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Jesus Christ. [He grits his teeth and shakes his head - this is not the fun part.]
Now who's the child, huh? You know how much I hated havin' my things with William, and that wasn't even my journal.
Now who's the child, huh? You know how much I hated havin' my things with William, and that wasn't even my journal.
If you wanna intervene on her behalf, Arthur, then you come pick it up. If not, stop making it your problem.
I think I will come pick it up, in that case. [JESUS]
Alright, then.
[She figures it’ll take him a bit to find her. Not that she’s hiding — she’s drinking in the hot tub at the pool — but she doesn’t know her warden can track her.]
[She figures it’ll take him a bit to find her. Not that she’s hiding — she’s drinking in the hot tub at the pool — but she doesn’t know her warden can track her.]
[Arthur Arthur Arthur. Fuck's sake.]
That's one.
That's one.
What, I have to list every person? Listen. Getting old means you survived that long. I'm not going to complain about it even if they thought I looked like an old hag.
[She's about to find out. He's there ten minutes later, tucking his own journal very safely away in case she wants to get cute.]
Jesus, it's hot here.
Jesus, it's hot here.
[Tess is shoulder-deep in the hot tub, just the top few inches of her shoulder scar visible. She relaxes unbothered by the whole evening, a beer bottle in one hand and the other laid against the edge of the tub, but she's sure she's radiating frustration anyway, especially given how fast he found her. When Arthur comes towards her, she reaches behind her to pick up Ellie’s journal off the top of her backpack, and she holds the journal out like she might let him take it.
But if he tries, she'll pull it right back, because she loves getting cute.]
I would've invited you to join me, but I figured it wasn't your thing.
But if he tries, she'll pull it right back, because she loves getting cute.]
I would've invited you to join me, but I figured it wasn't your thing.
[He hates when she gets cute. Hates it. He really likes her, and this is such a displeasing side of her. He grits his teeth when she pulls the journal back again, and steps up close enough to get splashed.]
Why would you think I don't like hot baths?
Why would you think I don't like hot baths?
Not the same thing, unless you like a drink and company in your baths.
[She smirks up at him. There isn't a man in Tess's life who hasn't been subjected to this bullshit at one point or another, and few people have done much to dissuade her.]
I respect you because you stand up to me, you know. But chasing after me for a kid's business? Not such a great look on you.
[She smirks up at him. There isn't a man in Tess's life who hasn't been subjected to this bullshit at one point or another, and few people have done much to dissuade her.]
I respect you because you stand up to me, you know. But chasing after me for a kid's business? Not such a great look on you.
[He's definitely not telling her about those times he paid a woman to pour him a drink and rub his feet while he was in the bath. Doesn't like to think about what that would do to her respect of him.]
You're important to her. She's - something to you. I gotta put myself between the two of you and lose a couple points in the process, I don't care.
[He leans his arms on the edge of the bath.]Does it make you feel strong? Powerful? In charge of somethin'?
Edited 2020-09-19 20:34 (UTC)
[She lifts her chin a little. She doesn't feel like bragging about the hideous things she's done in the name of feeling powerful would go over well, but they're at the front of her mind anyway. This all over a journal feels atrociously petty by comparison, but walking back what she's done tonight feels like conceding something. Admitting to making a mistake.]
Yes, and I'll have you know I have been extremely restrained since we were paired. Not often I let anyone push my buttons as much as she has, either.
[A kid who is her cargo, especially.]
Yes, and I'll have you know I have been extremely restrained since we were paired. Not often I let anyone push my buttons as much as she has, either.
[A kid who is her cargo, especially.]
[Tess opens her mouth like she might have something to say about that, a myriad of feelings tangled up in what she owes Joel, and even more than that not wanting to make things hard for Arthur when he's been far kinder to her than anyone else ever has, but she decides that no, she doesn't want to admit to any of that either.
She just thrusts the journal in Arthur's direction. He can have it this time.]
You know what, just take it.
She just thrusts the journal in Arthur's direction. He can have it this time.]
You know what, just take it.
Maybe at home. Here, though? I think you'd freak out if you looked like an old hag.
[It's a compliment, implying she does not actually look like one!]
[It's a compliment, implying she does not actually look like one!]
I'm sure you've heard by now.
You going to lecture me like the rest of them?
You going to lecture me like the rest of them?
Not particularly. I'd like to have at least one fucking person who doesn't instantly try to moralize to me.
Especially when we're all in the same fucking position.
Especially when we're all in the same fucking position.
I’d rather leave that to the wardens. I’ve got bigger priorities.
The lot of you keeping shit under wraps, for one. I don’t care if you attack wardens.
[Any warden but Arthur, anyway.]
I do care about you and Steve putting your business where everyone can see it. I don’t want every warden to think addicts are going to be a problem here, because addicts mean they’re thinking about what contraband is out there.
[Any warden but Arthur, anyway.]
I do care about you and Steve putting your business where everyone can see it. I don’t want every warden to think addicts are going to be a problem here, because addicts mean they’re thinking about what contraband is out there.
[Good thing Pagan loves Arthur, even if Arthur doesn't feel the same!]
Addicts, Tess? What the fuck are you talking about addicts? I'm fucking clean.
Talk to Steve about it. I don't put anything in public.
Addicts, Tess? What the fuck are you talking about addicts? I'm fucking clean.
Talk to Steve about it. I don't put anything in public.
I don’t care if you use or even what you use. But you don’t want people to think you are, then YOU talk to Steve about it, because he’s going to burn your reputation very fast. After attacking your warden twice in a matter of weeks, you think anyone’s going to believe your word over his?
Tess.
My dear, dear Tess.
What's he saying to people?
My dear, dear Tess.
What's he saying to people?
You need to figure that out, because anyone who posts to the Network ready to make it public sure as shit is talking privately too.
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