theresalwayshope | 31} just like a needle in a haystack, another day when we run with the wolfpack...

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31} just like a needle in a haystack, another day when we run with the wolfpack...

{forward dated to tomorrow, because the mun is impatient. :P}

[ACCIDENTAL PUBLIC VIDEO]

[When the feed flickers to life, it shows an unconscious Allison Argent, head half-buried in her pillow. The arm she has flung out towards the camera, fingertips looming large in the shot, show that she's the culprit who activated the transmission: more likely than not, she roused just enough to roll over and, in a sleepy haze, shut off a nonexistent alarm, inadvertently flicking on her video feed.

The dead transmission continues on until it is interrupted...she may be asleep, but Allison Argent's coma is officially over.]

[OPEN SPAM]

[Allison is in a miserable mood by the time she finally showers and gets dressed, heading to the dining hall to eat. For a while, she walks the corridors of the ship, just to stretch her legs and really start to feel awake again, with stops to pick up Brownie and Duchess along the way.

Once Brownie has been walked, unwilling to separate from them just yet, Allison finally heads for the pub. The keys jingle in her hand with a sad, hollow sound.

She files in with Brownie on her heels, surveying the place with a sigh. She'd requested custody of the place just after she realized Duke was gone, then fallen into another stupid coma before she could take proper care of it.

She missed him...Jesus, she missed him.

Taking a deep breath, she walked over to slip behind the bar, setting Duchess down on the end with her bandanna, some hay, and one of her chew toys to amuse her. Ever the responsible "mother," Brownie planted herself to lay on the floor directly under Duchess's perch while Allison began to shuffle around, looking over the glasses, booze, and anything else Duke might have left behind.

It was her place now...she had to learn how to keep it running.]

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It's okay, kid. Not your fault. I was fine.

[He wasn't, of course he wasn't, anyone who knows him at all would know better than to assume he was, let alone the fact that he's not the best liar in the world when it comes to the important shit, but he tightens his grip, words soft as he tucks her head under his chin and holds her close, all but pulling her into his lap, as if pulling her as close as he can will keep her solid. Keep her there this time.

There's a new patch under her cheek, if she notices, but he's sure as hell not going to call attention to it, far more concerned with her, with this. With the relief that loosens in his chest now that she's awake, moving, talking.]

[Venus' smile deepens at Allison's enthusiastic welcome. She returnes the hug, holding Allison extra-tight for a moment before releasing her. She's delighted to see the young woman back to her usual self. She misses her when she's not around, and of course, she's watched Alexander worry over Allison so she's happy on his behalf as well.]

I sympathize, but good luck finding him. I suspect you've heard by now the Admiral's made himself even more absent than usual.

[Nobody really seems to know just how absent, or whether or not it's the Admiral's choice but that's not a question she's come here to have answered anyway.

She slides one arm around Allison's shoulders, not quite ready to let her go just yet, and manages to stretch her other hand down to give Brownie a quick ear scratch.]

Just a club soda for now, if you wouldn't mind. Are you getting back in the swing of things yet?

Darling. Allison. You've been asleep ages. It's the bleeding middle of May.

[Allison stills, then drops her hand away from her face.

She's wide awake now.]

What?!?

Kind of? Sort of...not really. [Allison half-grimaces, half-smiles sheepishly.] I'm still kind of out of it, but if I don't keep busy, I have time to think, and that's...not good for anyone.

[She doesn't mind the moment of clingyness at all, and leans into Venus for a moment before she starts to steer Venus towards the bar, reaching up to cover the hand on the arm Venus has around her shoulders with her own.]

Club soda coming up...I'm trying to get back on my feet, as you can see. The bar was Duke Crocker's, and after he left I asked the Admiral if I could take over. Duke would want to make sure the place was taken care of.

Liar.

[The accusation is fond, but still fretful as she lets him tuck her close, burrowing happily against his chest to just...hold on, be hugged, to let him hold her right back and feel that she's back.

She's a rotten warden. At least, that's how she feels...

She doesn't feel the patch until she shifts in his grip to snuggle in more comfortably and presses her face against his chest. That too-slick patch of leather is gone, and her nose runs over the rough, raised stitching there. Curious, she lifts her head just a little, and when she reads the words she sits bolt upright in his arms to look at him with wide, joyful eyes.]

Oh no way. [Beaming, she lays a hand over the patch.] Really? Seriously?

[Allison scowls at the door when the overbearing voice outside hollers for service. Brownie growls peevishly, while Duchess's ears merely twitch at the disturbance.

Whoever it is, they're obnoxious. Must be an inmate.

Walking out from behind the bar, Allison crosses over to open the door, frowning at the man on the other side.]

You could ask nicely, you know.

[Obnoxious? Yes. He's doing his job right. When Allison opens the door Crowley is standing with his arms crossed over his chest, looking every bit the spoiled fussy yuppie.]

About time. Why don't they just keep this door open?

I'm in my cabin.

[And she wants to see Allison, and she'll be glad to have five minutes until she gets here. But she needs to make sure of one thing first.]

Are you okay to come over?

Yeah, totally...just give me twenty minutes to wash the coma off of me. [She makes a face, scrubbing her hands over face...then in a momentary fit of uncertainty, lowered her hands to check her arms for any drawing. Finding them bare, she relaxes and brandishes them towards the camera.]

Thank you for protecting me from coma art, by the way...I'll see you in a few?

[She manages a small smile at that, then nods.]

You're welcome.

Take a shower, take your time. I'll be here. [At least now that she's awake, they can plan that trip.]

[He has to adjust his grip when she squirms, lurching against him like there's something important happening, and for a moment he's legitimately concerned there's something he missed but then her hand moves to the strip of fabric and stitching, lips stretch into a wide grin, and he gets it. He grins in turn, a little sheepish but still deeply pleased. Yeah, it's kind of a big deal, he knows.]

Yeah. Yeah, Jax gave it to me before that last clusterfuck. Didn't get a chance to put it on until after we got back.

Augh. Not so loud, yes? Some of us are still waking up.

What do you mean?

...Christ, please don't tell me you were in a coma, too. [She's going to kill the Admiral. And this time, she means it...]

[Giggling, she bum rushes him with another hug. She can't help but feel hopeful, because maybe this will give him the morale boost he needs. For all its faults, maybe this will show Tig he has some value. The club is the center of his world...if he has value there, maybe it will open his eyes enough to see he has a place in the world beyond that.

He's not just the guy crazy enough to do what needs doing. He's not someone that Jax is slotting into place because he's out of control and somewhat expendable. He's someone that can be trusted, someone that can be relied on for more than his violent streak.

Maybe this will make him feel worthy.]

Congratulations, Pappa Bear. I know what a big deal this is...I'm so happy for you!

[Allison tosses off a little wave, then kills the feed.

She takes more like thirty to forty minutes, luxuriating in the shower (she doesn't care what anyone says, she can feel the coma on her, the two weeks of sleep and the lack of activity clinging to her skin and muscles and gritty in her eyes.). She changes into leggings and a sports bra, throwing an oversized t-shirt over it that slouches off one shoulder because the gym is next, so she can remind her body what it feels like to move again.

Later, she'll hit the pub. Now that Duke is gone, it's her responsibility. She made sure of that.

So, later than she promised, Allison is knocking on the door of Lydia's cabin. Once the door is answered, the first important issue springs to her lips.]

Who's been taking care of Brownie and Duchess while I was out?

[She nods in understanding.] Well, you've got time to catch up. Just be aware there's a number of people with some of the Admiral's powers walking around right now. And you missed a hell of a party.

[She allows Allison to move away and settles herself on a stool, reaching down to give Brownie some more petting.]

It's a shame he left. He seemed like a decent guy, but I'm sure he'd be pleased to see you taking care of his pub. [She's not going to mention that Boyd had, with his Admiral powers, opened the bar to everyone. It was a fairly harmless and perhaps psychologically necessary liberty.]

It's good to have something to keep you occupied however. Too much thinking can be detrimental on this cruise.

Because it's a restricted area, and it's my bar...where, I might add, I reserve the right to refuse service to anyone, so stay on my good side.

[However, despite being cranky from her coma, she does step aside and swing the door open wider to allow the man inside.]

I don't know if you're new or not, but if you want in, a warden can give you access.

Pfffft. Don't I know it.

[She smiles as Venus reaches down to pet Brownie, who obliges her by standing back up and moving to her stool, where she plants her paws on the foot rail to stretch up so she can accept her due happily.

Heading behind the bar, Allison busies herself with fixing Venus's drink while talking.]

At least this will distract me from how much I miss him. [A wistful look crosses her face, along with no small measure of sorrow.] I love my friends, but...he understood me in ways they just can't because they don't come from families like ours.

[She finishes Venus's drink, then by chance happens to see a container under the bar with some adorable swizzle sticks in it. Picking out a rose, she adds it to the glass and slides it over to Venus with a smile.]

So...Admiral powers? Really? And tell me about the party...God, I hate this! I've missed everything!

Thanks, baby.

[Yes, he's grinning, no, he's not going to stop. Allison missed all the self-doubt, all the uncertainty. He may not be completely sure he's the best guy for the job, but he at least accepts that Jax made the decision for a reason, and he's determined to do what he can to prove he chose well.]

Still sinking in. You at least have good dreams while you were out?

Oh, I understand. There's some things people just can't understand unless they've been there themselves.

[She smiles at the swizzle stick, twirling it in her drink.] Yes, really. The current theory is that the Admiral was affected by that last mess and the ship has distributed some of his powers to the passengers. I'm not sure anyone really knows for certain however.

[Her smile broadens. She had a fabulous time at the party and she knows she wasn't the only one. It had been something many of them really needed, a moment to forget the horrors of the recent attack on the boat and simply enjoy each other's company.]

Lloyd and Tiffany turned the pool into an amazing water park and we had music and food and booze and loads of fun. Alexander even attended, and in swim trunks no less. Of course he spent a great deal of the evening pushing people in the pool but it was all in good fun.

[The absence of the Admiral is worrisome, but if there are passengers who are filling in for him while he's out of commission...

If she runs across any pseudo-Admirals who are especially obnoxious, at least now there's someone she can punch for the comas.

Cheered by the thought, she huffed out a quiet laugh as she folded her arms along the edge of the bartop and leaned in, shaking her head.]

We can't take that boy out anywhere, can we? Still, Tig in trunks...that would have been fun to see. [Unless...she suddenly makes a vaguely horrified face.]

They weren't the...banana hammock ones, were they? [Please say no, Venus, please say no...]

[It's fortunate Venus hasn't taken a drink yet because she would've spit it out, a very unladylike move, when Allison imagines the worst. It's true Alexander has a penchant for shocking people and he can be inappropriate but he'd behaved himself that night.

More or less.]

No, they were regular old swim trunks. Though Iris managed to divest him of his trunks at one point so for a while, skinny dipping was the order of the day.

Ten thousand apologies then, and nice to meet you. [He smiles, waves, and flits in ahead of her to settle at the bar.]

I'm not new, and if I had a warden I'd have regular access. The hairy guy never gave me any grief.

Me? Nahh. Never been so unlucky.

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31} just like a needle in a haystack, another day when we run with the wolfpack...

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