006} recalled to life (or 'tis a far, far better thing i do...)

[theresalwayshope]

[PUBLIC VIDEO]

[Allison is still deathtolling in the infirmary, but she has her comm and she's not afraid to use it. It's been about two days: she hurts like hell, she's pale, and even after being resurrected from the dead, there's been a lot going on.

She's got a lot to do, and she faces it all with the brightest smile she can manage as the feed shows her, still in bed, and features still tight with pain she's fighting to hide, radiating from the puncture wound that stole her life...the wound that's no longer there.]

So...was that what you guys call a port? Because that...sucked. And not just because...[She falters over it, because regardless of the ship's metaphysical mechanics, there's something so wrong about saying it, enduring it...returning from it.]

...because I died.

[Drawing a shaky breath, she hides a wince as she goes too deep, tests her recovering body too much.]

I just wanted to let everyone know I'm here, I'm okay...and that anyone from Beacon Hills is on notice. If you know Lydia Martin, Stiles Stilinski, or Scott McCall? Check in with them if you see them. Have they eaten, did they sleep...and if they haven't, make them. As soon as I can walk, I'm getting out of the infirmary, and it's going to be business as usual.

[VIDEO, Pack Filter]

Seriously, I'm fine, guys. If you don't take care of yourselves, I'm punching everyone. No exceptions.

[VIDEO, private to Needy and Duke]

Check in, you guys. I just want to make sure you're holding up okay.

[VIDEO, private to Vergil Sparda]

Hi. [Her smile is less bright, wearier and tighter with discomfort, but it's very genuine.] I'm still stuck with this...death toll thing...but I at least wanted to introduce myself. My name is Allison Argent, it looks like I'm going to be your warden temporarily.

Comments

Video -- Pack

[voluntaryapnea]

Okay for the record, I rarely eat breakfast. [And he just gives her a look at the eight hours of sleep a night comment. He's lucky if he manages five. He shifts slightly at the mention of Lydia, though. It's when she drops her voice and tells him not to feel bad about her death that he feels that pressure in his chest.

And the whole reason he's there is to help prevent her death. Hers and all the others. It's the reason Lydia and Scott are there, too. But he can't say that. He won't. He does, however, flip the video to private now, though.]

Allison...

[He lets out a breath, closes his eyes for a moment.]

Look. I don't -- I don't want you to do that again, okay? Please. Not because of me.

Video -- Private

[theresalwayshope]

[She can see it now: that gaping hole in Stiles, wide open and so very dark, deeper than Lydia and Scott...no bottom, no light, no hope.

She wants to find him, hold him. She wants to know what happened before she got there to carve that light out of him. It's not the Nogitsune, not when it's in all of them.

She wants to feel it bleed...the thing that cut his smile away.]

Stiles...I can't do that. I can't go against the Code.

[We protect those who cannot protect themselves. None of them were safe from the thing they wouldn't share with her.]

And what's more, I won't. Especially not for you. Not...not the best of us, Stiles. Do you hear me? Not for the only thing that keeps any of us human. Because the alternative is to kill him. Them. Anyone who hurts my people. And if I do that? I'll become an inmate, and I won't be able to save you.

I can forgive him for my death...I can forgive anyone for me. You, Lydia, Scott...you let me do that. You make me that person. So...don't ask me that question again. Not ever again, okay? Because it frightens me.

Video -- Private

[voluntaryapnea]

[He shuts his eyes at her words, shaking his head. He doesn't even know where to begin with everything she's just said. He's the best of them? Not hardly.]

I don't forgive him. [His voice is blunt, honest. He looks back up again, jaw tight.] He killed you, Allison. You were dead. I watched you die. I can't -- [He rubs a hand over his face, feeling more than a vague sense of nausea.] I can't be responsible for more deaths, okay? I can't. Especially not yours.

[A beat.]

I'd rather die myself.