[Scene] A Nice Chat (or as nice as it gets in Bloodspill)
Matt: *Sitting on the nicely furnished couch in the prison's lounge, Matt's eyes are on the television at the moment, as he takes in the daily news. Letting out a small laugh, he shakes his head. He doesn't take his eyes off the screen, but he speaks clearly to Wellington.* Can you believe that, dude? Who would really be stupid enough to put their hand in there. Of course it is gonna get lobbed off.
Wellington: *leans back into the couch at Matt's side, and winces as he eyes the report being run on the static-laced screen* And they couldn't recover the thumb...? *opens his hands and looks down on them, wiggling his fingers as if making sure they're all still there* I'll have to remember not to do that. *shudders a little*
Dee: *The doorknob turns perfunctorily, the door creaking open to allow a sinuous figure to creep in. Dee Vasquez marches into the dilapidated lounge, giving the ramshackle television a distasteful glare over the wafting, redolent streams of smoke issuing from her ubiquitous pipe. Tucked under her arm is a book with a cat on it. Dee, noticing the two men sitting nearby, marches over to an unoccupied seat and gingerly rests in it, folding…
Dee: *...folding her legs casually and taking a long sip from her pipe, exhaling a trail of smoke*
Matt: *His uncovered eye darts over to Dee before he turns his whole face to her, grinning.* Ms. Vasquez! Hey! I never see you in here. How are you today?
Wellington: *also looks up, and smiles and waves at her* Hi, ah... Ms. Vasquez!
Dee: *Dee notices Matt first, being more thoroughly acquainted with him. Experiences with Mr. Wellington are few and far-between...
Dee: as his cell is far away from hers; a few aisles down. She smiles in that enigmatic way at Matt* Mr. Engarde. *she nods to Welly* Mr. Wellington. *she looks back to Matt, taking another sip from her pipe and resting the cat book on her lap* How are you faring?
Matt: Totally well, Ms. Vasquez. *He keeps the smile on his face even if it is more forced than earlier. He is still waiting for Mimi to respond to him on his recent screened entry.* Come to watch the evening news with us? *He glances down to the book on her lap.* Or catch up on your reading?
Wellington: The news is really interesting. There's so much going on outside the prison..! *leans back again next to Matt and looks as a commercial starts playing*
Dee: That is good, Mr. Engarde. By the way, I think you've convinced me to look into getting a cat... *she says amiably, holding up the book for a moment, only to freeze mid-sentence as she glances at Wellington's uncharacteristic naivete. She answers succinctly* Considering this prison is only a step above hell, yes.
Matt: *Smiles at picture of the cat on the book.* That's great to hear, Ms. Vasquez! Like I said, cats are probably the best pets out there! I know you'll totally love one if you get one. When are you finally out of this place?
Wellington: She's getting out? *looks back over at Dee, then smiles* Oh, Matt, when do you think I'll be able to get out?
Matt: *His eyes widen and he looks at Wellington, very surprised. He didn't think he would forget that.* Oh-Er... *Coughs quickly, glancing back to Dee.*
Dee: *Dee says nothing initially, simply lifting the pipe's tube to her lips and sipping from it again, then, after she removes it, blowing an impressive streak of slate-gray...
Dee: smoke into the air. She glances back to Matt, adopting a thoughtful, inquisitive look in her eyes for a moment* Hm. Around... four months, if I keep up the good behavior. *at Wellington's comment, however, she goes somewhat quiet, uncertain what to say. From what she can remember about Wellington's designated fate, it is not to be a pleasant one* ... What? *she asks, cocking an eyebrow*
Matt: I think you got a few years left. Same as I do, dude...
Dee: ... *Dee turns her gaze back to Matt, spinning her pipe indecisively between her fingers. She feels tempted to probe into the situation, but probably not on this topic*
Matt: Uh, anyway... *Smiles again at Dee.* How have the other inmates been treating you?
Dee: *Dee smiles a little, rather relieved to change the subject* Well, thank you. Aside from you, Madame Fey, and Mr. Armando, though, I haven't heard much... though I met a former inmate on my journal. She seemed acquainted with you.
Matt: A former inmate? *Raising an eyebrow, Matt tilts his head before realizing who she is talking about.* Oh, April, you mean?
Dee: *Dee nods pensively, still consistently rolling her pipe between her fingers. She never received a specific name from the girl but recognized her from a description she offered to a guard.* Yes. The girl with the ghastly pink hair.
Matt: *Grins.* So you talked to her? What about?
Dee: She wanted to know why I was in prison. She said she was an accomplice to murder. *again, Dee sips from the pipe and exhales some smoke* Haven't we all, in this place. Though I was surprised a girl like her...
Wellington: *still has his eyes on the TV* I'm in here for killing a dude.
Matt: Well...*Grins wider.* I didn't kill anyone! But you know all about that, don't you, Ms. Vasquez.
Dee: *Dee seems to be somewhat surprised that Welly has ended his silence, and glances at…
Dee: …him curiously.* This is a surprise to you? *she asks contemplatively, then, in response to Matt's comment, impersonally adds,* Of course, Mr. Engarde.
Wellington: Not really. I heard that most people in our block are in for killing someone, so it makes sense that I'm in here.
Dee: You say that as if you had to -figure out- what you did, Mr. Wellington. *Dee remarks, brow still cocked in a way not quizzical, but analytical*
Matt: *Answers quickly.* He was just confused about exactly why he was stuck in here. I mean, the dude obviously deserved to be killed. I hear he was really unattractive or something.
Dee: *Dee is (un)surprisingly unaffected by this comment, but relents* How unfortunate. *she murmurs*
Wellington: *laughs a little* I'm glad I don't remember what he looked like, then.
Matt: *Grins a little wider as he crosses his arms, leaning back on the couch.* I'm glad to hear things are well for you, Ms. Vasquez. Please, if there is ever anything you need around here, just ask me. I have a few friends on the outside who are more than happy to help me help a good friend.
Dee: Thank you, Mr. Engarde. *Dee answers, giving him that distant smile of hers* I appreciate that.
Matt: *Hears the short theme signaling the end to that evening's newsbroadcast and stands up swiftly. He looks to Wellington and motions for him to stand as well before looking back to Dee.* Thank you for the company, Ms. Vasqueze, but Welly and I have a few things we need to attend to. I'm sure we can take some more time and catch up later though.
Dee: *Dee glances to the dilapidated television and then back at Matt and Welly. Smiling distantly, she nods to the two individually* It was no trouble, Mr. Engarde. Take care of yourself. *she looks to Wellington, and nods* And you as well, Mr. Wellington.
Matt: *Nods before he strides towards the door that leads outside of the lounge.* Later!
Wellington: *stands up as soon as Matt directs him to* ...Nice meeting you, Ms. Vasquez! *smiles politely and waves to her before following Matt out*
Dee: *Dee watches the two men leave somewhat somberly, then returns her attention to the infernal racket the TV consistently keeps issuing. Using the remote to silence the contraption, she finally…
Dee: …savors the muteness of the television, opening the cat book. One last time, Dee takes a deep sip from her pipe and removes it from her lips, the coals cradled within the pipe glowing a lurid amber. And she exhales, expelling a brief, but spectacular stream of smoke into the air, the serpentine mist somersaulting further into the air before it curls in on itself and disappears*
Wellington: *leans back into the couch at Matt's side, and winces as he eyes the report being run on the static-laced screen* And they couldn't recover the thumb...? *opens his hands and looks down on them, wiggling his fingers as if making sure they're all still there* I'll have to remember not to do that. *shudders a little*
Dee: *The doorknob turns perfunctorily, the door creaking open to allow a sinuous figure to creep in. Dee Vasquez marches into the dilapidated lounge, giving the ramshackle television a distasteful glare over the wafting, redolent streams of smoke issuing from her ubiquitous pipe. Tucked under her arm is a book with a cat on it. Dee, noticing the two men sitting nearby, marches over to an unoccupied seat and gingerly rests in it, folding…
Dee: *...folding her legs casually and taking a long sip from her pipe, exhaling a trail of smoke*
Matt: *His uncovered eye darts over to Dee before he turns his whole face to her, grinning.* Ms. Vasquez! Hey! I never see you in here. How are you today?
Wellington: *also looks up, and smiles and waves at her* Hi, ah... Ms. Vasquez!
Dee: *Dee notices Matt first, being more thoroughly acquainted with him. Experiences with Mr. Wellington are few and far-between...
Dee: as his cell is far away from hers; a few aisles down. She smiles in that enigmatic way at Matt* Mr. Engarde. *she nods to Welly* Mr. Wellington. *she looks back to Matt, taking another sip from her pipe and resting the cat book on her lap* How are you faring?
Matt: Totally well, Ms. Vasquez. *He keeps the smile on his face even if it is more forced than earlier. He is still waiting for Mimi to respond to him on his recent screened entry.* Come to watch the evening news with us? *He glances down to the book on her lap.* Or catch up on your reading?
Wellington: The news is really interesting. There's so much going on outside the prison..! *leans back again next to Matt and looks as a commercial starts playing*
Dee: That is good, Mr. Engarde. By the way, I think you've convinced me to look into getting a cat... *she says amiably, holding up the book for a moment, only to freeze mid-sentence as she glances at Wellington's uncharacteristic naivete. She answers succinctly* Considering this prison is only a step above hell, yes.
Matt: *Smiles at picture of the cat on the book.* That's great to hear, Ms. Vasquez! Like I said, cats are probably the best pets out there! I know you'll totally love one if you get one. When are you finally out of this place?
Wellington: She's getting out? *looks back over at Dee, then smiles* Oh, Matt, when do you think I'll be able to get out?
Matt: *His eyes widen and he looks at Wellington, very surprised. He didn't think he would forget that.* Oh-Er... *Coughs quickly, glancing back to Dee.*
Dee: *Dee says nothing initially, simply lifting the pipe's tube to her lips and sipping from it again, then, after she removes it, blowing an impressive streak of slate-gray...
Dee: smoke into the air. She glances back to Matt, adopting a thoughtful, inquisitive look in her eyes for a moment* Hm. Around... four months, if I keep up the good behavior. *at Wellington's comment, however, she goes somewhat quiet, uncertain what to say. From what she can remember about Wellington's designated fate, it is not to be a pleasant one* ... What? *she asks, cocking an eyebrow*
Matt: I think you got a few years left. Same as I do, dude...
Dee: ... *Dee turns her gaze back to Matt, spinning her pipe indecisively between her fingers. She feels tempted to probe into the situation, but probably not on this topic*
Matt: Uh, anyway... *Smiles again at Dee.* How have the other inmates been treating you?
Dee: *Dee smiles a little, rather relieved to change the subject* Well, thank you. Aside from you, Madame Fey, and Mr. Armando, though, I haven't heard much... though I met a former inmate on my journal. She seemed acquainted with you.
Matt: A former inmate? *Raising an eyebrow, Matt tilts his head before realizing who she is talking about.* Oh, April, you mean?
Dee: *Dee nods pensively, still consistently rolling her pipe between her fingers. She never received a specific name from the girl but recognized her from a description she offered to a guard.* Yes. The girl with the ghastly pink hair.
Matt: *Grins.* So you talked to her? What about?
Dee: She wanted to know why I was in prison. She said she was an accomplice to murder. *again, Dee sips from the pipe and exhales some smoke* Haven't we all, in this place. Though I was surprised a girl like her...
Wellington: *still has his eyes on the TV* I'm in here for killing a dude.
Matt: Well...*Grins wider.* I didn't kill anyone! But you know all about that, don't you, Ms. Vasquez.
Dee: *Dee seems to be somewhat surprised that Welly has ended his silence, and glances at…
Dee: …him curiously.* This is a surprise to you? *she asks contemplatively, then, in response to Matt's comment, impersonally adds,* Of course, Mr. Engarde.
Wellington: Not really. I heard that most people in our block are in for killing someone, so it makes sense that I'm in here.
Dee: You say that as if you had to -figure out- what you did, Mr. Wellington. *Dee remarks, brow still cocked in a way not quizzical, but analytical*
Matt: *Answers quickly.* He was just confused about exactly why he was stuck in here. I mean, the dude obviously deserved to be killed. I hear he was really unattractive or something.
Dee: *Dee is (un)surprisingly unaffected by this comment, but relents* How unfortunate. *she murmurs*
Wellington: *laughs a little* I'm glad I don't remember what he looked like, then.
Matt: *Grins a little wider as he crosses his arms, leaning back on the couch.* I'm glad to hear things are well for you, Ms. Vasquez. Please, if there is ever anything you need around here, just ask me. I have a few friends on the outside who are more than happy to help me help a good friend.
Dee: Thank you, Mr. Engarde. *Dee answers, giving him that distant smile of hers* I appreciate that.
Matt: *Hears the short theme signaling the end to that evening's newsbroadcast and stands up swiftly. He looks to Wellington and motions for him to stand as well before looking back to Dee.* Thank you for the company, Ms. Vasqueze, but Welly and I have a few things we need to attend to. I'm sure we can take some more time and catch up later though.
Dee: *Dee glances to the dilapidated television and then back at Matt and Welly. Smiling distantly, she nods to the two individually* It was no trouble, Mr. Engarde. Take care of yourself. *she looks to Wellington, and nods* And you as well, Mr. Wellington.
Matt: *Nods before he strides towards the door that leads outside of the lounge.* Later!
Wellington: *stands up as soon as Matt directs him to* ...Nice meeting you, Ms. Vasquez! *smiles politely and waves to her before following Matt out*
Dee: *Dee watches the two men leave somewhat somberly, then returns her attention to the infernal racket the TV consistently keeps issuing. Using the remote to silence the contraption, she finally…
Dee: …savors the muteness of the television, opening the cat book. One last time, Dee takes a deep sip from her pipe and removes it from her lips, the coals cradled within the pipe glowing a lurid amber. And she exhales, expelling a brief, but spectacular stream of smoke into the air, the serpentine mist somersaulting further into the air before it curls in on itself and disappears*