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]

There was a different version of me [how much he hates saying me but he keeps his feelings in check] on the ship before. [Or it could be that she knew him as a fictional character, like Omar had. He genuinely hopes it was the former, it was a little irritating when people knew details about your life from just your name, or mentioning Gotham.]

[deadliestviper]

So I've heard, but I never met him. It's just by reputation. [Gesturing for the chalk, she drops his hand and holds up her cue again.] I know Kon-El pretty well, and therefore Stephanie.

[theonlyresponse]

[He passes the chalk.] In my world, Kon-El was never created, and Stephanie led a different life. [One where she wasn't Batgirl. There's no malice in his statement, he has genuinely gotten along with Stephanie so far once the business of him killing her alternate father had been sorted out.]

[deadliestviper]

That's gotta be tough. [The sentiment is genuine, if not necessarily invested. Beatrix had been lucky enough to find people from her world on board but they had been strangers then. She can't, doesn't want to, imagine any of her former acquaintances or compatriots here, especially not from a different point in their lives.] They're good kids, though. Both of them.

[theonlyresponse]

They are. [He still does resent Clark, but he's heard enough of Kon, and he can keep his judgement on how effective the boyscouting is to himself. Stephanie too. Pure Robin material. He honestly has no idea why she's wearing the Bat when she should be wearing the R.] It's... a little disorientating when people expected someone else.

[deadliestviper]

The Admiral seems to enjoy confusing people by taking them from different but similar times and universes. He's like a kid putting bugs in a jar and shaking it to make them fight. [Smiling wryly, she gestures back toward the game.] Only he expects everyone not to.

[theonlyresponse]

It seems his hobby is driving us all insane as quickly as possible. [He steps back towards the table. It's still her turn.]

[deadliestviper]

And as frequently. We got hit by a double whammy this month. [Her smile turns self-deprecating and she turns to take her shot, hoping they won't have to delve back into Wonderland. This time her aim isn't as good and the cue ball grazes but doesn't move its target.] I'd say he occasionally throws us a bone but he doesn't, really. The one time we got an actually relaxing port was due to a hijacking.

[theonlyresponse]

Is that so? [He takes up position, taking aim carefully.]

[deadliestviper]

Yeah. The warden who did it is long gone, and nobody's been able to find the bridge since.

[theonlyresponse]

I doubt anyone can. [He pockets two balls easily, before wandering around the table, considering his next shot.]

[deadliestviper]

Maybe not anymore, but someone did. [Her tone is casual, as if she's ambivalent, although were someone to get their hands on the Admiral she'd be lining up to punch him.]

[theonlyresponse]

We might get the opportunity to tell him how much we appreciate his work. [He pockets another ball, but the cue ball goes in with it, so he takes out both and holds out the white one towards her.]

[deadliestviper]

[B takes the ball, scans the table, and sets it before aiming toward two balls lined up. They break beautifully, but that's as good as the shot gets – both spin near the pockets but never sink.] We can only hope.

[theonlyresponse]

[He leans over to aim his next shot, and takes it. In goes another ball.] So, how long does it usually take to get paired?

[deadliestviper]

Nice shot. [She rests her cue, and her hands, on the table.] It's different for everyone, but most people seem to get paired within the first few weeks.

[theonlyresponse]

I see. [He misses his next shot as he's not concentrating: he's thinking about how long it will take him to be paired, he has a job out there to do and sitting here isn't exactly helping him at all. He steps back again to let Beatrix take her turn.]

[deadliestviper]

[It takes no large stretch of the imagination to guess what thought's bothering him. She'd been frustrated as Hell until she got paired, and she'd gotten lucky to be put with Sarah.

Christ, had she ever gotten lucky.] The wait's awful. My first month here I spent a lot of time in the gym fighting anyone who'd spar with me.

[theonlyresponse]

I've done the same.

[deadliestviper]

There's not a lot else to do out here. [And sparring is by far and away the best use of her free time, although you have to take a break sometime.] Has anyone bested you?

[theonlyresponse]

Not so far. [There's Faith, but she had super-strength, and he let her throw him.] What about you?

[deadliestviper]

I can hold my own with humans. With some of the others, I don't stand a chance.

[theonlyresponse]

You don't say. At the hotel, Castiel smote me.

[deadliestviper]

Well, fuck. Flaming sword and all?

[theonlyresponse]

More sword than flame. [Instinctively his free hand reaches for the stab wound that had gone through his chest, just to check that it's actually gone and won't reappear suddenly.]