![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
You know what, you should leave the Prime Directive out of this. It doesn't need logistics on its side, whether or not they're pertinent.
Unless you came to get your ass handed to you, instead.
[ Frank and to the point. Casey had had to adjust to actually train Carolyn rather than just treat her as a near-equal sparring partner from the get go. He was still doing it now, letting her land blows where she should naturally land blows, teaching her little by little to train her muscle memory so that she could stop thinking about what she was doing and just use what she'd been taught to fight. That was how you got faster, it was how you got better. Practice.
Actually landing blows was part of that practice too. It was impossible to teach follow through if there wasn't a weight on the other end of the fist resisting the attack.
She goes pragmatically for his recently broken arm, and it's a good move, so Casey rewards it by giving her an opening, turning his arm away from her attacks to offer unbalanced feet and a soft stretch of midsection. ]
[ Frank and to the point. Casey had had to adjust to actually train Carolyn rather than just treat her as a near-equal sparring partner from the get go. He was still doing it now, letting her land blows where she should naturally land blows, teaching her little by little to train her muscle memory so that she could stop thinking about what she was doing and just use what she'd been taught to fight. That was how you got faster, it was how you got better. Practice.
Actually landing blows was part of that practice too. It was impossible to teach follow through if there wasn't a weight on the other end of the fist resisting the attack.
She goes pragmatically for his recently broken arm, and it's a good move, so Casey rewards it by giving her an opening, turning his arm away from her attacks to offer unbalanced feet and a soft stretch of midsection. ]
You'd like that, wouldn't you.
[ She's not sure where the response comes from or what she really means by it, but it doesn't matter. She takes the offer he's giving her, hand tightening into a fist when she misses his arm only to sink it into his stomach.
Fry's frustrated and terrified and she hates this goddamn ship and most of the people on it. She hates that she's doing what she can to help them and that it'll never be enough, not because she isn't trying but because people don't give a shit. She hates that people think she's doing things for the right reasons when she doesn't know anymore, when sometimes she thinks about throwing in the towel and just worrying about herself and those close to her. She hates that she can't sleep without remembering a crashing ship and an eclipse filled with blood, including her own.
She hates this fucking place, and Casey's the only thing she has right now to take it out on. It's making her a little sloppier than normal and, at the same time, a little more vicious -- but it feels fucking good. ]
[ She's not sure where the response comes from or what she really means by it, but it doesn't matter. She takes the offer he's giving her, hand tightening into a fist when she misses his arm only to sink it into his stomach.
Fry's frustrated and terrified and she hates this goddamn ship and most of the people on it. She hates that she's doing what she can to help them and that it'll never be enough, not because she isn't trying but because people don't give a shit. She hates that people think she's doing things for the right reasons when she doesn't know anymore, when sometimes she thinks about throwing in the towel and just worrying about herself and those close to her. She hates that she can't sleep without remembering a crashing ship and an eclipse filled with blood, including her own.
She hates this fucking place, and Casey's the only thing she has right now to take it out on. It's making her a little sloppier than normal and, at the same time, a little more vicious -- but it feels fucking good. ]
Can you do something for me? Off the record.
It might be eventually.
016 ยป 094. William J. Johns. Not a cop, no matter what he looks like or what he says; he's a merc and a morphine addict. He was on my ship. You saw his eyes in that nightmare, the ones with the needles. He let my navigator scream himself to death instead of dossing him, he's literally shoved me around, and he's a fucking coward. If he shows up in the shuttle bay, I want to know and I want you to keep an eye on him.
Also, I'm going to be sleeping in my room from now on.
[ Because while she wouldn't say she's scared, she doesn't trust Johns. ]
016 ยป 094. William J. Johns. Not a cop, no matter what he looks like or what he says; he's a merc and a morphine addict. He was on my ship. You saw his eyes in that nightmare, the ones with the needles. He let my navigator scream himself to death instead of dossing him, he's literally shoved me around, and he's a fucking coward. If he shows up in the shuttle bay, I want to know and I want you to keep an eye on him.
Also, I'm going to be sleeping in my room from now on.
[ Because while she wouldn't say she's scared, she doesn't trust Johns. ]
Yes, ma'am.
Thought he looked like trouble. Was better for you to handle it and me not to get involved. Better he learns that the hard way.
That said--if he ever shows up in the shuttlebay I'll have a bead on him. You want me to take him out, you just put your hands together above your head, and I'll take the shot.
And I'm only a call away if he hassles you elsewhere.
Thought he looked like trouble. Was better for you to handle it and me not to get involved. Better he learns that the hard way.
That said--if he ever shows up in the shuttlebay I'll have a bead on him. You want me to take him out, you just put your hands together above your head, and I'll take the shot.
And I'm only a call away if he hassles you elsewhere.
Almost hoping he tries to shove me so I can punch him right in the fucking face. But he knows what I did -- the things I told you about.
[ While sobbing and generally acting like a crazy mess. ]
This could be messy. He also doesn't know that he got ripped in half and eaten back home.
But thank you.
[ While sobbing and generally acting like a crazy mess. ]
This could be messy. He also doesn't know that he got ripped in half and eaten back home.
But thank you.
[ One blow knows him back sure enough, and he has time to speak before his unbalanced footing takes him back. ]
You got it.
[ And then down he goes, half landing on the matt, showing her defeat and clear advantage, and for a moment just folding his arms across his knees as he blinks up at her. ]
There a word for all this? [ He waves his hand to indicate the fight, the mood, perhaps even the ship itself - doesn't matter - but she can take the question (or not) however she wants to. ]
You got it.
[ And then down he goes, half landing on the matt, showing her defeat and clear advantage, and for a moment just folding his arms across his knees as he blinks up at her. ]
There a word for all this? [ He waves his hand to indicate the fight, the mood, perhaps even the ship itself - doesn't matter - but she can take the question (or not) however she wants to. ]
He either wouldn't believe you or he'd somehow decide it was my fault.
[ Or Riddick's fault -- which it kind of was, but Johns had deserved it, suggesting that they use Jack as bait. ]
[ Or Riddick's fault -- which it kind of was, but Johns had deserved it, suggesting that they use Jack as bait. ]
[ Breathing heavily, Carolyn stops before she can follow through -- before she can leap on him, try to finish what they started. This isn't that kind of fight. Her hands are curled into fists at her sides, and she looks down at him, sweat trickling down her hairline and across her jaw.
She doesn't reply until she starts to uncurl her hands, until she lowers herself to the mat next to him, looking up at the ceiling. Rubbing her palms against the legs of her pants helps get the sweat off them, but it doesn't make them stop shaking. ]
This fucking place, [ she manages, though it's not really an answer. Not a real one, anyway. ] I just... [ She hates it. She's scared of it. It's all she has. ] I don't know. It's stupid.
She doesn't reply until she starts to uncurl her hands, until she lowers herself to the mat next to him, looking up at the ceiling. Rubbing her palms against the legs of her pants helps get the sweat off them, but it doesn't make them stop shaking. ]
This fucking place, [ she manages, though it's not really an answer. Not a real one, anyway. ] I just... [ She hates it. She's scared of it. It's all she has. ] I don't know. It's stupid.
[ For that brief moment he sees in her eyes the will to carry on and make him feel every inch of what she's feeling. It's a good look, but he's relieved when she reels it in, too; it means she has it under control.
When he leans back, she comes down too, settles down on the mat with her head back, and Casey is instantly there to help her bend her head forward, encouraging her into a better recovery position after the strenuous exercise. ]
None of the punches you were throwing were about anything stupid. If you were fighting me over our favourite flavors of milkshake, maybe. But not this.
You don't think I'd judge you, whatever it is?
When he leans back, she comes down too, settles down on the mat with her head back, and Casey is instantly there to help her bend her head forward, encouraging her into a better recovery position after the strenuous exercise. ]
None of the punches you were throwing were about anything stupid. If you were fighting me over our favourite flavors of milkshake, maybe. But not this.
You don't think I'd judge you, whatever it is?
[ There's an irritated swat when Casey lifts her head up, but she doesn't fight it any more than that. She does pause though, looking over at him, because- ] What's a milkshake?
[ Though that isn't the point. ]
I don't know. [ Fry supposes he never has before, but that doesn't change the fact that not opening up is the easiest way to protect yourself. She learned that the hard way. Still... ]
It's... This ship. People crawling out of the depths, people who were supposed to be dead here and not just back where they come from. [ Her head rolls to one side, eyes fixed on a random point on the wall. ] And then they look at you, even if they shouldn't be able to see, and tell you that you know, and I just...
This fucking place.
[ Though that isn't the point. ]
I don't know. [ Fry supposes he never has before, but that doesn't change the fact that not opening up is the easiest way to protect yourself. She learned that the hard way. Still... ]
It's... This ship. People crawling out of the depths, people who were supposed to be dead here and not just back where they come from. [ Her head rolls to one side, eyes fixed on a random point on the wall. ] And then they look at you, even if they shouldn't be able to see, and tell you that you know, and I just...
This fucking place.
[ He'll save that for some day when she needs cheering up; cadge a little milk off the right people and turn up with a fruit milkshake to spoil her with. He can be decent enough when he puts his mind to it.
By now he should realise that Carolyn is special, but Casey is stubborn. So long as it remains mostly they're secret, he can pretend to himself that she's not getting any kind of special treatment. It's the same way he approached his relationship with Chuck and Sarah. Hell, even with Morgan. He's just a big softie, that's all there is to it. ]
I have to say people crawling back out of the woodwork who're supposed to be dead...that's... [ Well, it's happened to him before. It's not new. But for Carolyn, maybe. ]
You shouldn't let it get to you like this.
By now he should realise that Carolyn is special, but Casey is stubborn. So long as it remains mostly they're secret, he can pretend to himself that she's not getting any kind of special treatment. It's the same way he approached his relationship with Chuck and Sarah. Hell, even with Morgan. He's just a big softie, that's all there is to it. ]
I have to say people crawling back out of the woodwork who're supposed to be dead...that's... [ Well, it's happened to him before. It's not new. But for Carolyn, maybe. ]
You shouldn't let it get to you like this.
[ He's been good to her. Better than she deserves, she thinks, and he's the one he seeks out more than anyone else these days. She tries not to think about how quickly that might all change. ]
Did you see them, Casey? See what they were like, what they were saying?
[ She shudders. ] It wasn't right. They weren't right.
Did you see them, Casey? See what they were like, what they were saying?
[ She shudders. ] It wasn't right. They weren't right.
Intersect, intersect, intersect, INTERSECT.
[ ... exhale. ]
I haven't been able to say that for months, it's starting to go bad and turn into cottage cheese inside my head.
[ ... exhale. ]
I haven't been able to say that for months, it's starting to go bad and turn into cottage cheese inside my head.
I talk to Sarah. Who else am I allowed to talk to about it, huh? I could tell the entire ship, that could be fun.
And I might have already told someone that I have a computer in my brain.
[ ..... 8D ]
[ ..... 8D ]
Page 7 of 9