controlledvariable | exsilium; ic inbox

[You know why she gave up her baby?

Because she knew she wasn't up to handling kids, and a few years later she still isn't.]

I can't lose him.

[People are talking about throwing people out of airlocks and fucking hangings.

She doesn't know what she'll do if someone hurts Dick.]

No one's losing anyone here. We'll make sure of it. [He's worried. There's a reason why he's breaking his rule of using his tracking devices only when absolutely necessary, but it's just a precaution.

People are angry and loud, but they're still people, people who can see that Dick's just a kid and he's sorry.]

Those guys in charge of this whole thing, the ones yelling all over the network? They're fine, and they didn't even apologize for screwing everything up.

They're locked up for their own safety, but do you really think it's gonna last?

[She's seen how exhausted and on edge Rosyln is; Steph isn't stupid, she knows there's no real way to solve this, which means that people are going to keep crying for blood.]

[He did, actually, but he's thinking that yes isn't the right answer here. He doesn't know Roslyn personally, but she seems to have things under control.]

It's going to have to. We've gotta get off this rock.

[Before everyone goes even more insane.]

Has anyone tried to go after them yet?

We needed to be off this rock a month ago.

[And back to exhausted; she pushes a hand through her hair.]

Not that I know of, but it's only been a couple of days. I wouldn't be surprised if people start getting sick of waiting, though.

When they are, they'll let us know. They haven't exactly been shy about speaking up. And - look, Dick's just a kid. They've gotta cut him some slack.

[What the hell were the mutineers doing involving him anyway?]

[That's what she'd like to know.]

I really hope they do, but I'm not sure how much faith I have in people right now.

[Everyone is idiots.]

We've got a few psychos, yeah, but most people just want to figure out where to go from here.

[Somehow, he's still got faith in people to spare.]

And if keeping him safe means someone sitting there in that room with him, then that's just gonna be what we do.

[Emphasis on the 'we'.]

[She's never been an optimist; it used to be a bit of a joke between her and Tim, but now she just feels tired.]

Hpoefully we do.

[They really, really, really need to get off this base.]

I-- [But she hears that we and it's such a relief, because she was starting to wonder if she'd never even be able to sleep again, when she has to keep an eye on so many things.] Thank you.

[There's a lot of feeling in those two words.]

[His voice is warm.] Hey, you don't have to thank me. This, right here? This is about protecting people. This is what we do.

[Underneath different circumstances, the idea of just keeping someone safe instead of puzzling out a time traveling war and all of the ethics that come with it would be a relief.]

I'm gonna chill out here for a while, like I said before. But after that, I'm coming over. 'kay?

Funny how easy it is to lose track of that in the middle of a war.

[It's not directed at him, she's more talking about herself.]

Thanks, for everything. Any chance you'd feel like bringing coffee?

[He almost says something to her first statement, but ends up not knowing what to say, so he ignores it. He has his own issues with being a vigilante around here, but now's seriously not the time for a serious heart-to-heart about morality.]

I can do coffee. See you soon.

I owe you one. See you soon.

[And with that she hangs up and just tries to remember how to breathe.

She's really fucking glad there's someone she can still trust on this stupid moon.]