013 ✳ day 149 ✳ audio

[blackmagus]

[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.

Comments

[blackmagus]

Don't stroke too much of his ego, or he'll never come down. [A cat's ego is truly a thing to reckon with.] This place is pretty impersonal, though. It could use some sort of touch-up.

[noblexcompanion]

[ But Jazz is so cute! Sorry fuzzball, Donna is going to pet you know whether you want it or not. ]

At least the houses on the Cape had character!

[blackmagus]

Plenty of it.

[It makes her think back on the scientist's message to them all, before they'd been forced to leave. Jazz looks grumpy, but a purr starts a moment after Donna starts to pet him.]

Do you think they built it to begin with? The people who made this place, I mean. Or do you think it was a site them commandeered?

[noblexcompanion]

I dunno. Those houses were definitely homey and well lived in before we arrived. Whether the previous tenants made their lives there or whether they were lived in before I dunno.

On the plus side - this place seems to have less cameras. Unless we just haven't found them yet...

[ She continues to pet Jazz. Scritching lightly behind one ear. ]

[blackmagus]

[Fortescue grimaces slightly. Jazz continues to purr.]

Oh, I hope there aren't any. I was really liking not having to worry about that.

[Not that she really cares about people seeing her naked, but the constant no privacy thing becomes tedious after a while.]

[noblexcompanion]

Me too! There are some things that should forever remain private!

[ Yep. Donna likes privacy. ]

[blackmagus]

Plus, just the... sheer number of them. Everywhere. It was like being in a zoo. I don't miss it.

[She sighs.]

I do miss the view, though. And the ability to go outside.

[noblexcompanion]

Oh man. I miss the park. And the fresh air.

I guess we have to make the best of what we got though, right? At least we got each other!

[blackmagus]

That we do. [Fortescue can't help a smile. Donna always seems to find the silver lining.] It would be far worse to be in this place alone.

[noblexcompanion]

[ It's a recent development. She used to be a right misery guts about things. Apparently travelling through time and space in a little wooden box changes a person.

She smiles. ]

So that means no more wondering off back home without us!

[blackmagus]

I'll try to remember next time.

[She tries to keep the sadness from her tone, and mostly succeeds.]

Too bad I don't remember how I did it in the first place.

[noblexcompanion]

Did you click your heels together three times? [ No sadness allowed! Refer to aforementioned law. ]

[blackmagus]

You think someone would have tried that bit already. Did you?

[noblexcompanion]

Unfortunately I left my red high heels at home!

[blackmagus]

[She snaps her fingers.]

How could you? Now we'll probably be here until we're old and grey and can't wear high heels anymore.

[noblexcompanion]

I know, I know. I feel terrible about it. Obviously these hallways are just made for walking in high heels.

Maybe next time.

[blackmagus]

They lack tricky stairs, at least. [She smirks.] And they have plenty of dust for traction. But high heels are just terrible for running away from danger.

[noblexcompanion]

[ Donna can't help but laugh at that. Oh Fort, never leave her again. ]

We could always use the heels as weapons. Could've used some back when the sea monster attacked!

[blackmagus]

I used to have some of those, actually.

[Fortescue's smile is slightly sheepish.]

They had little concealed blades in them.

[It hadn't been her idea to get them, at least.]

[noblexcompanion]

Those sound amazing and deadly. But mostly amazing! All women need shoes like that!

[blackmagus]

Working them was a little difficult. It... [Uh oh, is she really talking weaponry? Well. Might as well carry on.] The shoes with little bladed plates in the front are better. Easier to use.

[noblexcompanion]

[ Welp. This conversation definitely took a u-turn. ]

Oh man. Bladed plates in front? Imagine the damage you could do kicking people... Could've done with some of those in my younger years. Might've saved my knuckles a bit.

[blackmagus]

[Gotta keep Donna on her toes, apparently. Fortescue smiles teasingly.]

Did you take after your nan, then?

[She remembers that conversation.]

[noblexcompanion]

Not exactly sure how I avoided jail, to be honest. I got into a lot of fights.

[ She had been known to rip earrings out of girls ears or slap them pretty hard. What? They deserved it. Usually. ]

[blackmagus]

[Well there's an interesting mental image.]

You, a brawler? [She grins.] I wouldn't have imagined it.