[Video] After Luke Siths out

[wrench_and_ruffles]

[Kaylee's trying very hard to stay calm. Stress is bad for the baby. Which really makes all this lousy timing.

So she's trying to deal with this entire situation by the method she's learned from many of her nearest and dearest.]

You know. My favourite thing about Verdana is all the stuff that happened in Mayfield that doesn't happen here. You could count on people to actually stay the same person from day to day. I promise, I am plenty grateful already, I didn't need the reminder.

[She keeps reminding herself that Luke and everybody else will be back to normal sooner or later. But it's not terribly comforting right now.]

I am too hormonal to deal with this.

[She nearly ends the transmission there, but then she remembers one more thing. Luke was supposed to pick things up on his way home from work. And now she's feeling even worse than before.]

Could... somebody pick me up some ginger and crackers? Please?

Comments

[Video]

[cantcatchme]

[Pietro doesn't even have to think about it. Which just goes to show how differently the new him approaches things. He looks concerned.]

On it. Where should I deliver it to?

[He doesn't know where the store is, but it won't take him any time to find. And apparently the other him had some money lying around, so that's no problem, either.]

[Video]

[wrench_and_ruffles]

[Her hero]

There's a repair shop a few blocks from where the Flop used to be. The apartment's up above.

[Video]

[cantcatchme]

Uh, sorry, Flop? I don't know if you think you know me, but despite appearances I only got here a couple days ago. Any landmarks?

[Video]

[wrench_and_ruffles]

[She had seen him around, so of course...]

Big burned out building near the middle of town. Used to be where new folk stayed.

[Video/Action]

[cantcatchme]

Seen it. [Because of course he's patrolled the city already.] Be right there.

[And he is. A little under ten minutes later, actually, though only because the grocery cashier took for-EV-er.]

M'lady? [He pokes his head through the doorway with a cocky grin, goodies in hand. His sister's taught him a healthy respect for women, especially if they're under stress.]

[Text]

[fixstuff]

[The text comes from Tony's communicator.]

Technically, everyone's the same person, just with specific key points changed and the knock-on effect of that. Some more obvious than others.

[Text]

[wrench_and_ruffles]

Very key points, in some cases.

[Text]

[fixstuff]

Most cases. The noticeable ones, anyway. The longterm effects of failing that quiz in second grade wouldn't be newsworthy.

You okay? Aside from the hormonal flashback problem.

[Text]

[wrench_and_ruffles]

I'm fine.

Luke ain't. He doesn't even think we're married. And the baby...

[Video]

[herarrows]

[This is a perfect opportunity to talk to someone she's been meaning to anyway. But with everything going on right now, Selenay is understandably concerned.]


Are you alright?

[Video]

[wrench_and_ruffles]

[In spite of everything, she still tries to put on a brave face, especially with people she's only met once]

I'll be better when this all settles down. My husband actin' all strange ain't helpin' the mornin' sickness though.

[Hence the last request]

[Video]

[herarrows]

[That gets a raised eyebrow.]

Then I'm sorry and congratulations. Are you certain you'll be alright? I certainly know how...difficult a situation like that can be. [Husbands suddenly not who they thought they were and pregnant at the same time? Yeah.]

Video]

[wrench_and_ruffles]

[No, not really]

Thanks.

I'm just hopin' he gets back to himself sooner than later. Baby deserves better than this.

[pepperspray]

[Virginia had been staying off the network, even as the device that she'd been told was hers filled with more and more messages. Talking to strangers was going to be hard not to do, since everyone was a stranger, but here was a stranger that seemed to need help. Helping someone who needed it was more important than not talking to strangers, she figured. And the woman didn't look like a weirdo.

She twiddled the device (The really cool device, that apparently looked like what telephones were going to look like in the future) to make a video call and a determined redhaired girl filled the screen on Kaylee's end.]

Are you pregnant? Because you sound like you're trying not to puke. You should take B vitamins, too, not just the ginger and crackers.

[wrench_and_ruffles]

[That was... a pretty blunt way of putting it, but did about cover it.]

Yeah, I am.

[She manages a smile for the girl, idly wondering if she's someone she ought to know or a new person]

Don't worry, the doc's got me takin' all sortsa vitamins. Just ain't outta those.

[pepperspray]

Oh.

[It sounds like the woman is doing OK after all. Virginia looks briefly deflated as her plan to be helpful falls flat... but only for a moment.]

Do you need people to bring you things a lot? Mrs. Adams next door did, when she was pregnant. She was having twins and she got really huge. She had to use crutches to walk around. I could bring you things.

[wrench_and_ruffles]

[She recognizes needing to help when she sees it]

I ain't big yet, but I'm feelin' pretty crummy. Ain't really feelin' up to goin' out for anythin'.

[unofficial_ambassador]

[This sounds bad. Worse than it actually is, even.]

What happened? Are you hurt?

[wrench_and_ruffles]

Not physically.

[Just need to keep that clear]

He kept talking about things that never happened. About me leaving him.

[And she knows if he actually acted like this, she definitely would have]

He didn't know we're married. He didn't know about that baby.

[unofficial_ambassador]

[This might sound weird if the hallucination thing that's been happening lately isn't as common as she thinks it is.]

What - for a long time? Did this just start today?

[wrench_and_ruffles]

[She nods]

He was fine this mornin'. I went lookin' for him when he didn't come home for dinner.

[video ; private]

[girlworthfighting]

I doubt it shall be any comfort at all after what's happened, but so far I at least appear to remain the same. At least, no one I've met who hasn't clearly been affected themselves has accused me of acting any different.

[But knowing one of her friends is okay can't be much comfort for Kaylee right now, with what's going on with her husband. And the father of her child.]

Besides the hormones and...the obvious, how are you, Kaylee?

[video ; private]

[wrench_and_ruffles]

That's somethin'.

[Any little bit of normal is appreciated right now]

I'll be alright. Eventually.

[video ; private]

[girlworthfighting]

Eventually. [She repeats, not sure herself if she's questioning or confirming.] Is there anything I can do? To help?

[video ; private]

[wrench_and_ruffles]

How are ya at keepin' folk from doin' foolish things?

[She's awfully worried about Mal and Jayne]