TLV Inbox

[greatoldjohn]

[in a rather deep voice] "This is John Doe. Please leave your message. I'll get back to you as soon as I can. I may respond in text if I'm currently with Arthur. Apologies."

Now Moved To: Inbox: Act II - please tag in there!

Comments

audio; dec 5 early afternoon

[pitofguilt]

[ She's getting right to the point. ]

Why can't I get drunk, John?

[greatoldjohn]

Because I asked the Admiral to make it so.

[pitofguilt]

I was sober when I made the stupid plan and when I shot Arthur.

[greatoldjohn]

I assumed as such.

[pitofguilt]

So why can't I get drunk now?

[greatoldjohn]

Think about it.

[pitofguilt]

[ The pause she takes is not for thought, but for a deep breath so she doesn't start screaming at him. ]

You know negative reinforcement isn't that productive, right?

[greatoldjohn]

You didn't take very long to think.

[pitofguilt]

Because I know that you're taking away my favorite toys because I was a bad, bad girl.

[greatoldjohn]

Not at all.

That's not the answer.

So think again.

[pitofguilt]

[ Oh my fuCKING--

Another deep breath. Feel it start to finish. ]

Playing twenty questions with me right now is a waste of both our time.

[greatoldjohn]

It isn't a game.

There's only one question.

Think about it.

[pitofguilt]

You could save both of us time by just telling me what you want me to learn or deal with but not being able to get drunk. And I'm assuming I can't get high either.

[greatoldjohn]

No, you can't. No recreational substance will work at the moment.

I'm not trying to save time, Natalie.

I'm trying to make you think.

So try it.

[pitofguilt]

[ But daaaAAAAD ]

Right. Thanks for nothing.

[greatoldjohn]

What time did you want dinner?

[pitofguilt]

Six.

[greatoldjohn]

In the mood to cook it or should I bring it in?

[pitofguilt]

I'm in the mood to chop vegetables. If you bring in whatever protein they're serving in the dining room, that should be fine.

[ She's keeping her voice even, but it's honestly pretty damn clear she's unhappy^TM. ]

[greatoldjohn]

I'll get us some vegetables. And there's chicken or beef. Do you have a preference?

[ It should be pretty obvious from the fact that he's blithely discussing dinner options that he Doesn't Give a Shit^TM

...it's helpful to have 'constantly pissed off at you' as a baseline you're used to in your partner sometimes. ]

[pitofguilt]

[ She KNOWS and she HATES IT. ]

Chicken.

[greatoldjohn]

Chicken it is. I'll be there soon.

[ And there will be a knock in about fifteen minutes. ]

[pitofguilt]

[ Despite not looking terribly angry, she is the living embodiment of this face as she holds the door open for John and his little cart. ]

Kitchen's set up.

[ He'll find a frying pan on the stove, a cutting board and knife nearby, and bowls to put the chopped vegetables in. There's a bottle of cooking oil too, because they're taking this cooking for Arthur thing seriously, and angry or not, she does think he deserves at least that much from her. ]

What am I working with tonight.

[greatoldjohn]

[ John floats in with his bag in hand, and he'll head right for the kitchen to start laying out the ingredients: several vegetables, some chicken breasts, and a quantity of rice. ]

They recommended a 'stir fry'.

[pitofguilt]

[ She has learned that it is surprisingly easy to overcook just about anything. But stir fry at least she can keep fussing with in the frying pan and maybe guess when it's ready to go. ]

Yeah? Wouldn't have guessed.

[ She puts the rice in a pot, grabs the vegetables, and washes them off one by one. Then it's chopping time, and she is definitely using more force than necessary at first, until she finds a rhythm and becomes absorbed in the task. ]