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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.

Comments

[abrightboy]

"Maybe. I can't make us live somewhere else, Walter. But I can pursue this issue until something is done because she can't be allowed to just skate, okay? And I just wanted to keep you in the loop about it, in case you thought she was going to skate."

[forensicks]

"You can live somewhere else," Walter wheedles. He takes the hot cocoa and busies himself with it for a minute.

"Of course she's going to skate. John obviously invited this on some level; there's no way anything serious is going to happen."

[abrightboy]

"John invited it...... like Misty invited it?" Malcolm clarifies.

[forensicks]

"No," Walter says. "He told me Astarion was the only other person who knew, and he showed me that he never told anyone the name of the culprit. But his intrusive thoughts of hurting me were also very strong, and he wasn't surprised that Justine found out. Either he's lying to me, or he's lying to himself."

[abrightboy]

"Or Astarion told her," Malcolm points out. "Or she figured it out. And it's possible that neither of those things surprised him. But it doesn't even matter, because he's not her Warden. He can't override what her Warden decides for her. Trust that as something I know."

[forensicks]

"Sure, he can't force the warden not to do something severe," Walter says with a frown, "but he sure can contribute to the social environment that would make it a slap on the wrist."

[abrightboy]

"Well, that wouldn't be okay with me and I'm afraid I have to report that I can be a little bit of a pain it the ass," Malcolm informs him.

[forensicks]

Walter sips his cocoa with a skeptical stare.

"I know I can't stop you when you put your mind to something," he says dryly in the end.

[abrightboy]

"Do you want to stop me?" Malcolm asks him. "In this particular instance," he clarifies.

[forensicks]

"... There are circumstances where if the warden says no, I might ask you to quit," Walter admits.

[abrightboy]

"Which circumstances?" Malcolm sincerely asks. "And why?"

[forensicks]

He turns the mug in his hands, it's foam floating in a different direction. "Because if enough people start hearing arguments that I deserved worse, it might happen. I really expected more than one stab."

[abrightboy]

"Do you think you deserved worse?" Malcolm asks. "Because who is hypothetically making that argument?"

[forensicks]

"Justine and John feel that way," Walter explains (his perception). "They wouldn't cry if I got eaten by piranhas. I wouldn't be surprised if there were more folks so inclined. Who would act on it if they were reminded of what happened in more detail, if dots were connected that they didn't see before."

[abrightboy]

“Do you think you need stronger protection?” Malcolm asks.

[forensicks]

"I think your reasoning before had merit," Walter says, a little quickly, running his hand up and down the handle of the mug. "About having enough tools. But our whole goal with the limited announcement was to not make a splash. So now, I do think it could become a thing." Knowing the vagueness is likely to confuse Malcolm, he adds, "You know, a kerfluffle."

[abrightboy]

"You think... pursuing it with a resistant warden would make the whole thing spill into public," Malcolm clarifies.

[forensicks]

"Not to mention give the impression Walter can dish it out but he can't take it," Walter adds to his confirmation.

[abrightboy]

“Walter’s dishing was resolved with the affected parties. Why, exactly, should anyone expect him to ‘take’ it?” Malcolm asks.

[forensicks]

Walter squints skeptically. "Even if you think violence is bad no matter who started it, such an enlightened point of view is naturally going to be uncommon among inmates at least. Who are people with opinions."

[abrightboy]

“So everyone out there is just an eye for an eye over everything? That’s the only justice they care about, is what you’re saying?” Malcolm clarifies.

[forensicks]

"Whole world blind isn't a problem here," Walter says, insouciant. "Wasnt there a flood like that once, in fact?"

[abrightboy]

“Like what? Where everyone was blind?” Malcolm asks. “You’ve done more research into the floods of olde than I have, so I’ll take your word for it.”