cape_kore | 013 ✳ day 149 ✳ audio

[She isn't showing her face over the network, but still, Fortescue's voice sounds almost as bad as her numerous injuries. It wobbles every so often, from the abuse it's taken, and she can't even drum up the emotion to be angry about her lack of control over it. It is what is is.]

Hello, Science Center. Miss me? [Fortescue holds the phone away from her face, for a moment, to cough. She might sound dry, but she really is grateful to be back. Very grateful.] Had this place let me remember, I would have been able to return the favor.

...I don't want to inconvenience anyone, but I'm not... especially mobile, and the canteen is quite a distance from my room. If anyone feels like being generous, I wouldn't mind a snack. [Or maybe more than a snack, but she doesn't feel worthy enough, anymore, to ask for more than that. What is she, aside from a person who failed in her most basic duties as a sister?

She almost asks for alcohol, too, just for the hell of it, but she doesn't. She cuts the feed after a quick,]

Thank you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She is, really, the farthest from okay that one could possibly be. But she's very good at holding herself together. Mostly. When she isn't curled up in a catatonic ball.]

I'm not picky, love. I've been living off of rations for the last... I don't know how long. Whatever looks decent. I'd even take some weird-looking alien fruit.

[Which is saying something.]

[ He nods. ]

Yeah, okay. I'll, uh... see what all we have, then.

[ He's sure there has to be some sort of comfort food around here.

He knows she's only using audio, but he sends a smile down the feed anyways. He might not be able to do much, but this? This he can do. ]

Thank you. I really do appreciate it.

[It wasn't going to be dignified, her limping all the way to the canteen.]

Yeah, it's no problem, really.

I'll, uh. Be there as soon as I can manage to navigate the halls, I guess.

[ And with one last smile, he cuts the feed.

Thirty minutes later, he knocks on her door, a sandwich on a plate in one hand and a bottle of alcohol in another. Chuck doesn't fancy himself a cook -- he knows better than that -- but a sandwich is easy to make and, well. Booze is booze.

When she opens the door, Chuck's quick to give her a smile. ]

Hey, uh. I brought snacks?

[The lingering traces of her injuries, alongside everything else, have put a large dent in her confidence. But she musters a smile for Chuck, standing aside to let him in.

Oh, booze! That's a welcome sight.]

You're my hero, Chuck. Truly.

[She waves a hand vaguely at her face.]

Sorry about...

[It's silly, but she normally tries to look her best for people.]

Oh, no. I'm happy to help. [ He nods. ] I mean, you'd do the same for me, right?

[ Fortescue seems like a nice enough person that Chuck doesn't doubt whether she'd do it or not. ]

I'm just gonna... [ He's not sure if he should keep holding the plate and bottle, or if he should hand them to her or what. So, he decides he's going to put them on the table, instead. ]

No, no, it's fine -- you're fine. I mean, it sounded like you'd been though a lot. So, I uh. Brought booze.

[ Subtle subject change, thy name is Chuck. ]

Bring you booze? Of course I would.

[What are friends for? Fortescue's smile broadens into something not forced at all, and she kisses his cheek lightly.]

Thank you. Did anything exciting happen while I was away?

[She has glasses — naturally — and so she pours them both one.]

013 ✳ day 149 ✳ audio

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