atowncalledtreffy

The only reason it didn't work was because I tried not to kill him and still was brought in here. By the people - hang on.

[A thought!]

Are wardens actually meant to stop inmates from killing people? Because that would explain the ship a lot if they aren't.

[A bitter laugh] Yes, we're supposed to. You can see how many people actually try. It's easier to be reactive instead of proactive.

Easier still to not give a fuck.

But you can't stop protecting people, and neither can I.

Fuck. [Says Trevor, heartfelt and actually empathetic towards Lark.

A little. Not very, considering where he is and how he got here]

I protect people who can't defend themselves against magic or monsters. You want to protect the ones snacking on them.

I'm trying to get those monsters to where I'm at so they stop hurting people. I'm proof it's possible.

And right now I'm only protecting you. The other wardens can protect the rest.

They haven't been doing a great job at it. Even with me, if you want to use me for an example. I fucked up with Jon, sure. I said I was sorry to him for it. But I was new and I didn't know what was happening and if I weren't me - if I were someone more dangerous or angry or thoughtless - I could have really killed him.

So who the fuck is protecting him from assholes like me? Or is it just everyone else's world that doesn't have shit happening to it every five seconds?

Edited 2021-12-05 19:12 (UTC)

Mine is very stable. All my heavy influence now is political, and I win that with words. [And occasionally some muscle but only in serious situations.]

No one protects the wardens. I care about Jon because he's my friend but the general sense is that we chose to be here so we chose to take on the risks. I don't agree with that, but right now looking out for the inmates is a bigger issue.

All right. But don't...you don't need to protect me. Protect the other inmates, sure, I get that.

But if we're talking about taking on risks, then I'd like to say when I move to strike in defense, I'm fine with the risks involved.

Good.

But you need to know when to actually defend someone. A part of being here is to teach certain inmates to defend themselves, too.

Of all the things to be accused of. Not knowing how to defend myself isn't one of them.

Unless you're suggesting something else?

[A chuckle] No, you've proved yourself.

I meant that we have plenty of people here who aren't as good at it, and instead of being their savior maybe you should help them learn how to save themselves.

[A weak chuckle]

Fucking heretic. Both of us.

Anyway. Done plenty of that too. That boy - Hunter - he seems like someone worth getting to know.

Spend some time getting to know people. [Please. He's begging you. Sit down and breathe for two minutes without being in a cell.]

I know plenty of people. I like people, generally.

All right, so learn to work with them as a team.

And find people who need to learn to be as goddamn stubborn as you are. They need to learn to defend themselves.

You want me to be a corrupting influence? I thought the whole point was to make an example out of me.

Think of it as an opportunity to be the dad on the Barge. Maybe you'll grow into the role or maybe you'll be the asshole who vandalizes the neighbors when they complain about your kids.

You're at such a dearth for good wardens that you peg me for -....

Fine. All right.

[He likes kids. It's the asshole adults they sometimes grow into that he doesn't like]

Can't believe you trust me around anyone after this, but I'd be lying if I didn't feel I owed you a lot.

You don't. But if you did I'd ask you to go lighter on the fighting.

[Wishful thinking!]

That's likely. Fighting's a second language. If you don't practice, you lose it.

[He goes quiet, then tries, after a beat;]

Look. Feel free to say no, I know I'm something of an unacceptable person in polite society or what-the-fuck.

Could you teach me how to cook like you do?

Of course. [Another hand in the kitchen? Hallelujah] You're already handy with a knife, might as well put it to chopping carrots, right?

I can chop carrots just fine. Used to do odd jobs back a ways, for food. Mostly older widows.

I just don't know fuck all about how you get everything to taste so good.

Salt is part of it. I'll start with showing you the spices--you probably haven't had access to most of them, I'm guessing? Cardamom, nutmeg?

No idea. Adrian said you told him about something called cumin and chocolate?

[He's never had chocolate. How did Lark forget?]

I'll be right back.

[He goes off to raid Alec's candy stash. He only brings three M&M's, since if he takes more Alec will probably beat him to death with a brick.]

Try these.

[He takes the M%Ms, rolling them in his hand and looking them over]

What's the 'M' stand for?

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