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

[theresalwayshope]

{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.]

Comments

[spam]

[lydiascreams]

[She's definitely more prepared to face Allison by the time she gets there. She opens the door all the way for her even as she answers the question.]

Tig has Brownie. He has been checking in on you a lot, too. And Stiles has Duchess. We've been keeping an eye on her.

[She'll give her a moment to digest that information and to say hi to Prada who is now jumping at her feet and barking, begging for attention.]

[spam]

[theresalwayshope]

[Allison grins as she stoops down to scoop up Prada and kiss him hello.]

I love my pack...they're great, huh, Prada? [She switches to baby talk as she holds up Prada and makes kissy faces at him, which he returns with kisses of his own.] Isn't your mommy and Papa Stiles and Uncle Tigger the bestest packmates ever? Yes, they are!

[Dissolving into giggles, she tucks Prada under her arm, then reaches out for Lydia with her free one as she steps into Lydia's cabin.] Mmmmm...it's weird, but I can feel that I haven't seen you. Stupid fucking comas...

[spam]

[theresalwayshope]

[Allison turns to stare after him, jaw hanging open with a huff. Hairy guy? He couldn't be talking about Duke.

He better not be talking about Duke...asshole.]

Well, Duke Crocker is gone, so that makes the pub sacrosanct. So mind yourself, or you'll be sailing this ship dry.

[Despite her grumbling, she heads behind the bar. Brownie lifts her head from her place on the floor to watch the newcomer find a seat, while Duchess abandons her hay to start hopping down the bar towards him to investigate.]

What are you drinking?

[spam]

[theresalwayshope]

None that I remember. Comas are weird and horrible and I'm going to punch the Admiral someday.

[She finally draws back to grin at him...then suddenly loses her smile, looking around as she remembers...]

Duchess and Brownie? Who's been looking after them?...

[theresalwayshope]

Well, then...you're a lazy slug.

[She blinks, then rubs her eyes again.]

At least I think so...crap, I don't even know what time it is! Argh!

[A lupine growl rolls up from deep in her chest on the edge of her frustrated groan.]

Comas are the devil. I'm not kidding, I'm punching the Admiral...I have to go check on the pub, find out who's taking care of my animals...hey, speaking of, how's Johnny?

[theresalwayshope]

[Allison groans and giggles at the same time as she covers her face with both hands, shaking her head.]

Omigod, I'm glad I wasn't there! I'd have had to gouge out my eyes from the horror of naked dad ass! Thank God you were there to keep him in line.

[Letting her hands fall with more laughter, her expression soften as she regards Venus, then reaches out to lay her hand over hers.]

I really am glad you're here, I hope you know that. You're so good for him...and for me, because I know he'll graduate with you around.

[spam]

[sauntervaguelydownwards]

Please don't say the pub is sacrosanct. You'll take all the fun out of drinking.

[He leans away from the bar when Duchess comes hopping over. Animals and Crowley do not get along.]

Rum and Coke, hold the rabbit.

[spam]

[lydiascreams]

[She reaches to close the cabin door even as Allison reaches out to her, so it takes her a moment, but then she wraps her arms around her (and Prada).

It's not just a hug, though. She's holding on to her like she's missed her, but also like she really needed her to have been there. And she did.

Not having her there a couple of nights ago made her remember how lost she'd felt before she made her deal, how broken and how much of a failure she was when she let Allison die. And how much of a failure she is now when she pushed an inmate even further away from any kind of rehabilitation he might have managed.]

I missed you.

[no_tell_belle]

He wasn't the only one to lose his trunks that night, though I suppose the other fellow's bare ass wouldn't have caused you the same psychological trauma. [She does try to step in when she feels Alexander's about to get into some kind of real trouble but he and Iris acting like a couple of ten year olds? No, that had been essentially harmless from her perspective.

Venus smiles and lays her other hand over Allison's.] That's very sweet of you to say. I'm confidant he'll graduate regardless of my presence--I know you've worked with him diligently--but I do hope I've been good for him, as good for him as he's been for me.

[She hesitates almost imperceptibly, but there's no reason to keep this bit of information from Allison, and as his warden, quite possibly very good reasons to share it.] He allowed me to read his inmate file.

[maced_eggs]

Punch him all you like if you can find him. Man's been missing for weeks.

Johnny's good. Got into a bit of my stash, y'know, so he was very...mellow, for a bit.

[theresalwayshope]

I thought you got rid of all your drugs when you became a bunny daddy?

Re: [spam]

[termofendearment]

Don't know about Duchess, but I've got Brownie. Bonnie's been digging the company.

[maced_eggs]

Weed is barely a drug, Allison.

[theresalwayshope]

Weed is totally a drug when you aren't supposed to be doing any, Mace.

[theresalwayshope]

[With a grin, Allison nods.] There is nothing more horrifying than dad ass. Not old man ass, not hairy ass...dad ass beats them all.

[She sobers, eyes widening at the mention of Tig's file...because if Venus read it, then she knows...well...everything.

After a moment she sighs shakily, reaching up to rub a hand over her mouth before propping her chin in her hand to meet Venus's gaze gravely.]

Then you know why I hate comas so damn much. [It's a small part of the reason, but a contributing factor all the same.] And why I might have been...more than a little overprotective the first time we met. It wasn't just the werewolf thing. I won't--I can't let him get hurt like that again, like when he lost his daughter.

And that's why I'm glad you're here. I know you won't hurt him...I trust you to help him.

[spam]

[theresalwayshope]

[If Tig had Brownie, Allison figures that Lydia probably has Duchess. She belongs to both of them, after all...and if not Lydia, someone else in the pack...

Patting Tig's chest, right over his new patch, Allison springs to her feet.]

Right. I'm gonna grab a quick shower and change my clothes. Then you're taking me to my puppy.

[spam]

[theresalwayshope]

[She can feel it in her grip, and when she turns her head a little and breathes deep, she can smell Lydia's isolation, guilt, and sorrow. She holds on a little tighter reflexively, shifting so she can rub Lydia's back soothingly.]

I know, sweetie...shhh, I'm here now. I've got you.

[She holds on, and stays there until Lydia pulls away first. When she does, she searches her best friend's eyes with a look of concern.]

What happened? What don't I know?

[no_tell_belle]

[Venus chuckles softly. Nero was the closest she'd ever had to a father figure and while she'd never go looking to see him naked, as far as she could tell, he had a fine ass. She didn't think she'd be traumatized by seeing it. Then again, Venus has seen a lot more naked asses in general than Allison so maybe she's somewhat immune to any adverse effects.

She nods, solemn. She'd understood Allison's protectiveness before but knowing what was in his file added an extra dimension to it. She herself had already been very protective of him. She knew how deeply he felt things, but now she had a greater understanding of just how easily he could be hurt and how devastating it could be.]

You don't ever have to worry about that. I will do always everything I'm humanly capable of to help and never hurt him.

[theresalwayshope]

I want you to do more than that, Vee...I want you to promise me you'll protect him. If anything happens to me.

[She lowers her gaze, drawing a shaky sigh. One of the disturbing things about being in another coma now is Duke: he slipped into one, and then he was gone. The idea that she could have left Tig, when he needs her most...

Reaching for Venus's hand again, her expression is haunted, pleading.]

If something happens to me...if I go out again and I get taken away, you need to protect him for me. Stay with him...lie, if my pack will help you. Just save him if I can't. Don't let losing me do to him what losing Dawn did.

Re: [spam]

[termofendearment]

[She leaves entirely too quickly for his taste, but he lets her go all the same, arms loosening to let her up, no matter how badly he wants to squeeze and never let her go right now. Like he's worried the minute she steps into the shower she's going to go right back out again.]

Yeah. Okay. You want me to stick around and wait, or...?

[no_tell_belle]

Nothing's going to happen to you. [She can't know that. She can't know that anyone will be safe. In fact, what she knows is the opposite but she can't live that way. She can't live in the constant anticipation of loss. She can't ignore the reality but a little denial makes life easier.]

If you need to hear it, then yes, of course I promise. I will do everything and anything I can to keep him safe. [She has an uncharacteristically fierce look as she grips Allison's hand to cement her promise.]

But darling, the truth is that I won't do it because of a promise and I won't do it because of anything that's in his file. I'll do it because I love him.

[maced_eggs]

There are so many worse things I could be doing.

[theresalwayshope]

Touche...but if you're serious about being totally sober...

How about I make you a deal. You toss your weed stash, and I'll give you carte blanche at the pub. Anything you want, whenever you want, as long as it's alcohol free. I'll request stock from the Admiral to give you some really good options, too.

I'll even throw in a bonus for Johnny: toss your weed, and I'll request a burrow for him. Rabbits like toys they can hide in and feel safe...Duchess got a couple for Christmas. He'll love it.

[theresalwayshope]

I know you will. That's why I'm asking.

[She grins as she leans over to enfold Venus's hand with both of hers, just before impulsively leaning across the bar to drop a friendly kiss against her cheek.]

He loves you, too, y'know. Just thought I'd mention it, 'cause it'll take him forever to say it.

[spam]

[lydiascreams]

[She remembers a time when she didn't have anyone to talk to. When she and Allison were still getting to know each other. Before she was part of the pack. When she still felt like she was alone.

She doesn't feel that way anymore. She knows she has them, all of them, whenever she needs. She also knows that they won't turn their backs on her, no matter what she does.]

I screwed up. [And that's not something she's used to doing.]