tolaywaste | 26. » private, video, spam

spam } aeryn & charles

[Alex has spoken to both his inmate and his now-legal guardian, trying to figure out a way to address the part of Aeryn's rehabilitation he feels least equipped to handle: her anger. What he hasn't done is gone into any great detail with either of them about how he wants this guidance to proceed.]

[In a way, he wants it to be something he and Aeryn can do together; in another way, he wants it to be as organic as possible, and so he pushes thoughts of structure away.]

[He calls them both to the CES. Bring jogging clothes, he says, because in his experience, just talking without moving can be a little bit terrifying. He waits just inside the entrance, stretching and plotting a path through the high grasses the room has given them today.]

private/voice } anya

Hey. We need to talk. [He hesitates, thinking of Snow and of Ben who would want him to actually be honest, not just truthful.] I mean, I need to talk about a bunch of things. But you, too.

Do you, you know. Have a minute?

private } crichton

We need to talk about Aeryn.

public } video

[See Alex. See Alex at the skating rink, with all necessary hockey accoutrements, just finishing up playing some solo hockey. Badly. The communicator appears to be resting on the wall of the rink; he waves at it pretty vigorously, his breath hanging in the air.]

Hey! So as some of you know - some of you new people, I guess, maybe don't - we have a skating rink. I have the keys and everything, but as long as you don't stab anyone with skates you're welcome. And we've been talking about having a serious hockey tournament for ages, so - here's phase one: try to beat me into the ice. Because seriously, it's the only way I'll learn.

Or come out and do some one-on-one, whatever you want. I'll be out here all afternoon.

open } spam

[And he is - out on the ice for the rest of the morning and into early afternoon, until he has to run to cover Ben's kitchen shift. He's been doing this more frequently lately than usual because Ben's been sick, but even now he's not the best at it. Kitchen work doesn't come naturally to him, but at least he follows direction well.]

[Immediately after lunch, he takes a walk in the CES, then attacks the CTS full force. The simulation it provides is terrifying in its sterility: robots twice his height, slow-moving but determined to capture rather thn terminate. His endeavor is to dismantle rather than destroy - a finesse exercise.]

[He leaves the CTS a smoking ruin. He's not much for finesse these days.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Don't buy it. You know I'm Aeryn's warden. She's connected to Crichton, so you know what's public knowledge about her.

I'll say yes to be courteous, but I'd really prefer if you got to the point.

If you insist.

If you know who I am, then you know that your inmate and I hail from the same universe. And there is a..considerable amount of bad blood between us.

This is not beneficial to either of our goals in getting off this ship. I should like to propose a truce before matters escalate out of hand.

What kind of truce is that?

I will not harm her; she will abstain from harming me.

Simple enough.

Your definition of 'harm' is vague.

Smashing one's face with a frying pan seems an apt description of the word.

So does deliberately antagonizing her. Don't you think?

If you like. I hoped to find you more cooperative than your inmate, which is why I've contacted you before her.

Just because I don't approve of her methods doesn't mean I don't completely understand her motives.

The only thing that I'd support between the two of you is radio silence. I know you're smart - probably smarter than both of us put together - and I know you can get under her skin if you have any access to her at all, so unless she wants it, a truce isn't going to do either of you any good.

Let me make this clear: if you think I'm going to make a deal for her without her okay or participation, you're going to have to think again. Talk to her yourself or leave her alone. Those are your options. I'm not your go-between.

You propose radio silence and in the same breath encourage me to open communication with her, when my presence alone infuriates her.

[He points this out and waits for Alex to see the blatant contradiction, waiting for him to make his desires clear]

No. I'm telling you that long-term, that's my preference. But it's not my choice. I can't make you respect her wishes. Although if your goal is really to get off this ship, you might want to think about pursuing a little respect.

I respect Aeryn Sun as a former Peacekeeper officer, as an excellent pilot, and as a worthy opponent. But her wishes are not my primary concern, as I doubt mine are to her.

Your primary concern is John Crichton.

Precisely.

Your truce with Aeryn would be another way of getting to John Crichton.

Common sense would dictate the opposite; I would be cutting a tool of leverage to be used against him.

Not interested.

Then I cannot force you.

[And he's forming his own opinions now on Alex. A shame he seems to share the same stubborn resolve as John Crichton]

No. You can't.

Here's a tip. Next time, don't use the word tool when you're talking about a person.

Aeryn Sun is a person.

But she is also a tool in a larger game. As are all inmates and wardens, here. To deny it would be foolish. You yourself use her to obtain your deal.

I don't have one at the moment.

[Not particularly argumentative. Just kind of making a point.]

Then I must conclude that you are short-sighted and unable to plan long-term.

That's a very specific way of looking at it.

You don't agree.

I don't know if I don't agree. That's just not how I look at it.

[Private]

keeps_a_cool_head - 2014-02-24 04:16 (UTC) - Expand

tolaywaste - 2014-02-25 03:31 (UTC) - Expand

keeps_a_cool_head - 2014-02-25 12:51 (UTC) - Expand