10: Video/Spam: Man, ain't no closure.

[omar]

[Video]

[It's hard, if not impossible, to tell where Omar is broadcasting from: the only thing in sight is the wall behind him, plain and unadorned and identical to those lining the halls. If anyone happens to be on level seven, they will in fact see him sitting comfortably against the wall nearest the stern common room.]

I been told that I took a wrong turn 'bout two year ago and wound up in that port back there instead of where I meant to be, so I figured a reintroduction might be in order. I'll keep it simple this time -- nothing fancy:

I'm Omar Little. Some of you know me, some of you don't...

[He grins.]

Most of y'all will soon enough.

[Open Spam]

[One of the things that most bothers Omar about the change is finding out how completely the neighborhood, so to speak, has changed. He can live with losing most of his friends and allies, but he really doesn't like not knowing who's taken their place.

The upshot is that pretty much as soon as the port ends he can be found roaming the halls at all hours, just about everywhere he has access to or can get into. He seems casual about it, just out for a stroll here or a late-night snack there, but the particularly observant might note that he's being particularly observant. Every so often, he even takes out a little scratchpad and writes down a note, especially when he sees someone enter or leave a cabin.]

[Spam for Loki]

[And there is one person that he's particularly interested in catching. He didn't want to talk on the phone -- he never wants to talk on the phone -- but he slides into step with him out of nowhere one afternoon, voice low.]

You may not know me, but I surely do know you, Trickster.

Comments

[velocette]

You remember everything?

[omar]

Everything 'bout what? The Barge before?

[velocette]

The people, mostly. The ship is always changing.

[video]

[tucky]

[Oh hey, she remembers this guy.]

Two years ago? Were you stuck there for two years?

[video]

[omar]

Mm-mm. Not that I recall, at least, and I don't feel any two years older.

[video]

[tucky]

Time must've gotten messed up by accident. Or maybe it was supposed to happen, for some reason.

[Spam]

[no_tell_belle]

[Venus steps out of her cabin on level 2 with the intention of dropping in on a few friends, just to check in, see how they were doing. She spots Omar strolling along the hall and smiles. She'd only had a brief conversation with him during that horrible port but she'd taken an almost instant liking to him.

She lifts her hand in a small wave.] Hello, Mr. Little. Are you settling back in all right?

[Spam]

[omar]

[2-1, he notes, filling in another little box on his mental map. He'll add it to the new manifest later. Right now, he just nods in greeting and offers a genteel smile in return.]

More or less, Warden. More or less. Don't suppose you know where a newly-free agent like myself could pick up a pack of Marlboro, though?

[Spam]

[no_tell_belle]

Please, call me Venus. Warden sounds so...intimidating.

[She shakes her head, somewhat regretfully.] I'm afraid I don't. There's a number of smokers on board, though, so someone's got to have a stash somewhere.

[tricksandmischief]

[Loki gives the man a look and a raised eyebrow.]

You could at least begin with a name.

[omar]

Mine or yours?

[tricksandmischief]

Yours, since you claim to already know me.

[spam]

[rickitikitarr]

[What do you do when you find a stranger making a note about you coming out of your cabin?

You don't need to be observant to see that Ricki has noticed him, and that there is now something tightly coiled in his expression. Spies don't live as long as he has without being concerned about this kind of thing.

He settles on asking, sweet as can be;]

Help you find something, chum?

[spam]

[omar]

Uh-huh.

[Omar doesn't flap easily. One might even call him fairly unflappable. He tucks the notepad away in his inner jacket pocket and flashes the new inmate a bland smile.]

Y'all know which way to the cafeteria? I could use a bowl of Honey Nut.

[rickitikitarr]

[There's a split second where Ricki considers this. But there's something about that smile that settles him down, if only ever so slightly.]

's where I'm headed, come on.

[A jerk of his head in that direction.]

I'm being honest, I could use the company.

[And anyways, he wants a look at that notepad.]

Spam;

[apaintingdarkly]

[ Life as a thief takes a lot of stealth and not a small measure of attention. This particular thief is on his way back to his room at the moment, which is why he takes notice of Omar taking notice. On a prison barge it might not be unusual for someone to survey the ship on foot, but it's suspicious for him to be doing it so quietly. Maybe he isn't trying to hide it per se, but he certainly isn't making it known what he's up to.

Dark slows to a stop several doors from his own room, hands in his jean pockets. He doesn't want anyone taking notes on where he keeps his belongings or spends his time. His expression is bland, like he doesn't care, but his eyes take in every detail. ]

Taking attendance?

Spam;

[omar]

[Like draws like: Dark's expression is unremarkable, but Omar takes note of that as much as anything else, and takes it with a large grain of salt. He shrugs impassively.]

Trying to get the lay of the land.

[sharpsurprise]

[As Omar very casually gets himself a midnight snack, Souji looks at him from where he's sitting, feet curled up underneath him. He's got a cold cup of tea in front of him, and he's holding a little notebook of his own. It's mostly full of nonsense drawings and scribblings, but it gives him something to do with his hands.

There's a sword leaning against his seat, safely sheathed. He looks at Omar looking at the Barge, and eventually pipes up.]

What're you writing?

[omar]

[Omar looks up from his tray -- and he does have an actual snack on him, a cup of fruit and a cup of coffee to keep him and his notepad company -- and notes the sword with a quick flash of envy. Oh, if only...

He lets it go with an inward sigh and eyes the man himself over.]

Poetry.

[Totally straight-faced.]

[whatthewrackspurt]

Hello, Omar. It's nice to meet you.

I'm Luna Lovegood. Did we just pick you up?

[omar]

Yes and no. Came back during that last port for what I'll call a return visit.

You a warden, little Luna Lovegood? [Is it just him, or is the population really young now?]

[video]

[demolitions]

If you don't mind an observation from someone who doesn't know you, you sound like a man who's plannin' on makin' a mark on this place.

[video]

[omar]

[Omar grins, utterly satisfied by that particular observation.]

Ain't a plan: it's a promise.

spam

[chaotica]

[ Here's Hugh Cambridge heading into his cabin on the infirmary level - and then, when he spots Omar out of the corner of his eye, wheeling right back out again, standing so that the sliding doors won't close. ]

Would you like to ask all those questions you have, or will you continue to lurk?

spam

[omar]

[People this round seem to be more observant on the whole than the last time Omar was here, but he doesn't miss a beat. He tucks his notepad back into the inner breast pocket of his trenchcoat and smiles impassively at Cambridge.]

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck?