video and spam

[witness_this]

Spam

[Furiosa spends most mornings in the gym. Honestly, she'd prefer the Enclosure, but she needs to be moving long and often enough that she can't justify using more than her share of the precious time in the false environment. She works out quickly how to run on the treadmill, but most of the other machines remain a mystery to her. If the right person is using them, they may see her watching, or so may decide to approach.

Some mornings her prosthesis is on, and others it is off, tucked protectively and nearly underfoot, out of habit, though this doesn't seem like the kind of place where anyone is likely to get any ideas.

When she is done, she usually ends by slipping upstairs, showering quickly, and permitting herself what feels like the decadent luxury of putting her feet into the pool. It takes her until about the fifth time to get up the nerve to walk in to the water, to lower herself down in it until she feels it lap up around her neck, then to hold her breath and gingerly, cover her mouth and nose, and cautiously, gingerly slip under the surface and just let herself float, suspended.

She can be found in any of those places.

Still, a workout isn't the same thing as practice, really, and the conversation that has been going on here has weighed heavily on her, though she hasn't participated. So, finally, she takes a break one morning in the gym and turns on the feed.]

Video

[She has to clear her throat to start, and wipe the sweat off her face. She's sitting in the frame, bare feet apart, elbows rested on her knees, metal arm down at her side. Furiosa isn't comfortable, exactly, talking to a little plastic box that will take her words all over the ship, but this is important to her.]

My name is Imperator Furiosa. I'm human. No powers. I'm in the gym.

If you need, I've been teaching people a little about how to fight. If you don't need, but you're--

I could use the practice.

[Short, unceremonious, she disconnects.]

Comments

spam;

[witness_this]

The way we watch fights.

[You can bet they don't end so peacefully.]

Everyone gathering for the entertainment- but based on little skills, or on told stories and legends.

[Okay, it sounds like a very intricate way to do something very simple, but she follows.]

spam;

[ukan]

Exactly. The written stories were all meant to make people think about a certain aspect of themselves. The reality tv was pure diversion.

And we did film fights, too. But ours were regulated. There were rules and padded gloves. No one was supposed to die.

[He grimaces]

And maybe I'm out of date. I quit watching when I was turned. I don't even know how my favorite show ended.

...Say you put one together, what would it be about?

spam;

[witness_this]

I'd have to see one to really imagine.

[She admits, with a shake of her head. No one has explained the TVs to her yet.

But now they're in the gym, on the mats, and she's kicking her boots off.]

So, what do you already know?

spam;

[ukan]

[He steps up, stopping just out of her range]

I'm not sure how to explain. Let's just go, and see what I can and can't do.

spam;

[witness_this]

[They fight. Lark is good, but Furiosa lives in a post-apocalyptic hell, so has some things to show him, and throws him around hard while she does it, gives him a few good bruises to show for his efforts. She's pleased with his progress though, and very occasionally nods her approval.]

spam;

[ukan]

[He's got endurance in spades; in a real fight she'd have to kill him fast to stop him. This isn't real, though, and it brings out a liveliness in him that most people don't get to see. Violence is a natural state for him, and it's as welcome as a good hard run, even when he's getting thrown down and hit.]

Re: spam;

[witness_this]

[Furiosa would normally be able to meet him, but she's had a few fights today, so is the one to end the match, sitting back and breathing deep, head tilting up.]

spam;

[ukan]

[He backs off a step, and sits in front of her]

We'll wait a while before we try this with the wolf.

spam;

[witness_this]

[Still a little out of breath, Furiosa nods.]

Water?

spam;

[ukan]

[He gets it for her, a cup offered delicately from the palm of his hand.]

Have you thought about what you would do if you were an inmate here?

spam;

[witness_this]

It's difficult to imagine, because it's so different from the last time I was taken.

[She explains, rubbing the back of her neck, unconsciously- then catching herself, with a wry smile.]

They were more... physical.

spam;

[ukan]

[He eyes where her hand is. He saw the brand as they fought, and he gives her a slow, curious look.

Because it's a personal subject, he offers something of his own first. Bartering for information is getting tricky around here.]

I've got a microchip in my back. That's an implant, that lets people scan me and see where I'm from, who owns me.

spam;

[witness_this]

Same principle.

[She agrees, lowering her hand.]

It can make it- hard. To be sympathetic. About every part of it.

[Which is a terrible thing to admit, but she glances up, and hopes he understands.]

spam;

[ukan]

I don't know much about your world, but I can imagine. It's hard for me sometimes, too, and my life has been fairly- easy. Compared to some.

There's a boy here who has been starved for water. That happens where I'm from, in certain countries, but never to anyone I knew.

spam;

[witness_this]

Nux.

[She says, with the utmost interest. He's talking about Nux. The thought of him being here is bittersweet, to say the least.]

[ukan]

Yeah.

[he smiles with genuine fondness.]

He punched me when my back was turned, is that normal or just a lucky quirk he has?

[witness_this]

He likes you.

Get him to the infirmary. My kidneys were-

[She doesn't like to complete that thought.]

And the radiation.

[ukan]

I will.

He's sick, though. I don't know if they can help what he has, if it's what I think it is.

How do you know him?

[witness_this]

Back home, they catch men out in the wastes, string them up by the ankles and drain their blood into boys like Nux. Constant transfusions to keep them running. They might have an IV for him here.

[She says, while she considers his question. That all is a story she is very hesitant to share, but for Nux's sake, because he deserves to be well thought of, she admits.]

He died saving my life.

[ukan]

[There's another option, Lark thinks, but he nods like yes, IV, that's a good plan.

His expression softens a little when she tells him.]

He's going to be happy here, I think. He's a good kid...I like him.

[He's quite firmly under Lark's wing now. Or, you know, under his paw.]

[witness_this]

Hurt him, and you will find out things you didn't want to know, Lark.

[She murmurs, very subdued- because she doesn't want to threaten. But fair warning.]

Be good to him.

[ukan]

That's the plan. I think I can do one better than he's used to.

Is there anything I should know that he wouldn't think to say?

[witness_this]

He won't stop for pain. You'll play for an hour and then find out his collarbone is broken.

[A little wince.]

Check him over often.

[ukan]

[He nods. It makes him that much fonder of poor Nux.]

I'm used to that. It's how young wolves are. How I was, when I was much newer.

I won't hurt him, Furiosa. And if I can help it neither will anyone else.

Has his cancer affected his appetite? His bones?

[witness_this]

Both, I'm sure, but I haven't known him long enough to know.

[Wincing.]

Get him to keep going to the infirmary.