[001. Video]

[lydiascreams]

[The video comes on and Lydia has the best smile she could muster on her lips. It's far from her best, but she's been in pain since she got her. She knew it wouldn't be easy. It's not supposed to be easy. But she never expected them to be so loud. The voices, the deaths. So many, in each and every corner.

But her room is relatively safe, so she's sitting on the corner arm chair.]

Hello! I've just arrived. I'm Lydia Martin and I'll be one of your new wardens.

[Lydia manages a wave as her smile widens, she's doing okay so far.]

I'll be glad to answer any questions you might have and do anything to help as I learn my way around here.

[Normally, she'd try harder, but she's tired, so, with another smile, she disconnects the video unceremoniously.]

Comments

Video

[voluntaryapnea]

[He's on his way out of his room when the video pops on and he freezes in his tracks at the familiar voice. Holy shit. Lydia. He turns slowly, eyes wide as he sees her face on the screen, smile way too forced. He blinks several times as she disappears off the device and it takes him a moment to move because had that really just happened?

He's pretty sure it did. He's told Aeryn he'd help her look for the dolls in public areas of the ship and he knows that needs to happen, but he can't not respond to Lydia first. He can't. He moves over and switches the device on, and hesitates for the briefest of moments.]

Hi.

[lydiascreams]

[When she first gets the reply, she's prepared to keep up appearances. She has her smile on her lips and a relaxed expression on her face as she lifts the device so she can talk to the person on the other side.

But then she sees him and her perfectly composed look slips instantly as her stomach knots. Because this is Stiles, why is he there? What about...]

Stiles?

Audio

[strangehistorian]

Hello, Miss Martin! Welcome to the Barge!

[Warden Filter]

This is a standard test; if you can read this will you please respond under the same filter?

[lydiascreams]

Thank you!

[Warden Filter]

I can read it. :)

[video]

[routemistress]

[Iris is patrolling, so you get a slightly shaky, offcentre video of a tiny blonde lady in a big hat and a Deadpool tank top moving briskly along a barge hallway.]

Eeee, welcome aboard, Lydia love. Did I see you and Stiles know each other? So you know our Scott and all?

[lydiascreams]

[By the time she answers Iris, she's composing herself and she has a smile on her lips again. It's easier to pretend with strangers these days. She didn't really have that problem until Stiles, Scott and Allison, but apparently she does now.]

Hello! Thank you! Yes, I know both of them, from back home. We're [friends doesn't seem like a strong enough word. Pack is more fitting because pack is stronger than family, but she doesn't want everyone to know everything, so...] friends.

[semifreakingnormal]

Lydia?

[It's only half a question, he's almost unsurprised to see her. The timing is strange - someone has his doll, he can tell because he's pretty sure something bit him, even though there's no wound. His shoulder is a mess of pain, but he can put that aside right now.

He knows her well enough by now that he doesn't need to single out her heartbeat to tell she's faking it. Or maybe it's just because he saw Stiles ask the important question already.

She knows.]

Hey. Uh, welcome to the ship? [He's been trying to fake it, too. she's a much better liar than him.] You kinda came at a weird time, if you see any dolls around, try to avoid them.

[lydiascreams]

[She's glad Stiles gave her the head's up about Scott being there too. Because by the time she talks to him, she is able to really pull herself together a lot better this time. She just wishes she had managed the same with Stiles, he needs it even more than Scott.]

Thank you. [Although she's surprised he doesn't ask how she's doing, she's grateful and she returns the courtesy. Because how could any of them be doing, really? And for Scott to be putting as much effort into pretending as he is, she already has her answer, anyway.]

Dolls? What do you mean dolls? What do they do?

[logistical]

Ms. Martin.

[Spock chooses video for her, and although he's aware it's likely people tend not to remember their time when away, he can't help but nurture some small hope.]

Welcome back.

[lydiascreams]

[Lydia smiles at the man and cocks her head in surprise when he finishes his greeting with welcome back. Because... what?]

Hello, I'm sorry but... welcome back?

[She has made no previous deals that she is aware of. But she might just not be aware of them.]

[private]

[fridgetothefire]

Hello, Lydia. I'm Anya, I'm a warden as well, and I've been here for a while.

Do you have any questions?

[private]

[lydiascreams]

Hello Anya, nice meeting you!

So far, I'm just getting used to the place, but thank you.

[Although...]

Unless you know something about... dolls?

[la_belle_rogue]

Always can use a few more hands 'round here. Hi Lydia, Ah'm Rogue, also a warden.

[lydiascreams]

Nice meeting you, Rogue. Looks like there are a lot of us around here.

[And she hasn't missed the fact that she hasn't met any inmates, yet. That she's aware of.]

[versusnurture]

What makes you think we have questions for you?

[lydiascreams]

It's part of the getting to know someone process? You ask me questions, I ask you questions, we get to know each other!

[patheticvillain]

What's the square root of three thousand four hundred twenty-seven?

[lydiascreams]

58.54.

But maybe you should invest in a calculator?

[ Video ]

[surfaceshine]

Mm. Evenin', darlin. Welcome back.

...but you're not back, are you.

[lydiascreams]

[She arches an eyebrow at the nice looking guy. And the flirty tone, maybe? It comes naturally for her, really, even if she's far from that kind of mental state. There's a smile on her lips, of course.]

Hello!

I was told I was here before and sadly, no, I don't remember it. Maybe you could tell me more?

[fireincarnate]

[Jean knows pain when she sees it, but she just smiles, at first.]

Nice to meet you, Lydia. I'm Jean.

[Private]

[The smile fades, replaced by concern.]

Are you okay?

[lydiascreams]

Hello Jean, nice meeting you too!

[Private]

[Although the woman's smile fades, Lydia's stays firmly in place. She doesn't know her, she can't possibly know, right? Not what is going on back at home or here.]

Yep, I'm fine. How are you?

[givessweetness]

I'm Castellan Tungwynterestemont, but you can call me 'Wynter'.

I realise you meant local customs and so on, but there does seem to be something brewing that you ought to know about.

[lydiascreams]

Hi Wynter.

Something brewing? Like another flood? Anything you can tell me, I'm sure will be helpful.

[with_my_teacup]

....name's Riddick. Ex-inmate, current warden and breakfast shift supervisor.

[He's mellowed since his inmate days; he doesn't take every opportunity to sow discomfort and fear for future use. Only like, one in five opportunities. One in ten. He's practically a model citizen. So he doesn't expand on the warnings she's already been given.]

It ain't a pleasure cruise, but it's survivable.

[lydiascreams]

Hey, Riddick. Congratulations?

[It's definitely good to hear of inmates graduating, that's her goal here right? Get one to graduate, go home, get her best friend back to life. All done.]

Survivable is good. [Even if the memory of deaths she keeps hearing beg to differ.] I guess the Death tool and the floods take the pleasure part out of the cruise?

[myresponsibility]

Hey. I'm Peter Parker, I'm a friend of Scott's. [And Stiles' now too, probably.] He's mentioned you a couple of times.

[lydiascreams]

Hi Peter! [And yep, your name sounds familiar. Thanks, Stiles for the brainwash in all things geek. But she's Lydia so he won't be getting a reaction from her. Just a smile.]

Nice to meet another friend of Scott. Good things, I hope?