Don't go where the path may lead you

(Backdated to Jan. 30th)

[Public video]
[He's still in the Pub, looking rather more refreshed after an uninterrupted power nap. He's emptying out coffee filters, shaking his head.]

I'm here to make drinks and serve coffee. And right now, I'm all outta coffee.

Not joking. We emptied out the Pub's coffee supply. On the off chance that someone has a surplus, we could really use some.

[Private to Rocket]
[Duke and Rocket were only paired a few hours ago and already he's got a headache. He can roll with most of the Barge's punches and get past the "talking animal" thing without making Disney jokes, but this is going to be one tough assignment.

Rocket's already proven that with Mason.

At least he and Rocket have mostly gotten along so far, despite his anger over the new pairing. He thinks he can work with this.]

You've got a choice. We can talk with or without oatmeal cookies, because I just made some.

[Backdated to Flood's End]

That was incredible! It was eloquent and lyrical and insane and I haven't been that confused since my first acid trip.

Well done, Admiral. Three out of five stars.

( Filtered to wardens )

( Private to Philip )

[As might be expected, Duke is making desserts. His cabin’s kitchen is all but drowning in gingerbread men, sugar cookies in snowman and reindeer shapes, and chocolate cakes with snowflakes painted in blue icing. In addition to his Christmas sweater he’s wearing a Santa hat and a broad smile. (Yes, he’s affected by the sweater. It’s just like Christmas in Haven, except this time he hopes he won’t end up on a back road in a Santa suit.)]

I was going to say something about the spirit of giving and togetherness after the whole talking-animal clash, then drive it home by making some “peace offering” justification for the cookies. But really, this is all for the sugar.

Now, who wants gingerbread and who wants cake? I can’t eat all this myself.

( How pleased I’d be if you took it as a gift )

[Video]
Duke Crocker of the Cape Rouge calling Haven P.D. Anyone out there? [He’s got only small hope that anyone will answer, almost certain that Audrey and Nathan won’t. But still, he’d come through the last time the network glitched (before he showed up on the Barge), as had she. Maybe it could happen again with them, or anyone he was familiar with from back home.

He pauses for a long time, mulling over what he’s about to share, and suddenly blurts it out.] Oprah Winfrey.

[Gym Spam, evening]
[After the last of the messages had trickled in, Duke had shaken himself off and tried to calm himself walking Brownie, fixing himself a very heavy chicken salad for supper, and tried to do some yoga poses. None of the activities had provided him any peace, and he eventually decided to just embrace the discomfort and beat the crap out of something.

So here he is, standing in the gym with knuckles bound in tape and taking out his frustrations on a punching bag. He’s more than competent in street-fighting, not exceptional but still practiced and forceful. He doesn’t even remember his first fistfight, although he’s sure he lost it, and that drives him on.]

[CW: marijuana use]

[Warden filter, backdated to yesterday]
[Scene: Duke's cabin, the main stateroom. Focus on Mason, sitting at Duke's coffee table and studiously smoking a stolen joint. Duke narrates, his voice weary and irritated.]

Does this belong to any of you? He answers to the name Mason. And before you ask, I didn't invite him in or give him that.

I'm this close to carrying him out of my cabin, but I don't know who to deliver him to.

I'm really glad I missed all of that.

[Not that Duke looks glad at all. In fact he looks haggard and frustrated, despite sleeping through the whole catastrophe. He wishes he hadn't, though. He wishes he'd been around. It must have been too much for her.

Shortly:] River's gone.

I'm here if anyone needed something from her, or needs me.

[Then the feed switches off. That's it, he's done for now.]

[Backdated to the second day of the flood]
[He's flushed. Duke's skin is streaked with pink, sweaty and feverish, and he looks like he baked in the sun too long. Clearly moving is not easy right now - he's groaning even as he sets the communicator down. For a second he fixes it with a consternated stare, and lifts his hands up for examination.]

I don't know what's going on or if you're - burning it or what. But can you stop it? Ice water. My only request.

[Private to Rogue]

There's something here that belongs to you. [He has no idea if she can even see this - he suspects not - but pans the feed over the miniature Rogue. It's intact, except for its eyes - the irises are both scratched out, porcelain cracked. He just couldn't stand it staring at him.] I'm so sorry.

It's not… This isn't like me.

You guys are really big fans of beating the crap out of each other. [Duke looks pretty cheery, despite Nathan's night-terrors waking him and panicking River. Call it an exceptionally good front.] That seems to be your regular go-to for exercise of any kind. Now, far be it from me to deny anyone the pleasure of a good fight, but it seems like that'd get boring after awhile.

So, I do yoga. It's about as far from fighting as you can get. If you want me to sing its praises you're out of luck, but it's relaxing and you don't end up missing teeth. Well, unless you really suck at downward dog.

I'm borrowing a big gym mat and heading toward the garden. Anyone who wants to come along is welcome. Wear clothing that's easy to move in and ditch your shoes at the door.

[Cape Rouge Filter (Nathan and River)]
Except you, Nathan. You're coming whether you want to or not. River, have you ever tried this?

[Public to the (Waking) Barge]
[Duke stands on Level 8, looking uncharacteristically frustrated. In his right hand is a crowbar lifted from his own cabin, which also showed no signs of waking life, and behind him is the door to the engine room, firmly closed.]

So, what do we do when the engine room door is sealed? Not locked. It's sealed, I can't pry it open. Does anyone have a blowtorch or a Sawzall? Or is Na- [No, that's a stupid idea.]

Look, are there any other ways to get into the engine room? A utility shaft or something? The more I look at it the more this seems like a malfunction, and I think if we don't get in there the rest of the Barge might not wake up.

( Infirmary filter )

( To Iris and Bush )

( To the Admiral )

[Art Room Spam]
[The key to keeping River relaxed, Duke realized early on, is to keep her busy. The ship itself is liable to overwhelm her easily and, knowing she'll likely get upset or into trouble, he's taken the majority of the last few days bringing her around to various out-of-the-way or warden-locked areas.

Today it's the art room, and to begin their "lesson" (which is really more of a vague tutorial) he selects clay as a medium. As River explores the room he puts down heavy cotton mats to sculpt on, cuts thick slabs of red earthy clay, and sets out various tools to create textures. When he's ready River is still busy, distracting herself with drawing supplies, so Duke simply shrugs and begins squeezing the clay into shape, leaving a space empty beside him as he keeps one eye on his curious inmate.]