001 ⇉ video (un: envoy)

[resleeves]

[ the communicator that he'd been given was close enough to the oni that it doesn't take kovacs very long to figure it out. the tech is still a little behind what he's used to but it does the job.

when the video flickers to life, kovacs is wearing his default expression: boredom with a side of 'i hate everyone'. what he's really feeling is the almost overwhelming need for a fucking cigarette. but, those, like many other things, appeared to not exist on this station. booze only went so far. ]

Anyone have any drugs?

[ his lips draw into a thin smirk and he snickers. while he wouldn't necessarily say no to some good reaper, he's rather not spend any time in some drug induced fog while he's stuck on a station that he doesn't know. he's already run into someone who'd talked about eating him (nevermind that kovacs had brought that up) and he'd rather not wake up with a kidney missing. ]

Now that I've got your attention, anyone have a cigarette or is this place lacking in good vices as well as everything else? Haven't seen any dolls running around here either. More's the pity.

[ there was a fair amount of mystery surrounding the locked doors and corridors that piqued kovacs curiosity but that was about the only saving grace of this place. besides, he didn't have any real motivation to figure things out since he wasn't getting paid. ]

Pretty sure the fact that I was going to have to go cold turkey off something wasn't in the brochure for this place. But, neither was the fact that I can't fucking leave so I guess I was just asking for too much.

[ he hates being stuck. it's like being on ice except he's fucking aware. if he wants to stay in one place for any amount of time, he will make that choice. having it taken away from him grates. it pisses him off. ]

So, any of you Meths? Just trying to figure out how who I should cozy up to. I miss having friends, you see.

[ the laugh that follows the statement is one of sarcasm. he definitely wants to know but not for any friendly reason. kovacs figures that no one's going to know what he means but, if they answer, he can probably judge them well enough to decide on his own. ]

I really hope we're not being set up to try and save whatever world they were talking about on that recording when I woke up. I'm really not up to that. Think someone'll get pissed if I sit that one out?

Maybe I could cheer you guys on from the sidelines.

[ fuck, he really needs a cigarette. maybe he'd be a little more optimistic about things after that.

but, maybe not. #winning ]

Comments

un: burton

[tumang]

dolls? you mean prostitutes or walking fleshlights?

all i plan on doing is getting home.

Re: un: burton

[resleeves]

haven't heard 'em called prostitutes in awhile but yeah, that's what they are.

[ because the ground was such a shitty place where he'd come from, they had to have shitty names for everything. ]

not really my thing but i thought it might make me feel a little less homesick.

[ yeah, that was him, yearning for earth so he could get back to a meth holding his leash and the keys to his freedom. ]

what, not enjoying your stay on this bucket?
there's parties and everything.

[ sarcasm. sarcasm dropping off every word. ]

anyway, this place doesn't seem to be cooperating much with your plan, does it? you that optimistic that things are gonna change at some point?

[tumang]

wouldn't mind seeing some around myself

[ A man has needs, and buying sex is a lot easier for Amos than any other way of getting it. ]

enjoying it as much as i would a punch to the face

optimism is pointless
and what makes you think my plan isn't working, anyway? you think i'd share, try to get everyone off this barge?

[ Ahahahahah[...]ahah.

No. Fuck that. He has a very small, selective list of people he gives a shit about helping. ]

[resleeves]

well, two of us means there's a demand now. wonder if that means we'll get lucky and the next person to wake up in this shithole will be a doll.

wouldn't that be nice?

[ nice but unlikely. there's no goddamn way his luck would do that much of a 360 and grant him this one wish. it'd be nice but kovacs isn't holding his breath. he thinks it's more likely that the next person who wakes up will be a ctac officer than anyone good. ]

i don't know, find the right person to punch you in the face and it's kind of enjoyable.

[ was that tmi? oh well, enjoy that tidbit, amos. maybe even try it out sometime. ]

you wouldn't?

[ cue a mock gasp and a feigned look of sadness. ]

probably wise. i wouldn't either. but, this plan of yours some long term thing because you're talking to me which means you're still here, taking up space, breathing in the same air and still suck.

kind of a shitty plan so far.

[tumang]

yeah, think you'll be luckier with your own hand

if you really want to, i'll punch you in the face, man

[ It's not exactly flirting, but it's not exactly not flirting, either. It's just Amos's default state. This guy is an asshole, though. ]

yeah, sure does look like your plan or lack thereof is getting you much further
think talking smack is going to get you a ride home, or are you just looking for someone to space you?

un: mag

[spinals]

what's a meth?

Re: un: mag

[resleeves]

rich dickheads who like to believe their gods and that anything they shit out should be revered by those on the ground.

[and the sad things was, a lot of people did revere them in the hopes that they could be pulled into their social circles.]

they're ultra shitty but they pay well and who doesn't enjoy money?

[spinals]

that sounds awful
are there many of them around in your world?

[resleeves]

there's enough of them.

they don't need to be large in number to think they rule the world. in fact, they'd probably prefer there not be a lot of them.

then, they'd have to fight for the privilege of being the richest meth. and most of them don't want to get blood on their pretty clothes.

i'd be entertained by the sight though.

[spinals]

you'd be entertained by people fighting?

un: gunny

[marineris]

it's a hard no to all of that, if i'm guessing at those meanings correctly.
i guess you'll just have to stay lucid and in the present with the rest of us.

Re: un: gunny

[resleeves]

well, you've just ruined my good mood. i was so hopeful that i'd at least hit one out of the bunch. my odds were good for that, at least.

lucidity's overrated most of the time, anyway. why stay alert to my beautiful current surroundings when i could drool aimlessly on the deck while people step over my lifeless corpse?

now that sounds fun.

[marineris]

oh, my heart breaks.
let me guess, earther?

[resleeves]

what's an earther?

[ it's pretty easy to guess what an earther is by, you know, the word but he likes to make it hard on people. it's a thing. ]

but, if you're asking, wasn't born on earth.
i've spent a lot of time there but it's not the place i call home.

[ thank fuck because it was a cesspool of shittiness. ]

you make it sound like a bad thing though.
what's so bad about earth?

[marineris]

depends on the earther.

[Which is more leeway than she would have given a month ago. And even if she counts a few Earthers as friends now, a lifetime of war fueled propaganda doesn't go away overnight.]

they won the galactic lottery and paved most of it and dumped trash on the rest. most of them never work a day in their lives and spend their time chasing their next high. they take everything they have for granted. when mars has an ocean, we won't be filling it with chemicals and garbage.

video; un: meow meow

[moshennik]

I should have known you were into dolls.

[ she honestly thinks he means real dolls. or maybe he's calling women dolls like some idiots call them dames.]

Re: video; un: meow meow

[resleeves]

I recognize you.

[ of course he did. she had an unique look about her. it'd be hard to forget. ]

I'm into a lot of things. Dolls are just one of a very diverse group of things I am into. Not lately unfortunately because I've been busy but I've got time now.

[ so, he'd be happy to renew his interest if it's possible. ]

[moshennik]

Damn skippy you do.

[ she's definitely unique to be sure.]

Dolls are creepy with their tiny fingers and soulless eyes... The ones that say "Mama" are the creepiest.

[resleeves]

[ it takes kovacs a second to realize she thinks he's talking about actual fucking dolls and not full grown women in a certain line of work. ]

I don't mean the fucking toy.

[ he doesn't even bother to roll his eyes because that misstep doesn't even deserve it. ]

I really look like the type to play with dolls? That's insulting.

[moshennik]

Then what do you mean by dolls?

[ testy, testy.]

To be honest, no. Hence my mild surprise.

audiio; un:millerlite

[pampa]

If you're sitting out, kid, save me a seat.

[ he was trying to save the world okay!!!! by killing himself heroically. not that heroic since he hates himself and was suicidal anyway but apparently it still counts where his dumb friends are concerned. ANYWHOOZLE miller sure doesn't want to bother saving this place whatever the fuck it is. can he can back and kill himself in peace??? ]

Re: audiio; un:millerlite

[resleeves]

[ you'll have to excuse kovacs' momentary silence but he is just oh so shocked that someone's actually agreed with him. he's gotten used to people with hero complexes and martyrs that wanted to die for a ridiculous cause. ]

You got it, grandpa.

[ well, if he was a kid...]

Can't even understand the logic of trying to save a world anyway. Just go somewhere else. Make it easy on yourself.

[ planets existed to be stripped clean or destroyed. saving the world one day wasn't going to guarantee you saved it before. ]

World sure as shit hasn't done anything for me.

[ and that was the important part! what have you done for me lately?! ]

[pampa]

[ one corner of his mouth tugs up at the moniker though kovacs can't see it. and the rest of what he says erases the mirth anyway. isn't that what he does? save the earth? but he hasn't actually done it yet. and no matter how many people tell him that's what happened he still has a hard time picturing himself doing it, in the end. going through with something so obviously selfless and against his basic instinct to survive. one that somehow coexists with his blinding self hatred. u kno u kno ]

Sometimes there's nowhere else to go.

[ and that's really all he has to say on the matter. he doesn't want to argue for chivalry when he's the opposite of chivalrous himself. doesn't want to make a case for bravery when that wasn't even close to why he'd gone to eros in the first place... ]

Still, think you're right. About everything but the cigarettes. That shit's just barbaric. [ who smokes anymore/???? seriously, no. you don't smoke into an air filter and miller grew up in places exactly like this. does kovacs want to kill all of them including himself? ] There's some decent liquor left in the bar if you can believe it. [ if u wanna get wasted with him. that's basically all he's done since he got here. other than yell at people who like him for some stupid reason?? like wtf is that. ]

[resleeves]

There's always been some place to go. The kicker's been finding a place that hasn't been razed to the ground because someone needed a nice new home or wanted a view that would give them a hard on.

[ earth was pretty good at that. they took and took and took, leaving planets like mars and harlan's world devastated in their wake. the planets kept spinning, looking inviting and hopeful from space.

then, you put your feet on the ground and all you could smell was smoke and bitterness and death. memories that were better left in the ground. ]

I'm feeling a little bit judged here on my preference for cigarettes. Would you rather I shot some good stuff right into my veins?

[ at least cigarettes would leave him lucid even if the stink of smoke would then be clinging to him for probably the rest of his life. it was a decent trade off, if he asked him. ]

Oh, I've found the bar. It's a wonder I'm not there right now. It's all that's been keeping me entertained. Quite the fun game, picking an unlabeled bottle and guessing if you're gonna get something good or piss mixed with sweat.

[ basically, they needed to play that game together. see who got schwasted first and see who ended up drinking something that made them wanna retch. it'd be fun. they could drink and bitch until they passed the eff out. ]

[pampa]

[ he's just skipping over that, but it makes miller assume he's an earther. takers - not that there weren't just as many in the belt. ]

Yeah, I would actually. That would only kill you instead of the whole damn station.

[ though... ] Surprised we haven't run into each other already then. I've been making it something of a second home.