Stephen Hart

The Admiral's not responding, and the lot of you are going mad with power and having pool parties. Don't you remember what happened with the Mirror Barge? There is something wrong.

Try to find him. He might be a bastard, but he's consistent, and that's something I can't say for most of you.

[ Stephen is on deck, on one of the benches, knife and a length of wood in his hand. He's carving away at it, carefully. ]

Anyone here like camping?

[ He glances up at the camera. ]

Thought it might be nice to spend a night in the outdoors. Well, in the Enclosure. Could be fun.

Or it could be a challenge, if it's somewhere like an ice field or the rainforest. [ Little hint of a smile. He looks like he'd enjoy that kind of challenge. ]

Nick's in a coma.

[ Stephen is broadcasting from Nick's room, where he has access. And where he's going to keep having access, thank you very much. He goes to turn off the video - and stops. ]

And another thing. I'm tired of explaining it every time - yes, I was a warden, I was demoted. Yes, I hurt someone. No, he didn't deserve it. Everyone go on and get your questions out, so I don't have to do this again.

[ enclosure ]

[ Nearly every morning (very, very early) Stephen tries to get someone to let him into the Enclosure. Waits outside, tense, restlessly rubbing his hands. And then when he's let in, he lets the environment go random: snowy mountains, rolling hills, cold desert. He runs along pathways of his own making, quick and agile, miles at a time. He only slows and stops once he's exhausted, and that takes a long time. He'll slow to a walk, maybe crouch, watch the animals and the plants interact.

Once, Stephen brings a lightweight canoe to the Enclosure, and programs it to guarantee a river. ]

[ dining hall ]

[ For breakfast, his hair's wet from taking a shower post-run. Sticking up, in odd places. He eats a lot, meats and eggs, anything that's close to a classic fry-up. He eats alone, generally, at a deliberate speed. ]

[ common areas, pool ]

[ Stephen works during the day on maintenance. He replaces light bulbs, and changes towels in the pool, and fixes tables and chairs.

He's a little distracted. There's a danger that he'll drop a light bulb, and it'll shatter. Watch out for glass.

He might come to your cabin, if there's something you need fixed. ]


[ note: prose responses are fine. ]

( Spam for Nick & Morgana )

[ video ]

Oh, bloody -

[ Stephen ducks, and a blurry green shape swoops past the camera. Something clinks, wobbles, and then crashes. ]

Whose idea was this?

[ Plain exasperation, and surprise, too. If nothing else, it's knocked him out of the funk he's been in since Christmas Day.

He twists the camera to show a winged lizard on a high-up shelf, which croaks in distress and launches, gliding down to knock over a vase. ]

Would anyone like some lemons?

The Admiral has graciously provided.

[ Stephen snappishly hangs up. ]

[ spam ]

[ Early morning, like, really early, early enough that it might even count as late late night, dressed for a run, he's lurking outside the Enclosure. Restless and twitchy, wishing more than ever that he hadn't gotten demoted, knowing that things would be worse if he were a warden right now. He doesn't particularly want to talk. He'd like to run. Perhaps a lot more than his usual.

Later he sits in the corner of the cafeteria, chin on interlaced fingers, his expression tight. ]

I honestly don't feel anything, I -

[ And here we have Stephen. Stephen, who has a joint in one hand, and who coughs a little as he exhales, little ghosts of smoke. ]

Here, you take it back. [ He passes it off-camera. ] Been long enough, hasn't it? Swear I don't feel anything. I thought I'd get ravenous or something.

[ He spots the camera's on - ] Oops. [ Picks it up, instead, and there's something in his posture that is indeed rather more relaxed than usual. ] Sorry to bother you, I've never gotten high, unless you count the sort you have from running ten miles. It's not really comparable, is it?

I've a few lights set up.

[ It's hard to see Stephen; the light is bright, and he's part-silhouetted against it. ]

Couldn't get into the maintenance office, but Anya's door is still there, and she had supplies in her cabin. [ Honestly, he's surprised that he was able to get access. Scanned his retinas and everything. ]

I've got preserved food. And protein bars and things. I don't know if the kitchen is equipped.

[ spam for nick ]

[ He wakes up in a totally unfamiliar room, sterile and empty. An inmate's cabin, except it's nowhere he's ever seen before. When he flings open the door, this initial assessment is confirmed - it's the Barge. But it doesn't look right. Patches of rot, for one thing.

He takes the stairs two at a time to get to Nick's room, and opens the door without thinking about it. ]

Nick!

[ video, later ]

Your ship's a wreck. No wonder you keep colliding with ours.

He left the kitchen and took the knives.

Even the butter knife.

[ Stephen sounds a little - freaked out. His voice is odd, and there's something that's almost laughter in his tone. It doesn't sound good. ]

[ private to anya ]

Still have a job?

[ spam, ditl ]

[ Stephen finds himself lurking outside the CES, hoping for someone to let him in, arms crossed, body language tight.

He is out doing maintenance jobs, too. Here, he seems more casual. He doesn't seem to care if anyone comes near.

Otherwise, he stays in his cabin. ]