lastvoyages Inbox

[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.

Comments

[abrightboy]

Not for communication. For fun.

[forensicks]

Then of course not!

[abrightboy]

Oh. Why?

[forensicks]

If you want to solve a puzzle for fun, you can just read a book. For professional quality.

[abrightboy]

I thought yours was professional quality. And would have been a lot more fun if it weren't an elaborate way to tell me to fuck off. So I thought we could try that. It would still be communicating, in a way. Just. No horrible notes as the prize.

[forensicks]

You don't have to flatter me...

[he mutters distantly, then:]

Okay, then what prize do you want?

[abrightboy]

To solve the puzzle.

[forensicks]

But there's no substitute for the sense of accomplishment when you actually find a prize.

[abrightboy]

Make me a piece of art or something then.

[forensicks]

A popsicle stick figure?

[abrightboy]

I’ll hang it on my fridge.

[forensicks]

So that's that. I'll come drop it off. And pick up the spoon.

Sorry I'm... like this.

[abrightboy]

“Like” what? You’re just you; there’s nothing to apologize for.

[Someone has spent his life being asked why he’s ‘like this’. Someone finds that term a little cruel. Someone lost his shit at his mentor the last time he used it.]

[forensicks]

But I – made this terrible thing that happened all about me and something I made up in my head. Apparently. And I'm sorry.

[abrightboy]

Walter, I don't... want you to be someone else. I just want you to interact with the world in a way that doesn't work against you and part of that involves reframing the way you look at things. Not everything that you find inconvenient or suspicious or painful is a conspiracy designed to reprogram you. And... if I counter those messages from that part of your brain, then... maybe you can start to look at things in a different light. But it's not... I'm not saying that there's something wrong with you.

[forensicks]

I know you want me to be happy, or wherever non brainwashing alternative word you want to insist on, such as fulfilled. I just can't make any promises about reframing... Something like this. A literal isolated compound where I've suffered multiple traumas.

[abrightboy]

What’s the worst thing that ever happened to you at home and what’s the best thing?

[forensicks]

Uh... The accident, I guess. [With the scaffolding.] Waking up with stitches in my head, that was quite jimmy rustling. And then finding out I won the settlement, that was pretty great. Took a while for it to really sink in. My lawyer did all the work.

[abrightboy]

What are the worst and best things that have happened to you here?

[forensicks]

The worst thing... I have to say being killed by Eric. It changed everything.

[It's what he told Misty, and it isn't false. But seeing the monster killed... that was the worst.]

The best... thing?

[He needs a prepared answer for this question. He doesn't have one. Yelena winking at him during karaoke? Not an acceptable answer. Walter misses the way he felt on the Enposib, where he felt like some things maybe were posib.]

[abrightboy]

Don’t curate an answer for me Walter. Say what’s true.

[forensicks]

But what if... there is no best thing? I'm sure you won't accept that either.

[abrightboy]

Everything hasn’t been exactly the same. You only have to like it more than the worst thing for it to be the best.

[forensicks]

You're not asking me about the day that we had Canadian bacon in the dining hall, Malcolm.

[abrightboy]

I am if that’s truly the best thing that’s happened to you here. Did you put maple syrup on it?