ichoosefight | 43 - Video - Don't you dare say you're sorry.

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43 - Video - Don't you dare say you're sorry.

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[ Steph has an epic bruise on her face, but it doesn't seem to be bothering her. The angle is a little odd, mostly because she set the communicator up on her dresser so she could examine the damage to her shirt. Of course, you can't see what she's looking at. The video cuts her off at the chin. She's frowning at the shirt in her right hand before she glances up at the screen, obviously distracted. ]

Has anyone I know died? Not to be blunt, but I wasn't exactly looking for friendly faces in the infirmary.

[ Private to Hoffman ]

[ Now she's put the shirt down on her bed and picked up the communicator so that she might join the shirt, lounging against the pillows with a very concerned look on her face. ]

Are you okay? Are you... you know, you again?

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[The feed switches on to reveal a man staring blankly at the camera. There's no shock in his eyes. Inwardly he's reeling. She'd been nice to him and he'd fucked her over and...and nothing.]

Yes to both.

[There is a long pause. He sounds genuinely curious now.]

....Why do you care?

Because I care about people. [ And you. But shush. ]

Are they going to let you out of Zero, or are you stuck for a while?

[Hoffman looks at his lap for a moment. He has to compose himself, the idea of someone caring about him...it's been forever. When he looks at the camera again he's cocky, arrogant.

There is a tiredness there however, that was not there previously. His eyes look weary.]

I honestly don't know.

[His laugh is bitter and grim.] I had a sentence to do in zero before all of this shit went down remember? Me. The bad guy.

[ Steph still just... looks concerned. She's not convinced he's alright, though... he's not acting any more crazed than he usually does. ]

I don't remember actually. Might've been when I was unconscious. What happened?

[His hand clenches into a fist. If the nanomites did one good thing, he's at least healed.]

I killed Amanda. She...she pissed me off.

[There is another long pause]

How are you feeling?

[ Dryly, ] Hmm, I can't imagine somebody getting mad enough to kill Amanda.

[ After that pause, and rather flippantly, ]

I'm okay. Six weeks in a cast, but that's no big deal.

[Hoffman laughs at that. He runs a hand through his hair before grinning like an idiot. The grin dies when she says "six weeks in a cast."]

[It's out before he can stop himself] I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you.

[ Yeah, this was what she was worried about. ]

You didn't. The nanomites did.

[Hoffman smirks] I bet there are a lot of apologies that are going to be going around for the next few days. Barge will dissolve into a giant love fest again before people start killing each other.

[ She sighs her amusement. ]

God, I hope so. I could use a decent love-fest before the next murder.

[Hoffman laughs aloud] Oh god. Warm and fuzzy. Fan-fucking-tastic. I can't stand it. Don't know how a guy from such a grim and gritty world like mine would handle it!

[His looks amused himself] ...These past two months have been the strangest of my life.

[ She grins deviously before wincing. That jaw still smarts. ]

Don't make me come hug you when I get the chance.

Most the guys I know from Gotham aren't into it either. [ Except Dick, but Dick is a special happy butterfly. ]

[Hoffman sounds happy. What is this.] Hard to do that with a wrist. [His smile turns sour but brightens again quickly] Sorry.

Where'd you learn to fight like that? How many karate lessons? Jeez.

It'll be an awkward, uncomfortable hug.

I, uh... took some self-defense classes. [ Okay, she doesn't really expect that to work. ]

Eh, these things usually work themselves out. [he nods to himself] Trust me on this.

[...he's too tired not to fall for it.] You had a great teacher. They don't go into self defense at the academy. I mean you learn basics but it's mostly about control and corral.

Probably [he manages to say it lightly] Why I end up breaking a lot of wrists and hands.

Well that explains that. I was a little confused.

...Mostly because I was numb when it happened.

[Hoffman sags a little at that]

...I got mine I think. In the end. Arthas knocked me out with a hammer the size of a fucking horse.

[In this LOG going on right now, but whatever.]

Holy-- Are you okay?

[Hoffman rubs his head]

Apart from a splitting headache, I think he got me down here while the nanomites were still functioning so they managed to repair it.

I think that's what got me keeled over actually. [His voice is dry] No matter what, I'm not super trained or super powered. [he sounds bitter now] For all that people keep saying I'm crazy and dangerous, I'm just a normal guy.

Felt like those things were eating me alive for a few minutes. [He's trying to be cheerful.]

I can't imagine what that must be like.

...

And in case you try to pull an O'Brien and claim that we aren't... that you're just using the relationships you've formed, I'll warn you now that that doesn't work on me and I was actually holding back on you.

Don't. Don't think about it. [His voice is tight.] I need to get it out of my system.

[He laughs] Wasn't going to. Remind me not to piss you off. [He sounds serious] No really, remind me please. The last thing I want is to get my ass handed to me by a friend...unless it's justified for some reason.

I think it was justified in this case. [He shakes his head] So no harm no foul. Who's O'Brien?

I won't think about it then. But I really was trying to do as little damage as possible.

O'Brien is the one person who refuses to be my friend, despite my best efforts. But I keep trying.

Have you ever read 1984?

My sister used to say it was the one book her kids enjoyed reading. That and Brave New World. Something about dystopias.

[There is a pause] ...really?

Fuck me.

[ She smiles a little sheepishly. ] The goop's my least dangerous weapon.

Did you ever read it?

[he looks a little surprised] Really?

[For some reason however, that makes him feel a little off. It doesn't show of course. This whole incident has woken...something up in him. That and...god she's just a kid. And a funny one no point in burdening the funny ones.]

Thanks. I would have shot to ki-

[He cuts himself off and focuses on the more pleasant topic.] I skimmed it mostly.

43 - Video - Don't you dare say you're sorry.

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