deadliestviper | 002 VIDEO LIST TWO

Current Mood: chipper
Current Location: The Barge Library

[This time when the video turns on, Beatrix is well-groomed and polished; she's dressed in a very feminine suit with a nametag reading BETH S. on the lapel, is wearing makeup, and her hair is pulled back in a ponytail. Her smile is bright, easy, and full. In both name and deed, she's here on Official Business.]

Ahoy! – That's the right terminology, right? I've never been on one of these things before. [She winces, a little self-deprecatingly.] Uh, anyway, hello there, I thought I'd better introduce myself since I'm going to be working with a few of you. My name's Beth Solberg, I'm a social worker, and I'm just here to check in on the staff and residents, ask a few questions, basically make sure everything on the Barge here is up to snuff.

So yes, I'll be speaking with a few of you. Let me assure you, you don't have to answer any questions you don't want to. I'm not here to interrogate, I just want to get the gist of the situation. And it is an unusual situation here, so any comments, complains, you've got about the place, this is the time to talk.

I'm setting up shop in the – what's this place called? That's it, library, no special term? Okay – I'm in the library for the next day, just stop on in. [She pauses, lifting a pen to her lips as she consults a clipboard.] Oh, and I've got a couple people I need to check in with – newer ones specifically. If none of you mind doing this in reverse alphabetical order, may I speak to a... Ms. Reese?

[OOC: So since I forgot to say earlier, this flood B.B. got marginalized. Beatrix still got pregnant, still had the baby, just never hid her pregnancy from Bill or ran away to Texas. As such she's still very much an active member of the Assassination Squad, with the events of the movie never happening. The social work thing? Just a ruse to get in the same room with ~~her current target~~ Natasha.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

lastmanstanding

It could have been worse. It could have been a needle. Although some days-I'm sorry yeah. [His eyes close] I'm sorry. The last time I saw a woman, it was...Well it.

[cough]

I came to terms. I killed Seth Baxter. He killed my baby sister.

[His hands clench] I took the bastard out and I shot him like the goddamn dog he was after I tortured the bastard. I took my revenge and I'm-I'm not sorry ma'am.

[For that one moment he becomes twice as animated as he was. There's something dark there, something hard and cold and angry. His hands clench into fists and he drops them.] I'm not. I swear.

[He doesn't sound brave or boastful however. He just sounds quiet] And I'm 708893.-Hoffman. Mark Hoffman.

From:

deadliestviper

You've got nothing to apologize to me for. And for what it's worth, I'm sorry for what you and your sister went through. The drive for revenge, while unhealthy, can be overpowering, it's a natural response to extreme injustice.

[Life imprisonment for that, though. Strange, especially for a former cop – she'd expect the sentence for a homicide like that to be maybe fifteen years. He must have really done a number on the guy before shooting him.]

If your sister had survived, you'd have done the same to protect her, right?

You've been given a chance, Mark. Not the one you wanted, no, but it's still worth something. Still worth holding on to.

From:

lastmanstanding

I would have died for Angie. She was my only family. The bastard didn't deserve a chance.

[His brow furrowed] It's a temporary fix. I get out of here, I spend the rest of my life in a jail cell. I betrayed my job. And besides.

Cop on the inside. [His hand goes up to scratch behind his ear. Tattoo clearly visible] Changes you.

From:

deadliestviper

But you kept your loyalty to your sister. Whatever you've done, however badly things seem to be, be proud of that. There's no shame in loving someone enough to give up your freedom.

[Her gaze flickers over the tattoo then back to his eyes.] It seems like you have a lot to say. Would you like to talk about this in person? It might be easier than crowding the airwaves.

From:

lastmanstanding

...I don't have a lot to say. I-

[He hesitates] ...If you like. Where do you want me to meet you ma'am?

From:

deadliestviper

Well, you don't have to say anything you don't want to. I'm in the library if you want to join me.

From:

lastmanstanding

[And Hoffman leaves.

About twenty minutes later there's a man-struggling to push in the doors to the library. He manages-but looks shaken as he watches them close. Shaking his head he runs a hand through his hair.

There she is. Pretty blonde social worker. He waves nervously, throws his shoulders back and puts on prison rules. Eyes straight ahead, head back, chest out. When he gets to her he slumps.]

...Still don't trust this place.

From:

deadliestviper

[B looks up when the doors open, wondering if it's the first time in a while that he's gotten to do that himself. Giving him a welcoming smile, she stands and extends a hand.]

Mark. Thanks for coming, it's good to meet you. Would you like a seat?

[Nodding, she settles down into her own chair, hands resting on her clipboard. It'd be rude to take notes while he was talking for one thing, and she needs them at the ready for the other.] It's not easy adjusting to a new institution like this. I imagine it's quite a shock.

From:

lastmanstanding

[He takes her hand tentatively, almost afraid she'll disappear.] ...S'temporary but it...shit if I could get my lawyer to make it forever I'd be a happy camper. I have a shower. A fucking shower. Private one and a bath tub too.

From:

deadliestviper

[No fear – she's as solid as her handshake.] Luxury, huh?

This isn't a promise by any stretch of the imagination but it's not impossible your stay would be extended. If you're making progress here it wouldn't make sense to relocate you.

Edited Date: 2012-06-14 11:21 am (UTC)

From:

lastmanstanding

[There's a momentary fling of selfishness. The other Hoffman doesn't know what he has or what he had. His eyes close and he looks amused.] Don't wanna get rid of me huh?

[But serious] ...I dunno, there's some kind of magic here. My lawyer's good, but...getting me to stay here?

From:

deadliestviper

Don't see any reason why we should.

[She shrugs.] As I said before, it's not a promise. Just a possibility. What happens depends on your success in the programs here and what the authorities think. All you can do is give it your best shot, and enjoy it while you're here.

From:

lastmanstanding

[his lip quirks upward and he smiles. It's a warm smile.] ...Enjoying it would be a real trick. I could live my life here happy.

I honestly thought after the things I did...

[He folds his hands together and looks down before looking back at her] ...Shoe'll drop in time.

From:

deadliestviper

[She smiles back, and there's nothing obligatory or fake about it.] Then I'm glad you're here.

A murder's a debt to be repaid to society. It doesn't make you irredeemable.

The shoe always does. Brace yourself, I'll help you through it. [God she hopes this Reese woman doesn't show up halfway through this conversation. It'd be really awkward to kill her in front of this guy.]