Film at Eleven

[onemorebounty]

"...with highs in the mid-seventies and cloudy for the rest of the week. Back to you, Bill."

*The midday news droned on in the background as Samus scraped at a pot in the sink. Her last effort at a pot roast had shown progress, but she was far from satisfied with how it had come out. It was, cookbooks and cooking programs assured her, an easy

Comments

[vicioussweetie]

The phone was answered on the third ring by a rather cheerful-sounding Ali. "Hello?"

[onemorebounty]

*Samus' tone, by contrast, is tense but controlled.*

It's me. We may have a problem. The local news is about to run a piece on aliens in the area. I've been careful, I don't know what they could have on me.

[vicioussweetie]

Ali sighed softly, and Samus can almost hear her shaking her head.

"Have you been arrested yet? Contacted by the authorities? Have their been news vans outside the house?"

[onemorebounty]

*This isn't the kind of reaction she expected.*

No, no, and no. But I haven't checked on my ship in a few days. I try not to visit too often, it could draw attention.

[vicioussweetie]

"Just sit tight and wait to see what the news is saying. It's probably just anchorperson hyperbole, darling."

[onemorebounty]

*Ah.*

...I grow less and less enthused with journalists all the time. Hold on, they're coming back.

*A prod to the television brings back the sound.*

"-by the appearance of several 'crop circles' overnight in fields along Route 1. Police received several reports of strange lights from nearby residents-"

*She mutes it again.*

Crop circles?

[vicioussweetie]

"Don't get me started."

Ali tries to listen to the television, but it's too quiet, so she has to settle for waiting for Samus to come back and explain.

"Patterns of flattened crops out in fields. Nobody knows how or why. Well, the people who make them probably know, but they aren't telling. Some people think it's aliens, some people think it's college kids pulling pranks."

[onemorebounty]

Ah. I'm going to have to look into this, I think. Sorry about this.

[vicioussweetie]

"It's okay. Just... don't panic. Okay? Don't panic."

[onemorebounty]

I won't.

*The responsible parties might, if she finds them before she's calmed down.*

[vicioussweetie]

"And don't hurt anyone. It's probably just a silly prank, nothing to get all worked up about. Or, in their cases, nothing to get killed over."

[onemorebounty]

I wasn't going to kill anyone.

[vicioussweetie]

"Just making sure."

[onemorebounty]

I hope things are going better for you?

*Holding the phone between ear and shoulder, she goes back to scrubbing her pot.*

[vicioussweetie]

"Oh, about the same as usual. The list of things I cannot trust Hans to manage alone grows at a steady pace. I don't know if it's because I'm pregnant and slightly out of my mind or not, but he used to seem more... capable. Is it just me?" Ali asks this in a mostly philosophical tone.

[onemorebounty]

*A sigh.*

What's he done now?