i'm like a bird, i only fly away

[decohere]

Who: Ava & OTA
When: End of December
Warnings: Village discussions likely

i. you're beautiful, that's for sure

Do Not Disturb.

The sign is posted outside their cabin door the day they return and remains through the end of the year, to discourage any well-meaning visitors from bringing any extra stress. She takes great care in securing an environment that Peter can feel safe to recover in, until he's ready to face anyone else.

(text if needed -ava)

ii. you'll never, ever fade

Though she doesn't leave the room much herself, she does occasionally convince herself of the need for fresh air, to walk off the anxiety around the sports deck. She isn't paying much attention to where she's going though, eyes fixed on the stars.

iii. you're lovely, but it's not for sure

She can be found sometimes at the cafe, staring into her cup of tea or preparing a platter to bring back to the room.

iv. that i won't ever change

Toward the end of the week she's got a large pile of dirty clothes she's sorting through in the laundry room, separating the lights (mostly hers) from the darks (mostly Peter's). She has a small pile of things she's pulling out of the pockets, after making the mistake of having washed her pens one time too many. She finds the number badge, and clutches tightly to it.

v. and though my love is rare

And in the middle of one afternoon she's completely passed out in a library armchair, too many late nights watching guard over her husband sleep catching up with her. Jurassic Park lays open on the floor by her feet.

vi. and though my love is true

wildcard me

Comments

V

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis quietly slips into the Library to return the Sherlock Holmes book and choose a new one to read, but she pauses seeing Ava sleeping in the chair, her fallen book laying on the floor. She gently reaches down to retrieve the book and place it on the side table, trying not to disturb her sleeping friend.

[decohere]

Ava stirs with a sleepy murmur, but doesn't appear to awaken.

But she's never been a particularly light sleeper, not when she becomes aware of somebody else's presence. Without knowing who it is, she doesn't want to give away that she's awake quite yet.

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis sets the book on the side table. There's a slight shift in the air, but Ava says nothing, so she steps back and heads to the next shelf to put her borrowed book away. She scans some of the other shelves, looking for another book to read, trying to be as quiet as possible.

v

[inhairently]

Steve's never been much of a reader. Not even after his arrival on the ship, when entertainment pickings became rather slim. After his reappearance, however, he did devote himself to finishing the book he'd started before — Jurassic Park. With that under his belt, he's back in the library searching for something else to read. He still doesn't love it but it's better than nothing, and right now he prefers anything that keeps him isolated.

He notices Ava sleeping in her chair, and tries to be as quiet as he can as he peruses the shelves. So it's only natural that when he pulls a particularly large book from the shelf (The Fellowship of the Rings, definitely beyond the scope of his attention span but Eddie liked it), he drags another with it by mistake and ends up dropping both of them to the floor.

"Shit," he hisses, glancing back quickly to see if he's disturbed her.

[decohere]

The chair is empty.

A startled Ava flickers behind Steve, book held above her head in defensive motion to swing out. Until she comes to her senses, recognizing who it is. That it was just an accident, not an attack.

Ava breathes out with a shudder, taking a step back. "Oh, it's just you."

[inhairently]

Steve's hands immediately fly up in a show of peace, book still clutched firmly in his right.

"Yeah, it's just me," he confirms apologetically. "Sorry. I was trying to be quiet but..." He glances down at the book on the floor. "Guess I wasn't trying hard enough."

i

[light_mischief]

Within hours of their return to the ship, a text comes through for Ava.

Saw the sign. Checking in. All accounted for?

[decohere]

2 heads 4 eyes 8 limbs 20 fingers and 20 toes between us.

Because yes, she's double checked Peter head to toe several times over to soothe her anxiety.

[light_mischief]

Good. Seems that everyone made it out. Could hardly tell by the hallways. Must have been terrible here without us all running around.

Out and about for now. Need supplies?

i.

[mistertwister]

A text reaches Ava quickly after they get back.

im sorry he got me i said id be careful but he got me im sorry im sorry

[decohere]

no no no okie. what that sick man did, none of that is your fault. he took so many... peter and darcy and you and phil. i was so scared. but it's over now and he's gone, okay? you're safe and you're going to be okay.

And Though My Love Is Rare

[blindwatchersees]

Have you ever woken up to find your cat staring at you, and wondered if you woke up because they were staring?

Well, there's a cat staring at Ava. The cat, specifically. Or rather, he's half staring at her. There's actually two equally-translucent cats present in the library- one staring, one sleeping in a sunbeam. Perhaps he'll settle into a definite state once he's being observed.

[decohere]

She awakes not all at once, a lazy lag as her solid form resists consciousness. But there's no blanket to burrito up in protest, and so Ava squints until her sleeping half finally flutters eyes open and her vision stabilizes.

"Ah..." she fights off a yawn, doesn't even remember drifting off. "Was I snoring...?"

You're Lovely, But It's Not For Sure

[freedomsuitsme]

He approaches her, a cup of Earl Grey clutched in his claws.

"Mrs. Starr. If you're willing to spare me a moment... I wanted to offer you an apology."

[decohere]

Ava blinks up, startled out of her wandering thoughts.

"Oh...?" She's surprised, honestly. Considering last time they interacted she had taken his book and threatened him, she was pretty sure the burden of apology was on her.

i

[sabigoe]

[ Right after she sees the sign on the cabin door, she sends Ava a text: ]

Take all the time you need to rest.
I'm going out to help Daddy today.

[decohere]

<3 going to be a little while, peter needs to rest

i missed you, sunshine. im not going next time.

1.

[theotherright]

Arthur doesn't see the sign, but he does text, early the same morning that they all wake up back on the ship. He's not peopling real good, so the first text he sends reads only:

Ava did you kill him

By multiple accounts, Ava was hunting Number 2. She had both the ability and the right to rip his heart out. He's most likely dead, since they're back, and people's brains seem unwashed. But Arthur needs to hear it for sure. He needs to know that 2 is dead.

[decohere]

i did. ripped out both his eyes and then his heart. good riddance.

did he hurt you

wildcard, january

[lovethyneighb_or]

Mulcahy sticks out like a sore thumb. He knows he does. He's a stranger amongst a crew that has enough cohesion for things like the cabin quiet hours sign, or those signposts put up near the pool bar. They must have a distinct awareness of who all is here, not to mention the fact that some of them must have seen him when he had to post up outside of poor 0202's cottage.

He largely tries to keep to himself, and he especially keeps a polite distance from that Number 6's very scary wife, but the ship is only so big. She must still catch sight of him here and there. At the moment, he's peeking curiously into the new cheese shop, both fascinated by this strange addition and looking for a wine that's fit to be sacramental.

[decohere]

Ava used to pay far more attention to the arrival of passengers on the ship, and who vanished. Kept track of them, their alliances, their motivations. But eventually the turnover rate became far too high that the constant losing of people she grew close to, and trying to welcome strangers in their vacancy, got far too exhausting.

But it's slowed, nearly stopped. There haven't been new faces in quite some time. Just a few old ones popping up.

The only context she has for this one is brief glimpses, passing by in the Village. Hadn't paid him any attention then. Knows she shouldn't now, for the way he seems to... is he avoiding her? And for that alone, she takes the opportunity to finally approach. The cheese shop seems to be harmless, neutral territory.

"Did you know they all melt differently? Learned the hard way."

1/13, text.

[decrypter]

I think he was very pleased with the story.

[happy birthday to Helena, she got the best gift a writer could ask for, and that is the audience liking your work.]

[decohere]

oh! i was wondering how that went.

am i still next on the list?

vi. sometime in january

[stainedglass_stainedfaith]

"Excuse me," calls a voice. "Are you Ava, by chance?"

He catches her in a hallway, near the buffet. It's maybe the third or fourth time he's seen her since they returned to the ship, but the first he's had the necessary courage to speak up. What is he even planning to say?

"A moment of your time, if I may."

[decohere]

When Ava turns in acknowledgment of the unfamiliar voice that's clearly familiar with her by name, she's carrying a tray of a simple assortment of foods, on her way back from the buffet.

She frowns a bit, uncertain where this is going. "I suppose, so. Sure." There's wariness there, but she's not trying to be outright unfriendly.