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[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

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.]

From:

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.

From:

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.]

From:

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?

From:

witness_this

He likes you.

Get him to the infirmary. My kidneys were-

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

And the radiation.

From:

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?

From:

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.

From:

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.]

From:

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.

From:

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?

From:

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.

From:

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?

From:

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.

From:

ukan

I will.

[But...]

I could fix it. Permanently, I think.

[Furiosa isn't pack, isn't even necessarily an ally, but she cares about Nux. Lark has never had anyone care about a potential packmate before and he doesn't want to do anything to come between them anymore than he would want to crush a rare flower.]

From:

witness_this

Are you a healer?

[Furiosa doesn't suspect.]

From:

ukan

Of a sort, I suppose.

[He looks at her, needing her to really listen, every inch of his body language just inviting--imploring--her to hear him out.]

When I became what I am, I had been an alcoholic. Which- do you have alcohol where you're from?

From:

witness_this

For surgeries?

[Joe drinks it. Furiosa doesn't have much of a sense of that.]

From:

ukan

We used to use it for that, yeah. Now it's mostly for fun, like at the bar here.

I didn't have fun with it. I just couldn't stop drinking. Do you have that, addictions, back home?

From:

witness_this

It's rare, but it happens. Mostly, vices are too scarce to be relied upon. The War Boys have their paint, but when they start using I don't know how long they last.

[Death comes first.]

From:

ukan

[He had been about to explain more but.]

Their paint?

From:

witness_this

You've seen his mouth?

[She's sure he must have by now.]

When they're fighting, they-

[She mimes it, quickly, a spraypaint gesture over bared teeth.]

Inorganic chrome paint, laced with what I suspect is a cocktail of- well, everything you would need. Nux is battle fodder.

From:

ukan

[Bunny and Jason both had been into body mods, so Lark has noticed Nux's mouth but hadn't thought much about it. Now it strikes him as tragic.]

Well he's not anymore. Even if he still thinks he is.

How- how was he convinced to spray paint in his mouth and rush into death? I know that his tumors, his sickness, was part of it but even then...people don't naturally want to fall on swords. They have to be conditioned.