Zhautas - Inbox

[womanofvalue]

ZHAUTAS GAME INBOX

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( ᴛᴇxᴛ ) like 30 mins into the tether event??

[baring]

I'm checking in. [ and she can tell him it's none of his business, but— ] Everything good on your end?

[womanofvalue]

Not entirely. I'm afraid this second list looks poised to cause a bit of trouble, though I am trying to avoid it, best I can.

Are you all right?

[baring]

Most people are going to resist having anything to do with that list. [ most, not all of them. ] I'm hoping that gives us some time to suss out the more problematic cases among us.

I'm okay. Not in any immediate danger. Just want to know how my friends are.

[womanofvalue]

[Peggy isn't so sure that they'll resist when it comes to her. It's one thing to try and gouge someone's eye out or take off their skin and it's a whole other thing to steal a photograph.

Also, is that a fond smile as she reads the message? Yes, yes it is.]

I didn't know I'd already made it all the way to being your friend. I'm rather honoured.

[baring]

[ ah, being called out. that's his favorite. he tries not to clam up because for most people it isn't a word tossed around, and yet, bellamy doesn't know what else to call her after two conversations. he likes peggy's company and he definitely doesn't want to see ( or hear about ) any harm coming to her when shit hits the fan ( and it will ). ]

Believe it or not, it's a short set of steps to ascend. [ she's either an enemy or a friend. it's as basic as that. he's used to chaos pushing him towards people and deciding in the moment how he feels regarding them. he hates to say it but humanizing people, relating to them, instead of considering them 'other' is going to be really important when those body parts are being ticked off on the list. ]

[womanofvalue]

[Lucky for Bellamy that Peggy's been rather taken with him. He knows how to take care of himself, but also seems rather practical. It's a good mix when it comes to men she knows, which is why she's pleased to get this text in the midst of the chaos.]

Well, I'm glad I'm ascending those steps.

[Now it comes time for the other question.]

And you? Has anyone come after you yet? Do I need to beat anyone up?

[She doesn't ask if he has any of the items on the list, but it's there, in the back of her mind.]

[baring]

I'm glad you're safe. [ fleeting as it may be. the professor's moodiness doesn't sit right with him, he just hasn't vocalized that unease anywhere public. he doesn't trust quin and if they have to call for blood, he'd rather the slippery man didn't see them coming. he knows how quickly issues with authority can escalate to a scuffle and then a full on brawl in a crowd. she's more than capable of defending herself but even the best fighter can be overwhelmed. ]

If anyone comes after me, they're going to leave in worse condition than they arrived. [ he's not going to hold a candle against super powers, but he'll be damned if he doesn't try. ] I'll let you know if I need an assist.

[ no, he won't. ]

I'd like to sit this whole thing out. Something tells me that's not an option. [ “something” being the lightheadedness and headache. ]

[womanofvalue]

[If there is to be a fight, then Peggy will go down swinging, she has no doubt of that. She glances to the list again, feeling a strange tug towards it, but right now, she only writes it off as curiosity.]

If anyone comes after you and I know about it, you'll have to fight me off just to stop me.

[After all, she's not keen on letting her people get hurt, not when she can do something about it.]

Where are you now? Apart from somewhere safe, I hope? And is there anything on the list that you're particularly worried about?

[baring]

Duly noted. [ it's easier than saying he would fight her ( if he had to, to keep her safe in the long run ) because he's learned that the sort of people he surrounds himself with are driven. he's flattered somewhere in the mix of emotions.

her next question gives him pause, if only because he doesn't know what to expect from quintalian's little project. his suspicions are like whispers, creeping into his ears, and he hates that in the midst of a conversation about friendship, he has to second guess peggy. ] Sealed up in one of the bungalows. I don't plan on staying here much longer.

Worried about acquiring an item or keeping one?

[womanofvalue]

[Does she trust him? Peggy thinks yes, yes, she does. And yet, there's something strange afoot where she doesn't want to talk about the item she does have that would make that list complete for someone.]

We've all got body parts, don't we? I suspect everyone should be concerned, if I'm completely honest.

[Or she could be worried about that terribly sentimental photograph she's keeping in her pocket, worried about someone taking it and how much she intends to fight for it.]

I'd suggest a revolution, but I can only imagine how poorly that might go.

[baring]

[ ah, so she's asking what he's worried about people coming after. he supposes it goes both ways — what you don't want to rip away from someone and what you would rather not have stolen from you. bellamy's fought for everything he has, he's not about to roll over now. competitive as he can be ( as he's beginning to feel ), he's still much more likely to hand it items for clarke ( or a friend ) than himself right now. ]

The whole thing is messed up, but to answer your question: no, I'm not worried. [ some of that is arrogance, some of it is continuously throwing caution to the wind. ] Not about myself or the items I already have.

[ he's antsy about what he will do to keep his items, to ensure his friends are okay. ]

Rising up, sitting it out — they're great ideas. Easier said than done. Do you think we could get everyone on board with it? That there wouldn't be repercussions like with R.O.S.I.E.? [ he's not afraid of the consequences of his actions, he wants to know if peggy is. ]

[womanofvalue]

I think there would be repercussions, but at this point, I'd rather fight than sit around and let them get to us or do something to force our hand.

[She's been brave before, but always because it was part of the job. This time, she has the connection of friends and people she cares about, which means that Peggy is going to fight even harder to make sure not a single one of them gets hurt.]

I am worried, though. I have...well, I have something.

[baring]

I'm with you, but we need weapons. [ more than the knives stocked in the kitchens. bellamy has a gun but it's useless without bullets. it'll knock someone out with a hard enough smack to the head. not very practical but it's better than nothing. ] Once we're backed into that corner, there's no telling when we'll get out of it.

[ she's right to not want to give them that leverage. ]

I have a couple of items on that list and a partial. What are you going to do with yours? Have you thought about turning it in and wiping your hands clean of it?

[womanofvalue]

I have my fists and if I can find something else, then I can defend myself very well. Now's the time I wish I brought a gun with me instead of something...

[She doesn't want to say this over the network, she knows better than that.]

Well, I wish I had a gun. Because there's no way in hell that I'm giving up what I have. They'll have to kill me for it.

[baring]

I have one. Not that it does any one of us much good without ammo. [ any person that saw him in the first couple of weeks knew that. it's common knowledge, a rifle being slung over his shoulder as a precaution — constantine knew, having lived with him. his current roommates do as well.

there's a flare of protectiveness ( and simultaneous helplessness ) that rises in response to the very grim image they'll have to kill me for it paints. ] That's not going to happen.

[ truthfully, he has no way of keeping that promise, not that it has ever stopped him from trying. ]

[womanofvalue]

This is where a knife or sword truly comes in handy.

[Peggy's quite good with a blade, though she does err on the side of being better at fencing than at broad attacks. When he makes a promise about it not happening, she feels a swell of happiness for it, even if she's not sure Bellamy can actually deliver on those words.]

No, because I won't let them touch me or the people I care about. I dare anyone to try.

[baring]

I've been stealing knives from Zenith since I got here. They're not designed for combat, but they'll do the trick. [ steak knives, chef knives, utility knives, pretty much anything he could find. swords are more octavia's strong suit and although she and lincoln had shown him a couple things, he's better with firearms. ]

Don't dare them or they will. [ peggy, please. ] Are all of your people accounted for? [ friends, people, same difference. ]

[womanofvalue]

You know, you shouldn't say such things like that over the devices.

[As if they don't have something in their head, too, but perhaps Peggy is just paranoid for the sake of being able to protect herself from harm, when really, she doubts that such a thing can happen in this place. Of course, if she were truly smart, she'd listen to his advice about not daring them on anything.]

I think so. I've sent out messages, but the situation can change at any moment. Is there a safe place people are gathering?

[baring]

Probably not, but until someone with enough tech know-how comes along with the ability to override the piece in our head? I think it's safe to assume that nothing's private.

[ yeah, it gives him goosebumps. a portion of it is likely paranoia, stemming from feeling as though he's been in situations too similar to ignore. ]

If there are any established safe zones, I hope they're far away from the facility. I can look into it for you. I've been trying to stay isolated.

[womanofvalue]

[She knows two people who could override it, but neither Howard nor Jason Wilkes happen to be here, and so Peggy is left with a device in her head that she absolutely does not trust one bit.]

If you find one, please let me know. Perhaps we can meet there, ride this out until everyone is done being some false version of themselves.

[baring]

I'll keep you updated, but it I find a place, I won't be joining you. I've been compromised. That means I'm riding this out alone as long as possible. [ he sincerely doubts a headache is all that he has to guard against. he can't predict what's coming, but he knows what he's capable of at his worst and it's not a variable he wants in play.

his earth is stock full of kill or be killed choices, and just because he'd prefer not to hurt someone, it doesn't mean he won't. ]

[womanofvalue]

[Peggy hates to leave any of her people alone, which means that she needs to be there in order to help, no matter what it means for her.]

Let me come and check on you? Or is it better if we pick a time when this is all done, check on each other then?

[Will the paranoid thoughts be gone then? Will the drive and the need to find the items on the list dissipate to the point that Peggy can bear it and be herself? She doesn't know, but she has to try.]

text » video

[baring]

I'd rather meet up when this is over.

[ keeping her in the dark ( when he knows how encompassing it is ) has him switching the feed to video. she can get a good look at him from a safe distance. ]

I'm in one piece. I'll remain that way as long as I know you, and my other friends, are okay. I'm asking you not to come looking for me before this is through. Can you do that?

[womanofvalue]

[She takes her fill of looking because she never really tires of looking at Bellamy (her secret, for now) and because she wants to make sure he's not making up any stories about being fine. It does seem that he's safe, though, thankfully.]

I don't like it, but yes, I can do it.

[She's switched to video as well, letting her face fill the screen.]

Be safe, Bellamy. I like your face the way it is, it would be a shame if you did something stupid with it.

[baring]

[ he's alone in his bedroom, bag packed, straps around his shoulders. there's nothing outwardly wrong with him. when she gives him the opportunity to look upon her, he ensures the same. bellamy nods, taking some consolation out of her agreement. ]

What, this old thing? [ it'd be flattering in another type of situation. ] Try as I might to make the dumbest choice possible, nobody's ever completely dismantled it. [ he's sort of kidding. ] I'll do my best, Peggy.