Chase Collins (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fifthofthecovenant) wrote2021-05-14 08:15 pm
fifthofthecovenant) wrote2021-05-14 08:15 pm
Entry tags:
The Last Voyages: IC Contact
"Hey, you've reached Chase Collins! You know what to do." BEEP.
[He's grumpy, is what he is. He got dragged through that whole thing and he didn't have any idea how it worked! So unfair!
Also, a little disturbed by his friendly-kid mask made briefly real. And missing his spiders, dammit. What a dumb thing to take out of an experience like that, the companionship of arachnids who aren't even proper demon things with brains.
But he dredges up a tired-but-okay-sounding tone for Misty. Gotta keep the facade up. And try to figure out if she's thinking there's some kind of actual connection because there was one in the breach. (Should there be? How does this even work?)]
Yeah, I think so. A little weirded out, but I guess it could've been worse?
Also, a little disturbed by his friendly-kid mask made briefly real. And missing his spiders, dammit. What a dumb thing to take out of an experience like that, the companionship of arachnids who aren't even proper demon things with brains.
But he dredges up a tired-but-okay-sounding tone for Misty. Gotta keep the facade up. And try to figure out if she's thinking there's some kind of actual connection because there was one in the breach. (Should there be? How does this even work?)]
Yeah, I think so. A little weirded out, but I guess it could've been worse?
[He has indeed, and he'd been waffling over what the protocol was supposed to be. He's itching to get his magic back, but is he supposed to reach out first or is Ben? Also, after his kind of awful conversation with Misty, he's a little gunshy about reaching out.
So Ben getting to it first is probably for the best.]
I did. Hi, warden.
So Ben getting to it first is probably for the best.]
I did. Hi, warden.
He finds her facedown in the grass, and for one panicked moment forgets the rules. Flips her over thinking she's dead, prepared to loathe this place more than he already does. But she's breathing, her pulse steady at her neck. Coma.
He remembers reading back through the network for Norton, back and back to Bill saying the comatose had no brain activity. “Misty,” he says anyway. Squeezes her hand, wishing there were at least dirt under her nails.
He locks her little radio in the shed—he'll be back for it—and drags her across the greenhouse, his arms looped through her armpits and clasped over her chest. Her heels leaving a trail of matted grass. At the door he sets her down and awkwardly—trying to strike some balance between haste and care—gathers her up again, slinging her over his shoulders in a fireman's carry. She feels slight; she feels impossibly heavy. Her hair spills down his arm.
Chase can find him at any point in this process, or as he's transporting her through the halls and to the elevator—William's skinny, his breathing increasingly labored, but his grip doesn't falter and though his step may slow, he doesn't stop.
He remembers reading back through the network for Norton, back and back to Bill saying the comatose had no brain activity. “Misty,” he says anyway. Squeezes her hand, wishing there were at least dirt under her nails.
He locks her little radio in the shed—he'll be back for it—and drags her across the greenhouse, his arms looped through her armpits and clasped over her chest. Her heels leaving a trail of matted grass. At the door he sets her down and awkwardly—trying to strike some balance between haste and care—gathers her up again, slinging her over his shoulders in a fireman's carry. She feels slight; she feels impossibly heavy. Her hair spills down his arm.
Chase can find him at any point in this process, or as he's transporting her through the halls and to the elevator—William's skinny, his breathing increasingly labored, but his grip doesn't falter and though his step may slow, he doesn't stop.
Chase is wandering the deck, whistling to himself. He feels great. He has his magic back, which means his aches and crabby attitude from the port are all background noise, fading away with each little spell he flings to the stars.
He stops at the sight of a guy hauling what sure does look like Misty's limp body over one shoulder. They didn't part on the greatest of terms, but he's still hopeful he'll win her over at some point. So he jogs over, all indignant and worried-looking. "Hey!"
He stops at the sight of a guy hauling what sure does look like Misty's limp body over one shoulder. They didn't part on the greatest of terms, but he's still hopeful he'll win her over at some point. So he jogs over, all indignant and worried-looking. "Hey!"
[Why beat around the bush.]
Care to cut a swath through a decent magical section of the library and say we had a heartfelt chat?
Care to cut a swath through a decent magical section of the library and say we had a heartfelt chat?
That sounds a lot better than actually having a heartfelt chat. Want to see what I've been researching?
[Hell, maybe Adrian will have some idea of how to implement this duplication thing.]
[Hell, maybe Adrian will have some idea of how to implement this duplication thing.]
Chase, is it? My name is Alisaie Leveilleur. I'll be your Warden this month.
You also happen to be my first Inmate, but pray don't mistake inexperience for the lack of ability to help. I will be giving it my all.
You also happen to be my first Inmate, but pray don't mistake inexperience for the lack of ability to help. I will be giving it my all.
[Oh god new warden. New warden. Chase rolls his eyes, safely off video, but his reply is amiable enough.]
Chase Collins, yes, ma'am. I don't know if there's anything I especially need, unless you're very good at getting rid of crows.
I am a raven, you ingrate.
[Chase sighs heavily.]
Chase Collins, yes, ma'am. I don't know if there's anything I especially need, unless you're very good at getting rid of crows.
I am a raven, you ingrate.
[Chase sighs heavily.]
Hello.
I know that I am no longer your Warden, but I thought I would check and see how you are doing regardless of that. It has been a year since we spoke.
I know that I am no longer your Warden, but I thought I would check and see how you are doing regardless of that. It has been a year since we spoke.
It's only been a couple months for me, but sure.
I'm fine, though.
I'm fine, though.
Hello! I'm Isaac and I'll be your temporary warden this month. Let me know if you need anything!
[Oh hey, a warden who actually wants to talk to him. How novel.]
Well, I won't say no to somebody to let me off the boat so I can go out in the port.
Well, I won't say no to somebody to let me off the boat so I can go out in the port.
[Huh. Interesting. Chase made a hearing aid spider once, but he doesn't think he can make a voice-speaker spider. Too bad.]
It's fine. I don't need much anyway unless you can get me my magic back.
It's fine. I don't need much anyway unless you can get me my magic back.
Chase's first instinct is to yell "go away" but he's literally never had anyone knock on his door before. He's pretty sure nobody even knows it's his room. It's probably an accident and he should tell the person to go find the right door. Maybe he'll yell a little and it'll make him feel better. Or just make everything ache more.
He drags himself out of bed and stumbles to the door.
Nico is not who he expected. He frowns at him, squinting with headache. "What are you doing here."
He drags himself out of bed and stumbles to the door.
Nico is not who he expected. He frowns at him, squinting with headache. "What are you doing here."
[Chase can't be bothered to switch on the video function and position a camera, so Song Zichen just get his voice.]
Hey, yeah, you brought be dinner once during that signs flood, right? Song Zichen? I guess you got your voice back.
Could be worse I guess. I died once. Got thrown overboard in that last port. Dreading whatever this month's flood is going to be. But I'm still here, right?
Hey, yeah, you brought be dinner once during that signs flood, right? Song Zichen? I guess you got your voice back.
Could be worse I guess. I died once. Got thrown overboard in that last port. Dreading whatever this month's flood is going to be. But I'm still here, right?
Hey, checking in for the month. Got anything you really need of me, or anything you're looking for out of this?
Not really. Not unless you can get my magic unlocked.
[He sounds distracted, because he's answering this as he flips through a book in the library.]
[He sounds distracted, because he's answering this as he flips through a book in the library.]
Hey, kid.
Want to have a real introduction?
Want to have a real introduction?
[There's a wary half an hour of a pause before Chase actually responds. That's both his breach self's siblings trying to talk to him, now. He is a little weirded out.
He replies in audio only:]
I don't know, do you?
He replies in audio only:]
I don't know, do you?
[A day or so after the flood - after she crashes for a solid half a day at the sudden release of stress over the prospect that the magic might reveal more than she wants anyone to know - Yelena reaches out.]
How are you holding up, after all of that bullshit?
[The dream they'd shared had been...fun, really. Weird, but fun. But she's not going to assume the rest of his experiences had been pleasant, and no one who's an inmate on the Barge could possibly have only good dreams.]
How are you holding up, after all of that bullshit?
[The dream they'd shared had been...fun, really. Weird, but fun. But she's not going to assume the rest of his experiences had been pleasant, and no one who's an inmate on the Barge could possibly have only good dreams.]
[Having her check on him is weird. Really, having anyone check on him is weird. He is weirded out by these people checking on him.
But that doesn't stop him from answering.]
Oh I'm just peachy. You?
But that doesn't stop him from answering.]
Oh I'm just peachy. You?
I am to be your warden for the month. Have you a preferred place to meet?
[Ugh, right, new warden time.]
I work at the pool. Show up any time before noon and I'll be there.
[Easier to talk there than in the library, he figures.]
I work at the pool. Show up any time before noon and I'll be there.
[Easier to talk there than in the library, he figures.]
Yelena doesn't message this time. She just shows up to knock on Chase's door when she's fairly certain he'll be home, a bottle of blackberry wine she'd picked up in the last port in hand.
The flood was a fucking nightmare. She needs a drink, and she needs to make sure her not-quite-little-brother is ok. No reason not to combine the two.
The flood was a fucking nightmare. She needs a drink, and she needs to make sure her not-quite-little-brother is ok. No reason not to combine the two.
There's a long moment before he answers, and Yelena may or may not notice a spider crawling under the door, checking to see who it is. Only once he's decided it's someone he won't hate talking to does he open the door. He doesn't open it enough to let her in yet.
First he asks, "Did you meet him?"
If she did, she'd know who he's talking about.
First he asks, "Did you meet him?"
If she did, she'd know who he's talking about.
Once it seems like everyone is back to stay, Nico admittedly waits another day or two.
Then he paces back and forth in front of Chase's door a few times, before throwing his hands up and heading back to his cabin and flopping on his bed and defaulting to technology, this once, because Chase might not want to talk about it, and Nico wants to give him the out.
Met your dad while you were gone.
Then he paces back and forth in front of Chase's door a few times, before throwing his hands up and heading back to his cabin and flopping on his bed and defaulting to technology, this once, because Chase might not want to talk about it, and Nico wants to give him the out.
Met your dad while you were gone.
Re: text, very much backdated to not too long after the flood
fifthofthecovenant
2024-07-02 04:53 am (UTC)(link)
Chase doesn't want to talk about it. He has been low-level panicking about who might have talked to the man, and what he might have said. He might even have gotten pretty drunk with Yelena over it.
He considers not answering. He stares at the text for a long minute, in fact. But in the end, he needs to know. He can't plan, can't mitigate, until he knows.
and what did he say?
He considers not answering. He stares at the text for a long minute, in fact. But in the end, he needs to know. He can't plan, can't mitigate, until he knows.
and what did he say?
He knows Chase will go to ground and not look after himself, and, as he always would, he comes bearing a nice basket from the kitchen. This isn't a punishment. But it is an ambush. He doesn't try to pretend nothing's unusual, and his fussy, conciliatory, cringing demeanor is all blanketed in an icy calm when Chase opens the door to his knock.
If Chase does not open the door, he can wait.
If Chase does not open the door, he can wait.
There's like three people Chase would open the door for. A little spider crawls out from under it to check if it's one of those three.
The spider retreats. A moment later, the door opens. This time, Chase doesn't bother asking if this person met his dad, like he did with Yelena. That is not a look of someone who didn't learn some disappointing things about him. He just steps back and lets Wen Ning in, then retreats to sit on his bed, looking irritable.
The spider retreats. A moment later, the door opens. This time, Chase doesn't bother asking if this person met his dad, like he did with Yelena. That is not a look of someone who didn't learn some disappointing things about him. He just steps back and lets Wen Ning in, then retreats to sit on his bed, looking irritable.
Wen Ning turns up about twenty minutes after the pairing announcement, about enough time to make sure he comes bearing snacks (not a full meal, he's in a hurry) and not much else. None of that icy, ruthless precision is remotely evident when he knocks. Back to being a mildly cheerful pushover. But he's excited! This means he didn't do the worst job when they were paired before! That he's on the way to his deal!
Chase has no idea what to do. He maybe panicked a little bit when he heard the announcement. Wen Ning was already pissed at him about his dad, how is he going to react when he finds out about everything else?
It's even more alarming when the guy shows up so fast. And he knows it's Wen Ning because Nico or Yelena would have texted him first before randomly showing up. Did he even have time to read the file? Does he know? Is he here to lecture more? Chase really doesn't think he can handle a lecture about his other dead parents without trying to punch him or something.
The door does not immediately open. If Wen Ning looks down, he might spot a particularly tiny one of Chase's spiders peering at him from the crack under the door. Just confirming it's who he thinks it is and just how mad he looks.
It's even more alarming when the guy shows up so fast. And he knows it's Wen Ning because Nico or Yelena would have texted him first before randomly showing up. Did he even have time to read the file? Does he know? Is he here to lecture more? Chase really doesn't think he can handle a lecture about his other dead parents without trying to punch him or something.
The door does not immediately open. If Wen Ning looks down, he might spot a particularly tiny one of Chase's spiders peering at him from the crack under the door. Just confirming it's who he thinks it is and just how mad he looks.
Yelena shows up at the pool the day after the pairing announcement, early enough to catch Chase at his morning swim. She doesn't do anything to interrupt, just sets her towel down on one of the benches near a wall, pausing to greet the dragons before she goes to perch by the deep end of the pool, toes dangling in the water, to wait for him to finish.
She's very good at waiting.
She's very good at waiting.
He's clearly one of those people who takes swimming very seriously, almost professionally. He's got a cap, goggles, and a very small swimsuit and he does neat, precise laps. It's also the only time he doesn't have any spiders hanging around.
He does notice her. He doesn't stop his laps early for her, but he does notice her.
And when he's decided he's done for the morning, he does leave his imaginary lane and swim over to where she's sitting, since she's so clearly here to check in on him. He anchors himself on the side of the pool and pushes the goggles up to the top of his head. "Hi."
He does notice her. He doesn't stop his laps early for her, but he does notice her.
And when he's decided he's done for the morning, he does leave his imaginary lane and swim over to where she's sitting, since she's so clearly here to check in on him. He anchors himself on the side of the pool and pushes the goggles up to the top of his head. "Hi."
[He had been kind of waiting to see if she'd contact him. And lo and behold, she did. Huh.]
it's awful. I can't believe I think I should still have a tail
I'm not moving around much right now
it's awful. I can't believe I think I should still have a tail
I'm not moving around much right now
Edited 2024-07-29 04:01 (UTC)
[The answer comes after not too long, at least.]
Why wouldn't I want to talk to you?
Besides kind of wanting to die again so I'd stop hurting. But I'd talk to you anyway.
[Guess who doesn't know anything past his death at the hands of Hela? :D ]
Why wouldn't I want to talk to you?
Besides kind of wanting to die again so I'd stop hurting. But I'd talk to you anyway.
[Guess who doesn't know anything past his death at the hands of Hela? :D ]
I'm up
at the dining hall right now but going back to my room soon
at the dining hall right now but going back to my room soon
So during the flood, when I was not-you - there's something that's been striking me as particularly strange, looking back.
My head's a mess. I won't argue that. But Ashton Collins was basically suicidal. Doubtful that's something that me being me would've added in, so: Chase, what the fuck?
My head's a mess. I won't argue that. But Ashton Collins was basically suicidal. Doubtful that's something that me being me would've added in, so: Chase, what the fuck?
[Chase groans out loud on his end, and flops back into his bed. Because screw this whole situation. He hates it so much.
It takes him a good ten minutes to reply.]
You make it sound so dramatic. I'm just being realistic. The amount of power it's going to take to make new bodies and shove spirits into them on a permanent basis is just likely to kill me. It's an acceptable risk.
It takes him a good ten minutes to reply.]
You make it sound so dramatic. I'm just being realistic. The amount of power it's going to take to make new bodies and shove spirits into them on a permanent basis is just likely to kill me. It's an acceptable risk.
He's got breakfast.
He doesn't know what he's going to say. He's excruciatingly uncomfortable, nervy and embarrassed in turns, and he knows there are serious conversations to have, too, on top of how particularly strange this one was. But he can always bring breakfast. So he knocks on the door with his customary basket and tries to gather his courage.
He doesn't know what he's going to say. He's excruciatingly uncomfortable, nervy and embarrassed in turns, and he knows there are serious conversations to have, too, on top of how particularly strange this one was. But he can always bring breakfast. So he knocks on the door with his customary basket and tries to gather his courage.
Chase is still drying out his hair from the showers after his morning swim, so it's a spider that peeks under the door to see who it is, and then magic that unlocks and swings the door open at a distance. Chase is by the non-showered bathroom, toweling off his hair.
"You don't normally bring me breakfast without it being a coma day," he says. "So I'm guessing this is buttering me up."
He expected it, really. He's resigned to it. He might not play along with whatever Wen Ning wants to talk about, but he's resigned to it happening.
"You don't normally bring me breakfast without it being a coma day," he says. "So I'm guessing this is buttering me up."
He expected it, really. He's resigned to it. He might not play along with whatever Wen Ning wants to talk about, but he's resigned to it happening.
What's a record player? My new inmate--who I think was yours last month--wants one and I didn't want to hound him with questions. He seems shy.
[But. Lotta inmates like dangerous things.]
[But. Lotta inmates like dangerous things.]
Yeah, you got R. He's cool. Reminds me a little bit of you.
Anyway, a record player is something that plays music. You'll need to get him records, too, it won't work without those. They're big black disks that you put on the record player and music comes out.
Anyway, a record player is something that plays music. You'll need to get him records, too, it won't work without those. They're big black disks that you put on the record player and music comes out.
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