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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

[inthebiblicalsense]

[stirring the mixture together in a glass, he is at least meticulous and gives a healthy serving of chocolate. He understands a sweet tooth.]

My boyfriend, actually. The Admiral isn't the kind of...commanding officer to give out homework. [Or any kind of direction at all really, frustratingly enough.

He'll actually make a glass for himself and set Walter's in front of him on the coffee table. When he sits He'll leave enough space between them that it isnt awkward.]

What happened with Pyotr Stepanovich that he might not appreciate me talking to you any more?

[forensicks]

Here I was speculating about the wardens making any effort to organize themselves into teams, silly me.

[He takes a long drink from the glass then looks down and swirls it.] Mm.

Really, I should be asking you how you got the impression a meddlesome conversation would have ever been appreciated in the first place. Was it way back when he was caught up in the tsunami?

[inthebiblicalsense]

[Ethan stares at Walter for a long, drawn out moment, glass set on his knee. It's obvious he's chewing through something, considering his options, the different branches this conversation can take depending how he answers, but the problem is the only thing he knows about Walter is that he isn't allowed anywhere near food prep for good reason.

The pointed comments thrown his way are most certainly not appreciated but he can tolerate them. That kind of bitchiness feels more familiar than anything given how rude other Navigators were back home.]

I'm not playing this game with you. I'd rather not be playing with Pyotr either, but given the fact that he felt the need to pretend that he got anything out of my company for almost a year, I can't exactly stop playing now.

I'm 'meddling' because I was given options, and I chose one. I chose one because at some point Pyotr is going to become a danger to himself and I would like to see him leave before the Barge forces his hand.

[forensicks]

No one ever wants to play games with me.

[Maybe if they had, it would be different. Walter has constantly wondered what would have happened if Malcolm were even slightly more aggressive. Now he's wondering a similar thing.]

You say "leave", what do you mean? Has Malcolm gotten to you with his delusion that the Admiral would ever approve a transfer to another ship? I'm not playing games with this, I want you to be fully aware of the implications here. No euphemisms.

[inthebiblicalsense]

[Perhaps they would if you weren't so interested in being kind of a shit, Walter.]

I do not believe the Admiral would give up any of his inmate passengers willingly for any reason aside from graduation or so no. I don't see that happening.

And when I say leave, I mean go home. either through graduation, or being lost, and since I can't imagine how a regular human man could influence the latter, the first one is the option left to anyone.

[forensicks]

Alright, well, what do you suggest?

[Walter swirls the glass in his hand again.]

He has a warden now, should he take a bullet for her in some violent confrontation? Perhaps get his most traumatic memories revealed by a flood? Kill someone so he can practice sincerely apologizing to them?

[Now suddenly changing his tone from aggressively matter-of-fact to openly bitter.]

And of course, we can't forget the old classic get a boyfriend.

[inthebiblicalsense]

[Ethan is trying his best to sit here and listen to the suggestions, but from the get go they are...bizarre.

Though honestly having friends at all is probably beneficial to Pyotr, but he isn't sure about the other man involving himself with anyone romantically.]

Given the nature of the Barge, incremental change in wild scenarios brings about...odd data points. I dont think anyone needed any of that to happen to them in order to graduate.

[They might have needed the lesson learned, but he'd like to think they could have learned it some other way.]

And unless you're going to take this seriously, as a person who knows him better than I do, I think this conversation is already over.

Inmates have one thing in common, and it's that they had to die to get here. It would be a waste of anyone's time if graduation didnt some how alter that path, make someone choose a different route.

I'd think if anyone knew how to help him leave here it would be his friends, not a warden I doubt he's even speaking to.

[forensicks]

[You don't think they needed those soap opera shenanigans to happen, and yet the Admiral has made it clear that they do? Walter can barely smooth over the sneer on his face. He's got to at least try and act the part of the friend not helping him enough.]

Yes, of course; I should give this the thought it deserves.

[As much thought as Ethan actually put into this. Which is none. The reason Walter gets up to finish his milk all at once and put it onto a counter is simply to make sure the glass doesn't break in his hands.

Having a room with actual space to walk from a big sofa to somewhere else reminds Walter of... something. Not even the hotel in New York had this much space, was it... his houseboat? Hit him! Misty shrieks in his earpiece. Hit him, right now! Yes, he's walking to pick up that little rotary saw to interrogate that guy (how odd that he mentioned Jeff).

As a general rule, Walter does not do "angry". He does bitter. He does cold. He does sociopathic. But contrary to popular belief, he really doesn't do angry. The last time he's felt such rage... Probably when he processed how Malcolm snapped at him, his paired inmate, that the mere idea of abuse of power, of inmates being beneath him, was absurd?]

Ah, yes, excuse me. Well. Using satire to make my point does not mean I'm not taking this seriously. Perhaps this will be clear enough: How many wardens does it take to change a lightbulb? One, [he holds up one finger then hisses:] but the lightbulb has to really want to change.

[Ethan's feelings being hurt feels good. Why not give him a tiny taste of the betrayal inmates constantly go through? If everyone thinks Walter is a degrading asshole, he might as well do it on purpose.]

If change must be incremental, then surely it can't be forced in any way at all? I haven't been heavy-handedly helping him graduate; I've been helping him. I'll admit I accidentally got a little overzealous getting across how much I hoped the port would be good for his mental health, but we've worked it out. We still went up to the city together. I was there for him, all sorts of things we went through together, and you very clearly were not. So, yes, if you know Pyotr Stepanovich so little that you can't even identify what he so badly needs to change - trust issues, for instance - I suggest you go on your way.

[Awkwardly, though even this nebbishness could be an affectation, he doesn't even know the difference himself:] From him, that is, I know this is your domicile from which I'll soon enough see myself out.

[inthebiblicalsense]

[Given everyone on board seems to have some form of trust issues, which he doesnt blame them for at all, he isnt sure that is what he would pin point as a glaring flaw. Especially considering where he comes from.]

Unless you plan on convincing him to not return home, I think his trust issues are rather sound, actually. We dont have a secret police where I come from, but I've witnessed corruption run deep myself and would have been killed for it had I not escaped.

[He watches Walter walk, sure hes moving much like he would when hes frustrated. He doesn't know Walter, but he has to wonder if the mask of work, of seriousness isnt helping him in this interaction. Rubbing his temples he attempts to shed some of it regardless of how he might not want to.]

And I apologize if I offended you, but it isnt for lack of trying that I don't know Pyotr Stepanovich. In fact I thought I did, but he made it very clear that wasn't the case.

And I agree with you that being heavy handed and focusing on graduating rather than the health of a person is out of touch, but you just said yourself that a week at port wasn't enough. And I dont think it ever will be.

[He is sure Walter actually meant to offend him, and maybe in some little way he did, but he isnt sure how much more clear he can be that he doesnt think he's the person to help Pyotr but he can still play support.]

To be clear, before you go, I didnt ask you here to tell you your friend is suffering as if you didnt see it already. I asked you here because I want to help but I dont think he would let me. Not directly anyways.

If there is something I can do, even if its requests which is honestly the bare minimum, I want to.

[forensicks]

I like how you say convince him not to return home as if it's an outlandish thought rather one of the most common and basic ways for inmates to choose a different route.

[Walter gives a long brittle sigh. Perhaps Ethan's seriousness could serve him well - if being serious about the Barge were not all the more absurd.]

There is a warden he can directly ask for requests if he sees fit. You know, that would be a paired warden who is even more equipped than other wardens to grant requests. I know you mean well with availing us of your privileges, but in this case it simply isn't necessary.

I just... don't know what I'm supposed to tell you if it's anything Pyotr wasn't comfortable telling you himself. [He shrugs with his whole upright body, worn thin from all the adrenaline.] I do have some reform proposals I'm working on that I think might benefit all inmates, I'd certainly appreciate your support if you choose to offer it, but even then, that's not the same thing.

[inthebiblicalsense]

Yes, well if that's all he changes, that's not change, that's running away or buying time. I would know, since it's part of why I came here in the first place. Which, I would say there is nothing inherently wrong with that, time is valuable, but we all have to face consequence some day. [Which is why even if he does ever change his mind about going home and staying, he wouldn't ever leave it as is. He has a trial to attend, a crew to represent.

He watches Walter come down, folding his hands in his lap as he listens, and he supposes the point was to give Pyotr options that don't involve someone who has more authority over him that everyone else. That and his opinion of Yennifer is rather low, but he'll keep that to himself.]

I can respect that, I kind of thought the same when he said to speak to his closest about it or be labeled a spy. But if you need someone to look at documents, I certainly can, I don't think I have as much social currency as some other Warden's on board if that's what you're looking for though.