crossing_lostrp | [Daniel] D12: Arthur's Mantle (tag Locke, Doctor, Blaise, Sayid, Jon? Quentin?)

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[Daniel] D12: Arthur's Mantle (tag Locke, Doctor, Blaise, Sayid, Jon? Quentin?)

Amanda was tied up, or rather hand cuffed in the infirmary. After much squawking and barking, Mars had finally given up the key to the handcuffs, making it safe to cuff the young woman until a decision could be reached of what to do with her. Despite rumors to the contrary, there was no denying that she had attacked George, particularly when under the influence of whatever House had given her for pain, she hadn't denied it.

Most of those headed for Faith and Mara's plane had scattered into the jungle, where Faith waited at her rendezvous point, either to find the plane or simply escape from what was fast becoming their own personal version of "Lord of the Flies." There was a lack of community, a lack of understanding or empathy, clearly a lack of morals and ethics, more secrets than he could shake a stick at – his included – and bigger threats looming just beyond the camp.

The big question was what to do with Amanda. She'd practically confessed, but in the real world, in a court of law, a confession under the influence of drugs would be easily destroyed by a good lawyer. But this wasn't the real world, and while he wasn't ready to take that step towards a vigilante eye-for-an-eye community, Daniel was beginning to wonder how close to the edge they would end up walking and still avoid becoming like the savages who raided their camp a week ago.

He stood beneath the hot sun, eyes closed and fingers pinching the bridge of his nose, feeling the eyes on his back. He was tired of this. He wasn't a leader. He was a fucking archaeologist. He was a diplomat, for crying out loud, to quote Jack (and Jon.) People like Jack were supposed to make these decisions; but Jack wasn't here. Jon was, but Jon wasn't Jack and really, this was all far more confusing and annoying than he liked.

Daniel wished he could be like Teal'c and simply not care about those who weren't worth caring about; but it was too deeply ingrained in him that everyone was worth worrying about until they proved that they weren't. (Has Amanda proven that? Or did the island just finally take its toll on her as well?)

Returning his sunglasses to his face, Daniel looked up and met the curious gazes of those around him. "I didn't ask for this job, and I'm doing the best I can with – well, with the odds stacked against me. So, now would be the time for anyone, with any suggestions – about anything from what the hell we do with Amanda to how we find and bring a rapist to justice, to speak up.

"I've spent twelve days trying to make this a community," Daniel's voice was quietly neutral, the only one among them who probably recognized how stretched thin he was likely was Jon. "And it's clearly failed miserably. We have no community, we have no compassion, and in some cases we have no morality. We have small villages fighting against each other for every scrap of bread and the outcasts on the fringe trying to bulldoze or raid their way in.

"So, someone else, tell me, where the hell do we go next? Because frankly, I'm out of ideas."

[OOC: Edited to: allow Jon, Quentin and Methos to still be on the beach and present for this conversation if they would like.]

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"Why not take a vote." The Doctor offered. "About Amanda."

He stood with his arms folded. "My own suggestion is we patch her up and pitch her out. Let her deal with the Others, the smoke creatures and the strange wildlife on her own. A more extreeme version of shunning. I don't doubt there may be some who might still try to reciprocate her attack in kind if she remains here, and I wouldn't trust her any further than I could see her. We decide what would best be done, then collect an anonomys vote. Black stone for the punishment offered, white for letting her go."

"The rapist problem sounds like it needs some police investigation. How's the Marshall doin?" Rose spoke up as well.

She was frustrated as well. Apparently they already had a name, and poor Mara had suffered through it telepathically. What's more, Rose hadn't seen Mara after this latest attack. She'd popped over to check on her, knowing how sensitive she was, only to find her gone. She was supposed to go with Faith's group, all of whom had dissapeared when Carlos and George left, so she may have gone off with them. But Rose wanted to search. Why couldn't her word stand? Because some people thought she was unstable. Damn.

"I agree with the Doctor, sir," Blaise said. He saw faces turn toward him, surprised. Surprised by his agreement or by his speaking up at all? He had said almost nothing since the shit hit the fan this morning. But he'd been thinking about how to deal with the situation and he agreed with the Doctor.

"Do you?" Dr. Jackson said, his voice carefully neutral.

"Yessir. Lucy's suicide--maybe there's a bad guy behind that and maybe there isn't. But even if there is, we don't know the whole story and we don't know who. We need to be careful there.

"But this--there's little doubt about what happened. I doubt there's anyone here who doesn't know how Amanda felt about George. We've got eyewitnesses to what happened to George, we've got Amanda covered with blood."

Blaise sighed. "We can't let it go unpunished. But we can't imprison her either, not in the long run. And we can't just kill her." There was a stir at the explicit mention of killing Amanda, but it wasn't a new thought to anyone. Blaise was certain of that.

"That leaves exile. Amanda has made it clear that she doesn't feel bound to respect anyone or anything else. If she chooses not act as part of the community, she shouldn't be."

"Exile," Locke agreed. He met the others' eyes, glad for Daisy's hand in his. "Amanda is too dangerous to remain here. We'll need to take her far away so she can't find her way back."

If the community -- and it was a community despite what Daniel had said -- decided to exile Amanda, Locke's course was clear. He'd track her down and kill her. Although he didn't want her blood on his hands, the fact that it would be a mercy killing helped some. As Amanda had told everyone early on, she was a musician, a pop star. She couldn't survive the jungle. Hunger, thirst, and infection would slowly eat her alive. Locke could end it quickly, and Daisy could send her to the afterlife. If she suffered there it was beyond his control.

"Short of outright killing, it would seem that exile is the best course of action," Sayid agreed quietly. He was not entirely comfortable working with these Westerners, but he saw that the majority of them respected his knowledge and opinions. The child, Jon, did not, but the hostility of the teenaged youth was certainly understood.

"Amanda, for whatever reasons, has proven to be a danger to the community, and has shown that she cannot be trusted to function properly or normally in our community." Sayid paused and looked pointedly at Daniel, "And begging your pardon, Daniel, but I do think we have a community here. There are dissidents and those who would try to tharwt the system, certainly, but we are a cohesive group. When it matters, we come together and we all help and aid one another."

"I shouldn't be surprised by this," Marshal Mars joined the group with a growl. "One little cat fight gets a bit out of hand, and everyone's talking exile. I point out a known killer walking on the beach, and I get bent over and screwed. I guess that little Amanda simply didn't instill herself into your good graces? Not the little sweetheart on the beach that Kate is?"

Sayid watched with interest as Daniel's previous neutrality slipped and a mask of anger and annoyance came down over his face as he gazed upon the Marshal. "There is a difference, here, Mars."

"Oh, and what would that be, Danny Boy?"

"We only have your word that Kate is a murderer. Not only do we lack anything other than your word, but Kate hadn't even been tried, had she? She was picked up on heresay alone. Amanda, on the other hand is covered in George's blood, she practically confessed ... and did you take a look at that latrine? In addition, we have several witnesses, including Dr. Pierson who treated her wounds and Faith."

"And where are they?" Mars looked around pointedly.

"Where's your witness who tagged Kate?"

Mars slowly turned purple.

OOoh, love this little wrench. Have I mentioned how much a LURVE this game? Because I do, I really, really do.

::sneaks back to work::

I must do too - I never used to stay up this late! *lol* Can sleep when dead, heh.

Quentin watched the proceedings with a dour look on his face. The consensus seemed to be favoring banishment for Amanda. It seemed the only option left to them short of an execution, which was definitely not a path they wanted to start down. Still, something was bothering Quentin - what would the repercussions of banishment be?

"While I agree in principle with the idea of banishing Amanda to the jungle, something about it bothers me. We are giving up control over her actions by just turning her loose. If you think she's angry and motivated now, just imagine how she'd be if we were to banish her. I'd hate for this to come back and bite us in the ass when we least expect it to."

Quentin turned and looked at the entire crowd, "Unless a vote for banishment is really a vote for an unofficial execution, which if we were to pick her up and throw her out right this moment it most certainly would be."

"Either way my vote is to tread lightly, because we are setting a precedent here."

Jon snorted, wondering whether he should have aimed for something more vital than Amanda's thigh. Sure it'd mean trouble for him, but at least the committee meetings wouldn't be necessary.

"Maybe we need a precedent. What's the alternative, really? Keep her tied up till the day help arrives? Give her food, water and shade?" he scratched his head mockingly. "Oh wait, we already have since the day we got here. Lock-up might not be comfortable, but it's not exactly a deterrent to any other psychos out here. Control? I wouldn't want to listen to all that shrieking day in, day out either - now there's a fast track to la-la-land. We could gag her, but I'd rather kick the bitch out and be done with her."

"With a leg wound, Jon?" Daniel pinched the bridge of his nose, his expression exhausted.

Ah shit: guilt trip. The strain in his friend's voice was pretty damn obvious though, and he couldn't blame him. This wasn't a job that he'd want either, not with all the personalities on this beach. Independent and needy, all at the same time. Wanting someone to keep things ticking, but questioning all the fucking time.

"It was clean, wasn't it? All the way through and out the other side, and the docs did their stuff." Jon crossed his arms and scowled, hating the fact that he really did sound like a shitty kid. "There's nothing to say she can't be sent off with a few supplies, if that makes everyone feel better, but she doesn't deserve to stay here. Nor does whoever got to Lucy, someone else I'd be glad to put a bullet into."

Locke had heard enough. Someone needed to make the decision. Daniel should, but seemed unwilling. Meanwhile a murderer was using their precious medical supplies and further dividing the camp. "There's no need to vote." Although he didn't raise his voice, it carried easily to everyone nearby. "Everyone here has voted for exile. There is no room for caveats. Amanda will only further hurt our community if she stays here.

"I'm going to the infirmary to check on Amanda." Locke met and held each person's gaze for a short time as he talked. "When she can be moved, I will escort her out of camp with or without your help. I hope that some of you will help me.

"Those who can't or won't, find Emerson. He and I had planned to check the boar pit traps. We've yet to do so. Emerson can lead you to the traps and slaughter of any game."

Locke glanced at Daisy, finding approval in her eyes. He smiled at her briefly, then headed for the infirmary hoping she would follow.

Daisy followed John to the infirmary. While he spoke to Drs. House and Pierson, Daisy stepped over to look down at Amanda. She looked like she'd taken a serious beating. Her split cheek had been bandaged, but ugly bruising was already evident all around the cut. She was missing a couple of teeth--possibly more than a couple--and her lips were swollen.

Daisy had heard her talking as she approached the tent, though, so apparently her jaw wasn't actually broken after all. (More's the pity,) Daisy thought. Amanda's leg was bound in more bandages and her foot propped up on a suitcase to elevate the leg. Daisy sat down on the edge of the makeshift bed, automatically smoothing her skirt with one hand as she did.

Amanda noticed her then and made some inarticulate sounds that Daisy was pretty sure were meant to be, "What the hell do you want?"

"I'm here to explain a few things to you," Daisy said brightly. "'Uck ou!" Amanda spat. Daisy calmly flicked her finger against Amanda's bandaged leg. Amanda jumped and shouted.

"Is there a problem?" Dr. House asked grumpily. Daisy paid his grumpiness no mind. He was always grumpy.

"No," Daisy said cheerfully. "No problem."

"Try to keep it down, then. I do have another patient." And with that, Dr. House resumed his conversation with Dr. Pierson and John. Daisy noticed Amanda's dismayed expression.

"That's right," Daisy said to her. "Even the doctors aren't terribly concerned about your happiness or comfort. Oh, I imagine they'll try to keep you alive and healthy--that's their job. But they're alone in that."

Daisy leaned closer. "Do you understand what you've done?" She studied Amanda's face for a moment. "No, apparently not. I don't mean what you did to George. She'll be just fine. I mean what you've done to the camp."

Blank noncomprehension. Daisy sighed. "And to think I used to be just like you." She glanced at John for a moment, then looked at Amanda again. "Let me explain it to you, then. There are quite a few people in this camp who would happily kill you. Here. Now. Publicly. They think you deserve it, and perhaps you do.

"There are others who would be glad to see you dead, though they aren't quite willing to get their hands dirty. Not where anyone would see, though they might be willing to turn a blind eye if it helped the cause.

"I guess what I'm telling you, Amanda dear, is that your life is in your own hands now. Continue to play the victim, the spoiled little bitch who is owed everything she wants, and you won't live to be exiled. Someone will see to it. If you can manage to be other than who and what you are, I'd suggest you start now."

Daisy paused to search Amanda's face. She saw some alarm, but couldn't tell if it would sink in or if Amanda would shrug it off eventually. It didn't matter. Daisy had said her piece. What would be, would be. She rose without another word to Amanda and moved to take her place by John's side, taking his hand in hers.

Ripley came striding out of the treeline, making sure she didn't look over by the infirmary where all the blood-scent was coming from. Her sharp ears caught the 'bigwigs' conversation over exiling Amanda, and she smirked. /Yeah, stick her in the jungle where she can act as reinforcement and free blow-job dispenser for the OTHER crazy people trying to kill us. Nuh-uh. I think I'll double back and take care of this problem myself once they let her go./

She went straight for Mara's shelter, and surprisingly enough, went inside and started packing. /Books, art supplies, more books, more art supplies, portfolio, sketchbooks...this kid is the walking definition of pathetically harmless./

Once everything was out, she started taking the shelter apart, rolling the mats around the bamboo poles that made up the framework.

Rose winced at Quintin's question, but it was a fair one. "The Doctor said patch 'er up then throw her out, didn' he? All the same, I don't see her lastin long out there. She wasn't on the Other's shopping list. Between them and the wildlife here abouts, and her obvious lack survival instincts, I'd give her a week."

"Sha can't stay here, guarded 24/7. We don't have the resources. She's guilty of a viscious attack with intent to kill, beyond a reasonable doubt. She apparently waited for hours, making it very premeditated. If you think otherwise, vote with a white stone. But the only options left are banishment or outright execution. I don't think anyone here wants to ask anyone else to take that onto their souls." The Doctor spoke up again. "But we could always ask for volunteers. So now we have to decide what's better for the community as a whole. Banishment or execution? You're right, we;re setting a precident for how murderers or attempted murderers are to be treated. That's not a bad thing."

Rose spotted Ripley going into Mara's shelter out of the corner of her eye. She seperated herself from the group and approached the preditory woman.

"Have you seen Mara? Is she okay?" Rose, shook her head, of course she wasn't okay. "I mean, I went to check on her earlier and she was gone. I'm gonna get a search team together if no one's seen her. But..." She gestured to the packing. "You have, right?"

Rose sighed and instead of being useless began to help Ripley break the makeshift camp. "She's not okay after all this... I know that. I dunno what to do for her, or how to help. But if you do, or Faith, or whoever she's with..."

Rose was at a loss for words. She had wanted to hug the gentle, lost artist from the start. But the situation of their meeting hadn't been the best. But after the suicide.. now this, the poor woman must be going half mad. sucking in all that pain and hurt, no way to stop it. Rose shivered.

Maybe Ripley was cutting loose, taking Mara with her. She'd been chafing under human imposed restrictions for some time now. But could one woman, even one as formidable and deadly as Ripley, really protect Mara alone?

"This whole thing is so completely fucked up, there isn't words for it." She sighed, wrapping up the hammock Mara seemed to love.

Both Jon and Rose made perfect sense - they could not detain Amanda indefinitely. It wasn't as if Quentin would be overly upset if the entitle-bitch came to a horrible end. To see the look that a number of the others had in their eyes, he wasn't the only one either. Unfortunately, that nagging worry just wouldn't go away - it was almost like a premonition, it was that strong.

"You're right, of course," Quentin nodded, agreeing with both Jon's and the departed Rose's sentiments. "We can't keep her here, she was enough of a drain on us before she tried to whack one of us, let alone now. We can't openly execute her, no matter how much she might deserve it. Boot her."

Quentin looked over to the infirmary, where the Drs Pierson and House were tending to Jin, whom Charlie and Pierson had just brought in from out on the beach. /Wonderful, another casualty of today's fun,/ Quentin thought. /Time to bug out before more shit goes down./

"I'm getting an awful burning sensation on my ears that tells me that Faith is probably speaking ill of us holding her expedition up," Quentin said to Jon. "I'm going to bug out and join up with them. Are you coming with, or should I tell Faith you are staying behind?"

"I'm going to wait a little while longer," Jon replied, squinting at his watch. They still had some time, though not a great deal. "Someone's got to make sure the doc remembers he's coming too, once he's done with the Yelling Mantis. You go for it though, let her know we haven't forgotten. Or I haven't anyway."

He turned to watch Locke striding out towards the infirmary, mixed feelings coloring his thoughts. It was good that they'd had a poll of sorts he supposed, and that someone else was taking some of the pressure off Daniel, but he did have a few misgivings about what was going to happen to the camp while they were all away. Then again he should probably be more worried about the hike - from the sound of it, most of the 'dangerous' survivors were going along for the ride. It could be an interesting trip.

Ripley kept her voice even and fairly low, since it was Rose. "I've seen Mara. She ran for the woods screaming after she woke up from the shock."

"Shock?"

"Unshielded, untrained empath, brutal murder. She felt the murder, just like she felt those rapes. So she fainted. She's now so terrified of what she'll be forced to feel next from this crowd--or of being the next rape victim--that she's refusing to return."

"Refusing to--but she'll be defenseless out there!"

"In her mind, she's equally defenseless here."

"But her friends are here!"

"Yes, they are--some of them, anyway. But so's the person who blackmailed Lucy into being his fuck-toy. So's Ethan. So's Harry. So's Charlie, who won't leave her alone. I found all of this out in the last half hour. Through the hysterical sobbing.

"And NOBODY in charge is doing anything about catching the rapist or protecting the other women in camp, except for individual concerned citizens. Like me. Did you know Mara's a virgin? Sweet twenty-one and never been fucking kissed. Give you three guesses how much /men/ in particular scare her now. Men, and normal humans."

"You s-sound furious."

"I am. Or as close as I get to it without becoming nonverbal and killing someone. First off, Daniel's acting like he has no balls. That woman needs to be /killed/, plain and simple; tossing her out into the woods won't do anything but give the Others reinforcements or make her circle back and try to knife someone else. That is how crazy killers work. They do not just obediently disappear when you cut them loose. Ever.

"Second--and I'm sorry, honey, but you need to hear this--the Doc, who has made sure that ALL psychics know he is the most potent telepath on the Island, has done SHIT for Mara, though he's known all along she needed help. I can't do anything but watch over Mara's body. Her /mind/ is what is wounded. Scott's taking care of Ami. Ami's a basket case from all this. I don't know anyone else who can help her but the Doc. That leaves your boy looking a tad bit fucking negligent."

"Now that's not entirely fair..."

"How is it not? He claims he's such a know-it-all. He should have KNOWN to do something to help her before all Hell broke loose she ended up running screaming for the woods /with Ethan sauntering after her/."

Rose blinked. "My God! Did you intervene?"

"I took her away from here. I let her leak all over my shirt and tell me all the shit she's been through since coming here. I made sure she was looked after before I came back. I am getting her stuff. We're going on the recovery mission. But getting her to come back is going to be almost impossible, even though the only people who can teach her shielding are here."

"What...what can we do?"

"Well, if I were you, I'd be smacking the Doctor with a clue-by-four and making sure he DID find a way to take care of this regardless of whether Mara agrees to return to camp. Because if you do not, /I/ will come back and do it, and I'll be a lot less nice. I cannot BELIEVE that man never even /thought/ of it. Superior race, my skinny ass."

"Men tend to need things spelled out to them, you know...." Rose replied a bit weakly.

Ripley snorted. "How many times does that kid have to collapse in agony or have a complete spaz in response to beach drama before it's sufficiently spelled out, Rose? I heard she even collapsed in the Tardis and he didn't do much of anything but talk to her. She's already fled the camp in anguish. You think he's gonna be getting it any time soon?"

She went back to packing, and sighed again. "Look, I'm really sorry to snap like this. But damn it, I do not have the power or expertise to help that kid, he does, and.... Supposedly there is this group class thing, but uh...once weekly with the non-crippled psychics, if he holds another class, is not enough."

"Is Mara...angry at us?"

"I don't think she gets angry. She's just really scared, and really hurt. I think she's gonna miss her friends, and hurt worse for that. But she's too scared to come back. She's convinced this place isn't safe and that people here can't or won't protect her."

"Do you think we could talk her into coming back?"

Ripley shrugged. "You could try it, I guess. But it'd take some doing."

"The truth is, he's afraid to try anything around Mara. I know it sounds kinda pathetic and weak, but the um... normal psychics get a great whopping headache from him. He said it's like plugging a european plug into an american socket. Different wavelengths, different neurons or somthin. What would that do to someone as... open... as Mara? It might do more damage than good. But I'll talk to 'im. I'll make sure that if she comes back... he'll teach someone else that can help her."

Rose helped stack Mara's things in a small pile and bundle some of them into a large basket that Molly had left for Mara. Molly seemed to think Mara was afraid of her or something.

"And I'm sorry the thought of killin' someone is hard for us... for people. See if you've never done it... it isn't easy, and doesn't that make us as bad as the killer? I've never killed anyone, and I'm not sure I could, not when I'm not fightin' for my life. That might be weak to you, or Faith... but..." Rose shook her head.

"Tell Mara... I'm sorry. And that I hope she's alright. I guess sometimes out best isn't good enough. I'm sorry we let you down. Both of you."

By the time Megabyte returned to the camp, things were settling down. Again. (I wonder how long that will last.) He was glad that – for once – he actually didn't know everything that was going on with the George and Amanda situation, other than what trickled through the grapevine. Grapevine was more than enough when he didn't want to know.

(And right now, I've got enough to deal with.)

He needed to find someone to sit for a while with Ami. Megabyte didn't doubt that he and Scott could manage, but things would be much more manageable if at least one – or two – other people would be willing to keep her company until she settled back down completely. There was positively no doubt in his mind that Ami would settle back down; she'd bent and nearly broken before, and in the end Ami always came out stronger. Megabyte truly envied her that ability; in her shoes, experiencing the things that she did, he wasn't so certain he would do the same.

As he pondered it, he spotted Rose talking to Ripley near the new girl's tent and he paused. (Perfect.) Ami liked Rose, was friends with Rose and had trusted Rose with the full knowledge of being a Tomorrow Person. And right now, Ami needed people that she liked and trusted around her. Ripley was probably a good choice as well, but Ripley seemed to be packing up and he drew nearer, it was hard not to feel the anger and frustration rolling off of the other woman.

Megabyte didn't really know Rose, except by name and sight, but Ami did and that was the important part. He waited a polite distance apart, and when there was a lull in the conversation, stepped up, getting the attention of both women.

"Hey, Ripley," he nodded a greeting and turned to the Doctor's companion, "Hey, Rose, when you got a minute, could I ask you a favor? For Ami?"

Rose looked up and spotted Damon. She knew he was an old friend of Ami's. They'd been passing friendly, with hellos and nods, but hadn't ever really talked.

"Yeah, sure, hold on a minute."

Ami hadn't been in on the meeting, nor had Scott. Hopefully she hadn't... no. Ami, unlike Mara, had shielding.

"Good luck with your trip, Ripley. And I hope you all find what you're lookin' for. Whatever that may be." Then she impulsively hugged the older seeming woman. "Take care of everyone, but don't forget to take care of yourself, yeah? And if you need to give 'imself a knock with that clue-by-four... just don't do any permanant damage, kay? He sometimes get so pulled into the big picture he doesn't think about the other things he should. An' I agree he should, and I shoulda said somthin. I'm sorry I didn't."

Rose released the half alien from the sudden hug and wave of remorse, grief and warm and fuzziness directed at Ripley herself, and Mara. "Good luck, an... happy hunting."

Turning away Rose walked over to Damon. "So what's going on with Ami?"

Megabyte raked his hands through his hair, happy to be talking to someone with whom he wouldn't have to edit the details. "Ami's not handling things really well right now. She just sort of reached the end of her rope today, what with George and Amanda and everything.

"She slipped, a lot." Seeing Rose's face blossom into concern, he reassured her, quickly, "She's recovering. Ami's the sort of person who bounces back a lot stronger, but right now she really needs some time and some distance away from camp. Scott's with her right now, but ... well, we don't want to leave her alone if we don't have to.

"I was wondering if you would mind coming and sitting with her, taking a shift to spell us? It'll only be for a day or two, until Ami can handle being around people again.

"I'm asking you because she likes you, Rose, and she trusts you. And you know all about her."

Rose was starting to reach the end of her own rope, only because she was feeling so... helpless. But this... this was something she could do. Something she could help with and make a differance with.

"Of course I will. Just let me tell The Doctor where I'll be, fore he thinks someone's decided I make a good target."

(sorry guys, off to nod tonight...)

"Sure, no problem. I'm just going to gather up some supplies for Aims and Scott. I'll meet you over there," Megabyte pointed to the treeline, "by the treeline."

He had absolutely no interest in going anywhere near the Doctor.

Megabyte had walked a few paces before stopping and turning back to Rose, "And Rose?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

Rose moved to find the Doctor, but was stopped short upon seeing Dr. Pierson and Sun taking Jun into the infirmary. More blood. Oh no...

She found the Doctor watching and listening to the discussion over Amanda's fate and pulled him aside. "Ami need's me. She's not handling this too well, I guess. So I'll be over there." She pointed to the place Damon had indicated. "But you might want to take your bag o'tricks to the infirmary. Jin's hurt, and I think Dr. Pierson was plannin on going with Faith's group. It looks bloody, but not as bad as the latrine. I wanna offer the water cure to Ami an Scott if they'll take it. Can I have the hypospray?"

"House'll love me buttin in again, but I'll do what I can." He handed over the penlike object before heading to the lean to.

And you and I are gonna have a little talk later, bout Mara and helping her, she thought to herself. She wasn't gonna warn him bout that, just tackle him with it.

Rose approached the sheltered area where Ami and Scott were. Ami looked... not too good, half asleep and laying there with Scott, all cozy like. Rose half felt she was intruding, but Damon had asked.

"Hi. Damon asked me to come on over. I'm sorry. I was kinda gettin' my own mind wrapped round things, and didn't realize how bad it had got for you. Some friend, huh?"

Rose moved to sit besides Ami, and reached out to take her hand. "I'm not much use right now, but I can be a friend."

Actaully, Scott and Ami are about a mile and a half into the jungle in the tree-cave. Just wanted to note.

Doh! ::smacks head::

Okay, just assume she pointed down the coastline and had a longer hike. ::wink::

Megabyte and Rose went this away (http://community.livejournal.com/crossing_lostrp/71329.html?thread=2462881#t2462881).

Ripley shook her head in frustration, ignoring Megabyte for the moment. "Rose, I'm sorry, but you are missing an important point. Mara needs someone with serious psychic training to go wherever she is and fucking help her or /she will never even be convinced to come back at all./ She is too afraid, she's too damaged--we can't even get her to keep food down at this point, okay? And if she didn't think suicide was a sin, I'd /really/ have my hands full.

"The Doctor can teach someone the stuff she needs to learn if he wants, but he will have to go to her or send someone out there." She glared at the ground, physically making it clear it was not /Rose/ she was angry at. "The psychics on this island waited too goddamned long to do /anything/ serious to help Mara outside of Ami's temporary measures, and /this is the direct result./ I'd give /anything/ to be a true telepath right now, so I had a chance in hell of helping fix it. As it is, I may be reduced to forcefeeding her before the day's out."

Her face fell when she heard Ami was under again. Honestly, it wasn't a surprise, since Mara was under again. But then again, Ami had more friends than she knew what to do with, and she actually had some training and shields. And she had Scott. Ripley hesitated, then shook her head. "I gotta look after the kid. She has almost nobody, and she felt everything."

She hugged Rose back gently, genuinely sorry that she had to hear all this--but Rose was about the only person who could get that big egghead to listen sometimes. And it was pretty clear that in this case, he was needed on Ward WTF pretty fucking badly. "I'm not going to hurt him. I will, however, take him to pieces verbally if I come back and he's still acting like once-a-week classes are all that kid needs. As for you...honestly, sometimes I feel like I should give you the golden rolling-pin award for dealing with him, much as I like him most of the time."

She sighed, waved to Damon in passing, and shouldered Mara's tied-together belongings, shaking her head. "What a giant fucking mess. And has anybody even considered the irony of /me/ having to look after this kid? Christ. If Pierson ribs me for going soft I'm going to smack him...."

She wandered off toward the treeline again, grumbling in the same vein.

OOC: Clue-by-four! HAH! That's awesome!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Daniel] D12: Arthur's Mantle (tag Locke, Doctor, Blaise, Sayid, Jon? Quentin?)

[Doctor/Rose] Suggestions (open)

[Blaise] Suggestions (open)

[Locke] Suggestions (open)

[Sayid, Marshal Mars] Agreement and Disagreement (open tag)

OOC:

no subject

[Quentin] Agreement - with a caveat (open tag)

[Jon] Agreement - with a caveat (open tag)

[Locke] Man of action (tag Daisy, open)

[Daisy] Man of action (open tag)

[Ripley] Suggestions (tag Doc/Rose, open)

[Rose/Doctor] Suggestions (tag Ripley, Quintin, Daniel, all open)

[Quentin] I have a bad feeling about this (Tag Jon, open)

[Jon] I have a bad feeling about this (tag open)

[Ripley] Doc on Trial (tag Rose, all open)

[Rose] Doc on Trial (tag Ripley, all open)

[MB] Asking a Favor (tag Rose, open)

[Rose] Asking a Favor (tag Ripley, MB, open)

[MB] Asking a Favor (tag Ripley, Rose, open)

[Rose] Asking a Favor (tag MB, open)

[MB] Asking a Favor (tag Rose, open)

[Rose] Asking a Favor (tag MB, open)

OOC: Location, Location, Location

Re: OOC: Location, Location, Location

Redirection

[Ripley] Asking a Favor (tag Rose, MB, open)

no subject