TLV: IC INBOX

[roci]

IC inbox for James Holden.

Comments

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[ninefox]

Shuos-zho told me about the memories.

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[roci]

Good. Thought he should take responsibility for it. Why are we texting? Can you talk? Are you okay?

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[ninefox]

no

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[roci]

Do I have to track you down?

[oddswerebad]

Nico doesn't seek Holden out often. Actually, Nico has never actually sought out Holden, he does his best to make himself as unnoticeable as possible when sharing a ship, apart from occasionally leaving out a sandwich or making coffee for him and awkwardly muttering hi when they pass.

So it's pretty big departure from his usual routine when he hesitantly knocks on the wall near Holden's cabin.

[roci]

"Come in." The door's partway open, anyway; Holden tends to keep it like that, just because he wants to be approachable. He's not really sure how to make that happen, especially with this really bizarre group of people that now lives on a facsimile of his ship, but he wants it.

He doesn't look up from the interface reader in front of him on the desk for a long moment, because he's pretty sure it's Jedao or Fives, and they both know that it takes his brain a second to disconnect from the shit he reads about Jedao.

He glances up, and a look of total surprise crosses his face.

"Oh, uh," he says. "Hi." His brain hunts around for something to say next, and comes up with "I don't need any sandwiches," a sentiment that is so totally helpful. "I mean, come in."

[oddswerebad]

Nico stands in the doorway, though he doesn't quite make it beyond that. He waits quietly for Holden to look up, slightly relieved to have a few more seconds to try to pick out the correct words.

In his own way, Nico's very expressive, it's just that some range of fear/worry/anxiety tend to overlay everything else so it's hard to read anything under that. He makes it a step in once Holden recognizes who's there.

"Hi." He tugs at the cuff of his jacket. He was the one who came here, he should say something. It's an even harder barrier to pass than Holden's door. "Um."

[roci]

A beat of silence, and Holden decides to give the kid a hand.

"Okay, let's narrow it down," he says. "Something's wrong, you have a question, you need something, or there's something I need to know. One of those four?" He's sort of assuming that Nico isn't here just to socialize, and that there isn't a compliment on Holden's great shipkeeping in the works. It would be a nice surprise if this was just Nico saying hey, I like your kitchen, let's make pancakes, but -- unlikely.

backdated to the blackout

[ninefox]

He's in the middle of running piloting simulations at his desk when everything stops. The lights go da'k, the computer display crashes, even the quiet burble of the aquarium filter cuts out.

Darkness, and silence.

For a moment he can't breathe; for a moment, he doesn't try to breathe. Ghosts don't.

He bites the inside of his cheek hard enough to flood his mouth with blood, and the harsh salt-iron taste gives his mind something to grip onto instead of just spinning his wheels. He catches the the formation-maker's voice on the communicator, offering stilted apologies. He's on the barge, he's alive, he's just - he scrabbles at his wrist, and almost fumbles the thing, but his hands don't fail him. Soon, he has a warm, bright glow cradled in his hands, casting sharp and wild shadows across the room. He shuffles over to the aquarium and holds it up. The usually brilliant fish are a little washed out under the single point light source, but they flicker back and forth in mild confusion, unharmed. He opens the lid and slips his fingers into the water, a visceral sensation, startling and cool. One of the braver and more hopeful bettas swims up to attempt to nibble his fingertips.

The quiet eats at him much more effectively. He should splash, shout, something, but his throat feels locked tight. He should get his communicator. He should. He should -

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[ninefox]

can you find out if the Admiral is taking requests again

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[roci]

Big guy seems kinda busy.

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[ninefox]

Ask anyway.

If he's too busy he'll just say no.

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[roci]

If he can't fill the pantry, I don't think he can give me the Roci back.

spam

[ninefox]

[Jedao slips into Holden's cabin shortly after the conversation with Steve on the network. They've seen less of each other since the new ship effectively kicked Jedao out of rooming with him, but he still keeps an eye on his warden. Did holden lock his door? It doesn't matter.]

Hey.

[It's a little absurd how gentle he can sound, when he wants to, just husky enough that it doesn't come off as fake.]

spam

[roci]

[ Holden is on the little half-sofa, sitting sideways against the armrest, attempting to read something. ] Aw, hell, Jedao, I'm not up for it, whatever it is.

[ He assumes that there's a problem. That might not be strictly fair of him. ]

Re: spam

[ninefox]

I know.

[He sits next to Holden and drapes over him a bit, hugs him around the waist.]

[roci]

[ He puts his head in his hands.

Fuck, he misses Naomi.

He misses being able to trust Naomi. ]

[Private text]

[liketheolddays]

((Post this thread))

Are you alright, James?

[Private text]

[roci]

I think I'm not.

[Private text]

[liketheolddays]

Would you like company, and if so, where?

[Spam]

[notrosecolored]

Scott's a little bit unsure about going to anyone's place - it's just not a thing he does a lot of, in spite of having what sometimes feel like half the barge on his own access filter.

Still, he shows up and knocks and waits.

Without looking overtly nervous.

Having a reason - and a real desire to understand - helps.

[roci]

He hates this stupid door. It has hinges, for god's sake. And this damn chain which seems like the only thing that stops anyone who wants to from breaking in. Not that he has anything valuable in here.

Whatever.

He undoes the lock, pulls it partway open, kicks it the rest of the way.

"Hey," he says. "Come on in." His bed's only mostly made, with some rumpled blankets and sheets near the headboard. Also, gun on the bedside table, unloaded, which he left there because, well, Scott kind of has a gun on his face, so Holden figured he'd leave his visible too. Seemed... fair enough? Or something.

He gestures towards the little sitting area, love seat and a couple of armchairs.

"There's two meanings," he says. "Tilting at windmills. Either fighting illusions or fighting things that can't be beaten. I've kind of been doing both, but I meant the second one."

[notrosecolored]

Scott steps into the room and, of course, he notices the gun. He does have a weapon in his face, though, and maybe more importantly Holden is Jedao's warden which implies a certain fondness of weaponry.

So, yeah, it's fair enough. It makes him a little wary - wearing glasses his options for defense are limited - but it's also the barge. Even if he didn't like Holden and trust him enough not to shoot him, he isn't exactly going to suffer lasting consequences from being shot.

Probably, anyway. New barge may have new rules, but he's pretty sure, all the same.

He nods slightly, but. "Do you believe it can be beaten with your deal?"

[stormandwind]

Tris comes knocking on Holden's door with a plate of assorted fresh-baked cookies.

When he answers, she greets him with a wry smile. "Hello, James. I was wondering if you'd like company for awhile. I complained that my house was too quiet, and Jedao sent me to bother you. I brought cookies."

And if this entire thing is awkward, she can cheerfully blame Jedao for it. He was clearly playing matchmaker, trying to coax them into friendship.

[roci]

Holden would swear that under any normal circumstances, he would not be able to hear a knock on the airlock door while in a different part of the Rocinante. He suspects that there's some sort of magical amplification going on.

When he gets to the airlock -- which dwarfs most of the cabin doors along the hallway, to his great and mostly-unremarked amusement -- he hits the button to open it, and then wonders, for several seconds, if she has the wrong door. Though, how could she? It's distinctive.

Oh, right. Jedao's interference. That makes more sense.

"Uh, yeah, sure." He steps aside, though there's enough room that it's really not necessary. "Wait, hang on -- watch your step, it's still low gravity in here. Want me to turn it up?"