[reverse darkest timeline AU: cellthread #2]

[stilljustandrew]

[Previously: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

What's worried Baby the most, over the past few days --

Well. What's upset her the most is Andrew's consistent refusal to speak to her mind-to-mind, or out loud beyond the few necessary words she might exchange with any other inmate, such as requests for food, fresh clothes, an extra blanket.

But what's worried her is that he hasn't asked for anything to pass the time. No tablet with games or videos on it, no pencil and paper, no baseball to bounce off the opposite wall.

No books.



In the cell, Andrew finishes his breakfast (cornflakes, with sliced banana), sets aside the bowl, and settles down leaning against the wall.

Comments

[gothamsheiress]

"Hm."

(What's that girl in Valerian's name? Helaine? No matter.)

"Is there anything else I ought to know? Do you think he's dangerous?"

[hadyougoing]

"Yes," she says slowly.

"The way someone is when all they have is ... holding onto a horrible idea they know is wrong."

Unless she's being as stupid as Andrew right now, thinking there's enough of him left to save.

Still. Nobody saved her, and here she is.

[gothamsheiress]

Brix nods, slowly.

"But you do think," she murmurs, "that he knows it's wrong. Somewhere in his heart."

[hadyougoing]

"I hope he does," Ava sighs. "It's hard ... I've known him a long time. And right now I don't think that helps."

[gothamsheiress]

"I would imagine not."

She can also imagine how Iva would react to her next question, but nevertheless:

"And how are you?"

[hadyougoing]

"Me?"

Ava smiles.

"I mean, I'm not why you're here."

[gothamsheiress]

Yep, that's pretty close to what she expected.

"No, of course," she agrees. "Very well."

[hadyougoing]

"But let me know if you need anything else," she says. "Your conversations in there are all gonna be recorded, so don't worry about filing a report."

[gothamsheiress]

"Recorded?"

[hadyougoing]

"Um, yeah--Baby keeps track."

[gothamsheiress]

"We'll be listened to, then." She considers, faintly frowning. "It isn't what I'd prefer."

[hadyougoing]

Eh, Ava gets that.

"Could you try it for this first time?" she says. "I feel like I've probably forgotten to tell you a bunch of things, or something'll come up I didn't prepare you for, and I just ... want to know."

Curiously, one can be honest and manipulative at the same time.

[gothamsheiress]

Brix eyes her for a moment, but then nods.

"All right. Does Andrew know I'm coming to speak with him?"

[hadyougoing]

She nods back.

"Yeah. I'm not sure it made much of an impression, but he knows."

[gothamsheiress]

"Well."

She rises, smoothing her skirt.

"Will you lead the way, then?"

[hadyougoing]

"You bet."

For a moment, her expression softens slightly.

"Thank you for doing this."

Then she turns, brisk, and heads down the hall towards the cells.

[gothamsheiress]

"I only hope I can help," Brix murmurs as she follows.

[stilljustandrew]

In the cell, Andrew's lying down on his mattress with his hands loosely folded on his chest, staring at the ceiling.

(He's starting to look a little stubbly. Sanitary facilities are available in each cell, but he hasn't asked for a razor.)

[hadyougoing]

"Hey, Andrew," Ava says pleasantly. "Your visitor's here."

With one last nod for Brix, she departs to the office, where her probably-very-important paperwork awaits.

[gothamsheiress]

Brix halts in front of Andrew's cell. Her gaze goes over the transparent wall, the bare interior, Andrew.

"Hello, Andrew."

[stilljustandrew]

"Hi."

He starts to sit up, slowly, reluctantly.

[gothamsheiress]

"My name is Brix nó Balm de Marsilikos."

Her voice is pitched low, pleasant and calm.

"How are you?"

[stilljustandrew]

He gets to a sitting position, and draws up his knees.

Low: "I want to go home."

[gothamsheiress]

"Where is home?" she asks, curious.

[stilljustandrew]

"With my master."

And he closes his mouth firmly, as though to say that's all the answer there is.