SSSD - Emotional cues

Ro and Alison find the others waiting in the rec room, holding cups. A bottle of vodka stands open on the pool table. The silence is heavy in the room, but not as heavy as the storm outside. The Outpost groans.

Alison takes one hand off the flamethrower to pour herself a cup from the bottle, never taking her eyes off Julia, Marit, Signe, and Linda. She takes a drink, grimaces, and sets the glass down.

“I don’t know what the odds are that we’re all human,” she says. “I guess anything’s possible.”

“Is Signe wearing the same clothes you saw her in last?” Ro asks, hovering at Alison’s elbow.

“Yeah.”

“Then she’s good, right?”

“No. I didn’t have eyes on her all the time at the other base. We didn’t shower together the second night. Or did we?” Alison asks, gazing straight at Signe.

Signe’s stony look isn’t absolute. There’s room on her face for discomfort.

“Did we?” Alison asks, louder this time. She brings the flamethrower to bear on Signe.

“Yes,” Signe replies tightly.

“And?”

Signe hesitates.

“This isn’t the time to be shy,” Alison growls. “It’s the time to be detailed. And?”

“And I performed oral sex on you,” Signe bites out, visibly pissed. That doesn’t draw much of a reaction from the others; they’re more interested in the flamethrower than in Alison’s love life.

“And how did you feel about that?” Alison asks.

“I enjoyed it.”

Alison sighs and lowers the flamethrower, glancing at Ro, and then at the others. Ro understands; Signe’s saying the right things, and she’s saying them the right way.

“Come stand over here,” Alison says tiredly.

Signe stonily carries her cup over.

“So much for my dreams of marrying my dream Norwegian,” Alison mutters. “Linda.”

“What are we doing?” Linda asks coldly.

“We’re figuring out which of us is gonna have a real awkward night. And which of us is getting deep-fried. You next. I like your nose ring. You have tattoos. Where are they on your body?”

Linda appears to consider that.

“You ever see her naked?” Alison mutters to Ro.

“Yes.”

“Nice. Tell me if she’s lying.”

“I’m trying to remember,” Ro whispers back.

“Linda. Tattoos,” Alison snaps. “Where are they on your body?”

Linda touches her hip, and Alison speaks up.

“Tell me! And tell me what they are.”

“Here. A butterfly. My… ankle. The name of my aunt. My back. A bird. Here.” She touches her upper thigh. “A flower.”

“OK, show me. Yes! You heard me. Show me all of them.”

Linda complies without hesitation. She looks intense, but not angry. As she strips down, Alison leans toward Ro again.

“A little vague.”

“Her English sucks,” Ro reminds her.

Alison grimaces. “Right.”

Linda pulls down her briefs just enough to expose some neat bush and the butterfly partly hidden by her underwear. Everything looks right to Ro, although her memory isn’t perfect.

“She’s pretty fucking chill,” Alison says under her breath. Chill’s not the right word for what Linda is right now, but Ro gets what Alice is saying.

“She’s been like this the whole time.” Ro frowns. “This did all start in her lab.”

“Put your clothes back on. Stay there. I’m not sure about you yet. Signe?”

“Yes?”

“What do you think?”

Signe glances down at Alison, then at Linda. Signe shakes her head.

“I cannot be certain.”

“Fuck,” Alison mutters. “Just stay there, Linda. Julie.”

“You are doing this by asking questions?”

“Would you prefer an autopsy?” Alison shoots back. “Tell us all about the first time you had sex.”

Ro balks. “You can’t ask her that.”

“Yes, I can. Julie. Don’t think too long. I’ll get bored.”

Julie stares, then folds her arms and says nothing.

“Don’t want to talk about that? OK. Tell me your most embarrassing memory from school,” Alison says. “This time I’m serious.” She points the flamethrower. “The worst time. Everyone laughed.”

Julie’s expression only hardens.

Linda looks worried and edges away from her. Marit as well.

Julie glares.

“Holy shit,” Ro murmurs. “What are you doing?” she demands as Alison lowers the flamethrower, looking relieved. “She’s sus as hell.”

“She’s OK,” Alison says.

“How do you know?”

“I had a hunch about her. Looks like I was right.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Anyone else in here would’ve answered those questions. They don’t give a fuck about being embarrassed. But Julie shut down. It’s her. Julie, you can come over here.”

A little stiffly, Julie joins them, leaving Marit standing beside Linda.

“This test seems really dodgy,” Ro confesses.

“I know. But we have to start somewhere. And if I’m gonna give a pass to one of these things, at least I’ll give it to one with talent. Marit.”

Marit faces Alison. Alison glances at Ro.

“How long have you two had a thing?” she whispers.

“How do you know that?” Ro demands, flabbergasted.

“How long?”

“Not long. Not a thing. We just did some stuff.”

“What stuff? Never mind. I’ll ask her. You tell me if it’s right.”

“Oh my god. Please don’t.”

“Marit, did you sleep with Ro?” Alison asks bluntly.

“Yes,” Marit replies.

“What did you do to her? Exactly? I swear not to tell anyone. So do they,” Alison adds dryly.

“I…” Marit hesitates.

“English,” Ro reminds Alison.

“She can do better than this. And where did those piercings go?” Alison’s eye twitches as she stares at Marit.

Marit is like a deer in headlights. Linda takes a slow step away from her.

“Where are your piercings?” Alison asks, bringing up the flamethrower. “You’re missing a shitload of them.”

This looks dangerous. Signe’s visibly concerned, but Julie’s watching Marit with open suspicion. Linda as well. But Alison just got here. She doesn’t have all the information.

Should Ro defend Marit?

Or stay quiet?