controlledvariable | exsilium; ic inbox

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.]