[ 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. ]
[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.]
[ 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.
[ 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. ]
[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.
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. ]
[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.
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. ]
[ 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. ]
[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.]
[ tea and biscuits. annie, you are so incredibly english. it's amusing and comforting, though, so josh happily accepts. ]
Just don't tell Sally. I think she'd get jealous.
[ that's a joke, because a) sally will never end up here, ever and b) ... actually yeah, she might get a little jealous, if only because she enjoys being proactive and in josh's business. ]
[ god, but he catches himself before he finishes. it's not particularly loud, but it is startled; not so much at the cold and tingly part as the touching at all part. ]
No, she'd definitely be jealous.
[ he's distracted for another second, but it's entirely amicable - impressed, maybe. that said, his voice is a bit more dubious when he continues. ]
[She lets go quickly enough because well that's not the reaction she usually gets]
Sorry, sorry, I forget, it's cold, I know. And-
I'm sorry, what? No, I don't - well I never have - and...if I touch someone I can feel what they're feeling, if I concentrate, but no, I don't possess people!
[ it's a quick apology in response to hers, and the fact that the possession question's clearly taken her off guard. ]
It's something— Sally can, but it usually ends in tears, and I wasn't sure if that's a thing where... you can feel what people are feeling? [ derailed mid-sentence, there. he wasn't expecting that. ]
Well, yes. Like taste, and smell, and touch, those things.
[She's smiling because it's made things better.]
Like if I hold onto George's head, I can taste what he's eating. George is
better than Mitchell, everything Mitchell eats has a metallic flavor to it,
I don't know why.
Well, maybe I can possess people. Do you know how she does it?
No. [ that one's even more abrupt than his surprise at her touch. sorry, annie. ]
I mean— no, no possessing people. Tears, lots of them. It's a terrible idea.
[ which is to say: no, he's not going to tell annie how she does it. ]
And that's probably the blood. [ it's a quick, thoughtless reply to her comment about metallic flavors. he realizes after he says it that it's slightly off color.
maybe it's for the best that he can only do the human interaction thing once a month. ]
[ well i never said tact was his strongest suit okay!! ]
I'm sorry.
[ for being tactless, and for her being a ghost. josh had assumed it would be easier for annie, given that she can at least feel something - clearly he was wrong. and also an insensitive ass. ]
Maybe it'll change here. I mean, I'm basically a dog at this point. Anything's possible, right?
[She smiles a little, but it's clearly sad, there's something painful there. She knows how strange she is, she knows precisely how this isn't exactly easy]
[ josh's motto is more along the lines of it can always get worse, but he still does a good job of offering her a smile like he's almost sold on the optimism. ]
Yeah, of course it will. I've dealt with worse. [ ... maybe. ] I think.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
audio; cute patootie
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. ]
action; no u
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.]
action 5ever
[ 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. ]
action
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.
no subject
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?
no subject
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.
no subject
[ 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?
no subject
[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?
no subject
[ 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... ?
no subject
[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.
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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.]
no subject
Just don't tell Sally. I think she'd get jealous.
[ that's a joke, because a) sally will never end up here, ever and b) ... actually yeah, she might get a little jealous, if only because she enjoys being proactive and in josh's business. ]
no subject
[No, she'd get jealous-]
She would get over it once I explained I was only doing my ghostly duty.
[She reaches out and takes his free hand and squeezes. It's cold and tingly]
no subject
[ god, but he catches himself before he finishes. it's not particularly loud, but it is startled; not so much at the cold and tingly part as the touching at all part. ]
No, she'd definitely be jealous.
[ he's distracted for another second, but it's entirely amicable - impressed, maybe. that said, his voice is a bit more dubious when he continues. ]
You don't... possess people, do you?
no subject
Sorry, sorry, I forget, it's cold, I know. And-
I'm sorry, what? No, I don't - well I never have - and...if I touch someone I can feel what they're feeling, if I concentrate, but no, I don't possess people!
[She just sounds perplexed, more than anything]
no subject
[ it's a quick apology in response to hers, and the fact that the possession question's clearly taken her off guard. ]
It's something— Sally can, but it usually ends in tears, and I wasn't sure if that's a thing where... you can feel what people are feeling? [ derailed mid-sentence, there. he wasn't expecting that. ]
no subject
Well, yes. Like taste, and smell, and touch, those things.
[She's smiling because it's made things better.]
Like if I hold onto George's head, I can taste what he's eating. George is better than Mitchell, everything Mitchell eats has a metallic flavor to it, I don't know why.
Well, maybe I can possess people. Do you know how she does it?
no subject
I mean— no, no possessing people. Tears, lots of them. It's a terrible idea.
[ which is to say: no, he's not going to tell annie how she does it. ]
And that's probably the blood. [ it's a quick, thoughtless reply to her comment about metallic flavors. he realizes after he says it that it's slightly off color.
maybe it's for the best that he can only do the human interaction thing once a month. ]
no subject
[Wait maybe she can-
That's not a thought for public]
I'd probably be terrible at it anyway. And people can see me here so there's really no reason, is there?
no subject
But seeing isn't really the same thing, is it?
[ several years before he and sally even managed to hug, his own self-imposed exile - he knows what it's like to miss the tactile side of things. ]
no subject
Well, Mitchell and George, they hug me-
no subject
I'm sorry.
[ for being tactless, and for her being a ghost. josh had assumed it would be easier for annie, given that she can at least feel something - clearly he was wrong. and also an insensitive ass. ]
Maybe it'll change here. I mean, I'm basically a dog at this point. Anything's possible, right?
no subject
This will get better, Josh. I'm sure it will.
no subject
Yeah, of course it will. I've dealt with worse. [ ... maybe. ] I think.
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