hoffman comes back she gives him a small smile.] I should thank you again then. You'd hardly have to invite me in.

[And the smile grows as she taps her glass against his soda can and he toasts.] To the barge. May you never have to deal with me professionally.

[Hoffman looks mildly amused at that] I have to admit it's a lot easier to make an impression on somebody when they don't have to deal with people professionally.

It's rare. From one buried alive person to another.

[Maybe that's it. Maybe that's why he felt so odd about it.]

There's an amazing array of People Who Don't Suck here. [A shrug and a brief but real smile.]

Nah, I don't mind. The truth is that I was bored as hell and needed to get my mind off some crap.

I've always found the same thing.

[It's a perfectly valid reason to feel odd, in fact it's downright unsettling. She'd been hoping that wouldn't come up again and after wincing, apparently at the strong drink, she tries to steer the subject away.] So I hate to open old wounds, but you've got me curious. How did it happen that you ended up underground?

Edited 2012-06-11 04:32 (UTC)

[Hey, it's so rare. Hoffman studies his hands]

I tried to give someone what was coming to them. [Something very dark and very nasty crosses his features and he shakes it away and takes a sip of his drink.] I succeeded but they ended up getting the better of me at the end.

[As she watches that expression cross his face B wonders what his prey had done to deserve it and how exactly they'd turned the tables so entirely on him, but she doesn't ask. Asking too many questions invites him to do the same.]

I'm sorry.

You make it sound almost bearable.

Well. I'm not sure how much entertainment my shower can provide, but I'm happy to help.

...There was nothing about that which was good. I mean, doing...doing real...[Don't explain your odd notions of justice to a woman you just met Hoffman. Jesus.] ...doing something. Doing...it was justice for me. It felt differently. Revenge...I dunno. Maybe revenge shouldn't be refrigerated. And that's what it was.

So I got fucked over and ended up in hell. The end.

[Sip of the coke] You?

Honey, you can satisfy my curiosity any day of the week.

[Danger Will Robinson]

Just here to help, and even become a stronger leader for my team back home. Er.. [ Cassie interrupts herself to ask. ] Has anyone given you the run down? It's a lot to take in, but it's not so bad and I've only been here for a few weeks. [ That's a half lie. ]

But it was justice. [Those blue eyes are clear and focused a she listens, never leaving his face.] Someone once told me that's always a risk we take with revenge, losing our way. Getting it turned around on you, getting lost in it. I can't say whether it was worth it or not, but if you ask me, it's worth trying. [One more danger to add to the list, that's all.

She shrugs and takes a sip of her drink.] Something similar. I went to confront someone who once fucked me over. It didn't turn out the way I planned.

Can hardly means I will.

[Ahh, another warden. The sweet girlscout mentality could mean nothing else. B smiles.] I've gotten the basics but there's plenty I'm still in the dark about.

Edited 2012-06-11 13:58 (UTC)

Well...it can genuinely suck, especially some of the Floods and stuff. I don't know if anyone's explained those to you.

Meh, it just seems rude to have you standing here itchy. We can finish after.

You misunderstand. I achieved it. The- [Another real spasm of anger across his face.] ...The person who was responsible for hurting me is dead. Slowly and painfully, but I got screwed over anyway.

...I'd ask you for details, but seems kind of rude when you've first met somebody to give out such personal details.

[He's tried to paint his with the broadest strokes]

[Now she understands. She understands everything, especially the little quirk of rage on his face. It stings for him the way Budd's victory had for her.] Was it worth it?

[To put him at ease, she smiles over the rim of her glass.] I'll tell someday, and I'm sure you'll hear it. Today is not that day.

Breaches I've heard of, but floods are new.

Thanks. I'll be back in a few, all right? [And a little more than a few minutes later she re-emerges mostly clean with the new t-shirt and still-dusty jeans. Good enough, she's smiling slightly as she holds out the towel.]

I did my best to keep it clean. Thanks for lending it.

[She knows disarming when she sees it. So Natasha cuts to the chase, while maintaining her cover: she's just a consultant who makes a living asking the necessary questions, nothing suspicious there.]

Who's Budd?

...I don't know.

[Stop making him think. He'd successfully repressed Jill Tuck.]

She was responsible for this. [He tilts his head to illustrate his scar-it's deep (but not so deep) and ugly looking all the same.] In a rather creative way so.

[And at that he laughs] my little sister used to say that men have scars and women mysteries.

[Expected though it is, that question's unwelcome. Beatrix scrutinizes her, looking for any hints on exactly who it is who's asking.]

Budd's a friend.

[Poor Hoffman's mental health, standing between Beatrix and her curiosity. Her eyes trace over the scar before dropping back to her drink – not a cut, a tear. Creative wasn't the word for it.] Sounds like she deserved it.

You know, my ex used to say something like that too.

[And Natasha keeps her face neutral, curious but giving nothing away.]

I guess he hasn't piped up?

Not unless he's had a couple of surgeries since last I saw him.

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001 VIDEO LIST ONE

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