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[Pause, because-]
Do you want-
Tea? Company? Paracetamol? Except I don't have any of the last, sorry, I mean-
Are you all right? What's going to happen-
Why today?
Do you want-
Tea? Company? Paracetamol? Except I don't have any of the last, sorry, I mean-
Are you all right? What's going to happen-
Why today?
[ he should probably say no. that's the smart option, but the fact is he hasn't actually spoken to anyone for a month, and the wolf itself's nearly been in isolation for as long, which doesn't begin to help. ]
I— Yes? To the first two, pass on the paracetamol. I can't hurt you, can I? You're still... ? [ a ghost? sort of? he's not so sure with the way the ship works. ]
I don't know why today, and I don't know how long this is going to last. That's why I can't leave.
[ he has an idea, and it's probably obvious by his tone. but it's one he doesn't like, at all. maybe if he doesn't voice it, it won't be right. and oh, also: ]
You should probably bring some clothes.
I— Yes? To the first two, pass on the paracetamol. I can't hurt you, can I? You're still... ? [ a ghost? sort of? he's not so sure with the way the ship works. ]
I don't know why today, and I don't know how long this is going to last. That's why I can't leave.
[ he has an idea, and it's probably obvious by his tone. but it's one he doesn't like, at all. maybe if he doesn't voice it, it won't be right. and oh, also: ]
You should probably bring some clothes.
[She's already grabbing one of the ugly jumpsuits - it probably belongs to Mitchell.]
No, you can't hurt me, I mean, I'm still dead - and passing through walls and everything, so-
Just a moment, let me get the kettle as well and I'll be right there!
No, you can't hurt me, I mean, I'm still dead - and passing through walls and everything, so-
Just a moment, let me get the kettle as well and I'll be right there!
[ he's sent out half a dozen texts or calls with no answer. annie isn't someone he thought to call, apparently, but it's clear by the gratitude and relief in his voice that he's glad she decided to ask him a stupid question about tea. ]
Thank you.
[ also when she shows up he will be awkwardly and tastefully in a storage room hiding his junk with his hands, yw. assume floor etc was texted first ok. ]
Thank you.
[ also when she shows up he will be awkwardly and tastefully in a storage room hiding his junk with his hands, yw. assume floor etc was texted first ok. ]
[She rentaghosts in, but she mercifully has her eyes closed because she knows that if someone is asking for clothing it can only mean nudity.]
Josh? I'm sorry I don't want to open my eyes so please let me know if you're here-
[She's holding out the jumpsuit, her other arm has a bundle with a kettle, tea and a mug. And also real biscuits that she managed to find somewhere. They're not ideal but they're better than nothing.]
Josh? I'm sorry I don't want to open my eyes so please let me know if you're here-
[She's holding out the jumpsuit, her other arm has a bundle with a kettle, tea and a mug. And also real biscuits that she managed to find somewhere. They're not ideal but they're better than nothing.]
Jesus—
[ he should probably be used to the appearing out of nowhere thing, but it's actually been a while since sally could do that and even longer since he last saw her, so - thanks for the mild heart attack. but then he tentatively reaches out to take the offered jumpsuit before dressing quickly. ]
You can open your eyes now.
[ slightly awkward, but he's already going to take some of the loot so she doesn't have to hold all of it. he is also, very diplomatically, not going to mention that this thing stinks like vampire. ]
[ he should probably be used to the appearing out of nowhere thing, but it's actually been a while since sally could do that and even longer since he last saw her, so - thanks for the mild heart attack. but then he tentatively reaches out to take the offered jumpsuit before dressing quickly. ]
You can open your eyes now.
[ slightly awkward, but he's already going to take some of the loot so she doesn't have to hold all of it. he is also, very diplomatically, not going to mention that this thing stinks like vampire. ]
[She opens her eyes and looks at him - he looks a bit like a caveman, just a bit unwashed and hairy.]
What happened? Did you just - come out of the jump as a wolf?
[She reaches for her kettle, which is full of water, and starts to look for a place to plug it in]
I don't know how many people are on board, loads went to see the other...ship, thing - I don't think the communicators work there, because Mitchell and George haven't said a word.
[Well.]
Of course they could just be having a grand time-
I'm sorry, I'm babbling.
What happened? Did you just - come out of the jump as a wolf?
[She reaches for her kettle, which is full of water, and starts to look for a place to plug it in]
I don't know how many people are on board, loads went to see the other...ship, thing - I don't think the communicators work there, because Mitchell and George haven't said a word.
[Well.]
Of course they could just be having a grand time-
I'm sorry, I'm babbling.
[ he points behind her, back towards the door. there's an outlet there, but he's still a bit too uneasy to do much other than offer a silent and hopefully helpful cue. josh's mind is mostly on her question and commentary, though his answer is reluctant. mostly because he doesn't have much of one. ]
I don't know. No? I mean I was human after the jump, I just changed right afterwards, and I haven't— it's not supposed to be like this.
[ it sounds more resigned than defensive, but he just wants to make the point. they've already established things are different where each of them come from, but this is weird even for him. ]
I don't know if it's because of Liam or because of Donna, but they're both dead, and they're not here, so I can't— [ do anything about it, in either case. but hang on, she mentioned the station. speaking of babbling. ]
Is it another ship?
I don't know. No? I mean I was human after the jump, I just changed right afterwards, and I haven't— it's not supposed to be like this.
[ it sounds more resigned than defensive, but he just wants to make the point. they've already established things are different where each of them come from, but this is weird even for him. ]
I don't know if it's because of Liam or because of Donna, but they're both dead, and they're not here, so I can't— [ do anything about it, in either case. but hang on, she mentioned the station. speaking of babbling. ]
Is it another ship?
[She sees it and goes to plug it in, then takes back the things he has in hands to set it down next to the kettle.]
Maybe it was something you ate. Or maybe it's hormonal, or...I don't know, George once sedatives and it basically made him a madman when he was human. I don't suppose you might have taken any medication or something?
[She goes to sit, offering a place next to her with a tap of the hand]
I think it is. I popped over to the shuttle bay where it's docked to look and it's massive, whatever it is.
Maybe it was something you ate. Or maybe it's hormonal, or...I don't know, George once sedatives and it basically made him a madman when he was human. I don't suppose you might have taken any medication or something?
[She goes to sit, offering a place next to her with a tap of the hand]
I think it is. I popped over to the shuttle bay where it's docked to look and it's massive, whatever it is.
I was taking wolfsbane, but that's not... it does the opposite.
[ suppresses the wolf, in theory. josh hesitates, but he does take a seat next to her, even if he looks a bit stiff and awkward about it. that's more to do with the recent shift than anything, though he's still wary of getting too close.
he started a conversation about the station, and he's interested - really interested, and kind of insanely frustrated that he's stuck here - but it's nearly impossible to pretend he's not distracted by the wolf issue. ]
Do you have witches?
[ suppresses the wolf, in theory. josh hesitates, but he does take a seat next to her, even if he looks a bit stiff and awkward about it. that's more to do with the recent shift than anything, though he's still wary of getting too close.
he started a conversation about the station, and he's interested - really interested, and kind of insanely frustrated that he's stuck here - but it's nearly impossible to pretend he's not distracted by the wolf issue. ]
Do you have witches?
Was it working, or was it the first time?
[She's not a doctor - or a nurse, or even a porter, but she knows the fundamentals of investigating why something is different. She watches him sit and it doesn't bother her, that he hesitates.]
I don't know. I don't think so? I'm rather new to this, you know. Mitchell, he's the one to ask.
[A pause]
Did Sally ever watch you change?
[She's not a doctor - or a nurse, or even a porter, but she knows the fundamentals of investigating why something is different. She watches him sit and it doesn't bother her, that he hesitates.]
I don't know. I don't think so? I'm rather new to this, you know. Mitchell, he's the one to ask.
[A pause]
Did Sally ever watch you change?
I've been taking it since I got back. For a few months.
[ josh appreciates why she's asking, and he doesn't sound annoyed by the questions. still, he doubts she's on the right track, and it lends a sort of hopelessness to the replies. ]
And I don't think Mitchell wants me asking him anything.
[ there's some bitterness in that, but it's weirdly impersonal. her next question catches him off guard. he's been watching the far wall, but he turns to look at her before answering. ]
She did. Have you seen... ?
[ josh appreciates why she's asking, and he doesn't sound annoyed by the questions. still, he doubts she's on the right track, and it lends a sort of hopelessness to the replies. ]
And I don't think Mitchell wants me asking him anything.
[ there's some bitterness in that, but it's weirdly impersonal. her next question catches him off guard. he's been watching the far wall, but he turns to look at her before answering. ]
She did. Have you seen... ?
I'm sorry, Josh. I hope it was a one-time event and that things will return to normal.
[She says not because it's the right thing to say, but because it's genuine]
I'll ask him for you, then.
[And a pause]
I have. If something happens-
I want you to know that you can always call me. I'll help you.
[She says not because it's the right thing to say, but because it's genuine]
I'll ask him for you, then.
[And a pause]
I have. If something happens-
I want you to know that you can always call me. I'll help you.
[ it's weird. trying to connect on a human level after a month of instinct and an entirely different language. it wasn't him, but it sort of was, and this is - it feels a bit awkward, but it's not difficult.
there's the hint of a grateful smile, and there's nothing guarded about his reply. ]
Thank you.
[ a beat, then: ] You too, obviously. If I can ever help with... [ ghost problems? that'd mostly been talking with sally, but the offer stands. ]
there's the hint of a grateful smile, and there's nothing guarded about his reply. ]
Thank you.
[ a beat, then: ] You too, obviously. If I can ever help with... [ ghost problems? that'd mostly been talking with sally, but the offer stands. ]
[She's nods, and it's quiet for a moment, but then the kettle goes off so she starts the process of making tea. After it's had a moment to steep, she hands it over]
There's no milk or sugar, but I did find these sort of...well, they're not great, but they're all right, I know because I held George's head while he ate one.
[She gets a biscuit and hands it over]
After George shifts back, he always wants something sweet.
[She's smiling a little, hoping that seeing someone a bit cheery will help.]
There's no milk or sugar, but I did find these sort of...well, they're not great, but they're all right, I know because I held George's head while he ate one.
[She gets a biscuit and hands it over]
After George shifts back, he always wants something sweet.
[She's smiling a little, hoping that seeing someone a bit cheery will help.]
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