2.24 - Voice + Spam

[breakingmyheart]

[Private to Chromie]

I need to take a few days off work so I can take care of some friends.

...and I know this wouldn't be the first time. I'm sorry about that.

[Private to Nathan]

So...I know we didn't really get a chance to talk. [Beyond things like 'please move while Creed is immobile' and 'are you seriously not aware that you're bleeding'.]

How are you doing?

[Spam for Megamind]

[Toshiko is, at least, in the hinterlands of 'okay'. She's seen worse than she saw at port and on the Barge - a career at Torchwood's proven useful, in that completely horrible sense - and she suspects that a life in Gotham had the same effect on Edward but she knows that Megamind isn't handling it well. Which she can understand. And it's why she's choosing to stick around.

Right now she's making lunch. Cheese on toast, her own comfort food on the rare occasions that she's bothered with cooking for herself. Insofar as you can call 'bread + cheese + heat source' cooking. Megamind's huddled up with Angus near his idea wall and she knows she's going to join them rather than try to talk him into joining her at the table.

She glances over her shoulder to call over to him.]

Do you want something to drink, Megamind?

Comments

[megamind]

Hmmm?

[ With Angus pinning him, he isn't getting up. But he did hear. ]

Water is fine, thanks.

[breakingmyheart]

Okay.

[Water for him, a Coke for her, and she commissions a brainbot to carry those as she takes over their plates and tucks herself in next to him.]

Here. Eat something.

[megamind]

Kay.


[ He wouldn't refuse. He'd not really taste it, but he would eat. ]

Edward is mad at me.

[breakingmyheart]

[Toshiko balances her plate on her lap so she can eat with one hand and slide the other around Megamind's shoulders.]

Why's that?

[megamind]

[ Wordlessly, he offered up his communicator. Cue to the right post, even. ]

[breakingmyheart]

[She moves her hand so she can accept, reading their conversation around a mouthful of food.

Well, this neatly explains why Edward was so opposed to coming back to their room to rest up. Sometime's it's a little tragic, a little painful, how well they all understand each other's damage.

She offers him the communicator back.]

He's in pain right now. You both are. He'll get over it.

[megamind]

I know.

Everything takes time.

[breakingmyheart]

Yeah.

[She leans the side of her head lightly against his.]

Edward's holed himself up in his cabin for now. I'll be checking up on him.

[megamind]

I know. He didn't post until-- well. And then... [ He might've been emotional doubly because Edward left. And then was a huge turd. And... well. Yes. All of that. ]

[ He finally begins to nibble on the toast, making a little mmm note, because... look, he's hungry and he's not been eating right. ]

He'll come back when he's good and ready.

[breakingmyheart]

Yeah. He will. [She sips her Coke.] You'll just have to make do with me and Angus until then.

[megamind]

[ Angus tilts his head, doing that thing that dogs do with their brows when they'e heard their name, are giving attention to it, but are not moving from the spot where their head is laid. ]

[ Megamind continues to nibble--before he gives in and lets himself eat. He's not exactly been well the last week and food he could eat was very scarce over the port. ]

[ This means he doesn't disagree with her, leaned in, temple against her hair. ]

[private]

[neuropathy]

Been worse.

[ The shrug that accompanies Nathan here indicates more that that is a question he's asked ...a lot, rather than real dismissal of the concept. ]

Thanks. If I didn't get around to it before. You all right?

[private]

[breakingmyheart]

[She smiles tightly.] Been worse.

...I'm fine. I weathered this one a lot better than some people.

[private]

[neuropathy]

[ Nathan 'heh's in the back of his throat at the verbal kickback; he appreciates that sort of thing. ]

Yeah?

[ There was definitely a time when he wouldn't have asked, or even encouraged more information, but--things have changed. He's wondering if her definition of 'better' is just ...not being horrifically murdered. ]

[private]

[breakingmyheart]

[Pretty much. The Torchwood Institute: lowering expectations since 1879.]

Yeah. I didn't even need stitches.

[private]

[neuropathy]

[ Torchwood, must you. ]

So you made out better'n me, is what you're saying.

[ Allow Nathan to be deadpan, and his typist to just wildly fudge whatever injuries he may have received. ]

[private]

[breakingmyheart]

It's not as if I'm trying to brag about it.

I actually meant to ask about your - condition, now things have calmed down a bit. If you don't mind, that is.

[private]

[neuropathy]

[ Nathan very briefly looks as if he's trying to decide whether or not he minds, but it's just a flicker. ]

Which version you want? The medical condition or the uh--less like that.

[private]

[breakingmyheart]

...whichever you think is the most complete answer.

[private]

[neuropathy]

[ Nathan rubs a hand over his mouth; he's never had the occasion to explain this to someone not from Haven before. The Troubles aren't going to mean anything to Tosh. ]

It's not just pain. I don't feel anything. I used to think - used to want to think - it was somethin' medical, but--

It's not. I dunno if it's ever gonna go away, but ...it's got its perks, right?

[ A small quirk of his mouth, something that maybe used to be bitter and has softened. ]

Back home you'd call me Troubled.

[private]

[breakingmyheart]

[She almost objects - she would not, that's kind of rude - but then she realises no, he means Troubled in the same way that Erik means 'mutant'. That it's the accepted terminology in his world.]

Were you born that way?

[private]

[neuropathy]

[ Troubled has about the same connotation as mutant, inasmuch as it's either a label or--well, a label. ]

Guess so.

[ His biological father was the same way, but Nathan wants to bring him up like he wants to eat glass. ]

Something's gotta trigger it, it's--complicated. Not sure professional curiosity covers the time it would take to tell.

Private

[strangehistorian]

I understand.

I also wish you would report to your shifts when this is over, or at the very least tell me when you can't show up so I can cover.

Private

[breakingmyheart]

I will.

[...probably.]

Private

[strangehistorian]

Thank you.