video.

[ohshutup]

[If there were a way to turn on a video feed aggressively, Clara would be doing it. Her nose is pink, her hair is damp, and she looks downright peeved by something.]

Well. Happy New Year. Bit of a frosty one. [Proper, bright, but clipped.] First resolution - find out why I was just dead for an entire month.

[Aaaand there's the anger.]

It usually takes a few days, yeah? Not the whole bloody holiday season!

Comments

action!

[doubleblind]

[Guess who is sitting right beside her, offering a warm towel for her hair and refusing to let Clara out of her sight? She also shares Clara's anger.]

We need to demand the opportunity to celebrate a second Christmas.

[ohshutup]

I'm going to write a very strongly worded letter.

[A joke, trying to mask how badly she wants to scream right now.]

[doubleblind]

Do it. I'll get one of my copies to mail it every day until they listen to you.

[ohshutup]

That's the best use of superpowers I've ever heard.

[doubleblind]

[Cosima grins, considering.] I could also send one of the copies on a donut run. That could happen.

[ohshutup]

As long as they're the really soft, squishy kind. With chocolate.

[doubleblind]

[Cosima looks appalled at the suggestion that even one of her copies would pick subpar donuts.] She knows your favorite kind, don't worry.

[ohshutup]

[Clara leans over to give her a quick - but lazy - kiss.]

Tell her to pick up some discount Christmas candy, too.

[doubleblind]

[Lazy kisses are exactly what Cosima needs after the last month.]

Peppermint bark! I haven't had any this season and it's almost too late...

[ohshutup]

We'll get it in bulk, make it last the whole year.

[doubleblind]

You are a genius.

[ohshutup]

I'd like that in writing for the next time I do something dumb.

video;

[epundemiology]

Wait. What do you mean, "usually" takes a few days?

[as opposed to? u kno?? never???

hello she's new]

[ohshutup]

[Oh. Well. Terribly sorry to be your introduction, dear. She slides into her gentlest Teacher Voice.]

When someone dies here, it doesn't stick. They come back good as new in a few days. At least, they always have before.

video

[h2no]

You died? Uh-- that's... sorry?

[ohshutup]

Oh, yeah. Just the bit with the nanites. Old injury, long story.

[h2no]

Ugh, yeah, I got fucked over by that too. Uh-- if you're still sore or anythin' I can swing by and give ya some heals. I know even after mine were all healed up again it was still achey.

[ohshutup]

Nah, mate, I'm good. My wife's taking care of me. Gave her a big scare, I'm afraid.

[h2no]

Ah-- yeah, I'd imagine. Is she doing okay herself?

[ohshutup]

[Clara's eyes flick to where Cosima is sitting, out of the camera's view. Her eyes soften.]

She kept me in a freezer the whole time. Never gave up hope.

[It's not an answer to his question, but he can imagine the rest of the story.]

I don't tend to fall in love with people who are keen on letting me go.

[h2no]

[it probably says a lot that instead of freaking out about that he's mentally filing that idea away for later if it's needed.]

Well, seems like that quality kept you, er... [he gestures at the screen, the implication being she'd be far worse off had she not been in a freezer for a month.] you. Uh-- I can heal the physical effects of stress if she ever needs it.

As for the month instead of normal time... I'd guess it's because of the Porter being weird. That's was the cause of most problems last month.

[ohshutup]

Yeah, I heard it was a mess.

[An understatement, of course, but she still isn't sure of the extent. There's concern in her voice, though.]

You alright? Any grave injuries?

[h2no]

Naw, I was fine.

[he almost died, but figures that's not really important.]

I really lucked out, actually. If anythin', my healing was temporarily stronger and I could use it on myself. Made stubbin' my foot significantly less horrible than usual.

[ohshutup]

Stubbing your foot? Stubbing your whole foot?

[That certainly takes more talent than just stubbing one's toe.]

[h2no]

I'm many things. Good on my feet is not one of them.

[ohshutup]

Never change, Archie.

Video

[bookkeeper]

Holy shit. A month? Why? How?

You okay now, though, right?

[ohshutup]

[Oh. Well. This man seems very enthusiastically concerned, for someone she's never met before. She shrugs, nonchalant.]

The Porter and I weren't getting along. But it's all been sorted, I'm back in one piece.

[bookkeeper]

[ He's an enthusiastic kind of man. ]

Something must've really been that messed up if you were gone an entire month. The Porter's been causing a lot of problems for a lot of people.

I still don't know if that's normal or not.

[ohshutup]

Well, there's usually one problem or another here, whether or not the Porter's involved. Welcome to the trip.

[A phrase she heard her wife use once, and subconsciously picked up.]

Are you a recent arrival?

[bookkeeper]

Not too recent. Been around since August. Why? Am I that green around the ears?

[ohshutup]

Nah, you're doing fine. More than two years, for me, and I'm still figuring things out.

[bookkeeper]

Two years? Jesus. And you've never gone back home...?

[ohshutup]

Just once, for a couple of months.

[bookkeeper]

Did anything change...?

[ohshutup]

Oh, not much. Just my living situation.

[She died and had to leave her home planet behind. But that's all.]