Pairings 003

[navarch]

[At precisely 7 A.M. on the Peregrine's standard time, both CommLink screens and wardens' cabin control panels flicker to life with a live video stream.

Today the Navarch is at her desk. The tabletop is somewhat busier than usual, with stacked tablets and an empty coffee mug. She's crisp and to the point, perhaps a little more than usual, but with careful professionalism.

She speaks:]

Good morning, passengers. It is time for a rotation in the assignments. For the next thirty days, wardens will be the primary point of contact for their assigned inmate, and responsible for the inmate's moral development and well-being. Inmates are also permitted to live adjacent to their warden's quarters for the duration of the pairing, if the warden deems it appropriate.

During this particular period, we will also be testing the acquisition of limited files on inmates. Through their communicators, wardens will have access to basic statistics on their paired inmate, including simplified details of their crimes. Please use this information wisely.

Without further ado, here are the pairings for this month.

Warden Viktor, paired with Conner Jaskulski.
Warden James Barnes, paired with Jason Todd.
Warden Misty Day, paired with Malekith the Accursed and Amanda Young.
Warden Claire Fraser, paired with Silco.
Warden Grace Gibson, paired with Alex Mercer and Jeremy Pascal.
Warden Aki Hayakawa, paired with Ellie Williams.
Warden Lucifer Morningstar, paired with Rhys Strongfork and Travis Touchdown.
Warden Loki Odinson, paired with Theon Greyjoy.
Warden Alice Quinn, paired with Theodore H. Crawford.
Warden William Temple, paired with Jack.

As always, I will be available to wardens for questions and concerns by appointment.

Comments

[grindset]

[Well, now he stops what he's doing and looks at the CommLink. (Even though it makes no sense to do that for audio only. shh.)]

Some kind of patrol? No further details?

[spanning]

None. Well, it says she's retired.

[Which he sounds less perplexed about than he perhaps should; early retirement was standard in his field of work.]

I'll ask about it, though that doesn't guarantee I'll get a response.

[grindset]

Mm, you may not. Ms Williams has been stubborn so far... I gave her several opportunities to share the location of her contraband and she refused every one.

[Back to his pliers and wires,]

You can expect to be cursed at.

[spanning]

[An implicit sigh.]

I'm used to that. I guess it'll depend how sensitive she considers the information.

Do you believe she actually disposed of the contraband?

[dealwiththe]

If you don’t have any luck, I can try. She and I have had some good conversations. She might be willing to confide in me.

[spanning]

You wouldn't find it duplicitous to use that confidence against her?

[dealwiththe]

I wouldn’t be duplicitous.

[spanning]

Would you keep that information private, then, or would you ask her upfront if you could share it?

[dealwiththe]

If she tells me about contraband, I’ll tell her it’s not allowed and confiscate it. She’ll be angry with me, but that can’t be helped. Sometimes, you do things in the best interest of someone knowing they won’t like it.

[ That’s being a parent. Oof. ]

[spanning]

Ah. I thought you meant details about her world.

[The matter of contraband seems much more straightforward to Aki.]

If you can get her to offer up any information, we'll be able to keep other inmates from using the location as well.

[dealwiththe]

Oh, yes, same deal with that. If she tells me something I think other wardens should know, I'll pass it along. That's true of any inmate.

I'll see what I can do, about the contraband.

[spanning]

Thank you. I'll be looking around the area myself shortly, so I'll let you know if I find anything.

[grindset]

[The branching of this conversation has annoyed him; now he sounds a bit clipped.]

She's offered no reason to believe she would.

[spanning]

I'll keep that in mind. She's currently in the arm where you encountered her, so I'll see if I find anything while I'm there.

[grindset]

If you do, please [kick her ass for me, metaphorically] let me know.

[spanning]

Of course.

Also, I wanted to ask—you've been working on the Destroy-It 4000. How has that been going?

[Asks a guy complicit in its destruction.]

[grindset]

[He sees you, Aki.]

Oh... it, it's coming along. It's a complex device, of course, but not as esoteric as I initially feared, and the manual is very comprehensive—so far it's providing all the guidance I need. And, some of the new components... they, eh... smell good... so that's been pleasant.

[spanning]

[Bro???]

What? [He can't help how baffled he sounds.] What do they smell like?

[grindset]

The scent is... unique. Difficult to describe. Almost like a... like a soldering lead, but— mmm, not quite.

I would not recommend breathing it, in any case.

[spanning]

Does this recommendation come from personal experience?

[grindset]

Occupational hazard.

[So, not no.]

[spanning]

What happened?

[He can't decide how alarmed he should be. On one hand, Viktor seems fine. On the other, Aki is used to people acting like they're fine when they're very much not fine. Did Viktor even visit the infirmary?]

[grindset]

What?

—Oh, n-...no, it's nothing like that, I've just been unpacking parts. The smell is most likely outgassing from the manufactory processes, eh... just fumes.

[Just unnamed space fumes, it's fine.]

[spanning]

Archimedes didn't provide you with a mask?

[Granted, maybe that means the fumes are harmless. Or maybe the owl just wouldn't ask.]

It'd be a good idea to have someone with you while you're working on it, in any case. If something does happen.

[grindset]

Not to worry—I'm not alone.

[Mostly, but not always... although it's hard to tell sometimes...]

Anyway, there is a mask. Masks, plural, and protective eyewear, and gloves... they came with the kit.