theresalwayshope | Entries tagged with duke crocker

((dated post-kid!flood))

[VIDEO;public]

[It's late in the morning when Allison finally clicks on her feed. She's dressed, made up, put together. She still manages to look fragile and pale...

And she's packed.

There's a small duffel beside her, she's got her jacket on, and Duchess's things are packed up beside her, including Duchess herself nestled in the ~~dog~~ bunny purse she procured for her in Amsterdam. She's sitting on her couch, she's rubbing her hands together, and her comm is propped up on the coffee table as she offers a wan smile.]

Hi. Me, all grown up again. That was...not as weird as being a guy, or Robin Hood. Or even a werewolf.

...anyway. I know what you're all thinking about me and the bags and stuff...look what happened the last time I left. This time, it's real. I'll be in my cabin another hour, I'll leave the comm open...then I'm gone. I need the time away, more than I ever did.

[She hesitates, lowering her gaze as her eyes glass over.]

Before I explain...I owe a lot of people a lot of apologies. Too many to name...I became a vampire, and I'm not going to allow myself to be excused for the things I did and the people I hurt. I want--I need you all to know how sorry I am for the thing I became.

And because I'm leaving right after this...because I can get some distance...I'm going to explain exactly why everything went down that way.

( CW: allusions to violence, bitey vampire behavior, blood/gore, and Jerry Being An Evil Creep )

[She reaches up to brush a few silent tears from her face. She still can't look directly into the feed...until she takes a breath and finally lifts her head.]

The day I became human again, I killed him...and I saw the thing that will help me get my revenge. For me, for my friends...for everyone he's hurt.

Including himself. Because I saw him for a minute when he died, I saw his human face. Maybe even the man that spent a month aboard this ship, that left us the knowledge we needed to kill a vampire. This is my revenge: exposing him.

Somewhere in there, Jerry Dandridge is still human. I don't believe we can ever save him, I don't think we can ever completely trust him...but he can be helped. This is not altruism, this is revenge I'm talking about. And, maybe on a smaller scale, respect for the human that some of us weren't fortunate enough to get to know.

[She lowers her gaze again, only this time she's lifting a single wooden stake into the feed, one of the bunch that the mirror version of Jerry left for her.]

The Jerry Dandridge that may not be on board this ship anymore...but is still one of the best wardens we ever had. At least I think so.

So, while I'm taking a break...because I will be back...I'm the one saying this, so take it to heart.

Don't hurt Jerry. Don't let your guard down if he's not in Zero...and remember that living well is the best revenge.

Work on the problem while I'm away...let's all make sure that Jerry doesn't leave this ship until he's living well. Then we can all have our revenge.

[Setting Duchess back in her bag, ready to drop off with Duke before she leaves, she sends a few private messages before she lets the comm stay on for one more hour before it goes dead...and Allison is gone.]

( [PRIVATE; Tig and Duke] )

( [PRIVATE; Lydia, Scott, Stiles, Kira, Isaac] )

{forward-dated to Monday}

[VIDEO;public]

So...I'm leaving.

[Allison pauses for a beat. She looks pale and haggard...just plain wrung out, but a little calmer than she has been lately. She's not so strung out, however, that she doesn't realize how that sounds.

It takes her a second, but she gets there, eyes widening and raising a hand.]

Not permanently! Not permanently, I'm sorry...and I'm not going home, so nobody worry about me...well, y'know.

[Not that she's sure certain ex-best friends are actually worried...she has to try and think of it that way or else the pain comes back and she can't breathe, and she won't go seeking Zane out for more of that weird mojo he does...]

Anyway. I'm just...I've talked to Zane, and he says there's a safe place I can go with his people. Somewhere I can just...work out the kinks, y'know?

[She lowers her gaze, and she suddenly leans out of frame. A moment later, Duchess is being settled onto her shoulder, and the little rabbit seems to know her mommy is upset, because she promptly turns her face towards Allison's neck and starts licking her.]

Something...bad happened to me on the other Barge. Something that really messed me up, and if you don't know about it I'm not going to tell you. I'm not...ready yet. I just need a break to clear my head, find my focus again. That's all, I promise I'm coming back. I'm still settling a few details...like telling everyone...and figuring out this Barge time stuff. The idea is that I'll be gone a couple of weeks, give or take...for me, but for you guys I hope to be gone no more than a day or two. I don't want this to affect my responsibilities to my inmate, or my fellow Wardens...

I just need the time. I figure once I have everything pinned down, I'll leave as early as tomorrow, no later than Wednesday. So...

[She trails off, fighting the urge to use her pack filter. She can't go to them, not now...not when it could force them to choose sides between her and Lydia. She won't do that to any of them...not even Isaac.

So she just cuts the public feed.]

[PRIVATE; Duke Crocker]

Would you be willing to bunny sit for me? And inmate sit? Tig...he just can't be alone. He'll self destruct if he thinks he's alone. If the time thing goes wonky, I want to make sure he can turn to someone we both trust...and he'll trust you because I do.

[PRIVATE; Tig Trager]

I asked Duke to keep his door open for you while I'm gone. You can trust him.

I promise you'll barely know I'm gone, and I'm coming to collect a hug the second I get back. For as long as I want...so there. He's also watching Duchess, stop in to pet her at least once. She needs extra attention while I'm gone.

[TEXT;private, Isaac Lahey]

im gonna miss u so much. may wanna stay in ur cabin for a few days when i get back...if u dont mind.

( [OPEN SPAM - much later] )

Current Mood: depressed

[VIDEO; public]

[When the feed kicks in, Allison is in the corridor, clearly in the middle of walking. Duchess is on her shoulder, per the usual, but she's getting big enough that Allison has to keep her steady with one hand because she's afraid of the little rabbit falling off. She spent the night in Tig's cabin (and the night before in Duke's, she still can't face her own cabin at night by herself), so she's not looking as raw as she has been lately.

In fact...she actually looks like something resembling normal, if a little sedate.]

So, I just went out on deck...and I think we're in Europe. I only took a peek, but...yeah. My home planet and everything. [She pauses, allowing her to reach into her pocket for a few bills, which she brandishes at the camera.]

The cash the Admiral left is also a clue. Euros.

[Pocketing her money again, her hand returns to Duchess to steady her as she continues walking.]

Anyway, I have some shopping to do, but the rest of my time is totally free. Lydia, you're coming, the stuff on this list that the Admiral gave me versus cash in hand means we can do a little bit of shopping instead of just shopping. Duke? You can help me shop. Unless you wanna shop, I still owe you for the Devil Juice I stole from you.

Anyone that wants to hang can buzz me. After the last four weeks, all bets are off. I have one serious plan for this port: fun.

[Private to Tig Trager]

My stuff is everywhere, so I'm running around collecting Duchess's things, mostly...meet me in my cabin in twenty minutes if you want to go ashore. Give me five minutes to be warden-ly, and I'll make it worth your while.

[Private to Isaac Lahey]

We're spending at least three quarters of this trip together. No less than half. I don't care if we're just standing on a bridge somewhere, staring at the water, we're doing this.

[PORT SPAM]

[Allison's first day in Amsterdam consists of wandering, for the most part. She rents herself a bike, does a little shopping, and pokes her head into various corners to get a lay of the land. She also makes the decision not to stay aboard ship during the port, and with a little extra cash pilfered from the strongbox in the study, she gets herself a bed at a local hostel in Vondelpark for the next four days. It's noisy and jostling, but it's clean and bright and the park is perfect scenery.

She realizes quickly that the second day is a full moon, so she knows she probably won't see the boys from home. She sends messages to Lydia, Duke, Stiles, Kira, and Tig with invitations to shop and/or eat. That night, she doesn't return to the hostel...she spends it in Vondelpark proper, stretched out on the grass, watching the night sky...and listening.

She doesn't know where the boys are, exactly...it's been a long time since any of them have seen a full moon, for the most part...but she hopes for the sound of a wolf's distant howl to put her at ease.

On her third day and fourth day, along with wrapping up some shopping for the list the Admiral provided, Allison sets aside some time for museums. Most of her friends will receive a text invitation, and those that join her will be dragged to at least one art museum, maybe two. Among her plans, however, those that join her will visit the Rembrant House and the Museum of Bags & Purses. Later on, however, when she's alone very late on either the third or fourth day, she sends a text message to Isaac for a potential trip to the SexMuseum.]

Current Mood: cheerful

The way Allison saw it, the whole situation really wasn't her fault. Not really. She was minding her own business, sticking to her tables...

...the guy never would have broken his wrist if he'd just stopped struggling.

Cracking one eye open, Allison peered at Duke, seated across from her on the deck of his boat. It was cold out, but he was stripped down to a wifebeater and seemed totally unfazed by the chill in the air that had her wanting to shiver even in the thermal top she wore over her workout clothes. The Persian rug they sat on was worn, but warm over the cold deck of the ship, and she could swear that she'd felt a tiny raindrop on the tip of her nose from the hazy clouds of early morning.

Mandatory yoga and meditation in lieu of anger management, a brand new rap sheet, and possibly getting fired...as handed down by her smuggler boss and his buddy, the nerve-dead detective, because Dwight didn't want to stick his nose into it.

Overall, life in Haven was good so far, specifically life at the Grey Gull. It was starting to feel like a second home to Allison after three weeks, and Duke...well, he was a strangely awesome boss, and a study in contradictions.

He gave her hours as generously as her schedule would allow, and it felt less like charity the harder she worked, because she was good at her job and the tips were great. He looked out for her, too, giving her the occasional ride home if she worked late, even having dinner with her when he picked up on the fact that she sometimes skipped eating on her breaks because she got too absorbed in finishing her homework.

According to Duke, Allison was a workhorse. According to Duke, she was too worried about responsibilities and expectations. And, according to Duke, he had a lot of experience in dealing with girls like that.

He was kind of obnoxious and a little overbearing...but he was also really cool and genuinely nice, and Allison liked him a lot.

Despite all that, day to day life was...too quiet. And the things that were happening, Troubles that affected the town...whenever someone came looking for him around the Gull or Audrey, the woman who lived upstairs, started racing around like a maniac, she was always stuck waiting her tables and taking orders rather than doing something to help. Day by day, it was starting to get to her, a constant itch under her skin she couldn't get rid of by running or working out or even taking her weapons out into the woods.

So, when a sloppy drunk got grabby faster than she could call for Duke...she'd reacted on instinct, and after that stuck to her guns just because it felt good. The guy had been ready to press charges, but some finagling between Nathan and Duke and a token word from Dwight left Duke responsible for her.

Hence the mandatory yoga.

"You know," she finally announced, closing her eyes again with a put-upon sigh, "I did gymnastics for eight years, and I have yoga DVD's I use to stay limber. The whole diving into my belly button and achieving nirvana thing? Not exactly my cup of tea." Opening her eyes, she regarded him with a playful little smile, then twisted to the side as she mimed drawing back an imaginary bowstring.

"If I want to meditate? I look for something to shoot. Now that's zen."

Current Mood: amused

[The video feed that comes on reveals a brief, shaky shot of Duke Crocker's unconscious features. A familiar ball of grey and white fluff is beside his head, which is in Allison's lap...revealed when she finally gets her hands to stop shaking and realizes she has the comm switched on and flips it up to face her instead. To those familiar with the place, it's clear she's crouched behind the bar in the pub.

Her own face is contorted, eyes red and glassy, mouth barely keeping a straight line.]

Duke's...in a coma. I brought my rabbit down to introduce them, and I found Duke--

[Her voice cracks on his name and her features crumble for a moment. Her hand lifts to cover her mouth to stifle tears as she wills herself not to cry. It takes a minute, but she manages to compose herself...barely.]

I can't...I need help. To move him, to his room. [She knows nothing can be done. She knows this happens...she still feels a huge sense of loss and a growing sense of panic, seeing her Duke so still and lifeless.]

I, uh...anyone that's friends with him, I'll look after Brownie so don't worry. I have access to his cabin, I can let in anyone who wants to see him. [She sniffs and wipes at her eyes, something in her face hardening.] And I know...there's a tradition or something, I know people in comas get drawn on?

Not this time...if I find a mark on him? I'll put an arrow in the ass of whoever's responsible.

( [Barge Pack Filter] )

[With that, Allison cuts the feed, then gently gathers Duke further into her lap, wrapping her arms around both him and Duchess the bunny, silent tears sliding from her eyes to fall on his hair and forehead as she clings to him.]

Current Mood: crushed

[Video]

This is a public service announcement: I'm hungry, and I may be sleeping in the corridor tonight. Anyone want to hook me up with dining hall rations and maybe a blanket?

[And, if anyone is intimately familiar with Mindy Macready, they will probably recognize the doorway that Allison is currently tucked into fairly comfortably at the moment, clearly dressed for a trip to the gym, but looking a little less haggard than the last time she was on the network.]

[TEXT; Private to Duke Crocker]

My friend/inmate is refusing to let me into her room. Wondering if you could produce foodstuffs with enough smell-good superpowers to coax her out?

[TEXT; Private to Steve Rogers]

I think Mindy may have gotten hurt during the flood and she won't let me into her room. I don't think it's serious, but I don't know. She seems okay, just being CRAZY STUBBORN OMG. But I can outlast her, so...any advice?

Current Mood: awake

[Public Video]

[The first thing that's clear, to anyone that knows Allison from home, is that something's...off. Her expression is a little harder, her jaw set a little differently, and he's holding herself with a little more authority, a little more readiness.

She seems a little more not like the head of the Argent clan they know, but the head of the Argent clan that Gerard molded in his own image.]

That pillow fort flood was kind of interesting, but I wanted to kinda touch base about the stuff before that. The..communications glitch thing? I was curious: who all did everyone get to talk to? Was it good for you? Or was it...rough?

[She's in the CES today, where off to one side, she's been visibly busy putting arrows in the trees. The location resembles a clearing in the Beacon Hills Preserve she favors for shooting, since it's a pretty broad clearing with a minimal risk of someone taking a stray shot unless they plant themselves directly in front of the paper target she's got tacked up. At the same time, she swears she can occasionally catch the cold, crisp smell of brine in the air...she's blaming her recent conversations with Duke about his hometown in Maine and her own distant memories of a couple months spent living in Augusta.

Her comm is propped on a low tree branch, which is still almost at head height, but she's standing back far enough that she can be seen to the waist, at a slightly downward angle. Her bow is slung across her back, her quiver over one shoulder, and she's still wearing both her arm guard and her glove.]

I know it was kinda nice for some, and for others...

[She trails off, thinking of Tig as she swallows thickly, and of her father as she draws a shaky sigh. Her expression is a little colder, a little more distant.

She doesn't finish. Instead, she gathers her composure and swaps between filters for a few specific messages.]

( [Private to Mindy Macready] )

( [Barge Pack Filter - includes Beacon Hills folks, Duke Crocker, Tig Trager, Needy Lesnicki] )

( [Private to Scott, Stiles, Lydia, and Isaac] )

( [CES Spam] )

Current Mood: distressed

[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] )

( [VIDEO, private to Needy and Duke] )

( [VIDEO, private to Vergil Sparda] )