twenty-nine ♢ private & video

[versusnurture]

private } ben

[She's shaking-angry when she goes to sleep, but when she wakes up the next morning, it's like everything's gone. Resentment lives under her skin, but she isn't consumed anymore, like she might go up if the flame of her anger isn't doused. She feels safe. She feels whole.]

[She gets up, goes to the bathroom, washes her face and brushes her teeth on autopilot. She's already gotten used to having a bathroom off of her cabin. It's amazing how little time it took, how used she is to something that was a luxury a month ago.]

[As she turns to head out the door to meet Scott at the clinic, her fingers brush across the Go stone, Ben's item, to pick it up, to take it with her - and she freezes.]

[It's ice cold.]

[In a flash, she's dropped it on the floor, run out of her cabin, and slammed the door. She pulls out her communicator with shaking fingers, calling the only person she trusts to help her in this situation.]

Ben? I need you.

private } elena

[This is the part she was dreading. She tries not to, though. She knows that what Elena said before is true. They're both strong people, and they can only get stronger with time. Nobody can keep them down anymore.]

Elena? I need to talk to you.

video

[Everything is, in its own way, a production. Even this. She's posed herself carefully, sitting on her bed and framed in light from the window, so that she looks older, more poised than she feels. What she feels is afraid. Overwhelmed. Not ready.]

[But she has to be ready, which is why she makes herself smile like nothing and nobody can touch her anymore.]

I'm not as good at telling stories as Ben is. But I want to tell this one, if that's okay, because it's important to me. Some of you know it. If you do, I hope it's all right that I repeat it.

[She looks down for a moment, at her hands where they twist together in her lap, and then up at the camera. The smile reaches her eyes, now, because she can feel the strength coming, making her spine straighter and her breath come smoother.]

Just over two years ago now - two years ago for me - my dad died. He'd killed a bunch of girls who looked just like me, and I had helped him. Because I didn't know what else to do, mostly, and because if I didn't, he said he was going to kill me, too.

I didn't want anyone to know what I'd done. I didn't want anybody to think badly of me. I worked so hard to keep myself safe that I ended up killing somebody else, and then . . .

Some of you remember Hannibal.

[She clears her throat, forces her hands to flatten out on the bed beside her.]

It's so easy to trust the wrong person. It's so easy. I trusted so many of them, and I got so many people hurt. I want to apologize, but most of the people I hurt are gone now. For those of you who are still here, I'd take it back if I could. I'm sorry for making the wrong decision.

But I'm not sorry for surviving.

[Now her eyes blaze with confidence, her words coming stronger with every breath.]

Ben saved my life. You all saved my life. So thank you. I'm going now.

I'm going to kill Hannibal.

[She hopes beyond hope that he comes back here. But that part she won't say out loud, just biting her lip, smiling, waving - and killing the feed.]

Comments

[tucky]

We are graduation twins.

[versusnurture]

Does that mean we get matching bracelets or something?

[tucky]

You got wishing powers right now?

[versusnurture]

I think I still do.

. . . Wait, hold on.

[A few seconds pass, then:]

Did you get it?

[tucky]

[Hot damn, hello nicest piece of jewelry she has ever owned. She puts it on and holds up her wrist, showing it off.]

Yup.

[versusnurture]

[Abigail acquired fancy taste on the Barge. Comes of having really rich Gothamites adopt you. She grins, waving her matching one for the camera.]

Cool. Now we're really twins.

[tucky]

This is, like, the nicest present anyone's ever given me.

[Excuse her as she sits here admiring it forever.]

[versusnurture]

I figured, if you have the power, why not?

[She is just going to beam at you forever, Tiffany.]

[tucky]

Yeah. I'm not doing big stuff anymore, but people think little stuff is okay.

[versusnurture]

You should do a little nice thing for yourself. Since you just graduated.

[tucky]

I guess so. But I already gave myself most of what I want.

[versusnurture]

Then a little nice thing for someone else?

I don't know. I'm just talking. I'm still a little freaked out.

[tucky]

Me too.

I like getting presents from other people. I've gotten a few here - Bible books, Valetine's flowers, a wind chime for my room. But I like giving 'em, too. Maybe I'll give a little nice thing to you.

[versusnurture]

You've already given me some nice things. But it'd be sweet.

[tucky]

What did I give you?

[versusnurture]

Good conversation. Things to think about. A story.

[tucky]

It was a sad story.

[versusnurture]

It was still worth hearing.

[tucky]

It was worth telling, too.

I still wanna give you something, but I don't know what you like.

[versusnurture]

Pretty things. Practical things.

. . . I could use a new knife.

[tucky]

For killing that Hannibal guy, you mean?

[versusnurture]

Yeah. For that.

[tucky]

... I don't know if I should be helping with that right now, 'cause I'm here on the Barge and a warden and everything.

[versusnurture]

That makes sense. [It's part of why she's not staying, to be honest.]

Then whatever you want.

[tucky]

[In a few minutes, she'll find on her pillow a matching necklace for her bracelet.]