026 - video

[cauchemal]

[Projection!Mal has a more dangerous light in her eyes than the normal one does these days; she's a lot more like Mal was when she first arrived on the Barge, but sneakier, deadlier, and 100% obsessed with her husband. She's got something of a femme fatale vibe too, and is dressed accordingly in a slinky blue dress. Thankfully for everyone, she is

Comments

MagicalSpam - You are welcome to delete those other comments for cleanliness if you want. :]

[lost_undercover]

[Costigan was actually listening to his so-called warden. The kid was only twelve, but he had the memories of his warden and that was enough to take his advice on some things. Especially things that Costigan knew he was right about.. and that included avoiding Mal when she was eagerly stalking her husband. He didn't know what this flood was -- maybe things forgotten? -- but he knew that another case of mistaken identity couldn't be a good thing.

So when he rounded the corner and caught sight of her, he immediately turned around and began for the opposite direction. The former undercover cursed quietly to himself, quite confident she had seen him, but it would buy him some time to think at least.]

Spam

[cauchemal]

Aha! There he was. And running away, was he? Mal picked up her pace and started after him, not saying anything just yet, but walking swiftly and purposefully to catch up with him.

Spam

[lost_undercover]

Costigan had begun climbing the stairs until he realized that the worst place for her to catch up with him would be on deck. He finally caved in at the highest level short of deck and ducked into a common room so that, at the very least, they could be alone. And Dick's room was nearby; if the warden was there and it came to it, the inmate could hopefully get-- something. He wasn't sure how much a kid could do.

The inmate felt his muscles tightening and tensing as he spun around to watch the entrance, waiting for her. He didn't know what was wrong with her, but he'd been told she wasn't herself and that was enough to make him nervous.

Re: Spam

[cauchemal]

She opened the common room door and slipped inside gracefully, closing the door behind her.

"Why do you always run, darling?"

Spam

[lost_undercover]

Costigan stood near the back wall, keeping a couch between them at the moment. He spoke carefully, choosing his words. "I wasn't running. And I'm not your husband, Mal."

Spam

[cauchemal]

She narrowed her eyes and moved closer. "Trying to deceive me? Who do you say you are, then?"

Spam

[lost_undercover]

He remained where he was, not quite sure what else he could do. He had his knife, but-- no, that didn't help at all. It wasn't an option. Instead, the former undercover simply stood evenly, refusing to allow his anxiety about this situation to show. "My name's Bill Costigan."

He fell into the Southie accent to emphasize the difference. "Look at me. Do I look like him to you? I'm a fahkin' cawp from Bahstan. I'm not yoah husband. I know the resemblance is theah an' all, but I'm nawt him.

Spam

[cauchemal]

She actually recoiled a little at the sound of his accent. "A clever piece of play-acting. But-" She trailed off, frowning at him, and it was clear from her expression that she was less certain than she'd been when she came in.

Spam

[lost_undercover]

It wasn't much in the way of hope, but it was enough. Costigan opted to try to get some answers from her while he could, if only to determine what it was about her that wasn't herself. He wanted to be able to tell her what happened if she couldn't remember and to explain the situation.

"It's no acting." It was, but no different than the acting he'd done for years throughout his life, first with his father and then with Costello and the others on L street. "Why ah you lookin' foah him? You'd think he'd want to find you. If you'ah married."

Spam

[cauchemal]

"He's become confused. He doesn't know what he wants-or he does, and he is afraid of it." Yes, she meant he; this man, no matter how much he looked like Cobb, didn't seem to actually be him. She continued to watch him, looking for any clues, but she was slowly becoming certain that her true quarry almost certainly lay elsewhere.

Spam

[lost_undercover]

"Ah you suah that's what it is?" He asked unevenly, though his mind was already moving on to trying to get away from her. Costigan knew the violence Mal was capable of if she felt she was doing the right thing and, though she seemed able to distinguish him at present, it still made him nervous.

Spam

[cauchemal]

"Of course I'm sure. Who would know better than I? No one." She took a few quick steps forward and reached out to grasp his chin, lightly. She merely wanted to get a better loot at his face, not hurt him.

Spam

[lost_undercover]

He thought about answering her question for her, but she'd already taken care of that. When she moved forward, his muscles tensed. His arms instinctively reached up toward her. Costigan controlled himself enough to force his hands to rest gently on her arms, rather than grabbing her shoulders, but he stared at her and waited for some indication of what to do.

"Then you know I'm not him too."

Spam

[cauchemal]

She leaned forward a little, not recoiling from his touch, but not reacting much either. She breathed in deeply. Exhaled. Then shook her head just a tiny bit.

"No. No, you are not, are you? So similar, and yet ..." She drew back, pulling away from him.

Spam

[lost_undercover]

Costigan held perfectly still as she moved closer, focusing on continuing to breathe evenly. If he could stand up to Costello with a loaded gun pointed at his face, he could face off with this unarmed version of Mal. Death wasn't even permanent here.

When she pulled away, he didn't hesitate to release her. More confident now, he shrugged and started shifting away from her. The guy took a few steps toward the door while still giving her a moderate berth. "Good luck. Finding yoah husband."

Spam

[cauchemal]

"I'll find him, fear not," she replied, watching him go, but not stopping him.