[ voice ]

[hostage]

[Voice this time, not his usual video. He's pretty sick of people telling him how awful he looks when he's got the shakes. Not that he sounds great, either, but typing's too much effort and he doesn't care that much.]

This is, uh, like a heads-up. I don't think I can do the cookie thing next week. Just a lotta work, you know, in the kitchen then going out in the rain all day. I don't... yeah. Anyway, I can give you all the stuff if you wanna do it yourself. It'd be nice if somebody was out there for the new guys. I never really thought about making sure somebody else could do it if I was gone.

[A pause.]

Yeah. That's it, I guess. 409 if you wanna pick up ingredients or whatever.

Comments

[hostage]

They can't.

[freewoman]

Then what happened?

[hostage]

It's like... Okay, so sometimes you're already taking a medicine, right? And then you stop using it and it takes a while for your body to get used to not having it? That's what happened.

[freewoman]

[She still doesn't like the sound of that and only barely understands it.]

But you'll be okay? [Because you're an idiot, but an idiot she's gotten used to.]

[hostage]

[...He did not realize she was that worried.]

Totally, yeah. I won't die or anything.

[freewoman]

[People can die from colds.]

Good. [Grumbly.] Y'don't need anything, aye?

[hostage]

Nah, I'm all good. Just gotta ride this out.

[freewoman]

Glad t'hear it. [Although he should have taken the opportunity. It's a rare occasion she offers to do something for someone.]

Guess your modern stuff can't fix everything.

[hostage]

Yeah, the "modern stuff" probably causes more trouble than it fixes.

[freewoman]

That doesn't surprise me.

[hostage]

Penicillin and microwaves are pretty good, though.

[freewoman]

Dunno what neither of those are. [She hasn't been introduced to many modern conveniences, yet.]

[hostage]

[He wouldn't expect the penicillin, but -]

Nobody showed you microwaves yet?

[freewoman]

I don't live in the apartments. [And she doesn't really hang out with many people.]

I live fine on me own.

[hostage]

Yeah, I bet you do. Ain't it kinda lonely, though? And, uh... wet?

[freewoman]

I go out of the city enough t'keep me busy. Plus I know enough people. [She just-- generally doesn't like most people.]

And I have me own place. And I know someone who's fixin' the holes for me.

[hostage]

How come you didn't wanna stay here? It's got less holes.

[freewoman]

Because a giant place to hole us all up in screams of a trap. Or a target. And I'd rather not. [She distrusts most of this place.]

[hostage]

Yeah, but... I dunno. It's easier to watch each other's backs when we're all in one place.

[freewoman]

I've handled worse than this place before. [Now if an army attacks, that's different.]

[hostage]

Another reason why it'd be nice to have you around.

[freewoman]

I've a place already. Besides what're you gunna do if I'm out?

[hostage]

Same thing I'm doing now, I guess.

[freewoman]

Then why are you tryin' t'convince me to come over?

[hostage]

I didn't think I was convincing.