text; @aa (forward dated to 9/01)

[livingdeadgirl]

hey um
I apologize if this is a dumb question
or badly timed
but was there always a whole foods right outside the airlock?

Comments

@lazarus | text

[benhargreeves]

A what?

Last time I checked the area outside the airlock was clear, but things have a habit of popping up out of nowhere out there.

[livingdeadgirl]

whole foods
its a supermarket except they only sell stuff with "organic" in the name

really? where do they come from?

[benhargreeves]

Oh, I know that kind of place.

Wait a whole supermarket appeared?

That's the million dollar question. I have no idea how it works, I've just seen it happen.

[livingdeadgirl]

it certainly looks like a whole supermarket
I haven't been outside to check though
isn't it super radioactive out there?

[benhargreeves]

It is. There are suits you can wear to keep you safe. You can only go out for a little while at a time, and you gotta do decontamination after, but I've been out there four or five times and I haven't grown a second head, so I think it's okay, as long as you're careful.

And maybe don't go alone. Living things pop up too and sometimes they're not so friendly.

[livingdeadgirl]

oh geez are you kidding
I can't even handle the living things in here
maybe I'd better just... stay inside
where it's
... well
not safe
but slightly safer

[benhargreeves]

Staying inside is almost certainly the best option if you're not someone who is trained to fight, or armed, or going with someone who is armed/trained to fight.
Sorry if that's a bummer but it's the truth.

[livingdeadgirl]

it is a bummer but I get it
I'm sure one of these days there'll be a situation where I'm not completely useless
like idk
getting the mail

[benhargreeves]

[ Oh look at that it's gentle lecture o'clock, Ben's favorite time. ]

Hey, just because fighting's not your thing doesn't mean you're useless.
There's way more important stuff out there than just being able to hurt people.
That's only useful in situations that are already shitty.
Pretty much all other skills are better than that and I'll bet you have loads of those.
So you shouldn't talk about yourself like that.

[livingdeadgirl]

[ okay DAD

I mean... he's got a point, but this is Anchor. Whatever state of normalcy they have is precarious - situations can, and do, turn shitty without warning. If that should happen, then what is she? A drain on resources at best, or at worst, a helpless civilian who needs to be rescued at the risk of more competent lives. And she writes out a whole reply to that effect...

... then reads it again, and. wow. It sounds incredibly self-pitying and pathetic! That's a bad reply, right there. She backspaces and starts over. ]

ok
are you thinking to go?

[benhargreeves]

[ There's a long pause and Ben's not sure if he's offended her and maybe so. But honestly, he can live with that. More than he can sit by and listen to that sort of negative self-talk without speaking up. Too many years of trying to look after Klaus, it's just instinct now. ]

I probably am.
There could be useful supplies there and I know my way around the radiation suits okay.
And if something attacks me, I'm ready to handle that.

[ In other words... he IS good at hurting people, actually. ]

[livingdeadgirl]

[ She did appreciate the sentiment, at least! It's just those pesky sad thoughts that in no way indicate she's developing depression or anything. This Is Fine.

... Huh, she never did find out what his superpowers are, did she? Well, still shouldn't be nosy about that. ]

that's good
actually um
while you are there
would you mind taking a look at their makeup section for me?
obviously this is 100% nonessential for survival
so I won't ask you to go out of your way
but I would really really appreciate it, if you get the chance

[benhargreeves]

Oh, definitely. I'm sure Klaus is going to ask me to bring him back some eyeliner and nailpolish so i'll already be in that vicinity.

Anything in particular you're looking for? You can give me a list of brands or specifications and I'll see what I can do.

[livingdeadgirl]

thank you so much :)
let's see um

[ She rattles off a couple different brands, colors, etc. I don't know anything about makeup. ]

I don't know if they'll have the lipstick in black
if they do that would be amazing
but if not then dark red is fine

[benhargreeves]

[ Ben, A Good Boy™, takes notes, waits for her to be finished and says: ]

Consider it done.

[livingdeadgirl]

thank you so much!
you're a lifesaver