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[warandpeace]

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Ahab's not here. Ocelot assumes he went home... hope so. Says DD couldn't find him.

But there's something else. I keep noticing things. [His voice is gruff, almost angry. Festering because it keeps happening and he can't do shit about it.] Have you seen someone else? Wide hat? Skin burned, grey? Makes him look a little like a skull. I've heard him, I'm pretty sure. This deep voice, sounds like a smooth talker.

But every time I hear it, I can't catch up with him.

Or- or fog, mist...? In some places? Or is that just for me? Someone else must have saw something.

[He can't be sure with all the things he's seeing. But they can't all just be in his head...] Just tell me if anyone sees anything unusual.

Comments

[sidecars]

[ Outside Miller's room there is a sharp and sudden bark from a pup that someone tries to shush. Unfortunately the damage has already been done, so there's no sense in pretending otherwise. ]

So much for the surprise [ It's grumbled when Bucky comes through the door with one of Mama's babies. He's a pretty red that looks just like her held securely in his arms. ] So. In the hospital, huh?

[ Yep, do fill him in right now. ]

[warandpeace]

I see you brought me a friend.

[He sits up in the bed, reaching out to pet the pup.] Looks like they're doing okay. How are Ishmael and Ocelot.

[He seems set on finding that out first. Before any explanations or anything. He's not seen Ocelot since he got in here.]

[sidecars]

I did. [ The pup leans out for that familiar hand, tongue lapping at his fingers. And so Bucky sets him down carefully on Miller's bed so it has a bit more room to move. ] This one's good company I've figured out.

And the other old men are fine. Don't worry about 'em, worry about yourself! What happened?

[warandpeace]

Did you see them? [He picks up the dog to keep it from toddling too close to the edge of the bed. He keeps trying to climb up Miller, though, away from his legs and up towards his shoulders. Kaz is just assuming the brat is after his ears again.]

You don't understand. They've been fucking with the network. At least for me. That's why I asked you to contact them. I can't do it. But you're not someone they'd target. They'd leave you alone. You don't mean anything to Cipher.

[sidecars]

I... Well I texted 'em. Both of them checked in. Ocelot was his usual annoying self. Called you a mother.

[ Bucky's concern is obvious once his expression grows pinched around his eyes. ]

Cipher...? I remember you mentioning him before. Is he on the ship?

[warandpeace]

No... Yes... I don't know. I keep seeing signs of them. I would think it was in my head, but the dogs see it to. I was almost sure it couldn't be anything, but I was in Eggsy's office and he turned his back to grab something. Last thing I remember before I felt hands on my shoulders, yanking me back.

But the thing is...

[He thumps his arm through his shirt, creating a metallic sort of thud. His generator half cups over the shoulder.] This part has no sensation even if the rest of the arm does. But I felt fingers there. Hit the wall so hard I blacked out.

Woke up in here. Never saw them get me. Mama can't stand whatever they've sent after me.




That son of a bitch called me a mother? [He is a mother though.]

[sidecars]

Yup. [ It's said with the gravest seriousness, but he can't help but show a bit of a smile. ] You should do something about that—You know, once you're better.

[ One of his hands comes to rest on the husky pup, petting him gently as he wanders all over Miller. It gives him time to digest this new information; though, he doesn't have much to suggest. ]

Then you should keep Mama with you at all times. And someone who can keep whatever this is off you.

[ And Bucky may not have named names, but it's obvious he means himself. ]

[warandpeace]

Nice offer. It won't work. [If Eggsy couldn't stop it from grabbing him, he's pretty sure Bucky can't.]

[The little pup takes a big risk then. It makes a harrowing hop off the bed, whining a little when it lands. Miller looks after it, but it seems set on moving away from the bed.]

Hey, get back- FUCK!

[His attention is right up on his leg as hands visibly move under the blankets, sinking fingers into his artificial calf, right into thin air. Much like the dog he goes rolling off the bed and frantically starts kicking the blanket away.] It's here! It's in here!

[sidecars]

[ Bucky begs to differ actually. But before he can open his mouth to make his point, he has to jump back a few feet when Miller scrambles out of the bed. ]

Jesus, Kaz! Where—? [ He keeps point to the sheets. but it's hard to tell if it's simply Miller shaking the sheets. Something's moving and he has no idea where the puppy is. Either way, he quickly grabs a corner of the thin fabric and pulls it all the way off the bed and his friend. ]

[yer_pretty_good]

[Ocelot was just about to start his working hours in the medbay, which normally consisted of him lounging around in a chair and trying not to be bored to death. He preferred it when there was some action going on... but maybe not quite like this.]

What the hell? Miller?

[warandpeace]

It fucking grabbed me, didn't you see it? [He's in the middle of scuttling backwards along the floor when he sees something else. In a vent. A pair of bright green eyes staring out at him, the silhouette of something mechanical in it. He rolls to look at Ocelot coming, and suddenly every paranoid fiber in his body has him trying to scramble to his feet because Ocelot isn't going to believe him, he's just going to treat him like hell like he always does.]

[The worst thing is, he's already on a pain killer, just meant to take the edge off having been slammed into a wall even if it's good for nothing else, but it means his reflexes are shot. He can't get up or around as quickly as he'd like. And he's fumbling to grab something to both defend himself and keep the other man away.]

You don't get it, they're following me. They're waiting for me to lead them to what they want!

[The pup has taken up a position of safety in the corner. For all the havoc that Miller's making, it's not watching him.]

[sidecars]

I... I mean I guess something happened. [ He's trying to agree with Miller here, but honestly Bucky hadn't seen much. The movement of fabric could have been from the man flailing around. He can't be sure what is going on.

Briefly he turns his attention to Ocelot before it's back on his friend. He can't seem to get any traction or leverage, so Bucky steps him to give him a hand up under his arms. ]

The hell's the dog?

[ If they lost Buck's favorite puppy he is going to be so pissed. ]

[yer_pretty_good]

Following you? Who's following you?

[Ocelot moves further into the room and near a drawer. He suspects there may be something very wrong with Miller judging by the look in his eyes. This is not normal; certainly not for Kaz.]

Kaz! Calm down!

[The man looks like he's under the influence of some psychotic.]

[warandpeace]

No! You don't understand. It's been following me and it's here! Right now!

[He's insanely adamant about it, though rightfully he can't say exactly what it is. He's just convinced it must be related to Skull Face. One of Cipher's plans. Death didn't mean all that much, here. It's not unlikely he came up with an idea.]

And it's watching us right now.

[He's hard for Bucky to hold onto. He's trying to shove away to get at the door. At least the dog announces itself, with a soft warbling bark off elsewhere.]

[sidecars]

[ For once, and Bucky hopes the only time, his attention returns to Ocelot with a look that clearly suggests he's out of his element. What the hell are they supposed to do? Believe him? Disbelieve him? If they can't even see the problem, how are they supposed to fix it? ]

Where is it, Kaz?

[yer_pretty_good]

[Ocelot scans the room and sees no threat. Even the dog seems to be scared of one thing, and that may be Kaz from the looks of it.]

There's nothing here! Hold him down!

[Ocelot is already grabbing a vial and a syringe from the drawer. Miller has seen Ocelot do this plenty of times. He knows what will come next if Ocelot gets that needle in him.]

[warandpeace]

[That makes his getaway more frantic, when he sees Ocelot get that syringe. Tears right out of Bucky's arms and topples onto the floor and is scuttling (with quite a bit of failure) in an effort to get away. After what he was so recently informed, and knowing what he can do with a needle, and knowing he doesn't want to lose consciousness with that thing over there. It has to be waiting for this to happen.]

[It has to be.]

Jim, it's- Ocelot you have to believe me!

[sidecars]

Whoa, whoa! Wait a second, pal! If there's really something here, he's—He can't be defenseless!

[ After four years of impossible bullshit, Bucky is more than willing to take a leap of faith here. Nothing is ever too crazy. ]

[yer_pretty_good]

[Ocelot believes nothing is too crazy for this place, but he also knows Miller well enough to know this is not his usual behavior.]

And since when does an enemy have you cowering on the floor, Miller? Something has gotten to you, and I don't see anything here.

[He looks to Bucky next, mildly annoyed.]

He's gonna hurt himself flailing around like that. If there is something here, you think he can fight in that state?

And he won't be defenseless. Maybe you don't think you can protect him, but I'm not gonna let anything happen to him.

[But fighting Bucky to get to Miller isn't really a good idea, either, so he lifts his hands to show he's backing off. At least for now.]

You think you can calm him down? Do it. Or get out.

[warandpeace]

I'm on painkillers goddammit. I can't stand up. [He says in defense of his 'cowering'. Though he's trying like hell, still. And trying to find something to defend himself with. It's not going too well, because the effort of getting his feet under him is immediately stifled by him seeing that vent, tucked away beneath a bed and hidden from their standing sight, open. And a pair of dark hands reach out, before the body lurches and it moves as quick as a damn roach, skuttling up the wall, faster than anyone else would look. A vaguely human shaped lurch of seering green eyes and limbs.]

[That gets Miller moving again. A frantic, angry noise as he reaches for a drawer and hopes to god there's something in it he can use, and still on his knees.]

[sidecars]

[ Wow, shots fired there, Ocelot. SHOTS FIRED! His concern turns into thoughts of shoving one of Ocelot's feet into his mouth. It's tempting—Actually, it's almost hard to resist rising to the challenge and proving himself the better man.

But they've got actual problems on their hands besides a boy's insecurities. ]

Goddamnit, you guys...

[ The last thing he wants to do is agree with Ocelot of all people, but he isn't seeing any other options. Miller is, frankly, hysterical at this point. ] Well if you're gonna do it, Kitty cat, do it. [ Not fun having your own words flung back at yah, huh? HUH?? Just come over here and shoot Miller up while he grabs his real arm and pulls it behind his back. ]

with player permission!

[yer_pretty_good]

[Painkillers? Well the dose of the sedative probably won't kill him. He'll have to go with that. It's doubtful Bucky will let Ocelot punch Miller's lights out instead, even if that might actually be safer.

Were he not so busy, he'd be rather annoyed by the whole kitty cat remark, but he probably deserves it after what he said.]

You'll feel better in the morning, Kaz.

[Ocelot approaches and with Bucky's hold on Miller, He sticks the needle into the man's neck and injects the sedative.]

[warandpeace]

Oce- W- [His mind is already dizzing and somehow his absent arm hurts worse than the one being twisted behind his back. The rest of him, the parts that weren't all damaged nerves, growing numb to the touch. His gaze flicks to the ceiling.]

Wait...

[And it's over them. And it's fucking head turns around to look at him, just as his vision is blurring. Can't they hear it? Hear what it's saying?]

[Why can't they hear it?]

[He breathes out, another vocalization that's meant to be a word but is lost as exhaustion overtakes him and he goes limp in the floor.]

[That's when there's a bang on the other side of the room. The sound of a vent slamming shut loudly. And, as if he suddenly discovered the strength of a dog twenty times his size, Fury moves out of his corner to toddle towards it and bark, offended.]