everythinglost | IC Inbox

everythinglost

Call for a good time

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

everythinglost

I'm glad to hear it. I've always found it extremely dull.

[He shrugs.]

In the broader sense, sure. In the specific sense of 'why do we have temporary wardens' I'm pretty sure the point is so there's someone to complain to about murder.

From:

transfundere

That seems... unlikely to me, in all honesty. But my perspective is only that: one perspective.

Is there a reason you believe as such, if you don't mind me asking?

From:

everythinglost

As you said, you've just arrived. I've been here ages.

You're not given any information by the Admiral, not stuck with one person for long, and are who people come to to complain to if they have issues they don't want to settle with murder themselves. Oh, I suppose you also serve as the person to go to ask for stuff if you don't know other wardens, which I suppose streamlines it for some.

From:

transfundere

[ Aha. Well, ]

'Stuck with one person'. As opposed to seeing that person as my concern, like a patient in my care. Though I notice nothing mentioned about potentially helping you towards your graduation in all of that. Is there a reason for that?

From:

everythinglost

Oh, Christ, please tell me you don't go about psychoanalyzing word choices. Malcolm is bad enough, if we have another, jumping overboard to hide in the netting might be the only escape. Anyway, yeah, the reason is 'cause I don't see that happening. But I try to be polite. [Deadpan.]

From:

transfundere

[ A wry snort. ]

I am no follower of Freud and his ilk, I assure you.

I only meant to point out that your description of my supposed duties was entirely lacking in the duties which I was supposedly brought here to perform. A tailor's job may be to discuss with his customers and take measurements, but if his hands never touch to fabric, he's hardly a tailor.

From:

everythinglost

I'm glad to hear it. I once got attacked by a wax work of Freud, and it did leave physical scars. Impressive skill at axe throwing, I can't deny that.

Is that the difference between an architect and a builder? Maybe only in some times and places. But my description was about your temporary duties as they apply to my good self, not about what you might get up to in general.

From:

transfundere

And if I would ask for you to be as impolite as honesty might require?

From:

everythinglost

I might say that I rarely get too caught up in politeness, so you've basically gotten the rundown of my thoughts on this whole thing.

From:

transfundere

Then I suppose the obvious question: why do you not "see that happening"?

From:

everythinglost

That's a question better addressed to you, isn't it. How you see your job.

From:

transfundere

You don't see yourself making any progress due to how I see my job?

From:

everythinglost

I don't know how you see your job, do I. I can only say that I haven't seen it from temporary wardens yet.

From:

transfundere

Then that puts us into a perfect position, doesn't it?

You are my first inmate. Thus, you can shape how I see my job, with you at the very least, to be one which actually helps you as opposed to the things you've seen from other temporary wardens which have not.

So what have you got for me?

From:

everythinglost

Nothing. Luckily, I don't think psychology is required in all this, but there seems to be an amount of caring and sharing that I don't particularly care to do with a stranger who'll be gone in a month.

From:

transfundere

You think I'm going to disappear at the end of the month?

From:

everythinglost

Lets say I think you'll get a different patient.

From:

transfundere

And what does that have to do with you?

[ A soft huff. ]

I'm not interested in 'sharing and caring with a stranger', as you say. I don't think it's proper to ask that of someone, especially not in a first conversation. But is there a reason it couldn't be a first conversation, with others to follow?

From:

everythinglost

Nothing, in general.

In specific, it depends on if there's anything worth talking about.

From:

transfundere

What is it you enjoy talking about?

From:

everythinglost

Stuff. Look, there are plenty of more unnatural ways to start a conversation, but this whole set-up is still up there. Or, at least, still feels unnatural. We can just - not have a conversation. I'm sure you'll be able to figure out how you want to handle this without my help.

From:

transfundere

[ That? Actually gets a laugh out of him. But he'll shake his head.]

That sounds like an awful way to start any manner of work: just decide what ought to be done and not consult with you whatsoever.

Now, have I actually done something to offend you or are you just a deeply unsocial man?

From:

everythinglost

I believe in you.

[He shrugs.] Moderately unsociable, which means I could probably come up with a reason to be offended, but that's always seemed like too much effort.

From:

transfundere

Good. Then you'll believe me when I say that's a rubbish way to go about things.

[ A deep sigh. ]

And if you'd prefer not to talk, we certainly don't need to. Only it seems as if you've come into this convinced I'm nothing but a bother. Or worse, utterly useless. It does put me in something of a difficult position, you understand.

From:

everythinglost

Oh, well, no one's ever called me a medical man.

[He shrugs again.]

Yeah, well, I'm stuck in a very comfortable purgatory sort-of-prison and I prefer being a petty bastard to - well, lots of things, really, but definitely over making other people's positions easier. I wouldn't push you into a tiger pit, probably, but this isn't exactly the type of difficult position that moves my heart. [As is usually the case, his tone leans towards the sardonic.]