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]

That’s why she did it when he wasn’t watching. And why he is now always watching. What do you want her to talk about that you don’t want John to hear?

[forensicks]

I know the barge has kind of rotted out brains and gotten us used to public voice chats, but wanting to have a conversation without some third party listening is actually extremely normal. It's more normal than the other thing, in fact, sine qua non.

[abrightboy]

It's not normal in a prison, which is what you think this is.

[forensicks]

No, I think that it would be far more reasonable and just for this place to be a prison. This is a cult compound where I can't avoid specific people indefinitely.

[abrightboy]

I'm pretty sure there is also no expectation of privacy in a cult.

[forensicks]

Cults don't just immediately evaporate every single pretense of common human behavior. Otherwise we'd have even more exhibitionists on the deck, given what this place encourages.

Look. I would like to know why Ashton did the thing. Is that so unreasonable?

[abrightboy]

No. Not at all. Why couldn't you just say so? That's an impulse I understand better than anything.

[forensicks]

Because I want the conversation to be private, which is supposedly such an important right.

[abrightboy]

Nobody is objecting to your request for privacy. Our concern is for your safety. When I visit my father in his cell, he's tethered to the wall and handcuffed and I'm not allowed to cross the red line on the floor. They take precautions. We want you to take precautions.

[forensicks]

Can you imagine how smug I'll get to be if it turns out vampires are too fast for drawing my stun gun to be practical, though?

I'm kidding. I don't think that's going to be a thing.

[abrightboy]

What about using your shield?

[forensicks]

The shield is quite effective, but most effective when used in concentrated bursts of energy. Keeping it up for the entire duration of a conversation long enough to get someone's guard down might be counterproductive - or deplete its energy for when, you know, I go back into the hallway and get jumped by the next nutcase.

[abrightboy]

You don't need to keep it up all the time. Just don't sit too close to them and turn it on if they make a sudden move.

[forensicks]

Right. Well, I guess that covers just about everything.

[abrightboy]

Check in afterwards?

[forensicks]

Check in afterwards. Aw, that's adorable. I'm literally going to be in your cabin but you extend me a little token autonomy anyway!

[abrightboy]

But you don't want me in my cabin, or... do I misunderstand? Am I invited to the Murder Summit Talks?

[forensicks]

I thought you were saying I have to text you when it's over, instead of just, you come in and see me.

I won't shrivel up and die if you do just come in and see me, though.

[abrightboy]

Well, in that case, let me know when I can come back.

[forensicks]

No more than two hours from now for sure, but I'll message too.