[B laughs a little, but it's a sad, kind of horrible little laugh. Yeah. The guy who really is the cause of a lot of her worst problems is definitely the right person to help her past them.
But he pulls himself together again quickly, straightening up. He doesn't even need to wipe his eyes, for once.]
I really, really hope you're right. I don't think there's anybody else on this ship she'd respond to, either, at this point. So.
[B pours from the kettle he has warming on the stove.]
They've met, yeah. She's from some version of our world, so she already knew who he was, technically, but they've talked a few times here, too.
[Now that the hugging is over with, and there are people moving to the kitchen half of the cabin, the dogs trail after them and the ferret slithers up onto the counter. B sighs and scoops her off, onto his shoulder instead.]
Have you met Effie yet? F for Ferret, of course, but. Effie is cuter.
She was a flood addition, so it was all luck and magic.
[Effie doesn't seem to mind him, but Effie is a bit silly, to be honest, and she's more interested in the cocoa, which she is clearly not allowed to have. B considers that uncertainly as he hands over the cocoa mug.]
Just. Be careful. She's probably not happy about that shit that happened with Arthur.
[He sounds apologetic to even be bringing it up, but it is a concern.]
I don't think she'd try to hurt you, or anything, but you might not win any points unless you're really lucky. I'm tempted to just. Leave her to Natasha for a while.
[D and Libby, unlike most animals, are used to Lark, and D is in fact trying to sit on his feet.]
[He can't forget. He'll keep trying, even if it kills him. (He hopes it doesn't come to that, though.) He nudges Libby gently out of the way so he can get out of the kitchen, and pads over to the bed-frame couch-- what used to be the bed, but which has been piled high with cushions and blankets to make it a deep couch instead. Steve is still laying in the mattress they they use for a bed on the floor, tucked in neatly with C sitting on his chest.]
I don't have anything new on the tablet since the last time you were here. But we can watch an old one. Got a favorite?
[Most of his collection of movie files are either weird sci fi, old black and white movies from when he was growing up, or like. The Lord of the Rings movies.]
[B settles in, feet up on the couch, leaning back into the cushions against the wall, and starts scrolling through titles. He glances at Steve, and the slightly lost cast to his expression is probably answer enough.]
It's been tough, this time.
[So much has happened. It's really taught him just how much he relies on Steve to help him cope. He wonders, a little, if that's actually fair... but he also doubts Steve would want him to stop.]
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Hard week?
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He can't tell him everything. Yelena had explicitly called out wardens gossiping about inmates, and he can't betray her trust like that.
But he can say:]
My inmate kind of hates me and keeps negotiating time when I can't talk to her or send anyone else to talk to her. So. Yeah, it's been rough.
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[He strokes B's hair]
You're the right person for the job. I believe that.
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But he pulls himself together again quickly, straightening up. He doesn't even need to wipe his eyes, for once.]
I really, really hope you're right. I don't think there's anybody else on this ship she'd respond to, either, at this point. So.
[He sighs a little.]
Cocoa?
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Yes, please.
[He follows him to the mugs.]
Does Steve know your inmate yet?
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They've met, yeah. She's from some version of our world, so she already knew who he was, technically, but they've talked a few times here, too.
[Now that the hugging is over with, and there are people moving to the kitchen half of the cabin, the dogs trail after them and the ferret slithers up onto the counter. B sighs and scoops her off, onto his shoulder instead.]
Have you met Effie yet? F for Ferret, of course, but. Effie is cuter.
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No. But I'm glad she came to you.
I'll reach out to your inmate, too. Covertly of course.
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[Effie doesn't seem to mind him, but Effie is a bit silly, to be honest, and she's more interested in the cocoa, which she is clearly not allowed to have. B considers that uncertainly as he hands over the cocoa mug.]
Just. Be careful. She's probably not happy about that shit that happened with Arthur.
[He sounds apologetic to even be bringing it up, but it is a concern.]
I don't think she'd try to hurt you, or anything, but you might not win any points unless you're really lucky. I'm tempted to just. Leave her to Natasha for a while.
[D and Libby, unlike most animals, are used to Lark, and D is in fact trying to sit on his feet.]
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But you're hers. Don't forget that.
[He'll tread lightly though.]
What are we watching tonight?
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[He can't forget. He'll keep trying, even if it kills him. (He hopes it doesn't come to that, though.) He nudges Libby gently out of the way so he can get out of the kitchen, and pads over to the bed-frame couch-- what used to be the bed, but which has been piled high with cushions and blankets to make it a deep couch instead. Steve is still laying in the mattress they they use for a bed on the floor, tucked in neatly with C sitting on his chest.]
I don't have anything new on the tablet since the last time you were here. But we can watch an old one. Got a favorite?
[Most of his collection of movie files are either weird sci fi, old black and white movies from when he was growing up, or like. The Lord of the Rings movies.]
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He settles in.]
Are you holding up okay with Steve being down?
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It's been tough, this time.
[So much has happened. It's really taught him just how much he relies on Steve to help him cope. He wonders, a little, if that's actually fair... but he also doubts Steve would want him to stop.]
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Why d'you think I invited you over? I-- really needed the company. You know you're one of my best friends, Lark, yeah?
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Thanks, man. That's. That's nice to hear.