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[mothmansplaining]

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"Stanford Pines. Leave a message."

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[mothmansplaining]

[He's quiet a moment.]

May I see it? I'd like to know for sure just what you know about me.

[spoileralert]

Yeah, of course. It's mostly a personal history. Doesn't say much about what exactly needs to get done for you to graduate.

[mothmansplaining]

Still, I'd feel better knowing exactly what was in it. Where are you now?

[spoileralert]

My room.

[ As usual. She doesn't get out a whole lot these days. ]

[mothmansplaining]

I'll be right there.

[And he's going to knock on her door, with due caution. After all, she has defenses up, and while he's sure a knock won't trigger them, he's not going to forget that he could end up glued to the floor.

[spoileralert]

[ At least he won't end up glued to the ceiling. If she could figure out a mechanism for that she would totally do it.

The defenses have been turned off, though, and she opens the door and waves him inside. The coffee table has been cleared since his last visit, at least! She made a semblance of an effort when she found out she was paired. ]

Heya. Come on in.

[mothmansplaining]

[Sometimes, clearing the coffee table is just all you're up for.

Ford steps inside and clears his throat, sstanding a little awkwardly.]

So...we're paired, now. Have you ever worked with an inmate before?

[spoileralert]

[ Steph shoves her hands in her pockets. She isn't entirely sure how to stand either. ]

I've had temps, but it's really a different animal. Everyone is very aware that there's no real power there.

[mothmansplaining]

What power are you going to have over me, exactly?

[spoileralert]

My cell phone will tell me where you are. [ She pulls it out from her pocket to demonstrate. ] And when you're in major trouble. I'll be the first to know if you die, and in all likelihood the person to have to revived. Rules I set for you will be respected by other wardens, probably inmates too.

[ She thinks that's probably everything? ]

[mothmansplaining]

[He frowns. All the rest of that is all well and good, except maybe the tracking device, but--]

Rules? Like what?

[spoileralert]

I dunno. [ She shrugs. ]

Whatever rules we need. For some people that would be 'no stabbing'. Somehow I don't think that's going to be a problem for us.

[mothmansplaining]

No stabbing me, or no stabbing done by me?

[spoileralert]

...Both? I'm gonna say both.

[mothmansplaining]

Well, the only stabbing plans I had were going to be in self-defense, so if you can prevent anyone from stabbing me, we should have nothing to worry about.

[spoileralert]

That's my hope. I'm good at keeping a low profile, but you...

[ Shrug. ]

I guess we'll see. On that note, how're you feeling about self defense?

[mothmansplaining]

I've -- ahem -- kept up a training regimen for forty years or so. I'd say I'm not too shabby.

[ford you get rescued like once an episode.]

[spoileralert]

So you're not too worried about arming yourself?

[ Which is really her concern, here. ]

[mothmansplaining]

What? Of course I've armed myself.

[He sees nothing at all wrong with it.]

Take a look at these.

[Ford pulls a pair of shock gloves out of his pocket and puts one on.]

They're inert until contact is made at at least two points. Then, they instantly test the material's conductivity and modulate the current to account for that.

[He snaps, and a spark is generated. He grins. Not bad, huh?]

It was your idea for your security system that got me thinking about it! I liked your suggestion, so I found a way to make it work! We can modify your door to have the same capabilities whenever you'd like.

[spoileralert]

[ She blinks at the gloves. This may be a problem in the future. As a warden, she should really be concerned, right? ]

So you got supplies, then? That's good. I think.

You haven't, uh... armed yourself with anything more lethal, have you?

[mothmansplaining]

No, no. Not yet. I admit it has crossed my mind, but I don't have access to the kind of materials I would need to build something really effective.

[JUST OPENLY CASUALLY ADMITTING THIS LIKE THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT]

[spoileralert]

Well, don’t? If you think you need it just come talk to me. I can kick any asses that need it without killing anybody.

[mothmansplaining]

[He laughs like he doesn't believe her. Look, he knows she doesn't have abilities but doesn't know that she routinely punches out of her weight class. It feels like a gesture of kindness.]

Ha ha, thank you, Stephanie. It's good to know you have my back.

[SERIOUSLY, SHE'LL BE ABLE TO TELL: THE SENTIMENT IS SERIOUS ENOUGH, BUT HE DOESN'T THINK SHE IS.]

[spoileralert]

[ She knows that laugh. It makes her expression flatten as she throttles the urge to flip him across the room and prove how capable she is.

She mostly succeeds. ]

I'm not messing around, Pines. You start picking fights behind my back and it's your ass I'll be kicking.

[mothmansplaining]

[He holds his hands up -- whoa, did he touch a nerve? Ford didn't mean to. He read this as camaraderie, apparently incorrectly??]

Don't worry! I don't have any plans to make trouble. I know the recent flood might make you think otherwise, but picking a fight -- with anyone -- really is the last thing I want.

These are just for self-defense! I might not want any trouble, but I don't have the kinds of abilities that a lot of people on the Barge seem to possess, and if they attack me and I'm not prepared, it will be a very unfair fight. It's a precaution, Stephanie, nothing more.

[That really is how he sees it. The gloves, and that knife that's in the design stages. They're meant to even the playing field if he's attacked first. Ford really doesn't want to die again.]