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[mothmansplaining]

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credit

"Stanford Pines. Leave a message."

Comments

[spoileralert]

Hey. Dunno if you saw the announcement yet, but we've been paired.

[ Consider this a feeler re: an 18 year old being in charge of a grown ass middle aged man. ]

[mothmansplaining]

Paired? As in--

--oh. I--I see.

[spoileralert]

Yup.

[ What does that reaction mean she doesn't know EXPLAIN IT TO HER ]

So I guess we're stuck with each other for the foreseeable future.

[mothmansplaining]

I...hadn't expected to be matched with a Warden so quickly.

[LISTEN EVEN HE ISN'T SURE HOW HE FEELS ABOUT THIS. It's part surprise, part apprehension, part -- well, excitement isn't right. It's more like recognition that a step toward getting off this damn boat is actually happening, which is...good.

A younger Ford Pines might have been dismissive. He'd probably think he could graduate on his own without a Warden's help. But Eggsy said he'd never seen anyone graduate without one, and Ford's made his peace with it.

...he just didn't expect it to be Steph.]

...did you read the file?

[spoileralert]

I hadn't expected to be waiting the better part of a year to get paired at all. I guess when it happens it happens fast.

[ She shrugs. She's been waiting a long time for some semblance of hope, and now that she has it she hardly knows what to do with it. ]

Yeah, I did.

[ Of course she did her homework. ]

Anything you want to know about it?

[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?