( open ) made you a prisoner inside your own secrecy

[gevurah]

Date & Time: nov. 7th – 14th
Location: various locations
Characters: kate & you
Summary: kate (sort of, but not really) doing things and having feelings around the base and people maybe interrupting her.
Warnings: tba.


➊ bathroom / showers ( closed to the first person who gets it anne boleyn )

[ Is she up earlier these days? Kate has to wonder this to herself as she exits the individual shower unit. Time is funny up in space; when days begin and end begin to blur together, but the implemented Earth hours seem to help a little. Whatever the time is now, it’s a good time to grab a quick shower despite the water never rising above lukewarm.

Wrapping herself in a snug towel that she had lifted off the hotel in Basel, she moves toward one of the mirrors and begins to dry herself off before she slips into clean undergarments, shorts, and an A-shirt. The USMA sweater (that she’s also lifted from her previous mission with a heavy heart) is tucked into the duffel bag along with her other belongings. She digs through it, extracting scissors and a small, fine comb. Once she’s combed through red locks that she’s allowed to grow far too long, she parts it and leans in the mirror to quickly examine its condition.

She uses the comb to separate a thick portion of it and she begins to snip away, shortening the length bit by bit. ]


➋ cafeteria

[ The coffee brewed from the stolen machine is shit compared to what Gil had brewed her a while back. She tells herself to consider asking him for some of it in exchange for whatever she can afford to trade.

But beggars can’t be choosers. While she picks up some of the freeze dried fruits like banana slices, strawberries, and apples, Kate’s lived on far less – and worse – in the past. She’ll take jarred pickles that may have been sitting around too long over snake... although she sorely misses sushi.

She’ll think of it as Washington Hall; a really cheap and sadly lacking Washington Hall.

After she picks out some vegetable canned soup and heats it up, she makes her way down the floor to an empty table and seats herself. Her hair no longer spills over her shoulders and hangs before her line of vision: it’s neat and short once more, and it feels like a tiny, trivial weight off her shoulders. ]


➌ virtual simulation room

[ She returns to the Academy.

Not the Academy in the 2200s, that’s not hers – not really. Neither is this one, though AI does a magnificent job with the little details in her memory. The room converts itself into one of the familiar grounds Kate once used to trek up and down in her cadet days. The buildings towering above with such historic beauty, the grass a lively and perfect green, and the memorials frighteningly committed to being as accurate as they can to her memory. The text glints in the false, bright rays of the sun above, displaying the words she’s engraved in her mind long ago:


THE CADET HONOR CODE
A CADET WILL NOT LIE, CHEAT, STEAL,
OR TOLERATE THOSE WHO DO.

The grass “crunches” softly beneath her feet as she hikes closer to the honour memorial. She grips the strap of her bag and pulls it forward, unzipping it, and pulling out the sweater she’s been meaning to wear proudly once again, but finding difficulty in scraping up any pride to do so. It may be a silly thing to wrestle with morally, though questionable morals is something she’s found herself facing more often in the past several months. ]


➍ observatory

[ Without any bags to punch or weights to lift, Kate hasn’t had much of a workout since the necromorphs outbreak. She’s restless by the implemented time of nightfall. The observatory doesn’t comfort her much, however; space is supposed to be some incredible frontier filled with endless possibilities countries have raced each other to get to first, but under the glimmer of the stars she can finally see so clearly, she wonders what’s so great about a dark, empty place like this.

She positions herself against a wall and stares upward, lost in thought. At some point, she’s sitting on the floor with her tablet, reading through the information the AI’s decrypted a while back once more. ]

Comments

[gevurah]

[ She regards herself in the mirror for a brief moment, examining her hair once more before it occurs to her — ]

Maybe for the back when it's shortened? If you don't mind.

[ To maintain an even length, but that won't be for a bit. ]

[ensorceler]

It was first in my mind to help, after all. Though mayhap you would first help me out of my dress, and after the time they allow me to bathe proper, you would then be ready for your cut to be complete and I shall also be here.

[gevurah]

[ Kate sets the scissors down on the edge of the sink and moves toward Anne. ]

The bath will only run for five minutes. [ It blows, but they have to ration their water and heat. ] Do you need shampoo and conditioner?

[ She may as well offer, seeing Anne's beautiful locks. ]

[ensorceler]

And they are cold. I am aware.

[ And she looks none too pleased about it, either. For someone who really enjoys her baths, it's such a bummer. But she enjoys her space, too, and that went out the window a long time ago.

Anne shakes her head at the offer for whatever those things are, and holds out her basket that not only has linen for drying, but a bar of soap and some rose scented oil. See how set she is???? ]

My thanks, but my garments are all that I would humbly ask aid for.

[ The basket is set on a sink's edge before she turns, pulling her hair over one shoulder to reveal the tightly laced bodice, which is only seen to be laced to a separate but matching skirt beneath if one looks closely. There is a clasp at the top as well, though primitive. ]

[gevurah]

[ Kate steps away from the sink and moves into Anne's space. Her beauty is breathtaking, she can't deny it, but she's not tempted to give in. She has Roslyn and their relationships is shockingly stable. She's happy.

She reaches toward the clasp, undoing it neatly. ]

They're warm right now. The less people there are, the less cold it is.

[ensorceler]

[ The knots for the laces are probably another matter, but not that difficult for a second person. ]

Yes, I attempt for when there are few, but it is often not so simple. I must wonder why you did not wait for there to be more about when cutting your hair. There might be a barber near.

[gevurah]

[ Her hands travel toward the laces. Undoing them is hardly difficult when you're trained to free yourself from ropes and locks. She starts from the bottom, working her way up. ]

Guess I got a little impatient.

[ It's a bit of a joke, too. She doesn't mind doing it herself. ]

[ensorceler]

[ Well, it's nice to not have to guide someone by the hand for once. ]

Are there none who will mourn your pretty locks hair soon to be upon the floor?

[gevurah]

[ She finally unties the top lace. ]

My hair was short when I arrived. Don't think they'll mind.

[ Roslyn can still tug hair, even if it's much shorter.

But she doesn't care what people think about her appearance. If she did, she wouldn't carry herself the way she does. ]

[ensorceler]

[ Whereas Anne takes every care with every aspect of her appearance, even when dressed in mourning, but she also carries herself with a confidence, perhaps of a different sort. It is often muted by false or playful humility, though lately more heavily influenced by the losses of Exsilium.

The sudden freedom allowed in her lungs is always sharp, a relief along with a twinge of pain, and she lifts a hand to press against her middle before she tugs it free, carefully with it's more delicate sleeves, and the skirt all but drops to the floor. ...Leaving behind another skirt. Two, actually, if one counts the black kirtle (which has MORE laces, sorry Kate) overtop the white chemise. ]

It is of such vivid color, I believe you able to style it in any fashion and it would look a wonder.

[gevurah]

[ As beautiful as the dress is, Kate is more than grateful she lives in the future where her only concern is making sure her clothes don't have wrinkles and that her eyeliner isn't thicker or thinner on one side.

She attends to the next set of laces. ]

Worry about others' hairs that often?

[ensorceler]

[ She smile she dons over her shoulder is quick and hopefully soothing where she's for once a little unsure if she offended the woman or not. She often has to adjust with sharp learning curves when it comes to the women who dress like men. ]

Only admiring. My hair is so dull, you see... Lighter hair is considered more beautiful. Blonde is what is common and pretty, but your red is even more startling and beautiful, like a polished ruby.

[gevurah]

Your hair is lovely.

[ She smiles back at Anne, her words genuine. ]

I've had my hair much shorter in the past.

[ The Army prefers it short. ]

[ensorceler]

[ Anne smiles and dips her head in thanks while turning away again, glancing to the mirrors. It's strange how hard it is to subdue her curiosity over something so idle. ]

Shorter, by how much length?

[gevurah]

[ She gestures with a hand to indicate the back of her head. She could say "like a man", but men aren't the only ones who wear their hair short, just as women aren't the only ones who wear theirs long. ]

Army regulations encourage cadets to keep their hair short.

[ She finishes undoing the current set of laces and her eyes search for more. Really, thank the future for simpler clothing. ]

[ensorceler]

Army?

[ She needs to stop being surprised by these other women; women that are from the future or other worlds, or is there really a difference by now? She knows not whether to be put off or jealous for such freedom.

She might exercise it differently, but she would wish for it. ]

How grateful I am the Initiative does not impose such rules upon its'.....soldiers.

[ Finally, Anne can wriggle out of everything except for the thin chemise--which covers her as much as a modest nightgown, but she might as well be half naked in her mind! Which...doesn't matter much considering this one isn't a man.

She turns, one arm modestly crossed over her belly and chest as she bows her head a moment for thanks. ]

I shall be quick so as not to keep you. [ A chuckle, then, while grabbing her basket. ] As if I would have any choice, like you said.

[gevurah]

The military, basically. Army's just one branch of our Armed Forces.

[ Kate doesn't appear flustered, but given Anne's mannerisms and her speech, she's polite enough to avert her eyes in the case the other woman would prefer not to have anyone's eyes laid on her figure.

She is beautiful. Kate doesn't doubt she makes heads turn on base. ]

It's alright, I'm taking time myself.

[ She might know how to trim her own hair, but better safe than sorry. ]

[ensorceler]

[ It doesn't matter much with this fiery haired beaut being a woman after all, but the manners are always appreciated and make her smile more sincere. Still, the oddities of a woman being in an army... Of course there have been exceptions in history, but always exceptions.

The future, or other world if it's so, is different enough to be as off-putting as it is fascinating. She has more questions, but they can wait for better times, and she nods with another curtsy before disappearing.

T I M E - S K I P? Scrub-a-dub-dub and all that about six or seven minutes later she'll be back. Anne needs to remain in a long-sleeved robe until her hair can dry (there are several drawbacks to long hair, it's true), which is tugged secure. ]

Was it long? It is dizzying when you pretend the water in your ears to be music.

[gevurah]

[ Kate's been trimming the front of her hair in the meantime. She sets aside the scissors again, letting strands of red hair fall around her feet, rather than in the sink. (How do they deal with drainage blockage on board? She doesn't want to find out.) ]

It's only a few minutes. It's all we can afford up here.

[ensorceler]

Hot water was already so treasured, but now I think it even more priceless than sugar or pearls. It is rare I get to arrive when there are few about.

[ Gosh, so short! She really is sad to see the hair go, but won't argue about how much trouble it can be. It also sucks when you have to settle for boring hair styles because there's no maid. Woes and all that. ]

Are you now ready for aid, then?

[gevurah]

You need a moment to dry off?

[ She combs her fingers through the shorter parts of her hair, detangling and removing loose hairs that trickle to the floor. ]

[ensorceler]

[ She shakes her head and steps closer, though the reminder makes her doublecheck that the robe is secure. She doesn't need to freeze for the sake of a hair cut. ]

The linen has done all it can, now I leave it to the air.

[ Really what is a hair dryer? ]

[gevurah]

If you say so.

[ Using the hairdryer repeatedly can damage hair and even Kate tries to avoid that in Exsilium.

No, space, she quickly corrects herself mentally.

The scissors are there for Anne to take any time she wants to. Kate uses her brush to comb through her hair again and push the longer ends to the back. She can only hope Anne does have experience. ]

[ensorceler]

[ She has a sister and two brothers and it isn't always convenient to reach the barber. Anne hasn't had her own hair cut in a very long time, but that was probably already obvious.

It isn't like she's picked a complicated cut, at least. It's very easy for a perfectionist like Anne to match once she combs Kate's hair herself, especially with such straight and sharp scissors to keep things even. The future does have some benefits. ]

I wonder, mayhap we ought to exchange names with one another, since you are already trusting me with your beautiful hair in my hands.

[ And two blades to her back, she thinks but doesn't say. Talk about rude. ]

[gevurah]

[ She stares forward into the mirror, briefly allowing her gaze to fall to the sink where bits of hair still littered it. She lightly brushes it off the sink and uses her foot to drag the piles of it into one larger pile. Easier to pick up after. ]

Kate.

You?