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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]

[Abel answers the call immediately, quiet on his end before Walter's done.]

No need for an apology, your own safety is your priority, I'm glad you're safe, though I was starting to wonder about your messages...they were a little confusing.

That's good news though, I haven't made my way down...I think Mr. Valentine is organizing some efforts, I was going to help with the Jetski repair, but I can turn around for Pyotr if you aren't able to come get him? And Wu Xin, I think it would be best if you stayed on the beach once you arrived there, but if you're capable of helping people cross, I know of at least one person on board who can't swim.

[That person being Pyotr, but he's not going to mention it on the feed, there isn't any reason to unless they expected him to swim across himself.]

[forensicks]

THAT HAD BETTER BE TRUE BUDDY STOP CAN'T TYPE AND HANG ON TO HAIRLESS JESUS AT THE SAME TIME STOP INSECURE VOICE LONG SENTENCES RIGHT NOW STOP FOR SENTENCES STOP
YELENA ONLINE STOP FULL STOP

[As soon as the mention of Vincent Valentine, Walter starts frantically typing as well as trying to scroll the open posts, because of Pyotr was seriously cagey around a warden of minimal interaction, one who actually made him work when they were personally paired like Vincent is not an option. One of the open posts *is* from Vincent, and Walter recalls with trepidation that being directly included in Wu Xin's filter was not the only reason he took a chance on the fairly new and young boy. Miraculously there's something right before his, that was familiar and something he can work with.]

Oh, well, great news! I have gotten a text from yet another generously lent communicator talking about how Pyotr is on his way up to the now-top story which has the jetskis you're working so hard on, hooray! Where would we be without товарищ Yelena and her expertise in, well, everything, is there anything she can't do! Guess Wu Xin and I should really get going so he can take more trips, haha, wouldn't want to keep him too long.

[If this mollifies Abel to cut him off, then maybe Wu Xin overhearing a serious call to Pyotr isn't a big deal...]

[skybeyondsky]

[ Good thing that Wu Xin couldn't actually see anything on the communicator because Walter was behind him. He only heard what Walter read. ]

Yes, Abel, I'll continue circling the area for those in the water.

Donor Walter, hold on, this young monk is going again.

[ And off he went running across the water once more. ]

[mukha]

[He switches to audio, sounding surprisingly upbeat considering the misery Abel left him in.]

Would I lie to you? There is no need to answer that. I wouldn't want to come between you and your newly found religious sentiments! You can just hang on to your Buddha and rest assured that I am safe and will be on that island perhaps even before you, for I too have received some divine assistance.

[He sends a short text, preferring to keep who he's friends with on the down low.]

kahl

[inthebiblicalsense]

[He isn't so sure about the info he gets, but he will accept it. If Pyotr is on the island when he gets there later, that's all that matters.]

Stay safe, I'll check on the both of you when I get there myself if there is anything else I can do to help. I'll let you get back to your efforts.

[And, he's going to end the transmission there. Good luck Pyotr, he believes in you and your will to survive.]

[forensicks]

[There's a bodily sigh of relief Walter can't hide when he receives some text that is sufficiently specific. If Abel heard that, oh well.]

Who needs cruise ships with miracles like these, huh. A-men. Amibat'ha.

[Can't match the manic energy at all... He puts the phone away with neither audio feed running, silently turning to Wu Xin with genuine devotion at least in making sure he doesn't do anything that'll flip them over.]

[skybeyondsky]

[ Wu Xin, who had been keeping a close ear to Walter in case the other needed him to change direction after all, caught the poor scrambling of the Buddha's name with a soft sigh. ]

Donor Walter is going to make a horrible monk if he calls out the wrong name for the Buddha.

[ Thankfully, unless Walter tried to perform some horribly clumsy acrobatics on Wu Xin's back, they would remain steady. Wu Xin wasn't a boat after all! ]

[forensicks]

Oh, no, no, I'm sorry about that, and he's just joking... With all due respect, me converting might be a thing in another lifetime if it happens at all...

[He wanted to reassure the young man after any offense and then remained quiet to leave him to his task.]

[skybeyondsky]

[ What Walter couldn't see was Wu Xin's slight smirk. The monk was clearly teasing him. ]

A good thing. Donor Walter's face wouldn't be so shapely without hair.

[ And it wasn't look before he touched upon the island and could let Walter down. That might have been faster than a ride on jet skis! Thank you for traveling Wu Xin travels. Please remember to tip the driver~ ]

[forensicks]

[Walter is thinking about this the whole time, and he's restlessly stroking his own face for a moment after the ride is over. Is the stubble too scraggly? Okay, wait, first things first. Reverent bow!!]

Thank you.

[Hmmm...]

How does this even work?

[He waves his hand at all of Wu Xin.]

[skybeyondsky]

[ Wu Xin, genuinely amused, gestured at himself as well. ]

Donor would first need to have the ambience of a monk. Grace, and a benevolent face.

[ He raised up a hand and returned a half bow slowly as if showing that off. He was completely pulling Walter's leg. ]

And the calmness of mind so even the water will not part as you step upon its surface.

[ He jumped back swiftly in a graceful leap and landed on the water's surface while still facing Walter. Wu Xin smiled at him teasingly. ]

Take care, donor Walter. This benevolent and graceful monk need to get back to his rescuing.

[forensicks]

[On a conscious level, Walter is just being nice, but he blinks, driven by a part of himself that does genuinely wonder whether Wu Xin is from a milieu where meditation alone does eventually make such things posisble.]

I'll have a long time to ponder while you're doing the good work, that's for sure. You be safe too, alright.

[mukha]

[Pyotr is on the island, sitting down. He isn't wearing his gloves, and keeps idly raking his fingers through the sand, digging little trenches. There's blood in his hair and on his jacket, but he doesn't appear to be in pain.

He looks up when he hears someone coming and scrambles to his feet when he sees that it's Walter. After swaying for a moment, he trots over to meet him half way with a grin. Did they have an argument a few days ago? Pyotr, generous soul that he is, is willing to pretend it never happened, especially as he knows he has to keep him away from Malcolm. And he and Erskine can still poison him, if they have to...]

Walter! Oh, thank goodness. Your Buddha came through, I see! I'm sorry if I gave you a fright, but see, you really needn't have worried.

[He looks Walter over, checking for cuts or any signs of pain.]

[forensicks]

Great, because I was definitely worried there, Petya!!

[Walter grabs the man's bare hand in a sort of fist-like gesture. Handshake? Tempted to shake him after how worried Walter was? Raising their firsts in triumph? Who knows, he's let go before long, which will allow Pyotr to flit around freely. There's a thick white bandage around Walter's head, blood not showing through it. And a handful of dark spots underneath his white swimshirt, where he put on the tropical print bandaids - his upper body was what got lightly scraped when he was thrown against the side of things. Pyotr can have some stick-ons from Walter's pack if he wants but it seems like his bloodiness is of either a much shallower or much deeper nature? Ahhhhh, everything is so much.]

Wu Xin is nice. I really ought to find out more about what the heck he's doing here, but nice.

[mukha]

There was no need, [he repeats definitively, pulling his hand away with a strange look.]

What do you mean 'what he's doing here'? He is a prisoner, kidnapped the same as us. Or does the Admiral strike you as a Buddhist who wouldn't dare inflict this upon one of his monks?

[He laughs and does indeed begin to flit around Walter, explaining rapidly.]

For my part, I had the misfortune of being near Abel when the chaos struck. He is not a bad fellow, I don't think, but so supercilious. I nearly lost my patience with him and had to cover with a little theatre, seem hurt and frightened—you know how wardens eat that stuff up. I thought for sure he would be impossible to get rid of after that, but I managed to convince him that I needed my friends.

[forensicks]

I know it's bullshit, [because, even the framings of the inmates as technically having crimes in their past that the wardens don't anymore seem increasingly weak] but I do think knowing more about the kid can't hurt.

[Well, forget the kid. Abel, Abel. Walter's scrapes are on the one side so a view of his back isn't that enlightening. It's in a way where standing up isn't that much worse than being down. Ice is what would help more.]

Abel was very worried about you. [Walter's relieved to have an opening on that - he's not sure whether the claim of an "episode" would infuriate Pyotr too much.] He could totally think this is a new trauma. You might want to tell him I put you through some reframing breathing exercises.

[mukha]

You mean like what Sheehan does? Yes, we can tell him I've been writing in my diary. Perhaps we can find some twigs to stick together in an interesting way and tell him that it represents my 'trauma', and I've... what is it... cried on your shoulder, talked about my feelings.

[He waves a hand dismissively and abruptly stops, pulling Walter to sit down in the sand with him, facing the sea.]

Ah, Walter, let me look at you. What happened to your head? And what are those underneath your shirt? [He isn't even identifying them as bandaids.]

[forensicks]

I got, what's the technical term exactly? Concussed against the wall. [The barge is full of terrible happenings that have to be discussed in precise language because they're so out of the norm. Walter's good at it, always analyzing true crime at a distance, but he wishes he didn't have to do it out loud.

He rolls up the sleeve obligingly.]

They're bandaids. I have some if you want. But do you need something bigger?

[mukha]

[Pyotr resists the urge to poke at the brightly colored strips plastered on Walter's arm, having never seen such a thing before in his life.]

Oh no, I'm fine. [He grins.] I'm already all taken care of, fit as a fiddle.

Do you want to lie down? I can give you my jacket as a pillow...

[He's already taking it off. This is very normal. He's just a kind, caring person who is concerned for his friend!]

[forensicks]

Oh, right. That's something something your buddy could do, isn't it?

[He doesn't immediately say Kahl's name out loud, since Pyotr had taken pains to avoid it. No one's immediately bothering them, but the beach is so open...]

Maybe a little further away from the water. Who knows what wave could come at this point.

[mukha]

Yes, he healed me... He helped me after that... other incident I told you about, too.

[Pyotr's eyes widen with fear. Not having any reason to be familiar with the phenomena of tsunamis, the fact that they usually happen as a series of two, three, or even four big waves is entirely new information.]

You think there might be another one? Then... what are we waiting for!? We ought to head for higher ground!

[forensicks]

Oh, that's good. Better than some of the alternatives, I mean...

[Infernal necromancy comes to mind. It's not something he should dwell on, though. Pyotr is out of it more mentally, Walter more physically, and neither is in the best state to avoid even a comparatively normal tide. Walter wasn't thinking in the most technical terms at the moment. Higher ground is hard to come by, and when they reach it, Walter is relieved they're not on one of the other islands that didn't have hills at all.]

So I pulled the trigger on the plan towards the end, and you pretty much called it. Ms. Quigley did not "see". I'm sorry I was such a tool. I am glad I did it now when I had the tools for the job instead of whatever was on hand during the flood, because... it's over. She told me some details that have me a little hopeful she won't immediately fold under crimes that weren't for personal gain, at least, but... yeah. That's it. The big guy no longer has leverage on me.

[After all, Misty is a warden who can leave at will, so Walter's disquiet about her deal was more meaningful than any other way she could be used against him. ...though their current circumstances on the island call that into question. Will Walter be presented with an actual choice and not just what corny outfit he wants to wear during his scenes in the Admiral's soap opera? He's seeing this from too many angles, a remnant of John's influence, and that reminds him to add something else. He was spacing out for a good moment there.]

Certain wardens have the ability to make you relive events from the victim's perspective. Including the pain when they looked unconscious. So, watch out for that if you try anything.

[You know, like on Blitzø.]

[mukha]

[Pyotr - finally content that either no big waves are likely to reach them or that death by drowning would be fine, actually - settles down to listen to Walter's story. At first, he listens with immense self-satisfaction, though making sure to continue nodding along with wide, sympathetic eyes. It's still difficult to keep the smirk off his face, especially as Malcolm Bright is nowhere in sight, possibly even dead or dying somewhere in the wreckage!]

Oh, I don't care about that now, [he says oh so magnanimously, with a warm smile]. I only hope that it's not too late now that you've finally come to your senses. That your little murder epiphany hasn't cost us...

Well, never mind. As I said, I don't wish to speak of it. I'm willing to forgive you everything, on a personal level, as a friend, that is—provided... provided that you haven't cost us, if you know what I mean.

[As Walter glances away to space out, Pyotr lets his smile turn dark, though when Walter refocuses, he quickly replaces it with the same gentle 'concern' as before. It morphs into genuine alarm at the new revelation.]

What warden!? [With growing horror:] Are you telling me John Doe was inside your head?

[Walter, he could strangle you!]

I'm sorry. [He softens his expression again, obviously deliberately changing back into character.] I'm sorry. It will be all right. No matter what happens, we'll stick together. They can't break up our friendship. [And slipping darker, again:] They wouldn't dare. Aside from your recent 'outburst,' it's the one piece of evidence that you're making any progress at all. What type of warden would Malcolm Bright be if he refused to let me see you? I'll hide you away, if I have to. I'll find a way. You don't think I will? We started everything together, you and I, and we'll finish it...!

We can... do something. Something about the jobs, maybe? [Since Walter doesn't think escape is possible, and thus can't even be trusted with the details of Erskine's plan.] You can pretend to be the radical one, now that you've 'snapped', and I'll pretend to be a moderating influence.

The important thing is not to be afraid... You mustn't be afraid. As long as we're together, we can endure the tortures and keep going...!

And I'll stand with you against John Doe... I never liked him anyway. I know everyone loves him, the same way they do Trevor, but from now on, I hate him...!

[ESPECIALLY IF HE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE SECRET GROUP! Pyotr is still somewhat panicking about that possibility, despite being under the influence of sedative 'godsblood'.]

[forensicks]

I was worried about that for a while, but I do think it's different...!

[Walter raises both hands to protest the accusation of letting John Doe into his head, then points his fingers towards each other to explain.]

We ran into each other before. [Contemptuous at the sheer frivolity of it:] He was using his powers to look like a talking cat, a cat that talks right into your mind. It's all about what he wants to show to you. Not to trust him, but I don't really see what the point of letting this play out would be. He's sure pissed off now.

[He rubs his temples hard for a few seconds, allowing the hatred of John Doe to fill him.]

Fuck that guy for real. Literally, John and Arthur, good cop bad cop, if there were any doubt. They didn't give a single shit that I thought they'd been jerks in the past, just, "no we weren't, nutcase". Poor John just had to stand back and watch as poor Arthur doesn't feel safe on the barge anymore. [Score one for Matryoshka doll theory.] Because someone hurt him. Yeah, well, join the club.

[He decides not to get into the detail about Arthur being starved like Silver - though he imagines it'll come out at some point when he clarifies that he did not technically kill Arthur.]

And screw Trevor, while we're at it. I'll probably have to talk to him after this, and act normal, but I am still mad. I don't even know what it's possible to do with the jobs at this point... And so many inmates are loyal in their pairings... [Could the "female inmate" in the memory be Arthur's inmate Root? It doesn't exactly matter. Walter's next words are slower, nearly forceless, as a lot of emotions are going through his head over the course of several seconds:] But... at least you and I have each other...

[There is of course a volatile quality to Pyotr's companionship - when he almost designed their secret group as a cult, when he almost agreed to help Walter kill Arthur - that is very much present now. Even so, Walter appreciates Pyotr's desperate cloying attempts to continue wringing something useful out of him as an ally, rather than outright rejection in the moment. Does Pyotr need him too? Perhaps not to lead the group, Walter can't actually flatter himself that much, but to stay strong after that particular unpleasant incident?

What he so nearly lamented out loud in this moment was: Why does it have to be us? Walter feels himself constantly on the verge of giving up, constantly surrounded by cultists pressuring him as almost the only form of human interaction (and he can barely bother correcting himself "or equivalent" at this point). Resistance is something very sharp gripped in his palm to keep him awake. There's no substitute for friendship with someone who cares and understands... Oh, yeah, that's actually one of his talking points in his defense, it's actually relevant.]

Maybe there's parts of this that could be a good thing, for us-us. Even if I have to be cut off as someone who's compromised or under scrutiny, using the network as a recruiting ground is normalized here. You can watch me rant and rave about the cult to anyone who'll listen, and that could be a way to find "friends".

[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...?