keeps_a_cool_head

Log 0007

[In Zero, Scorpius does what he does best: he plans. Giving him space and time to think through what he wants and how to get it is one of the unintended gifts of his cell space, and he appreciates every moment of it.

After several days, he addresses the Barge]

A question to my fellow shipmates;

When an inmate commits a grievous crime, who is to blame for it? Obviously the inmate must share some, but what percentage is attributed to them and what percentage is attributed to their warden, who may be unfit to command them? A warden may fail just as easily by not admitting to something that could be most assuredly out of their control.

And what of inmates who aren't paired and no one has taken the time to explain to them the rules?

My apologies to Alex Summers. While it was certainly my intent to hurt him, he had done nothing to harm me and was simply in the correct place at the correct time.

[Private to Crichton]

Of course, John, we all know that you are the one fully to blame.

More like Alex will follow. You cannot hope to save them all.

In a few days' time they will be forced to release me. What has changed between the time of my entering this cell and the time of my leaving it? As a deterrent towards behavior, Zero leaves much to be desired.

I am willing to entertain ideas of a deal between us.

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[blankly]

If John Crichton were to turn spy, he would be simultaneously the best and worst spy his allies ever employed. He is so unbelievably unsubtle that no one would dare suspect this seemingly witless man of being capable of anything more devious than operating a can opener.

To their downfall, no doubt.

Yes, I'm sure it was his apparent bumbling witlessness that made you think it profitable to torture him for information.

[He won't ask what a can opener is. He can just look it up in a dictionary later.]

It sounds as though there is much history between the two of you.

[The minute he hears between you and I, he starts getting nervous. Scorpius is trusting him with a secret? Why? Why?! And it just gets more horrifying.

God, why is he actually telling him this?! Doesn't he have anyone else?! Anyone?! He did not ask for a sharing moment, he never wants to read Scorpius' diary and it's getting harder to stay mad at the bastard the longer he goes on like this.]

...

[When Scorpius finishes there is a long, long pause while Crichton tries to wrap his head around what he just heard. It's like he's trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. All he can do is gape stupidly at Scorpius. His enemy...his enemy is coming to him to ask about...friendship?!]

Scorpius...

[He rakes his hands down his face, then looks upward like he can't believe he has to explain this...because he can't.]

That's called friendship you nimrod. That's how that works. Please, just, tell me you're yank'n my chain right now.

[A lengthy pause, at the other end. Because yes, sharing this private information on the one hand is another dig at manipulating Crichton, as are most of the things behind what Scorpius does.

Yet on the other hand, everything he's spoken was the truth. And Scorpius is also of the mind that he'd rather not such sentimentality be spread far and wide to all four corners of the Barge. He trusts Crichton to be discreet.]

While I had hoped for a serious moment outside of our grudge to admit this truth, John, I had hoped that it would not be immediately followed by petty insults and disbelief.

There is. An extensive amount, all the more astonishing given the relatively short period we have known one another.

I suspect I am related to why he is here on this Barge making deals. And he is indirectly the reason why I am here.

[Because spreading around news that Scorpius *gasp* has a friend in his world is just about the most scandalous piece of gossip that ever existed...How will Crichton contain himself?]

If you wanted that kind of discussion you should have gotten a therapist.

[Oh. Dear. God. Is he being serious right now?!]

I find our conversations to be much more cathartic and productive than any outside discussion with a professional stranger could ever be.

...'Friends', you said.

[He puts both hands to his face, and Scorpius can likely hear muffled through his fingers:] This is not happening right now. This is not happening. Tell me this is NOT happening.

[He needs a moment.]

I should think... having each killed the other and both come to a place where there is only a finite amount of damage that can be done to another person, perhaps you have done all the harm you can, and would be wiser to distance yourselves from one another?

Or have you found the death of Alex Summers to be richly rewarding in some way I cannot fathom?

[ Angus watches from his position at Megamind's hip; his ears are cocked, whole stance alert. He doesn't like Scorpius one bit, and can tell Megamind's staying rather neutral to him, not all overly friendly as the gregarious alien can be. ]

This will be interesting reading.

By the by-- I'd appreciate it if you'd not be so foolish as to hurt Alex again. He's my friend.

[ And that'd be the reason he's not being very warm. ]

[It killed her, a bit, to keep away, but she was too late to do anything, and she refused to lose herself in rage again. That's not what Alex would want from her.

But she responds now, quiet and cold.]

Good question.

You won't touch him again.

It's not clear-cut. It depends on the situation, the Inmate, the Warden.

As for rules, I think "not attacking an innocent bystander to make a point" can go unsaid most places. Or did you think you were being fair and reasonable?

[It's really hard not to be a bit mad at you, sir.]

You ask these questions as an excuse.

What of the virtues you spoke of does this action of yours follow?

[It's okay, John. Scorpius is perfectly willing to sit and wait for you to get your act together]

Had I known that such a simple concept would upset you, I would have chosen my words more carefully.

There is not a finite amount of damage that can be done to either of us. On the contrary; the possibilities have only extended since we arrived on this ship. And distancing myself from him is not an option.

Alex Summers did not die. He was not even injured very greatly.

[He doesn't spare another glance to Angus, figuring the animal to be well-trained, if owned by a warden and allowed to walk about. At the mention of Alex, a slight, grim smile appears]

Of course.

Obviously not. Alex seems well-protected, and as I have been told numerous times before, I was lucky that my attack went on interrupted.

So you have no definitive blanketing opinion.

Not at all. I was being cruel and vindictive and I think that was rather the point.

[pls, sir]

Simply because I list virtues does not ensure that I follow them to the letter, especially in the pursuit of what I want.

[He's just shaking his head, and laughing sardonically.]

What upsets me, Scorpius, is that you think I'd want to have a warm fuzzy conversation with you about your feelings after you beat one of my friends bloody and left him on my doorstep!

No, John. What upsets you more than your friend's situation is that you're coming to realize that the universe is not split evenly between good people and bad people.

Edited 2014-03-03 12:59 (UTC)

Don't flatter yourself; I've known that for a long time. People got more shades of grey than the first 5 minutes of the Wizard of Oz. Don't think it took until just now talking to you for me to realize that. You aren't that inspiring.

Regardless, John; unless you wish to continue in much the same path as our first two months together have been, I suggest we research an alternate path that would be more satisfying to the both of us.

Fine. For once we agree on something. I'd like this crap to end.

But I just bet I know what you're going to suggest.

Of course.

But you have a failsafe, John. If you let me extract what I need, I still need to get off this ship. No inmate has properly escaped the Barge. I can only leave by graduating.

In the meantime, you'll have secured safety for your friends and allies. And I will cease ever bothering you again.

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also derp I'm making this a bit forward dated after he gets out of zero duh

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