empathicfault | IC Inbox

Oh, I don't think you're planning something, but tacit approval to someone who respects you and would do anything for you--

[She clicks her tongue.]

That still drives me nuts, you know. The fact that all anyone talks about is the response; the reaction.

Oh, the fact that half the people here know who Peter is and that he's here as an inmate and still treated him like an angelic little boy? Yeah, what a surprise.

[ He lets out a small sigh. ]

You know this one hits close to me, Shaw. You know why, right?

Yeah, I remember. And I'm not saying it shouldn't. But play this out. Sweeney's an inmate, which I guess is "convenient" when we're talking about revenge. But it harms his progress. It sets him back, and he's already been stuck here for, what, years?

[ Will waves off the concern. ]

...yeah. Three years. And I doubt it'll get that far. People are motivated. Something will be done this time. People decry Malcolm's methods, but you can bet he'll get something in there that'll make Peter regret his actions. Or at least regret the consequences and maybe make him think about his actions. No direct revenge necessary then.

Besides- [ He looks directly at Shaw now, eyes discerning. ] How do you know that'll set Harkin back? That it'll harm his progress? He's had people telling him to 'suck it up' and 'turn the other cheek' for over a couple of years now, through all sorts of inmates beating the crap out of him. He's one of the least instigative inmates on the Barge. How much has that done for him?

Edited 2024-03-23 02:03 (UTC)

[She slows her pace, enough that she can turn to face him fully without having to worry about watching where she's going.]

Okay, first - do you think I'm saying "suck it up and turn the other cheek"?

Edited 2024-03-23 02:04 (UTC)

[ Will stops walking altogether and runs his tongue over his lips. ]

No. You're not saying anything at all to him. You're just spying on my conversations with him and trying to use that to get to me. What he hears from the warden silence and the lack of action is confirmation that the system is broken. He can't rely on it, but he's expected to. He's told he has to, if he's ever going to leave here.

..."Get over it." [ Said like he's just now remembering. ] That's another one he's heard a lot. Anyway, I don't want to reinforce that, so I won't.

How about inviting him to come on patrol? How about recruiting him for a protective rotation on James, or the people James is worried about, or a guard detail on Peter? How about keeping in contact with Peter's temps, making sure they're all up to speed, and making damn sure Peter doesn't get his hands on a knife again?

Choosing not to take violent revenge clearly isn't all Sweeney needs to do to graduate, yeah; if it were, he'd've done it by now. But it's just as clear that the Admiral doesn't approve of violent revenge, which means it would harm his progress. I don't want that. I know you don't, either. So don't tell him to get over it, but don't make coy little hints encouraging him to go on the attack, either.

The patrol that gave him the worst possible first impression of you? The protective rotation James wouldn't accept? Pretty damn sure he's already keeping in contact with Peter's temps. He's proactive about that sort of thing, not that it does any fucking good half the time.

[ He's quiet for a long moment, almost seeming like he's not going to answer the rest of it. But Shaw's used to his long pauses by now, and he takes this one to close his eyes and heave a sigh. ]

Do you know what the percentage is of graduates who happen to graduate shortly after committing some horrible act of violence? I'm sure we could figure it out if we just looked at the numbers. Hilbert and Henry hop to mind. Kiryu was so sure Nie Huaisang was close to graduation that he left, and his sword recently cursed the whole damn ship.

So no, I don't think we do know what the Warden cares for or doesn't care for, as far as redeeming inmates. Just what gets wardens demoted. Even that is a little blurry. I'm tired of my brother thinking he has to bear the burden of every misbehaving miscreant here, just...take his hits without complaint. He's a fucking god, he shouldn't be treated like a punching bag.

What about telling him about what you did, then?

[Shaw leans against the wall behind her, folding her hands over her chest as she looks at him steadily.]

Defending yourself, trying to keep Peter from fleeing, using B's alarm, getting us to you fast and getting Peter caught fast. Was that system broken?

No. [ He takes a breath in and lets it out in a sigh. Some of the tension drains out of his shoulders. ] That part worked just fine.

It was the part where I didn't let him know what had happened and he had to find out from Gaius' public post. He'd been sticking around me more to try and help with this, and I'm sure he blamed himself for not being there when the attack happened. I'm trying to- to give him some agency in this.

[Shaw is quiet as she thinks this over, flicking her eyes up to the ceiling before dropping them back down to him.]

Okay.

[She gives him a small nod.]

I get that.

[ Will freezes for a moment, raises an eyebrow at Shaw. He's not disbelieving, but he is a little surprised. ]

...you do?

You're right that Sweeney's not the type to instigate fights, so we're mostly talking about the principle of the thing, right? Whether it's good for you or for him to encourage retribution even in the abstract.

[She lifts a shoulder.]

So, yeah. I do. Your argument makes sense.

[ Will had gotten himself rather puffed up in his anger, ready to rail and rant for a long time- even if it was only in his own head. Shaw had effectively punctured that and he takes a moment to rub his eye and recollect himself. ]

Okay, then. Thanks.

It's not something I'd be looking for, generally. Peter hurt the people who care about me a lot more than he hurt me. But...I also know how tough that can be to endure, sometimes.

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