worthallthis | The Last Voyages: IC Inbox

After he sees this:

Guess it wasn't you who was going to disappear on me, this time.

It sounds like Lark's door is gone.

Again. He feels a little numb, like he doesn't know whether to get angry or not.

Edited 2025-08-09 19:20 (UTC)

B hasn't checked his phone in a bit, but when he does, it's the inbox he goes too first, since there's actually something in there.

Then he pauses after reading it, finds the actual network message, and spends a beat digesting.

He came back last time. He might come back again.

But Lark had been distant for a little while. He's... not holding his breath, here.

It looks like Will is going to check on him. Do you want us to check too?

He's got a spaceship, and all.

He might, Steve does have to allow. Which is part of why he doesn't know how to feel, admittedly.

But on the other hand, He'll be okay. If he doesn't.

Which helps, a little. Plus, they could go check on him. For all that Steve knows it's a possibility, it's not the one his mind jumps to first.

But I trust Will, if he's going to do it. There's probably no need for a bunch of us to leave the ship.

he's graduated inmates. he'll remember us, and the promise we made. we'll find him when we're done here

where are you at? I can come find you, or meet you somewhere

Because his guy is more important than leaning on the fence watching goats amble around their pasture.

I know. He'll have to remember something.

[He might not remember everything - even Steve still isn't entirely sure how it works. Is your memory only good up to the last inmate you graduated? Who the hell knows - but at least Lark will know who they are. That's worth a lot.]

Just in the cabin. You don't have to come if you're working.

Yelena can finish up with the goats, she's always saying she'll cover for me if you ever need anything. I'll come home

He puts the phone away and lets Yelena know what's going on, gives her a quick hug in thanks, and trots back to the cabin with Libby at his heels. D is still at the kennel, along with Effie and C, so the cabin will be a little quieter than it could be when he gets back.

Steve is not baking, for once, though he is giving the kitchen a very thorough clean, having moved any small appliances off the counter so he can scrub it. He doesn't really feel like he can sit still - or maybe it's just that that would feel too much like last time.

He looks up when B enters, something like relief passing over his face. B really didn't have to come home, although Steve is maybe a little grateful to be able to set eyes on him. These things happen in waves, after all. Maybe it's not over yet. Maybe the Admiral or the universe or fate or whatever is just giving him a false sense of security.

"I could make coffee," he suggests, grasping for... some sense of normalcy when he doesn't quite feel one at all.

"And dirty up your nice clean counter?" B says, only about half serious. He can see Steve's been cleaning. He usually does, when he's upset.

He unclips Libby's leash, letting her trot over to Steve, ahead of him. He's following along in her wake, though, trying not to feel too much yet himself, in case Steve needs someone steady first. "But yeah, let's do that. And add cocoa for comfort."

"Well, then I'll clean it again," Steve points out, though he lets the rag lie on the counter to crouch down and greet Libby because she is, after all, the best girl. And she always knows when he's feeling shitty. (He does wish she didn't have so much practice at it, but it is what it is.)

He nods, though, giving her a few scratches behind the ears before he straightens to get the coffee things. "He'd probably be appalled at the number of us ready to run out and check on him," he says - meaning Lark, of course, though of course B can follow that. "Either that, or smug. I'm not actually sure which."

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