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[forensicks]

[Walter has recorded a video message from the point of view of someone who has just come through the door into his cabin and sees Walter at his desk in the chair turned around to face the viewer. He gives a little salute-wave.]

Didn't get me. But nice try.

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[mukha]

[Is it possible the punishments radicalized Walter even more against the Barge? It's reassuring to see him fired up, different from the gruff, beaten down apathy of Jacob or Collins. Pyotr's own mind is in a weird state right now, easily lulled by the reassurances, even as he tries to force himself to stay vigilant, but holding onto any particular thought is more slippery than it should be. Inside his head is quieter than normal. He has to admit it's nice, even if the dangers are obvious. He watches Walter with a slightly spaced out look.]

Yes, perhaps you can still be of use. [He clasps his hands together, suddenly grinning like a demon.] It is a good thing too, or else I'd have to leave you to fend for yourself while concussed. There is no one else here who cares about you, is there?

[He hadn't meant to say that, but oh well.]

The important thing is that you realize your mistake. Everything would be better if you'd listened to me, so from now on, you had better do as I say. I'm willing to give you another chance—I won't even punish you, even though I could and have already planned for it—but I won't be taken advantage of just because I'm sentimental.

If you cross me again, we are done, and then you will have no one. No one. Understand?

[Walter hadn't seemed to care about losing him before, but that was because he still had delusions about Misty running into his arms. Maybe it's different now? Maybe it really was for the best that Walter did this ridiculous, idiotic thing. As long as Malcolm doesn't trying to use this as a 'teaching moment' or whatever they call it—he can't let that happen.

And after a moment:]

What exactly did you do, anyway...?

[forensicks]

...crystal clear.

[Walter says with a nervous smile, clearly having several more questions. Wouldn't Malcolm, if no one else, track an injured Walter down eventually? What the hell kind of punishment would that be? Pyotr is one of the only people Walter can imagine thinking of something worse than what Walter has already experienced, something that would actually make his life more miserable than it already is... You could say Walter took him for granted, since they have so few people available to them who actually think about their terrible circumstances, and really Misty loyal to Walter would be a boon to their side, right? Speaking of her:]

She was forced to participate in a sort of mutilation ritual in the past. That's one of the main things that tied her down to the comrades. I thought if I recreated it, she'd understand that I cared about her, more than they did. When I was talking about killing the guy, that was actually just what I figured I'd have to do to get him down long enough. [He makes the hand gesture he's going to make to Trevor, though at least his description is slightly more open-ended, less concretely understating.] To take about this much.

[And leave him alive for the experience, non-reset. Just in case it wasn't clear that Walter can also think of insanely violent things.]