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[undisguised]

MESSAGE INBOX

You've reached Edward Deegan. Or... almost, anyway. Leave a message, and I'll get back to you as soon as I'm able.

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Private | Video

[talesuntold]

[Maggie looks and sounds like death warmed over, and is making this call while propped up on a pile of pillows against her headboard.]

Shaun told me you were helping coordinate cleanup. Thanks for that. It was a relief hearing my blood hadn't caused any secondary outbreaks.

[Because apparently one of Shaun's responsibilities as her boss back home carried over to bleaching the hell out of the site where Maggie turned into a zombie here.]

[undisguised]

[Edward is... alright, more than a little surprise she reached out. But he keeps it out of his expression and tone.]

Just doing my job. [The phrase is so familiar and reflexive, he says it before he even really thinks about it.] I missed the whole thing, was cleaning elsewhere, so I've only heard about what happened. I'm sorry you had to go through all this.

[A beat. His conscience is getting to him.] Wasn't trying to be flippant, or anything. I don't need the thanks, but it sounds like it's a load off your mind, so I'm happy to have helped.

[talesuntold]

Kellis-Amberlee is extremely contagious. A single drop or dried flake of my blood in anyone's mucous membrane would be enough to start a zombie uprising on board. It's a serious biohazard.

So 'just doing your job' saved plenty of lives, and that's worth acknowledging. I appreciate it.

[undisguised]

[Edward inclines his head, ceding the point. But also... jesus. The Admiral really leaves things as a free-for-all. Didn't modify the mini-nukes on arrival, didn't modify this disease.]

That's... a hell of a thing to live with. It has to be a lot of work to manage it. Is it just blood?

[talesuntold]

The Admiral supposedly made it non-transmissible in its dormant form and kept it from going airborne while I'm here. I do still keep all my bodily fluids to myself as much as possible, though.

And blood is the worst. Other things could pass along the dormant form of the virus if the Admiral's precautions fail, but unless I amplify, they won't turn anyone. Blood always has the potential to turn somebody. Even if I'm alright.

Slightly backdated to just after zombie breach

[pharadyne]

[Gossiping with Hancock about Edward calls Norton's attention to the fact that Edward's been oddly absent since the breach. Not entirely vanished, so Norton knows it's not another coma, but it's as if he's doing just the essential duties, interacting with as few people as possible while doing them, and then disappearing.

Norton can guess at why, at least the general outline of it. A world destroyed. Humanity in tatters. Violence as routine. And monsters walking the earth.

He gives Edward one day of peace in case he needs a little bit of time alone, but on day two he'll knock on Edward's door.]

[undisguised]

[Edward doesn't want to say he's been sticking to going through the motions. He doesn't like the idea of putting so little into his work, even with how he's feeling. But he's been almost calculated about it: take care of what needs immediate attention, and move on to the next task. So he's getting things done, but he's very aware that it's less than he usually does. There are people he should try to check in with, reach out to, try to talk about what happened. But...

Well. He's been taking his meals in his room since the breach. Which isn't wholly unusual when he's busy, but...

He's washing his dishes when there's a knock on his door. He hesitates... considers pretending like he couldn't hear it. But it could be an emergency, for all he knows. So he takes the moment of drying his hands to gather his self-control and steel himself. Then he goes to answer the door.]

[pharadyne]

Edward! [Norton chirps when Edward opens the door.] How are you, darling? Mind if I come in?

[undisguised]

[Edward's first reaction to the abrupt ray of sunshine in his face is a long blink. He didn't even have time to process that it's Norton on the other side of his door.

Which, once that processes, his second reaction is an internal "... fuck." He likes Norton, he really does. But he didn't figure he was ready for this yet.]

Just finished with dinner, [he answers by not answering, his words coming out a little slow, which is partly because he's measuring them as he says them and partly a self-defense against the cheerful barrage.

He doesn't really like any of his options. He could ask Norton if something was up, at which point the conversation would continue in the hallway. He could turn Norton away, leaving this as a problem for future him, but then future him would probably have a more sticky situation to deal with. Or he could shore himself up and let Norton in for a little bit, then make up some excuse to keep the visit short.

He doesn't sigh on the outside, but only because he has two hundred years plus worth experience keeping even the really big ones inside.] Sure.

[pharadyne]

Then you can offer me dessert. [He swans in before Edward can change his mind.]

[untiltheend]

[The very minute the new pairings are announced comes a text message:]

Good day, Mr Deegan. My apologies for the sudden address, but I presume you have noticed we have been paired for the month. [One whole minute ago.] My name is Sebastian Michaelis.

I would meet you and get to work at your earliest convenience, if you please.

[Finally he's rid of Jon Sims! He never thought he'd see the day.]

video

[undisguised]

[Edward blinks at this message. Does, in fact, have to take a minute to check for the Admiral's post. And then he comes back and blinks at the message again. This doesn't fit the definition of déja vu, but it's a similar kind of feeling.

He almost replies in text, but catches himself and swaps to video. He does it for a reason -- He hasn't had any issues from his temps yet, but just in case, he doesn't want to catch someone by surprise with how he looks.]

Hello, Mr. Michaelis. I've got to run and handle something for custodial first, but then I'll be free. Where would you like to meet up?

video

[untiltheend]

[How rude, is Sebastian's first thought - isn't it common politeness to respond in the same manner as you are addressed in? But then he gets a good look of Edward, and-- yes, all right, he understands the intent with the video.

There's no visible reaction on his end: he's spoken to Hancock, for one, and well... there are uglier things in the demon realm. Sebastian's true form itself is an Eldritch abomination. He matches the video: very pretty seemingly-human man, very obvious butler uniform.]

Surely my preferences are inconsequential. I would meet wherever you feel you are best able to perform your duties. However, if you wish for me to choose... The library has private rooms, does it not? As an alternative, I would not object to meet in my cabin: it is on level 1, cabin 6.

video

[undisguised]

I'd argue your preferences trump mine. This... process is supposed to be about you. For you.

Right now, wherever you're comfortable works fine, whether it's the library or your cabin or somewhere else.

video

[untiltheend]

Respectfully, sir: no. I am but an Inmate; my Warden's preferences should take precedence.

But since you request of me to choose: my cabin, please. Would in one hour be enough?

a dream of gardens

[erbier]

[ She hasn't been around, shut up in her cabin, but there's finally something that she needs a warden for. So she leaves a message: ]

Edward?

[ Her voice is soft, uncertain in its question. ]

[undisguised]

[It takes a few minutes before there's a response -- He's in the middle of cleaning something.]

Yeah? What's up?

[He almost asked "What's wrong" instead, but caught himself.]

[erbier]

I would like to use the Enclosure.

[ Maybe. She's pretty sure she knows what she's doing. Probably. ]

[undisguised]

[... Huh.]

Okay. [He has about a dozen questions, but his curiousity can wait. As far as he can tell, patience goes a long way with Ilde, and thankfully, he is well practiced in it.] When do you wanna meet up?

[erbier]

At your convenience.

audio, sent to both Edward and Zack

[cactusy]

Any way I can talk you custodial guys into letting me do a big game of paintball all across the deck and upper deck? I'd work clean-up afterwards, maybe recruit some other volunteers to help. Greenhouse off-limits so people don't trample the plants.

[undisguised]

Unless Zack makes some solid objections, and as long as we can secure enough volunteers for the clean-up, I don't have a problem with it.

Also? I want in.

[cactusy]

Open to the public. You got any good ideas for bribes to get people to help clean up after?

[undisguised]

There's an idea Zack and I had a while back about doing something like a pizza party for the cleaning crew.

[cactusy]

You think that'd be enough?

-- So, uh, this is actually for a wedding, so. Free wedding cake?