IC CONTACT

[allgotrabies]

Hey, it's Annie, you know what to do.

Comments

[questionsonly]

[ There's just the sound of low breathing for a moment. ]

That is not the only way to get demoted. And. I should think you, as someone who's been here long enough. Should know that. The fact that I don't want to get into specifics doesn't have anything to do with smoke. And everything to do with the fact that those thoughts? Are not helpful right now. To you. Or to me. I've been perfectly clear. No games.

Don't believe me? Feel free to ask Iris. That punch? I walked myself down to Zero. Blanky? I called Hux to put us in Zero. And made sure it was Hux. So Iris couldn't let us out early.

I'm not enabling him. This. isn't enabling him. Again, and... I'd really prefer not to repeat myself: there have been consequences between us. On a variety of levels. And I'm just as aware that you won't believe that. Or that you'd really care. The fact that I'm not sharing them with the person who just killed him should be basic logic. But that doesn't serve your vigilante justice protector narrative. It speaks to a 'violence is my only language even though I'm going to pretend I'm better than him' narrative.

The same way your 'my murder is morally superior to his murder because I handled it the Right Way' does.

I'm not acting like you're a big violent problem. I'm talking to you, as someone who murdered my mate. Didn't contact me. Didn't contact him, as far as I can tell. And you're still not listening. But I suppose I was being charitable, thinking you might, was asking too much.

I haven't asked for submission. I haven't asked you to be cowed. Or deferential. The idea? Hadn't even occurred to me. That hasn't been what this is about. Since the beginning.

Even if you wish it was so you can again and again dress up the fact that you killed a man in cold blood. Please don't pretend to empathy you clearly don't feel. It's performative. And unhelpful.

[allgotrabies]

[if he could see her rolling her eyes. Typical man, especially typical male wolf: tell her she doesn't feel empathy when she isn't bowing to his superior insights.]

If what you're asking for is a ceasefire? There already was one. So what the fuck else do you want?

Keep him from firing the next shot and we're fine. That's it. That's the truce. I'm not going to give you some promise that oh, well, next time I'll tell you he did a bad thing so you can make him sleep on the couch. You can keep talking and talking and you are not going to get that from me. I'm listening to you but that doesn't mean I'm going to agree with you. Sorry, bruh. Saying it again: you are lecturing the wrong side.

Put a leash on your mate if you're so fucking worried about him getting hurt.

[questionsonly]

Yup. Still not listening. Thanks for confirming that.

[ And surprisingly? He doesn't sound angry. He sounds chipper. He'd tried real? She lost that privilege.]

Okay. I won't bother you aaaaaaanymore. You're right. Words? Won't work. The only way to handle this? Well. You showed me the truth of your opinions there. Clearly.

Enjoy the scenery up your own ass.

[ And done. He won't pick up. ]

[allgotrabies]

Uh huh. Great talk, mister.

[a week or so later]

[allgotrabies]

So I'm guessing you won't call me back but, [she isn't afraid to admit when she's wrong; the breath is just because she doesn't know how to move forward. hence the inmate thing, probably.] I really don't want our packs to get into it. I really, really don't, and I know you don't either.

Can we talk? Or, what do they say in the old movies- parlay?

[She's been watching old pirate movies because of Crozier. Somehow, she thinks, it might help her learn sailor lingo faster.]

[questionsonly]

Yes, because you called an adult.

[ A bland, empty tone. Polite but... nothing more than that. ]

How can I help you, Annie?

[allgotrabies]

[She won't roll her eyes this time. Because she's an adult and not sniping now, Warren.]

I think a lot of wires got crossed last week. Like we were saying the same things to each other and then just saying them louder.

Here's what I know. You don't want anything bad to happen to Jacobi. I don't want anything bad to happen to my people. I don't want to hurt Jacobi. You don't want him to hurt my pack. Stop me if I'm wrong. [And for the love of God don't text it to her.]

[questionsonly]

[ She's the one who started with assuming he'd ignore her like a teenager. Not a good look to start, Annie. ]

Yes, you're missing a few pieces: I don't want anything bad to happen to anyone. I don't want to hurt you, or your pack. I don't want Jacobi to hurt anyone, including your pack.

If you can't believe that? Then I don't see how we can talk.

[allgotrabies]

I do believe that. You aren't the one who hurt all those people, Warren. And I don't blame you for things he's done, and I don't think I made that real clear last time so I wanted to now. I meant what I said...I know what it's like to love someone when half the world wants him dead. [And when he maybe deserves it.] I believe, all the way through, that you're doing your best with this.

You know I've tangled with your pack before, right? Before the Barge.

[questionsonly]

You mentioned.

Which is why I had no intention of involving my pack. Lark or Iris.

Even though I'd argue that it's not the same pack. any more than the Ship of Theseus. is the same ship.

[allgotrabies]

[Quiet, a little flat, because she has no idea what Theseus is. Does the Barge have a name? Is that what the Barge is called?] The leaders are who make it the same. If we were at home, one of our packs would be dead by now.

But we're not home. So I want to know how confident you are that he's not going to hurt anyone else.

[questionsonly]

I reject that idea. For a variety of reasons. But. that's hardly the point. Like you said: we're not at your home.

Why do you want to know?

[allgotrabies]

[Well this time she can't suppress the ironic snort. Of course he does. He's arrogant enough to think he knows how this all works.]

Why? Jesus Christ. Why would I want to know if there's a bomb about to go off, gee, I don't know, Warren.

[questionsonly]

[ He's not answering her snort. And he's not dealing with her lack of ability to imagine a different way to handle things than her own. ]

If you're going to keep acting like he's a thing instead of a person?

This discussion is over.

[allgotrabies]

A person who has no problem rewiring another person or blowing up another man. A man who literally makes bombs that go off. Let's not keep acting like he's a child who stole a cookie.

[questionsonly]

So we're going to stoop his level? That's your solution?

No one's acting like that.

Again? You're assuming things.

[allgotrabies]

I'm at his level, Warren, I'm an inmate. A vicious awful inmate with no empathy, remember? Since we're going to bring up all these assumptions like I'm the only one making them.

[God he's annoying.]

Do you think he's going to hurt anyone again, yes or no? That's all I'm asking. That's the only thing that actually matters right now.

[questionsonly]

I also never said that. There's a reason I use so many words.

It's because things? can be complicated.

[ There's no rise or fall in his own tone. Whatever he thinks of Annie is, well... clearly she's decided what he thinks. Why should he say anything? ]

It's what matters to you.

If this is just about what you want? I don't really have much to say.

[allgotrabies]

I want people to stop being killed by your mate for no reason. I want to know if I'm in danger. If you think that's wrong then yeah, we really have nothing else to say.

How about you use some of those words to answer the question.

[questionsonly]

There's a reason.

Not that anyone's asked.

You're on the barge, you're in danger.

I can't speak to it otherwise.

If your concern is about your personal safety and the personal safety of Connor?

I do not believe you are currently in danger of retaliatory violence.

Was there anything else?

[allgotrabies]

Yeah the fact you can't even pretend he's not still dangerous says a lot. Get fucked. When he blows his lid again, I'm going to hope he dies screaming, just like he did the last time I had my teeth in his gut.

[questionsonly]

Goodbye, Annie.

I sincerely hope you learn how to gain some perspective.

[allgotrabies]

I've got it already, bruh.