Space 13

[4/24/2013 9:06:33 PM] Josie: Yay!

[4/24/2013 9:12:13 PM] Josie: During lunch with Stella, someone started sniping at them; she got shot, they escaped, Coil got Stella to Tiktok's maker, Teela, who transferred some of Coil's blood to Stella and removed the bullet. Tiktok booked Coil and Stella the honeymoon suite in a posh hotel and they fell asleep together.

[4/24/2013 9:12:26 PM] Josie: Coil has had some very, hrm, *interesting* dreams.

[4/24/2013 9:12:33 PM] Coil: Oh?

[4/24/2013 9:13:30 PM] Josie: Some of them were terrifying--they mostly involved being unable to move, with a stifling feeling of dread.

[4/24/2013 9:13:58 PM] Coil: Yikes.

[4/24/2013 9:15:12 PM] Josie: The other dreams were a *lot* better, and generally involved Stella and very little clothing. All of it has the sort of piecemeal quality of a dream; when he wakes up all he remembers are bits and pieces and a few vivid images.

[4/24/2013 9:15:23 PM] Coil: Coil looks over at her.

[4/24/2013 9:15:42 PM] Josie: She's not there.

[4/24/2013 9:17:32 PM] Coil: Coil looks around, then!

[4/24/2013 9:20:43 PM] Josie: No one's there!

[4/24/2013 9:20:49 PM] Josie: There's sounds coming from the bathroom, though.

[4/24/2013 9:23:13 PM] Coil: Shower?

[4/24/2013 9:24:58 PM] Josie: Yep.

[4/24/2013 9:27:00 PM] Coil: Coil nods, and goes to make coffee!

[4/24/2013 9:27:10 PM] Coil: ((Had to put the mac and cheese away.))

[4/24/2013 9:28:27 PM] Josie: ((Omnom.))

[4/24/2013 9:28:40 PM] Coil: Coil looks for Snowflake.

[4/24/2013 9:32:00 PM] Josie: Snowflake is nowhere to be seen--until Coil spots the tiny kitten on the bed, sleeping.

[4/24/2013 9:32:05 PM] Josie: She blends in with the sheets a bit.

[4/24/2013 9:32:24 PM] Coil: Coil yawns and pokes around the kitchenette!

[4/24/2013 9:34:53 PM] Josie: There's not much in the way of food, other than the chocolate, but there *is* a menu and ordering pad for room service.

[4/24/2013 9:35:11 PM] Coil: Coil will order breakfast, then.

[4/24/2013 9:35:20 PM] Coil: And snack on a truffle.

[4/24/2013 9:36:12 PM] Josie: Ordering for yourself only, or Stella too?

[4/24/2013 9:36:52 PM] Coil: Coil will order for two!

[4/24/2013 9:37:42 PM] Josie: *And* he has coffee waiting when she finally opens the door of the bathroom, too! Good man.

[4/24/2013 9:38:15 PM] Josie: She's still pretty without any makeup, but it's decidedly less eyecatching. Well, unless you think damp-girl-in-only-a-bathrobe is eyecatching, I suppose.

[4/24/2013 9:38:50 PM] Coil: Coil smiles.

[4/24/2013 9:38:55 PM] Josie: The pink synthetic skin Teela used to patch her up (rather literally) isn't visible; it's underneath the robe, which actually does cover everything.

[4/24/2013 9:39:02 PM] Josie: Stella: Did you have good dreams?

[4/24/2013 9:40:22 PM] Coil: Mostly.

[4/24/2013 9:44:34 PM] Josie: Stella smiles. "Good. Oh, you made coffee, that smells... *nice.*"

[4/24/2013 9:44:51 PM] Coil: There's some breakfast coming, too.

[4/24/2013 9:46:50 PM] Josie: Stella pours herself and Coil a cup of coffee each, and puts her hands around hers, breathing it in.

[4/24/2013 9:49:56 PM] Josie: Stella: When I was little I used to hate the taste of coffee. But I always loved the smell.

[4/24/2013 9:50:24 PM] Coil: I was the opposite way. I hated the smell. The woman who raised me... she only drank coffee when something was wrong.

[4/24/2013 9:50:33 PM] Coil: She usually drank tea.

[4/24/2013 9:52:04 PM] Josie: Stella: "The woman who raised me." That's an odd turn of phrase.

[4/24/2013 9:52:23 PM] Coil: She wasn't really my mother. Adoptive or otherwise.

[4/24/2013 9:52:40 PM] Josie: Stella: That's sad. I'm sorry.

[4/24/2013 9:53:03 PM] Coil: It's all right.

[4/24/2013 9:54:04 PM] Coil: Made my peace with it awhile ago.

[4/24/2013 9:54:48 PM | Edited 9:55:22 PM] Josie: Stella: My parents were so different from each other. My father loved mornings and the garden, and my mother hated nature and never woke up earlier than was absolutely necessary.

[4/24/2013 9:55:03 PM] Josie: Stella: But they both loved coffee.

[4/24/2013 9:55:11 PM] Coil: Coil nods.

[4/24/2013 9:55:49 PM] Josie: Stella: He would make the coffee, she'd finish it and wash the pot, every day.

[4/24/2013 9:57:50 PM] Coil: Coil sips at his coffee.

[4/24/2013 9:58:24 PM] Coil: ... do you think the Coalition would try and kill you for leaving?

[4/24/2013 9:58:59 PM] Josie: Stella: Maybe. But I think they'd've done that before if they'd wanted to, surely.

[4/24/2013 9:59:38 PM] Coil: Well, if they contract outside assistance, they get deniability.

[4/24/2013 10:00:44 PM] Josie: Stella: They haven't killed the others, as far as I know.

[4/24/2013 10:00:57 PM] Coil: Did the others leave the Coalition?

[4/24/2013 10:01:22 PM] Josie: Stella: ... no.

[4/24/2013 10:02:58 PM] Josie: Stella: The person shooting at us was out of my range, unfortunately.

[4/24/2013 10:03:06 PM] Coil: Coil nods.

[4/24/2013 10:05:23 PM] Josie: Stella: So. You had no mother; what about the rest of your family?

[4/24/2013 10:05:57 PM] Coil: I was an orphan.

[4/24/2013 10:07:33 PM] Coil: So... no other family.

[4/24/2013 10:07:46 PM] Josie: Stella: That would have been so lonely.

[4/24/2013 10:09:43 PM] Josie: Stella: I can't imagine not having Irene.

[4/24/2013 10:09:47 PM] Coil: Well, I can't imagine growing up with a twin.

[4/24/2013 10:12:03 PM] Josie: Stella: No one ever mistook us for each other, since I could remember.

[4/24/2013 10:12:18 PM] Coil: Really?

[4/24/2013 10:13:48 PM] Josie: Stella: Mmhmm.

[4/24/2013 10:13:59 PM] Josie: Stella sips her coffee, slowly, now that it's cooled a bit.

[4/24/2013 10:14:12 PM] Josie: Stella: She's so terribly driven.

[4/24/2013 10:15:52 PM] Coil: That's how they could tell?

[4/24/2013 10:17:30 PM] Josie: Stella: Yes.

[4/24/2013 10:17:52 PM] Josie: Stella: It showed, though. We had different hair, different clothes, everything.

[4/24/2013 10:19:15 PM] Coil: ... well, that makes sense.

[4/24/2013 10:20:43 PM] Coil: You're the second set of twins I've known.

[4/24/2013 10:23:59 PM] Josie: Stella: Oh, *are* we.

[4/24/2013 10:24:03 PM] Josie: She waggles her eyebrows.

[4/24/2013 10:24:07 PM] Coil: ...not like that.

[4/24/2013 10:24:12 PM] Coil: I killed the first set.

[4/24/2013 10:24:59 PM] Josie: Stella: Oh.

[4/24/2013 10:25:21 PM] Josie: Stella: Arguably less disturbing.

[4/24/2013 10:26:34 PM] Coil: Jean-Baptiste and Gloria Van Graff. Weapons dealers and slavers.

[4/24/2013 10:27:25 PM] Josie: Stella: Quite a bit less disturbing, then.

[4/24/2013 10:27:40 PM] Josie: Stella: .. it's good that you don't do that kind of work anymore.

[4/24/2013 10:28:05 PM] Coil: Mmm.

[4/24/2013 10:28:14 PM] Coil: Coil sips his coffee.

[4/24/2013 10:29:29 PM] Josie: Stella: I don't think I could have done it.

[4/24/2013 10:29:56 PM] Josie: Stella: ... I certainly couldn't now.

[4/24/2013 10:30:34 PM] Coil: No? Why not?

[4/24/2013 10:31:28 PM] Josie: Stella: Believe it or not, I'm pretty highly trained. For the most part I have to make an effort to feel anything outside of myself.

[4/24/2013 10:32:10 PM] Josie: Stella: Death is an exception.

[4/24/2013 10:32:25 PM] Coil: ...ah I see.

[4/24/2013 10:33:28 PM] Josie: Stella: ... it's uniquely terrible.

[4/24/2013 10:34:29 PM] Coil: I can imagine. Well, I can't. And I should be thankful for that.

[4/24/2013 10:37:32 PM] Josie: Stella: Yes.

[4/24/2013 10:37:57 PM] Josie: Stella: It's debilitating.

[4/24/2013 10:44:10 PM] Coil: Well, I don't plan on killing anyone around you.

[4/24/2013 10:46:36 PM] Josie: Stella: Thank you.

[4/24/2013 10:46:45 PM] Josie: Stella: It would be very uncomfortable.

[4/24/2013 10:54:26 PM] Josie: Stella: I always wondered if they'd made that a failsafe, so that we wouldn't be able to hurt them.

[4/24/2013 11:54:17 PM] Coil: ... maybe. I would be worried about them putting all kinds of stuff in my head.

[4/24/2013 11:55:58 PM] Josie: Stella: They may have. I wouldn't know.

[4/24/2013 11:59:13 PM] Coil: Coil nods. "I ordered up some breakfast."

[4/25/2013 12:00:47 AM] Josie: Stella: You're not the slightest bit worried I might suddenly turn out to be someone else, or an evil clone, or programmed to kill you. I like that.

[4/25/2013 12:01:36 AM] Coil: Nah. Well, you kind of are a clone already.

[4/25/2013 12:03:11 AM] Josie: Stella: Only in the sense that all twins are.

[4/25/2013 12:03:22 AM] Coil: Right.

[4/25/2013 12:04:53 AM] Josie: The doorbell goes off.

[4/25/2013 12:05:09 AM] Coil: Coil goes to the door!

[4/25/2013 12:07:47 AM] Josie: There's a maid, dark-haired and very sleek, with a trolley, visible through an electronic monitor on the door. "Room service."

[4/25/2013 12:09:18 AM] Coil: Coil steps away from the door, opening it and allowing her in, standing behind her just in case.

[4/25/2013 12:11:19 AM] Josie: She rolls the trolley in, deposits two elegantly-folded napkins on top of it, and then eyes Coil for a moment.

[4/25/2013 12:11:40 AM] Coil: Coil smiles pleasantly!

[4/25/2013 12:13:23 AM] Josie: Stella, politely: We'll add the tip on at the end of our stay.

[4/25/2013 12:13:43 AM] Josie: The maid nods deferentially, lowering her eyes, and steps out, closing the door quietly behind her.

[4/25/2013 12:14:16 AM] Coil: Coil nods, and looks at Stella. "Can't be too careful."

[4/25/2013 12:14:38 AM] Josie: Stella: Are you going to inspect it for bombs as well?

[4/25/2013 12:16:12 AM] Coil: Coil does!

[4/25/2013 12:17:07 AM] Josie: There aren't any bombs.

[4/25/2013 12:17:25 AM] Josie: There is, however, a closed envelope with "Hakan" written on it.

[4/25/2013 12:18:35 AM] Coil: Coil frowns, and takes the envelope, holding it up to the light.

[4/25/2013 12:18:59 AM] Josie: The envelope is very thin; it seems like all that's inside is a single piece of paper, folded in half.

[4/25/2013 12:19:29 AM] Coil: Coil opens it, then!

[4/25/2013 12:21:40 AM] Josie: All it says is, in all-caps but written with something like a marker: "Missed you." Then there's a little heart drawn underneath.

[4/25/2013 12:22:18 AM] Coil: ... well, I guess he was after me.

[4/25/2013 12:22:27 AM] Coil: Coil hands her the note.

[4/25/2013 12:23:11 AM] Josie: Stella takes it. "Awfully clumsy killer, then."

[4/25/2013 12:23:21 AM] Josie: Stella: ... I'm not relieved.

[4/25/2013 12:25:02 AM] Coil: Me neither. We have to get back to the ship.

[4/25/2013 12:26:52 AM] Josie: Stella: ... shame. It might've been nice to stay here another night. Do we have time to eat breakfast?

[4/25/2013 12:29:40 AM] Coil: ... yeah, actually. Take your time. They want us to know that they know we're here, maybe hoping to get us out of the hotel.

[4/25/2013 12:30:15 AM] Josie: Stella nods, and takes the lid off the plates; the food is still hot underneath.

[4/25/2013 12:30:50 AM] Josie: She pulls up a chair, swings up the sides of the trolley to make a small table, and starts nibbling her food. "How are we going to get out without getting shot?"

[4/25/2013 12:31:19 AM] Coil: Coil hits a control on the wall to close the blinds or whatever, if they're not open already.

[4/25/2013 12:31:34 AM] Coil: ... I don't know. I'll think of something.

[4/25/2013 12:31:46 AM] Coil: Maybe we should stay another night.

[4/25/2013 12:32:15 AM] Josie: The blinds close! they have an automatic timer and open with light, unless set not to.

[4/25/2013 12:32:38 AM] Josie: Stella: I wouldn't mind. If you can stand being stuck with me for that long.

[4/25/2013 12:32:47 AM] Coil: Coil will set them to stay closed.

[4/25/2013 12:33:03 AM] Coil: I think I can manage that.

[4/25/2013 12:35:38 AM] Josie: Stella smiles. "What would we do all day? There *is* a hot tub. And we could watch movies." They're holographic movies, but they're still called movies.

[4/25/2013 12:36:55 AM] Coil: It's a honeymoon suite. I figure it's meant for people to not leave.

[4/25/2013 12:38:18 AM] Josie: Stella: Yes, but we're not actually married. I'm not even positive we're a couple.

[4/25/2013 12:39:14 AM] Coil: Coil smiles. "Well.  We can find wholesome ways to entertain ourselves.

[4/25/2013 12:39:55 AM] Coil: I can defend us better in here. And it'll give me time to figure out a way to get back to the ship.

[4/25/2013 12:43:15 AM] Josie: Stella: Chess, or maybe checkers.

[4/25/2013 12:44:16 AM] Coil: I'm sure there's an emergency honeymoon kit that has boardgames.

[4/25/2013 12:46:12 AM] Josie: Stella: I imagine an emergency honeymoon kit has very few board games in it.

[4/25/2013 12:46:49 AM] Coil: Well, I meant, when couples need a break from... chafing. or something.

[4/25/2013 12:47:36 AM] Josie: Stella: They have doctors on call, I'm sure.

[4/25/2013 12:50:49 AM] Josie: Stella: Should we worry about chafing?

[4/25/2013 12:52:17 AM] Coil: From checkers? Not unless we're playing it very wrong or very right.

[4/25/2013 12:53:18 AM] Josie: Stella: I wasn't exactly thinking of checkers.

[4/25/2013 12:56:29 AM] Coil: Chess?

[4/25/2013 12:57:42 AM] Josie: Stella: If that's what you want to do.

[4/25/2013 12:58:36 AM] Coil: I'm just trying to play coy. How am I doing?

[4/25/2013 1:00:24 AM] Josie: Stella: Very well. Though I have to say, cat suits you better than mouse.

[4/25/2013 1:02:08 AM] Coil: Coil smiles.