itstopped | Re-Entry 16: Video

((Backdated to before Racetrack's disappearance, sometime after this thread.))

[Private to Trip, CC: Dean]

[Honestly, as remarkable as what's happened is, it's almost as remarkable that Felix is the first one to notice. He just really doesn't spend that much time in his own quarters anymore. But he stops by to pick something up, and that's when he notices the changes. Specifically, this one, which is why the camera is currently on what looks like a very standard shower.]

...Trip? [If he sounds completely bewildered, it's only because he is.]

[Friends filter (if you think you're on it, etc. Including you, Morgana.)]

I, um... I graduated today. [He still doesn't really sound like he believes it.] And for those of you who know what I was thinking about why I hadn't, I think I was right, because I'm not really sure what I'm going to do next. But... whatever happens, I wanted to say... thank you. To all of you. You deserve to hear that.

Actually, that's not entirely true. I do know one thing I'm going to do next. [He smiles slightly.] The CES showed me Picon once, just once... I'm going to go to the pub, get a bottle of something, and go sit there until it shows up again. Feel free to join me.

[Private to Racetrack and Claire Bennet, separately]

I'd like to ask you a question.

[Public]

[And this one is from the CES, later, when he seems to have found both his bottle and his world. He's sitting on a long stretch of beach, a low grassy hill rising behind him, the wind and salt in his hair; and even though the sun brings out all his imperfections -- how pale he's become under the olive tones of his skin, the shock of gray hair at his temples, the dark rings under his eyes -- he looks younger and softer than he ever has before. He takes a drink from the bottle and rubs a hand over his mouth.]

Does anyone know... has anyone ever stayed on this ship without becoming a warden?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She's not yet comfortable enough with him for silences. So, Claire keeps going.]

Yeah, pretty much, between home and here, heh. Helps that I can't feel it anymore, either.

[She opens her mouth to explain but hides it with an induced yawn, which she covers with the back of her free hand, thinking she'll let Felix decide if he wants more A Look Into Claire's Life.]

[Which is maybe a little ironic, because he himself is much more comfortable with silence. He doesn't really know what to do with chatter. If he doesn't ask further -- and he doesn't -- it's not because he doesn't like her. Felix is just a very private person, and it doesn't really occur to him to quiz her now.

He does, however, shoot her a curious look at that last admission, and he shifts the tube he's holding to the other hand so he can jot down a quick note. He finishes up the sample a moment later, carefully easing the needle back out of her arm. Running somewhat on autopilot, he starts to reach for a cotton ball before remembering that she won't need it.]

...Right. Well, that's that, then, I think... [He glances over the tubes, the documents scattered on the workstation surface.] Just a couple of questions, if you don't mind, actually. [But somehow, he suspects she won't.] How old are you? And how long has it been since this... started?

Edited 2013-09-14 22:11 (UTC)

[Claire winces, eyes descending to her lap before bouncing back up.] I don't mean to answer those with a question, but with this place it's relevant. You want my guessed age that includes Barge years? Or...what age I should be? [Frowns as she confuses herself and just shakes her head.] Know what? Forget it, I should be twenty-four, only my body stopped aging some years ago. My guess is between sixteen and eighteen years old. As for when the healing started, that was from birth. In my world, we're born with our abilities.

[Unless the Company, you know, kidnapped you and injected a power(s) into your body.]

[The first part is fair enough, he guesses; after all, he's technically been dead for a year now, so how old is he supposed to be? Still, he writes 24 on his notes, and 17? as well. He frowns down at the second number, brow furrowing.]

You said anymore.

[Clicks tongue against teeth.] Yeah. I was 18 or 19. Happened when I left the Barge to go home for a bit.

[Happened because Sylar opened her head.]

And that prompted a change? You stopped feeling pain entirely after being on the Barge?

Heh, no it had nothing to do with the Barge and everything to do with Sylar. Strangely enough, he was an Inmate here...he was always hunting me down for my ability and one day, he finally caught up. That's what prompted the change.

[After graduation? he thinks but doesn't say. As matter-of-fact as she's being about it, this is odd and uncomfortable territory, and he doesn't want to push on the parts he has no business pushing on.]

So he... did something and it... backfired?

[She draws in a deep breath slowly, holds it, and then lets it rush out. Claire knows why Felix is asking, why he should know and that she should have just said this in the first place.]

Sylar used to take people's abilities by slicing their heads open. He'd take it right from their brain, literally. So after he poked around in mine, not only did we discover that I can't die, but afterwards, I just stopped feeling pain. I don't know how or why because he never offered up an explanation. I don't think it was intentional.

[That's sort of a lot to take in, but he doesn't really try to; he just blinks at her, then shakes his head and writes that down, too. He does need to know for the research, but he doesn't need to know, not personally.]

Maybe I can find something out. There might be a clue here.

You really think so? Because I've always wondered. I mean, pain reminds you you're alive, and while it's certainly come in handy not feeling everything...I do miss it. It made me just a little less, I don't know, stupid crazy brave?

Re-Entry 16: Video

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