Є026 spam/video/text

[forgetyourusedtobe]

spam.

[When Elena arrives, she doesn't take to the network right away. Instead, she spends time going through the Barge. She spends a little extra time in the gym, library and the enclosure, but otherwise can be found anywhere and everywhere on board. She's refamiliarizing herself with it, but she's also looking for any familiar faces. She doesn't want them to find out she's back through the network or by word of mouth. She wants to be the one to tell them in person.]

[Admittedly, she's a little nervous. She doesn't know how they'll react to her coming back. While logically she knows they definitely have grounds to be angry for her coming back, she still finds herself with her stomach in knots as she walks through the hallways trying to find people.]

[That doesn't mean, however, she doesn't have time to stop and chat with new faces either. Elena is actually pretty friendly. She approaches any faces she doesn't recognize with a smile, setting aside her worries about her return, and a:] Hey, I don't think we've had a chance to meet yet. I'm Elena.

video.

[Elena gives a small wave to the camera after she turns it on. She's sitting at her desk with a mug of coffee beside her and her journal open. She hasn't started writing in it yet.]

So, I'm back. I've been back for a couple of hours, but I thought I'd go around and see people before talking on here. Sorry if I missed anyone. You guys are way too good at hiding.

For those of you that don't know me, I'm Elena. I used to be an inmate here, but I graduated.

[She hesitates to mention anything about being a vampire. There are definitely some new faces here and she's not entirely sure how they'll take it. But honesty is generally a good policy and she's not likely in any real danger anyway.]

Also for those of you who have come on board since then, I am a vampire. But I don't feed on people.

[There. She did it.]

I hope I get to know all of you. This place is definitely a lot easier if you've got friends.

private - Admiral.

Looks like I arrived just in time. Oddly enough, I don't mind writing this this year.

At the risk of her thinking it's really lame, I'd like for Abigail to have a nice journal so she can write or draw or do whatever she wants with it. I'd also like for her to have a ring. Nothing too fancy, just something simple. I'd also like for her to have a Polaroid camera with plenty of film to get her by for a while. Oh, and I want to get some things for her warden, Ben. Could you give him some books to read? I'm not sure what kind of novels he likes, but I'd say two or three he hasn't read that he will definitely like and then maybe one outside his usual choice.

For Dean, please give him vinyl copies of all his favorite classic rock albums and a player for it. I'd also like for him to have a vervain bracelet. And I'd like for him to have another bottle of Woodford this year. He might not want to necessarily share it, but hopefully he will again some day. And the same for Bond, wherever he is now. (Alcohol, not the music or bracelet, just so we're clear.) For Arkin, I would like for him to have a photo album of his family. I don't know if he still has that body pillow I asked for him last year, but if he doesn't give him another one. If he does, just make sure he gets a new fuzzy cover. Gotta keep up tradition.

For Cassel, get him a magic kit for kids and an EasyBake Oven. And for Chris get him a stack of comics he's missed out on while he's been on the Barge. For Jean can you get her a subscription to a psychology journal? And a piece of art she wouldn't mind hanging in her room or in her office. Give Mal a Keurig with plenty of K-cups in flavors she'll like to last her a year. Last, but not least, can you give Scott a buddy and some new lacrosse gear?

I hope I'm not forgetting anybody, but just in case? For everyone, make sure they get a mug with hot cocoa mix and marshmallows plus a candy cane. And don't be stingy with the ribbons tying the hot cocoa and marshmallow bags to the candy canes either.

And you know what? Give yourself some cookies. Merry Christmas and thank you.

Comments

[patheticvillain]

Holy shit. Elena. You just never fucking quit.

[forgetyourusedtobe]

It's either my best or my worst trait depending on who you ask.

[patheticvillain]

I think your best trait is your hair and your worst trait is your tendency to make friends with assholes.

[forgetyourusedtobe]

Still wouldn't change a thing about me though?

[patheticvillain]

Why mess with perfection?

[forgetyourusedtobe]

You need to work on making your flattery less obvious.

[patheticvillain]

Do you actually want me to flirt with you, because I thought we established that that was a terrible idea.

[forgetyourusedtobe]

Cassel, no offense, but not in a million years.

[They work better as... well, not exactly friends. She doesn't know what they are precisely. But whatever it is. Anything more or less and the whole thing would absolutely fall apart.]

[But all teasing aside:]

I take it you've been doing alright?

[patheticvillain]

Would I tell you if I wasn't?

[In all seriousness.]

[forgetyourusedtobe]

Probably not, but would it really stop me from asking anyway?

[patheticvillain]

Nope. You're relentlessly nosy and good-hearted. It's really annoying.

[forgetyourusedtobe]

So once again we come back to: why mess with perfection? And a follow up of: why are you dodging the question?

[patheticvillain]

Dodging? Me?

I'm great. As always.

[forgetyourusedtobe]

You know, I think you actually got worse at lying while I was gone.

[patheticvillain]

Isn't that kind of the point of this place? All the skills you learn that make you good at being a shithead, unlearn 'em.

[forgetyourusedtobe]

It just wasn't something I was expecting you to ever want to give up.

[patheticvillain]

Who says I wanted it?

[forgetyourusedtobe]

I find it a little hard to believe anybody here would make you give something up unwillingly.

[patheticvillain]

People adapt to survive, right?

[forgetyourusedtobe]

[Elena frowns a little at that. She hasn't noticed it up until now, but there's something that feels...weird about this conversation. Which, okay, all conversations with Cassel tend to be a little weird given their history, but this is different.]

And that's not survival technique number one...?

[patheticvillain]

Nah. I mean, it's not gonna kill me to be a little friendlier, right? And a little more open.

[forgetyourusedtobe]

Friendlier to who? [she asks, slowly.]

[patheticvillain]

To everyone, right?