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.

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[Jean nods, hands slipping into her pockets. It's nice, she's found, transforming her clothes; if she wants pockets, she has them.]

The trick is finding something that makes an impression, but isn't cruel - and that'll depend on the Inmate.

And what if some inmates learn best through cruelty?

Does anyone, really? It might be what they know best, but - that's probably part of why they're here.

[Scorpius does. But he won't say it aloud. Instead, books in hand, he sets them on the edge of his cot and sits back down]

You have a very...soft way of looking at things. Not to say that softness is weak, but it isn't precisely how things tend to work, in my experience.

[Her smile is wry, as she remembers the fire consuming Arthas' mind.]

I try to be. [I have to be.] I know the world isn't, but - that just makes it more important.

Please don't think of me as being sarcastic when I say that I find that a very brave thing.

[Foolish, ultimately, but also brave]

[Oh. Her smile shifts, becomes something warmer and brighter.]

Thank you.

[Scorpius nods, turning his attention back to the books. He doesn't go in for baseless flattery: what he says, he usually means it. Now he begins to page through the first one, attempting to ignore the archaic method of housing information. Paper, really?]

You've read these before?

Yeah. [Several times, before her telepathy bloomed and her memory perfected itself.] That one, that's the basics - how evolution works on Earth, the general course for humanity. The second goes into more detail - genetics, what they determine, how they change.

And the third is about...more recent leaps forward. I don't know if that applies to John's world.

Perhaps. Perhaps not.

[Truth be told, Scorpius is more of a history nerd than a geneticist. Genetics are a sore point with him. Additionally, he's not sure how helpful these books will be: first because everything will be in Earth terms, and second, it will likely be akin to a bioengineer of the 21st century struggling to understand Aristotle. Aristotle may be the building blocks and beginning stages of everything the bioengineer knows to be true, but in the end Aristotle got pretty much everything wrong. Without context, he can't hope to make much headway into the minds of humans]

When do you expect these back?

You can keep them, if you want. [There's some sentiment there, sure - Charles gave him to her. But passing them on is the kind of thing he'd be happy to see.

Besides, the words themselves will never leave her.] I've memorised them.

Thank you.

[He looks the books over again, before setting them to the side of the cot.]

And nothing in return?

I don't need anything. [A slight smirk.] I've gotta say, the free room and board part is nice.

For me, it was enough that I am not under daily torture. This Barge, as I've said, is a luxury of a prison.

[Something sparks in her gut, a flare of indignant rage. It only shows briefly on her face.]

That'll happen sometimes, just to warn you.

[Scorpius hardly reacts at all, except to stare more intently at Jean's face]

Then I have ample warning.

[There's no trace of ardent fury now, but it's waiting there, behind her eyes.]

Some worlds will strip you of all your abilities. They'll make you vulnerable.

I have been vulnerable, and I have survived.

There are always new ways to be powerless.

Your concern is noted, but you are telling me nothing I don't already know. I have known helplessness. I have known what it is to have nothing, to be made to feel like nothing. This Barge will do nothing to me that I have not already battled in some way.

[Jean inclines her head, smiling slightly.] Didn't mean to say you didn't. Just - expect the unexpected, I guess.

I'd say "prepare for everything", but I've got a hunch you already do.

Everything I can imagine, yes. No doubt I'm omitting a few options I have yet to consider, but there is time enough.

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