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

[pampa]

Oh, it's easy to find someone in a place like this. Especially if they don't wanna be found.

[ he makes it sound menacing. but ceres is a lot bigger than reverie and he's never had a problem finding anyone - well, except julie. but she wasn't on ceres at all, so that's a good excuse. ]

Ever again, huh? Spooky stuff.

[resleeves]

The best places to hide are probably behind all those locked doors.

[ in fact, everything good was probably back there, taunting them with their inability to do anything but stare and fantasize about what might be lying behind the magical, mysterious doors.

and when they did eventually get them open, kovacs fully expects to find a fucking broom closet. ]

Not unless I wanna start procreating and making little versions of myself.

[ god no. also, that wasn't how it worked. ]

They kept me around for entertainment value. Trout me out every so often, say I'm the last one, let their friends ooh and ahh and then send me on my way. Easiest buck I've made in awhile, at least.

[pampa]

Yeah, don't hold your breath on that one. Or maybe do, just in case the air filter's really on its last legs.

[ earthers breathe much more deeply than belters after all. save some oxygen for the rest of us, you lush! ]

Alright, kid, I'll bite. [ if only because he's bored and in need of distraction enough to ask- ] What makes you so special people would line up?

[resleeves]

Everyone else like me is dead.

[ was that the first time he'd said that out loud since he'd gotten here? probably. was there a rhyme or reason for saying it to miller, of all people? probably because he'd asked. ]

You get a certain aura about you when that happens. Enough that you get trotted out for show and tell during dinner parties.

[ fucking bancroft. ]

But, he pays well.

[ still a fucking prick. ]

[pampa]

[ okay but you still haven't answered- ] When what happens? What's different about you?

[resleeves]

I'm prettier than anyone else.

[ that was obviously true but it wasn't why it made him different. might as well just get this out there now since he can't see anyone here knowing what an envoy is and therefore, won't turn it into some sideshow like Bancroft. ]

I'm something called an Envoy. Last of, in fact. Layman's term: supersoldier. Meth term: terrorist. Earther term: freedom fighter.

[ was he really the last of them now that his sister might have somehow avoided death? he'd watched the ship explode, watched the ashes fall to the ground. ]

And I'm still pretty.

[pampa]

Wouldn't know what that's like.

[ but he can read between the lines well enough, he's a tool. there are people like that - people the OPA uses to their ends. he gets it enough anyway. ]

Good for you, kid.

[resleeves]

Wouldn't recommend it.

[ he doesn't regret becoming an envoy. it had brought him quell and given him some sort of purpose in his life. but it had taken away everything too. and now all he had going for him was the fact that he was a fucking spectacle and had some skills that a burnt out meth could use. ]

The pretty part I'd recommend. Though...

[ eager to get away from all the envoy talk, he peers at miller, sizes him up and then nods. ]

You got some work to do on that front, pops.

[pampa]

What for? Who am I trying to impress? You?

[resleeves]

Yeah.

[ of course you should be trying to impress him, miller, of course. ]

I can put in a good word for you.

[ with no one. ]

[pampa]

You do that. I'll wait here.