withtheoldbreed | d-day + 52 ✯ video

Entry tags:

d-day + 52 ✯ video

[It's relatively early in the morning when Sledge clicks on his video feed, and he looks tired, maybe even exhausted. It's also obvious he's not in his own cabin - the room behind him looks more like a shack, and although it might not be as clear, he's sitting on the floor, half leaning against the legs of a cot. One of Snafu's arms is visible, hanging limply off the side of the cot like he's just asleep.]

... Snafu's in a coma. [The word sits uncomfortably in his mouth, and it kind of shows in his face. He's read about barge comas obviously, thanks to Chromie's welcome packet, but it's one thing to read about it, another to try shaking your buddy awake and not be able to, no matter how hard you try.

He takes a breath and steels himself, trying to push it back and get what needs to get done, done.

(Except his eyes still look pretty dead, but that's not really anything new.)]

I'm gonna need a hand getting him to the infirmary.

[Private to Kieren]

I thought it'd be better than just leavin' him here. [It's what the pamphlet suggested, anyway, and he sort of feels more comfortable leaving his friend with people who can monitor him and make sure he doesn't get worse (if that's even possible?), but he still sounds uncertain. Like maybe this - making decisions about his friend's well being - is overstepping.

Which is weird to think about someone you've pretty much been physically stuck with for over a month, but here we are.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Then your time would be better spent doing something other than moping.

[Look some emotions are just difficult to interpret, all right.]

[These... probably won't be, because he's tired and frustrated and kind of completely fucking overwhelmed by being here suddenly, and while he doesn't sound enraged or anything, it should be pretty obvious he's kind of ticked off.] Ma'am, if you've got any suggestions for things to do to keep busy on a ship where I'm not allowed to hold a job or help keep the place runnin' beyond talkin' to my inmate, I'd be happy to hear 'em.

[She notes it; she makes no acknowledgement of it, of course, because gross, feelings.

Also there's really only response she knows to anger towards herself, and that's a fairly constant one: stay on guard for an attack. At least there's no immediate fear over a commlink.]

You're not allowed a job.

[Besides wardening, but also what. what the fuck is with this ship.]

[Well, also Gene is kind of small and harmless looking, even if he's a killer and had to become comfortable with that fact.]

I was told jobs are for inmates, not wardens. [Some of the anger bleeds out, replaced with something that's more just bitterness, and it's not directed at her.]

We're just supposed to be here to help people graduate.

[And that's fine, really, that's why he's here and what he's been ordered to do, but. The more he sits around and thinks about what happened, the worse he feels about all of it, and having something to do would make it easier to get his mind off it.]

[Hoshi is kind of small and harm...less...okay no I can't finish that. Point is TRUST NO ONE.

She stares at him, because 'help people graduate' is an arbitrary task at best. He's been ordered to sit on his hands, and that is fairly baffling. Is he supposed to breathe down his inmate's neck all day, every day?

T'Pol thinks she'd break Rogers' neck if he did that.

Well. She's try.]

This ship is poorly run.

Yes, ma'am.

Haven't had this much time to myself in years.

[And he feels like he's going to go insane if he doesn't come up with something to do with himself that isn't just sitting around reading.]

[She understands the feeling completely. And she has a job.

Which really doesn't sit well with her at all. The understanding part.]

I'm sure you could find something to occupy yourself with.

I've been doin' a lot of reading.

[And writing. He's still been keeping notes, except these are more like a journal now that he doesn't have to worry about his book falling into enemy hands or anything like that.]

[It's awkward, yeah, but they fall into it pretty quickly. It's not exactly natural to carry a limp body, but it's not hard, either, once you figure out how to do it and how to compensate for the other set of hands helping you.]

Don't mention it. [He tries to grin a little.] Beats having someone drag him by the heels, right?

[He hasn't talked to Snafu much - or to Sledge much, about Snafu.] How long have you guys known each other? By your reckoning, anyway. [He realizes it might not be the same, between the two of them - thanks to the Barge and its strange timelines.]

Yessir, [Gene says, managing a chuckle as they start heading to the door and into the hallway. This is definitely better, and while he's pretty sure Snaf would be whining if he was conscious, he's limp and silent as they keep going, so it's fine, probably.]

Couple months. [That's easy enough to answer, and offer. It's been a while, even though it's only recently that they've been close.]

I was a replacement in his mortar squad. We weren't really friends until we landed on Peleliu. [And it's almost strange to think of him as a friend now, if only because he knows exactly what kind of Asiatic Snafu is now, but. He's his friend.] He's usually my foxhole buddy.

Yeah. [Scott nods quietly, because it's unsettling. He can't deny that, won't try. But it's not the first time he's seen Isaac in a coma either, and at least this time he knows his friend isn't in pain.

That's a plus.

Leaning back in his chair, Scott watches Snafu, regretting not really meeting him before now. It feels out of order.]

There are only two guys in a foxhole?

Have you been reading about the time periods after your own?

[When you do meet him when he's not napping, you'll be regretting thinking that.]

Usually. Sometimes there'll be one or so more, say if you're in a gun pit instead of a foxhole, but it's easier with two. More room, easier to rotate shifts on watch. ["More room", assuming your partner doesn't sprawl out in his sleep and encroach on your space, anyway, like certain people.]

One man awake at all times. You fall asleep, you wind up with a Jap in your hole stabbin' you and your buddy to death.

[Yep. Yyyyyep. Scott shifts a little at the slur, uncomfortable but not really sure what to say to someone who fought in the Pacific.]

Good reason to stay awake, huh.

[Gene nods, either ignoring or oblivious to the discomfort. Maybe sort of both - it just doesn't occur to him that it'd be weird to hear that, because it's how everyone talks, and it's sort of a disturbing thing to picture, so that would explain Scott not doing cartwheels about the whole thing.]

He grinds his teeth in his sleep. [It comes out almost without him meaning to say it, but it's sort of an explanation, for why this is so strange. Snafu's jaw isn't working right now, even if he's breathing and thus obviously not dead. It's just... strange.

Gene laces his fingers together, badly wanting a cigarette, but knowing he can't smoke in here.] Everything else'd be quiet, but it helped, havin' someone in there with you. Made it feel less lonely.

[Scott glances at his jaw now, notes the stillness. That must be weird, he thinks. You get that used to someone, you know every little tick.]

I get that.

[And he does, in that way you understand things without experiencing them.] I didn't really get a chance to meet him. What's he like?

[Gene grins, a quick, automatic gesture that winds up being a little fleeting.]

Asiatic. [He glances quickly at Scott, knowing this time that it needs a little clarification. This isn't a race thing or something about the Japanese, it's just an expression that's become their way of speaking, and Scott won't know because he's not with them, there.] It's what we call guys who've been in the Pacific for too long and start actin' kinda weird.

[And Snaf is weird, rude, gross, mean as hell and equally spooky, but. Gene doesn't really sound anything other than fond?]

He's a good marine. I can't tell you how many times he's saved my life.

[It goes both ways, really.]

[He's definitely pleased to get a chuckle out of Eugene, and looks just the slightest bit triumphant. He's interested, though, to hear more, glancing over his shoulder every so often just to make sure he gets his bearings as they move.]

Ah. I know how that goes. [Maybe he was lucky to have a foxhole buddy that he already knew, but he still knows how it goes. If you weren't close before, you usually end up being pretty close. At least in some senses of the word.] I don't think you necessarily have to be friends long, though, to be good ones.

Guess not. [There are definitely guys in their company who aren't best pals who still do a decent job of watching each other's backs, but...] But I guess he's grown on me.

[He sounds playfully annoyed, but it's clear he's actually kidding. They're friends, he's more than comfortable admitting that.]

[He grins a little, despite the fact that they're carrying an unresponsive guy through the halls.] Good friends do that, too. Without you ever planning on it.

I don't know much about comas, but he should be okay. Everyone I've seen go into one, they come out of it just fine. Maybe a little annoyed they missed so much, but that's all.

[And besides, in Snafu's case,] Just think of it as him making up for all the sleep you missed on active duty.

[His return smile is puzzled because no, no there's no way he could puzzle out the meaning of that word in this context.]

Oh. [He shrugs a little, not dismissively, but more understanding.]

I guess being away from home that long, and everything you know....It makes sense.

[His smile turns softer, more genuine.] Or how many you saved his?

[It's funny, but Gene almost doesn't think of it that way. He knows it's true - that's their job, what they've been trained to do - but sometimes he still has moments of feeling like a green replacement. Not one of the old breed, not yet. Maybe not ever.] Guess so, yeah.

[But hey, while we're on the subject.]

You've got a lot of people from back home here.

[Scott nods.]

Yeah. I was by myself for like six months, then....they all just started showing up.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 5 of 5

d-day + 52 ✯ video

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

spam

spam

[Spam]

no subject

[Spam]

[Spam]

[Spam]

[Spam]

[Spam]

spam

spam

spam

[Spam]

[Spam]

[Spam]