IC Inbox III

[ukan]

This is Lark, leave a message.

Comments

[ukan]

Tell me about your friends back home.

[citizendetective]

[Oh boy, she doesn't need to be told that twice. She lights up.]

Sure! I've just recently gotten back into contact with three of them, actually; Shauna and Taissa have lived in the same area as me for a while, but they are married with kids, so they're pretty busy, and we couldn't really hang out much before now.

[Also Shauna literally cut contact with her and told her to lose her number, but details.]

So these days it's me, Nat, Shauna, and Tai. We've all known each other since high school. Nat's really cool, she's like this, um-- you know those people who really, honestly don't care what anybody else thinks of them? She's like that. Tough and cool and punky and badass on the outside, and really vulnerable and raw on the inside, but not in an insecure way; she's just, like, made of raw nerves. And Shauna - Shauna's a lot more buttoned up. She comes off as quiet and kind of mousy, but oh my gosh, I have seen that woman let loose and--

[Misty chuckles a little.]

If it's directed at you, watch out. And then Taissa's like a rock, you know, in the middle of the river, just standing strong and making everything either flow around her or break on her. Really forceful. It's no wonder she got into politics; she actually just won her state senate election.

[ukan]

The Senate? You're well connected. How did you meet these women?

[citizendetective]

High school. We were on a soccer team together. They were players, and I was the equipment manager.

[Which she sounds very proud about even now, two and a half decades later.]

[ukan]

You didn't like to play?

[citizendetective]

I never tried out.

[She says, shrugging.]

I liked being the caretaker. That's where I'm comfortable. You can see why I'd like to work in the infirmary!

[ukan]

I do, but I think you're missing the opportunity to help in new ways.

[citizendetective]

Okay, give me some examples.

[ukan]

Maintenance always needs help, especially with how often people burn down or tear up the Barge.

I could use some help on some side projects.

[citizendetective]

What kinds of side projects?

[ukan]

Let me ask you something. When everything we need is handled--food, water, shelter, medical care--what do people need next?

[citizendetective]

Safety. Protection.

[ukan]

What sort of protection can we hope for here, from each other? Knowing what you know about how this place works.

[citizendetective]

Um, weaponry, anything that can work as a good shield, anything that nullifies powers...

[She ticks them off on her fingers, item by item.]

[ukan]

The fact we can't die and can't be seriously, permanently harmed doesn't change that?

[citizendetective]

Considering how often people talk about weapons and fighting here, it sure doesn't seem like it.

[ukan]

What's your opinion about it, though?

[citizendetective]

[Misty turns to face him, studying him cooly.]

Why are you asking me all these questions when you obviously have something to say, Lark?

[ukan]

I always have something to say. I'm interested in what you think.

[citizendetective]

Well, I'm asking you what you're getting at. I'll tell you if you tell me!

[ukan]

I have a lot of side projects. I'm narrowing it down based on what you're interested in when all the basic needs are already handled.

[citizendetective]

What about Zero? I bet you can convince Pagan I'd be an asset there.

[ukan]

I'm open to it. But right now only wardens are assigned. And all they do is sit and monitor. What would you bring to the role?

[citizendetective]

[Yesssss, an in. An in!!

She'll stop walking entirely now, putting every once of her attention on Lark, as opposed to just seventy-five percent of it.]

Well. I'd do a lot more than that, that's for sure. I'd interview suspects - you know, like you interview victims! I have some interrogation experience, and I think I could really hone it here. If there were multiple suspects for a single case, or even if the suspect was still at large, I could also do investigative work at the scene of the crime and narrow down the suspect pool. Zero work shouldn't only be confined to Zero, right?

[ukan]

[He's amused but also taking her seriously. This? Could be a good match with one or two of his ideas.]

Who have you interrogated before? I thought you worked in a nursing home.