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[never_francesca]

You’ve reached Commander Cook. Leave a message and I will respond shortly.

Comments

[cactusy]

No thanks.

[She takes a moment, trying to decide whether or not she cares if Franky smokes herself. On the one hand, there's no airflow to air the place out after. But on the other hand, this is probably an elaborate simulation, so what the hell does it matter?]

You can, though, I guess.

[never_francesca]

[She puts it away, with a slight shake of her head.]

I'm not the one in need today.

[She uncorks the bottle, pouring out two healthy measures, placing the bottle back down with almost theatrical care.]

Right, down the hatch.

[She slides one of the glasses over to Shaw.]

It'll make you feel better. Probably. At least eventually.

[Her own sense of humour poking out.]

[cactusy]

It won't.

[She says readily, though that doesn't stop it from downing half the glass in one go.]

This is a short term fix, not a long one.

[But that's fine.]

Flood went okay for you? I haven't seen you since our fun patrolling.

[never_francesca]

[She nods, downing her own with a satisfied, somewhat surprised nod.]

Of course it's short term. Sometimes you have to just patch the fuselage and keep 'er going until you can get to an overhaul, if you get my drift.

And honestly, I kept out of the way - turns out nobody has enough of a grudge to seek me out. This time, anyway.

[cactusy]

You don't have an inmate to look after?

[She asks, surprised.]

Or did they hunker down, too?

[never_francesca]

Comatose.

[She refills each of the glasses, with a shrug.]

Kept an eye on him, but he's got enough people close to him I doubt it was strictly necessary.

[cactusy]

[God, those comas. What the shit is up with them. Just hearing about it is enough to finish off her drink and reach for the bottle, intent on pouring another one.]

I was busy. Did a lot. Protected some people.

[Failed to protect some others.]

For a hot second, it was enough to make me forget that this place is bullshit.

[never_francesca]

[She nodded, pushing her own glass forward for refill.]

Well you're right about it being bullshit - the question is: what kind do you think it is?

[cactusy]

Depends.

[She murmurs, topping off Franky's glass for her while she has the bottle in hand.]

There's levels to it. There's the, uh... the fact that we're all stuck in a tin can together. There's having to deal with people in a way I don't at home. Having to deal with people being stupid.

I don't know how existential you wanna get.

[never_francesca]

[She nods along to that.]

The first three I got in the navy before coming here. [She waves a hand, with a nod.]

Come on, all of it is better out than in. I can handle philosophy.

[cactusy]

The military was fine; there was structure, and orders. I got no problem with that kind of tin can.

[She takes another long pull.]

This place isn't real. You aren't, either.

[never_francesca]

Glad your time is better about that.

[A lot goes unsaid in that sentence, a lot that doesn't need to be said between two women.]

[But then there's that second part, and she barks a laugh, genuinely surprised for the first time in a long time.]

Really, now.

[cactusy]

[The eyebrow-raise of wry acknowledgement that Franky gets to that first part says all it really needs to say: unfortunately, there still had been plenty of sexist bullshit.]

I'm going to act like it's real, because I could still be wrong. But yeah. Really.

[never_francesca]

[She shakes her head at that.]

You bloody well are. Hate to tell you this, but I'm real, this is real. All of it is real.

What do you think it is?

[cactusy]

You're from, uh... what year are you from again?

[never_francesca]

[She idly turns her glass on the table, looking at Shaw.]

1939. Not the same as yours, I'm rather sure on that. Turns out mine didn't get the horrible mustached German man so it's turning out rather different. That and the bloody robots.

[cactusy]

Do you know what virtual reality is? Have you been in the Enclosure?

[never_francesca]

Place keeps me sane, half the time. Only place I get to fly.

[All said with a nod.]

[cactusy]

Okay.

I think the whole Barge is like the Enclosure.

[never_francesca]

[She wants to scoff at that, but instead - instead she just stays quiet for a long moment, thinking about it. Turning it over in her mind. She doesn't dismiss it - Shaw's already earned that much in her book - and it's a long time before she speaks again, having taken another sip of her drink.]

Well, I haven't any real proof it isn't, but then again we wouldn't for anything - save, of course, going all the way back to Descartes and the bloody basics: cogito ergo sum.

[She shrugs.]

I think, therefore, I am - we're real beings, even if the universe around us is artificial.

[cactusy]

I don't know for sure that you are, though. I'm not in your head.

[A pause, and then she adds--]

And you don't know that I am.

[never_francesca]

I'm prepared to take your reality on faith.

[She pauses, lifting her glass and looking at Shaw over it.]

Besides, why would a simulation toss a one-eyed British pilot at you?

[cactusy]

Maybe to lull me into a false sense of security. Give me someone I could relate to.

[never_francesca]

[She arches an eyebrow at that.]

I guess I'll take that much as a compliment, at least. But surely all the absurdity around us would negate that.

[cactusy]

No.

[She shakes her head, her brow furrowing.]

No, that's to drive me insane. They need to hit on the right combination to break me - eighty, ninety percent to mess with my head, and then just a little bit to make me think I can bring myself back. The Enclosure and breaches and mind-control vampires most of the time, but also people like you or B, every once in a while.