11 - She'll just launch this craft on the tide of complaint

[no_fastolfe]

[Filtered to Rassilon, Rinzler, Rhade, Seven, Martha, and Dracula]

Though some of you already know: I can now say, conclusively, that Sherlock Holmes, my warden, has left the barge.

[She looks very chilly as she says this, haughty and unaffected.
Please ignore the tension in her neck. She's being emotionless.]

Comments

[Private - text]

[no_fastolfe]

You saved my life, doctor. Even I can withstand bodily fluids for that.

The grief of loneliness still surprises me. The pain of it. I don't want to be alone in it-- surely you do not either?

[Private - text]

[toldastory]

No, I suppose I don't.

[Private - text]

[no_fastolfe]

I will find you-- in your rooms?

[Log-spam-assume?]

[Private] Spam!

[toldastory]

I'm in my room on the second level. Room 11.

Spam

[no_fastolfe]

[Vasilia was there within minutes, garbed sensibly but not completely concealed. She knew that she was unlikely to be made sick, given the treatments she was taking. They could at least grieve together.

She wrapped, her gloved knuckles resolute against the door.]

Doctor?

Spam

[toldastory]

[Martha opened the door after a moment, and it was obvious that she had made an effort to look better than she would have otherwise. Her face was dry, and so were her eyes, despite the fact that they were still tinted red. Martha swallowed thickly and then she took a step back into her flat.]

Thank you for coming.

Spam

[no_fastolfe]

[Vasilia knew the telltale signs well-- she had spent time trying to hide them in herself. Seeing them on a woman who had been so unshakeably strong pierced through her own, stale loneliness and struck a rarely-tapped well inside her. Unalloyed compassion. She opened her arms as the other woman had often done for her.]

Martha. Please come here, you can tell me all about it.

Re: Spam

[toldastory]

[With a little whimper, Martha wrapped her arms around the woman, needing the hug. She needed someone to mother her a bit after she'd been doing it so long for everyone else.]

We had a fight. A huge one and we just fought so badly and I was so angry and he asked me to leave.

Spam

[no_fastolfe]

[Vasilia gripped her tightly, softly stroking the other woman's hair.]

How terible. Oh Martha, what did you fight over? Can it not be resolved?

Spam

[toldastory]

His inmate is going to graduate soon. I wanted to stay until mine did as well. And then we got into a horrible fight and our tempers escalated and I said somethings I didn't mean.

And I think he did too. I hope he didn't mean them.

Spam

[no_fastolfe]

I do not know him well. But he is at least quite committed to you. I could not imagine--

[Vasilia tugs her softly, coaxing her to sit down]

I am not expert in relationships. But yours with your husband has been enduring.

Spam

[toldastory]

[Martha let herself be coaxed into sitting down and then she took a deep breath.]

He kicked me out of our room.

Spam

[no_fastolfe]

People often react... very irrationally in the throes of emotion. [Vasilia's voice is quiet. She's not proud of the proof she has presented to that end in the past.] He is-- an antisocial man? Of harsh temper? Am I wrong?

Spam

[toldastory]

He is. I know he lashes out when he's angry or frightened. I know how he can use words as a weapon I just didn't expect it to be this bad.

Spam

[no_fastolfe]

[Vasilia frowns and embraces Martha again]

I hope, too, that it is mended. Martha, I am so sorry.

Spam

[toldastory]

[For a moment Martha just can't say anything, and she just cries again, her hand over her mouth as if it would stop her from making noises that would get her caught.]

Spam

[no_fastolfe]

[Vasilia pulls her close again, unconcerned with bodily fluids or anything else but her friend's comfort.]

Spam

[toldastory]

[For a while all Martha can do is cry, because she just hates this so much.]

I hate fighting with him.

Spam

[no_fastolfe]

[Unsure what to say, Vasilia simply nods and grips her shoulder.] You are too kind to thrive in conflict.

Spam

[toldastory]

I've saved so many people, Vasilia. I walked across the world when it was in wastes, I saved everyone with words and now we just fight so bitterly and badly.

Spam

[no_fastolfe]

You give so much of yourself. I fear sometimes it is to your detriment. [She frowns worriedly]

Spam

[toldastory]

[Martha chuckled, but it wasn't a happy sound.] That's what he thinks too.

Spam

[no_fastolfe]

[Perhaps he is right she almost says and feels that it is-- not right, not now.]

What do you feel?

Spam

[toldastory]

I don't know. I really don't.

[Martha whimpered for a moment.]

I don't know. Before I'd say no, and now I don't know.

Spam

[no_fastolfe]

[Vasilia aches for her, reaches out to take one of her hands, the thin plastic glove not blocking the warmth of the other woman's hand.]

I have seen you in such great pain, Martha, at other people's expense. Can you not-- for a while-- think as a Spacer? Look to your own needs. What do you want, for your own sake and nobody else's?