013 TEXT LIST TWO/SPAM

[deadliestviper]

Backdated to three days after the Overlook port.

[Locked to Friends (if she's ever told you anything personal, you're on here)]

That port was fucked up for everyone and it hit all of us hard. After going through that I know most of you aren't feeling up to par yet, but when I get anxious, I get antsy. I've laid low to lick my wounds long enough. For the next few hours I'll be playing pool and pretending everything's normal if you've got the energy or inclination to join me.

[Spam, Level 6]

[Rack the balls in the pyramid, set the cue-ball, chalk the cue evenly, line up the shot, break it; Beatrix repeats the pattern over and over again, sinking balls into the table's pockets before starting anew. It's not for practice or any particular love of the game, it's not even for fun. It's just that playing strikes that perfect balance of skilled focus and monotony that allows her to zone out, and the last thing she wanted to do right now was let her mind wander. It was already hard enough to push the images of Sarah and that thing in room 217's bathroom from the forefront of her mind – what she needed, wanted, was someone to talk to, distract her.

But no matter how deeply you repress it, you can't squelch a thought. So by all means, join her, but take care if you point out that she's humming "Love Me Tender."]

Comments

[theonlyresponse]

[Bruce is wandering the ship as usual. On the sixth floor he stops and notices Beatrix. Normally he would either have ignored her totally or just watched for a while and then left, but Selina's vouched for her, which means she's in all likelihood an ally, something he has few of on the Barge so far. He knows the look on her face too, it's one he's used to seeing on his own.

He walks over to the table.] Mind if I join you?

[deadliestviper]

[She's so engrossed in calculating an angle that she barely glances up when he enters, but nods and tilts her head to indicate the rack.] Grab a cue. [With that she makes her move, and the cue ball spins before knocking a single ball askew.] As you can see, the only reason I'm winning is that I'm playing against myself.

[theonlyresponse]

[Out of habit he holds his cue like he would a weapon but he quickly adjusts before he reaches the table. Since she hasn't managed to hit a ball into a pocket, he takes the next shot, and breaks. Not a single ball reaches a pocket, because he's not here to win, he just wants to talk to her.] Fan of Elvis?

[deadliestviper]

[She notices. Everyone's a little on edge after that port; her grip on her cue slacks, ready to spin it in her hands to defend if necessary, but the blow never comes. He just takes a far better shot than she did.] As much as anyone, I guess. Why?

[theonlyresponse]

[He shrugs and stands a little back to watch her take her shot.] I expected a jukebox.

[deadliestviper]

Check the pub for that. [Like a true beginner, she considers the table for a few moments before going to take the easiest shot, a simple tap sufficing to sink the ball.] I'm not much use in the music department.

[theonlyresponse]

I don't drink. [Beat.] I wouldn't be surprised if the Admiral came up with karaoke night in an attempt to rehabilitate us.

[deadliestviper]

That doesn't change where the jukebox is. [Snorting, she glances up with a little smirk.] Don't say it so loud, you'll give him ideas.

[theonlyresponse]

It's more constructive than the other ones he's had.

[deadliestviper]

You aren't kidding.

[theonlyresponse]

How long have you been here?

[deadliestviper]

About six months now. Feels like longer.

[theonlyresponse]

[He's not sure what to say, so he shoots her a sympathetic look. He suspects he'll be feeling the same in a few months.]

[deadliestviper]

[Catching it, Beatrix just shrugs, leaning against the edge of the table.] I've made it so far. [She is, as has been eloquently stated before, a crazy juggernaut bitch.]

[theonlyresponse]

I'm guessing you've faced worse. [He watches the table, mildly interested in how well she's been doing so far.]

[deadliestviper]

By the time we get here, I think we all have. [It's just so much easier if you keep your phrasing neutral, isn't it? Again, she shoots – instead of sinking the pocket ricochets off the side and knocks the cue ball off its position.] I've had better days too.

[theonlyresponse]

[Bruce appreciates neutral phrasing, Beatrix. So much. He takes up position and shoots two balls in before he looks up at her again.] What's was your world like?

[deadliestviper]

Oh... Gritty, volatile, violent, fucking beautiful in places. From what I can tell it was pretty much a generic 21st century Earth, though history's different for me than some other people here.

[theonlyresponse]

How different? [Genuine curiosity, no ulterior motive here nope.]

[deadliestviper]

How did Hitler die in your world?

i wanted to answer with the crack silver age continuity of kidnapped by aliens omg

[theonlyresponse]

He was assassinated, it was made to look like a suicide.

he has alien kidnappings, she has inglourious basterds. they ought to get along

[deadliestviper]

Where I'm from he was executed by a Jewish-American commando squad in Paris. So far, that's the biggest difference I've identified.

oh they definitely will

[theonlyresponse]

There's people here from a world where the Cuban Missile Crisis involved metahumans. I'm surprised the differences aren't more divergent.

[deadliestviper]

Right, those guys. They seem very proud.

[theonlyresponse]

[This shot of his bounces off a corner instead of going in, so he steps back for Beatrix to take her turn.] You've all been here longer than I have, you'd know better than me. [But his tone suggests he agrees with her completely.]