[voice] Anybody out there?

[abigailsciuto.livejournal.com]

[Since her arrival, Abby had met a few people, but hadn't really come to trust anyone. She wasn't sure if she wanted to reveal the location of her lab just yet, so she disabled the visual function for today. She had been working for hours, just making busy-work for herself. After awhile, she grew frustrated. This was pointless. There wasn't any reason to go over old cases, and there wasn't anything she could find as a means to get out of her. Abby was bored, upset, and alone. She flicked on her tablet and made sure it was only on the 'voice' function before speaking.]

Anyone else get the feeling that this is the kind of place that people just bore themselves to death?

Comments

[visual]

[caringhand.livejournal.com]

[Penny had found an empty room in the Sanctuary easily enough after she had left Billy in the hallway, but hadn't really ventured much outside of it. She kept thinking that maybe if she waited long enough, pinched herself hard enough, that she'd wake up - but no dice, and she was started to feel like that was a ridiculous dream she kept nursing.

When she heard Abby's voice on the tablet, she jumped, but leapt for it, fumblingly turning it on; she still hadn't really gotten the hang of this thing yet. When she speaks, it's gently teasing, not actual chastising:]

Well, that's not a very happy outlook.

[voice]

[abigailsciuto.livejournal.com]

You're right. [Abby sighed loudly.] I'm usually much less grim. I think this place is getting to me.

[visual]

[caringhand.livejournal.com]

[Penny squints down at the screen of the tablet.] Oh, good, you can hear me - I can't see you, I wasn't really sure if I was using this thing right.

[A pause.]

.. Right. Does that mean you've been here long?

[visual]

[abigailsciuto.livejournal.com]

Abby decided that the girl didn't look like much of a threat and turned on the [visual] function of her tablet. "Sorry." She said with a shrug, "I wasn't really up for feeling seen by everyone out there." She rubbed the back of her neck.

"No, only a week or so. I just miss home. What about you? How long?"

[voice]

[hulk]

[Bruce recognizes the voice, but hesitates before answering. After all, they hadn't parted on the best of terms, and he wasn't sure if she would be unhappy to see him or not. So eventually he compromises and goes with the 'voice' function as well.]

A little bit, yeah.

[voice]

[abigailsciuto.livejournal.com]

[She recognized it. Of course she did. She'd only met a handful of people and only had as much of a conversation with one. David. She glared at the tablet as if it was the fault of the little device.]

Not surprising that you'd agree. Feeling better?

[There was a harsher tone to her voice than she might have always offered up. She didn't mean to come off snippy, but the guy had acted so weird before.]

[voice]

[hulk]

[He winces at her tone. He thought maybe she might have mellowed a bit towards him since last seeing her but no dice. There's a small sigh on his end before he speaks.]

M'fine. Thanks for asking.

[There's a decent-size pause. When he speaks again, it's sincerely apologetic, but definitely sad.

...Sorry. Guess I shouldn't have answered this. I won't bug you anymore. Promise.

[voice] then [visual]

[abigailsciuto.livejournal.com]

[Abby didn't want to be angry with him. She didn't want to be angry, period.]

Wait, David, I... [She sighed and switched the feed to [visual], tugging on one of her pigtails for a moment.]

"I get freaked out sometimes, alright? I'm in this place and nothing makes any sense, and on top of that the first person I meet is full of more secrets than Pandora's box. What am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to think?"

She peered into the tablet, even if he wasn't visible to her. She wanted to trust, to make friends. She wanted to feel normal again.

[voice]

[hulk]

[Bruce doesn't change his end to 'visual'. He understands exactly what she means, about being alone in a strange place. He wants to... To tell someone, but. It's enough of a burden on himself, and nobody else deserves having to know his truckload of problems. Especially when he still doesn't know who to trust.]

I don't know what's supposed to happen. But. I mean, I know what you're getting at, but. I just can't. Where I'm from...

...I really am sorry that I can't.

[visual]

[abigailsciuto.livejournal.com]

"Can't and won't are different, David."

Abby couldn't help the bit of bitterness to her tone. She sighed, trying to tell herself to quit while she was ahead (which was about a week ago).

"It's fine. I mean, it's your business and it's not mine. We barely know each other. But if you're going to cart around a bag of secrets, you might think about hiding them better. You got me really freaked."

And truthfully, she hadn't stopped being a little spooked.

[voice]

[hulk]

[He's very much aware of the difference. But he ignores it, letting it go with a humorless chuckle.]

I'll keep that in mind.

Didn't mean to freak you out or anything, though. Sorry.

[visual]

[abigailsciuto.livejournal.com]

"It's alright. I guess." Abby shifted awkwardly. She wished he'd just talk to her, but seeing as that wasn't about to happen anytime soon, all she could do was try to change the subject and hope she didn't screw it up again.

"So is there anything fun to do around here? As much as I love my machines, they don't make for great conversation." As previously discussed, neither did David, but at least he tried sometimes.

[visual]

[hulk]

It took a few moments after getting Abby's reply for Bruce to decide to go to visual. It's not a sign of trust, but maybe a sign that eventually? Well. Who knew.

"Yeah, lab-cabin fever." He flashed a small smile before running a hand through his hair. He fidgeted a moment, trying to think. "Well. There's always exploring, I mean, around the city. There's probably a lot to see and do."

[visual]

[abigailsciuto.livejournal.com]

Abby smiled and sat up straighter when David switched his feed to visual. It was an involuntary movement, but she didn't regret it. Whatever it meant from him, Abby was glad to not be talking to a blank screen anymore.

"Exploring could work. Feel like coming with?" Was she pushing it? Probably, but part of why she was so bored was that she was alone. "No personal questions. Scout's honor. In fact, we'll establish a safe word. If I get too close to something touchy, you can just say something and I'll shut up. Just like that."

[visual]

[hulk]

Bruce brightened a bit too. It was always a boost to have someone happy to see you, no matter who you were.

He considered the option, and nodded. "Sure. Gets too far, and I'll... I don't know. Say pineapple or something like that." He grabbed his baseball hat and pulled on a hoodie. As he poked his head through, he looked back at the tablet.

"Uh. You want me to meet you there, or come over here?"

[voice]

[dexmcduff.livejournal.com]

All the time.

[voice]

[abigailsciuto.livejournal.com]

[Abby smiled at the response, laughing lightly]

Oh, yeah? Have you been here long? I've got to hold out hope that it gets better.

[dexmcduff.livejournal.com]

Three... months? AKA what's starting to feel like forever. [... pause.] Could be worse, though!

Are you new?

[voice]

[abigailsciuto.livejournal.com]

Brand new. Unless a handful of days counts as old news. I'm Abby.

[voice]

[dexmcduff.livejournal.com]

Oh! Well... welcome, then. Hi, I'm Dexter.

[visual]

[abigailsciuto.livejournal.com]

Introductions were usually best done when someone could actually see you, and Abby didn't think he sounded dangerous, so she switched her feed to visual.

"I'm Abby." She gave a warm smile and placed her elbows on the counter and leaned in. "So what're you in for?" She joked, leaning her chin into her palm and tilting her head to one side.

[visual]

[dexmcduff.livejournal.com]

Dexter sheepishly decides to follow her example, switching his tablet over to visual. Here, have a slightly awkward, slightly dorky teenager up in your screenage. He smiles, slightly shifting his lean on the wall he's sitting against. Oh, and there's a brightly coloured gecko hanging out on his shoulder.

"Procrastinating on my English homework?" Dexter shrugs, sounding mostly like he's joking, nudging at his glasses. "You?"

[visual]

[abigailsciuto.livejournal.com]

Abby's warm smile broke out into a wider grin. Oh, he was adorable in that kid-brother kind of way. She laughed, "English was always the worst. Give me math or science any day." Not that anyone she went to school with understood that. Abby had a tendency to make friends with a lot of liberal arts types, the ones who couldn't understand why you would want homework with numbers.

"From what I hear, it had something to do with a manic episode induced by a caffeine overdose." She grabbed for her cup of Caf Pow! and sipped dramatically.

[visual]

[dexmcduff.livejournal.com]

He hopes the smile is for reasons other than him being adorable or kid-brotherish, but alas. One day, Dexter. One day.

Dexter's eyebrows go up a little at the sight of the Giant Cup of Giantness, but hey, he's a teenage boy -- during the school year his blood is 90% caffeine. Dexter mock-winces. "Oooh. That can't have ended well."

[visual]

[abigailsciuto.livejournal.com]

Abby scoffed, "Most of my life has been a caffeinated induced manic episode. And for the record, quite a lot of it has ended wonderfully." She gave a short little laugh. "Okay, so you've been here a lot longer than me. Anything interesting to do?"