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[never_francesca]

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

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[never_francesca]

[There's almost a sigh, with an amused smile. It's her way, isn't it? As blunt as a cricket bat, sometimes.]

Hey back.

[cactusy]

So, I was in a coma. What have you been up to?

[never_francesca]

Oh, you know. Same old.

[It's the Barge. It's all just weirdness that becomes part of the background hum.]

[cactusy]

You wanna hang out? Drink, spar, whatever?

[Make out on the deck??]

[never_francesca]

[Good lord would that be a nice option.]

Works for me. Ten minutes?

[cactusy]

My place, your place, deck, somewhere else...?

[never_francesca]

I'd say dealer's choice - you're the one waking up, after all.

[cactusy]

Let's go look at the stars.

[never_francesca]

[A little smile, to herself.]

I'll meet you in ten.

[cactusy]

[Shaw beats her; she's there in three, halfway hanging over the railing with her arms dangling down towards empty space.]

Hey.

[She says without turning around, when she hears the door open behind her.]

[never_francesca]

[She matches her stance a bit, forearms across the railing.]

Hey yourself. Doing alright?

[cactusy]

Sure.

[She says, in a way that sounds more rote than honest.]

We're due for another breach this month, right? I'm wishing I'd missed that.

[never_francesca]

Given things...yes, we're due. Something aggravating, no doubt.

[She turns her head to look at Shaw, knowing she'd say the same even if she weren't doing well.]

[cactusy]

I'm still getting my feet under me from the last one.

[She grumbles, kneading at her forehead.]

That was-- what, four months ago?

[never_francesca]

[Oh, she remembers the last one.]

Sounds about right. Wherein a fun time was had by all.

[cactusy]

[Shaw snorts softly, circling a finger around the metal railing.]

How often does it still mess you up?

[never_francesca]

[She sighs a bit.]

Oh, just the usual amount. Which is to say, always.

[cactusy]

[Shaw makes a soft sound of dissatisfaction, pulling her arms back up and crossing them hard over her chest.]

I don't know how the Admiral thinks having other people's memories rattling around in our heads is supposed to do us any good.

[never_francesca]

I'll be honest with you - I'm not sure the Admiral has any actual idea what he's doing.

[She sighs.]

I think....when you're a being like he is...or it is...whatever...you're only passingly able to understand how humans work. Like us trying to understand amoeba without a textbook. I think he cares, but...I don't know if he's competent at what he's trying to do.

[cactusy]

[Shaw snorts again, even more quietly this time.]

Not like I can't relate, I guess.

[never_francesca]

How's that?

[Shaw says next to nothing about...well, nearly everything beyond this place. If she can get some glimpse, she's taking it.]

[cactusy]

I understand how people work.

[She quotes the phrasing back at Franky purposefully, and with emphasis.]

Passingly.

[Not with any sort of intimate familiarity or personal experience, in a lot of cases.]

[never_francesca]

[Well, no window there, it turns out. She nods.]

In other words, absolute messes, some of whom are doing their best.

[cactusy]

And what about you?

[Shaw asks, looking up.]

Are you...

[There are a lot of ways that she could finish that question, and she's not sure which one to pick; after a moment, she lands on--]

Doing all right?

[never_francesca]

[She shrugs her shoulders, reaching into a pocket for a half finished cigar and a lighter, looking to Shaw for approval to continue.]

I keep going. I always keep going. Three constants in life - death, taxes, and me buggering on.