Log 0007

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[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.

Comments

[no_talent_hack]

Command them?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Wardens command their inmates, do they not? They assert control over them just as any superior officer would.

[routemistress]

Disingenuous as a pigrat stuck in a food cupboard, Scorpius my love.

[no_talent_hack]

Not... really? I wasn't planning on ordering mine around.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

It surprises me how much I've come to enjoy your rather bizarre metaphors.

Hello, Iris.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Were you hoping to gently suggest your inmate into his or her graduation?

[routemistress]

'Ello sweetheart. I aim to please.

I mean, it were a good try? But you don't 'ave the face for injured innocence. And Alex were a bad choice, I think you'll find.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Because of his score of friends and allies. Yes, I am aware. But the timing was impossible to resist.

I don't know if you are aware of this, but it is very boring to be an unpaired inmate waiting for their graduation. Is there a way to jumpstart the process?

[no_talent_hack]

You can't force someone into being better. That's not even real improvement -- it's just being afraid or obedient enough to follow orders.

[routemistress]

I'm very aware of it, my darling, which is why I make a point of spending time with unpaired folks. There's not, though. All down to the Admiral's whimsy - or, which is my theory, the boat 'erself checking you for compatibility.

Who'd you fancy? Out of the unpaired wardens?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Incorrect, I'm afraid. It is how you break in rebellion. Commanding is a form of teaching, but what if the inmate refuses to learn?

[routemistress]

What you said. I mean, Scorpius is trolling a bit 'ere, but it bears repeating. We 'ave to set boundaries, specially with the more hardarsed contingent. But we're not 'ere to be in command.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

And how do I make myself more compatible to her? Although I find it interesting that you, myself, and David Cain share the same theory.

An intriguing question, with multiple parts to it. Which do I think I can most easily manipulate? Or which do I think stand an honest chance of leading me away from my goals and towards graduation?

[routemistress]

Cain and me are close, as I'm sure you know already. Which isn't to say either of us is soaking up the other's opinions; but we generally find we're coming from the same place.

Are any of your goals compatible with staying on this boat forever?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Do you and Cain have experience with living ships?

None, I'm afraid.

[routemistress]

'E spent six months living on mine recently. I reckon that counts.

That, see? Oh, I wish I could take on two inmates. That's the idea you're going to need to dismantle. 'Cause I flat-out don't believe you. Well. I do, if you admit that your main goal's only revenge genocide and take out the window dressing about keeping the galaxy safe. I'd actually love to 'elp you take that apart and rebuild it. But I wouldn't drop Victor for any price, so we'll just 'ave to stay friends.

[gard]

What is the virtue of assigning blame?

[no_talent_hack]

Honestly, that sounds pretty weak to me.

[no_talent_hack]

Trolling?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

You have a Leviathan, Iris?

Keeping the galaxy safe is a beneficial side effect to the entire purpose. Plus, it removes what the Scarrans want most from their grasp.

Please keep wardening Victor. He needs you far more than I do.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

The virtue being that if the warden is found to also be at fault, should they not share a cell with their inmate? Who punishes the wardens?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Have you ever given or received orders before?

[routemistress]

'E only does it to annoy, because 'e knows it teases.

'E's 'oping to find out more about 'ow individuals think by putting up a plausible argument that 'e knows is wrong. I don't mind taking the bait; like I said, it bears repeating.

I'm Iris - Iris Wildthyme. I did see you on the network, I'm sorry I've not got round to saying 'ello yet. I see Babs and Dean did the introductions up right - welcome aboard, though!

[gard]

What's the theory? That you punish them, by making accusations they then have to deal with?

[routemistress]

A timeship. She is alive, though. So's the Barge. She's ...I don't knw what, exactly, the barge is, but she does 'ave a living heart, same as our timeships do. She doesn't feel quite the same, but she works in a very familiar fashion - some kind of parallel evolution, I expect.

What's a Leviathan like?