001 - video (plus spam for Arthur)

[cauchemal]

[Anyone on either side of Mal's room (7.05) will hear a voice calling "Dom?" After a moment, Mal knocks over her communicator, switching it on, and the Barge video feed is treated to a dining-table's-eye-view of a pretty woman looking worriedly around what appears to be the living room of a creatively- and eclectically-decorated Southern California

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Arthur Spam Thread

[paradoxlol]

Arthur smiles a little when she confirms that it does sound insane. At least Mal's got some of her sanity left. He'd probably be more concerned if she had believed him whole heartedly. But then there's the dreaded question. Arthur doesn't want to be the one to tell her, but then, who else would? He doesn't trust anybody here to break it to Mal properly. The inmates would try to drive her further into insanity. The other wardens don't have the best track record of not coming across as confrontational or self righteous.

"You're dead. And you don't know why you're here. Statistically speaking, that makes you one of the people up for a second chance." But now the question is: why is Mal an inmate? He knows what happened, how she framed Cobb, but in a way it feels like the Admiral's condemning her as cut from the same cloth as the genocidal nutcases and killers. "You'll be assigned a warden-- like a case worker, not a jailer. They'll help you sort out... whatever it is you need. When you're finished here, you can go back

Arthur Spam Thread

[paradoxlol]

He gives her a moment, knowing it's a lot to take in, but when Mal starts to shake, he doesn't feel right just standing there. Arthur's really not as emotionless as people tend to think, especially when it comes to the few people he considers friends. He puts a hand on Mal's shoulder, then crouches down beside her, keeping an arm around her, but he doesn't say anything just yet. He lets her have this moment, but tries to make it clear that he's here for her.

Arthur Spam Thread

[cauchemal]

Regardless of circumstances, she's infinitely grateful for the contact, and eventually the sobs subside, and she draws a few ragged but even breaths.

"I think," she says quietly, "that I'd like to be alone. I … I need to think. It's all so very much."

Arthur Spam Thread

[paradoxlol]

Arthur hesitates. He doesn't know how much of a danger she is to herself right now, and he doesn't want to come back later to a horrific surprise. Then again, he knows how stubborn Mal is, and he's used to just nodding and doing what she asks. It's that maternal vibe she gives off; he just can't refuse her requests that easily.

"Okay..." He pulls out his communicator, as he's not sure if she found her own yet. "Use one of these to call me if you need anything."

He pockets it again and stands up, looking around. "And if you need any help picking up, I'll be around."

Literally. Because he doesn't plan on leaving the corridor for the next few hours. He may listen to Mal's requests, but he's not about to leave a suicidal woman completely unsupervised.

Arthur Spam Thread

[cauchemal]

She nods in recognition at the communicator; so that's what that thing is. "All right. I think ... I think I shall manage."

She guesses, somehow, that he's going to be outside; she knows his habits and his loyalties well. Escape can wait. For now, if Arthur listens, all he will hear inside her room is the soft sounds of a woman slowly trying to clean up the wreckage of her life.