035 - Cinnamon and Brown Sugar

[deadly_ned]

[On video, the Piemaker is wearing one of Dean's protective amulets, holding it in his hand and looking it over. He's also sitting on the man's couch, and looks like he has been for at least a week.

Aside from that, he's...thinner. Paler, and less altogether himself, even as his free hand continuously pets Digby the golden retriever beside him. Digby, for safety, also wears an amulet clipped to his collar]

I'm not much of a necklace person.

I wasn't expecting this to work. It works. I don't feel anything.

I didn't feel anything before I put it on either, so to the person who has my doll, thank you for not hurting it.


This flood is...

[The Piemaker falls silent. His eyes unfocus, and his head seems to drop. Something is clearly twisted up inside him.

This lasts for an uncomfortably long time, minutes worth of dead air filling up the network. Finally, the Piemaker seems to wake back up, wincing and rubbing at his eyes. He glances around, confused, before spotting the camera's light. He reaches over and shuts it off without explanation]

Comments

[neverfeltbetter]

That's what I'm working on. So far, not going so great, but at least they know I'm onto them now.

[deadly_ned]

So maybe conspiring with your other warden is your best chance. He might have an idea. To..prevent things from getting out of control.

[neverfeltbetter]

He was the one who gave me the heads up on the food poisoning. I don't think he'd want to let them get away with that crap any more than I would. He's not uncooperative.

[deadly_ned]

So maybe. I don't know. A proximity alarm?

This is kind of an unusual problem.

[neverfeltbetter]

Ha. Yeah. I'll put a bell on her. I'm sure she'd love that.

[deadly_ned]

You did say she resembled a cat.

[neverfeltbetter]

Ned she's got a tail. A real cat tail. And...she purrs. It's weird.

[deadly_ned]

That does seem weird.

Though on the basis of being barely associated with cats, I should probably say that the more you try to keep them from something, the more they'll want to do it.

[neverfeltbetter]

Hell, ain't that the truth? Like they live to be contrary. Not that the reverse will work either. At least dogs are good listeners.

[deadly_ned]

Maybe you need to find out what she wants more and dangle that in front of her.

[neverfeltbetter]

That could be dangerous...depending on the answer.

But, I am trying to figure out more about what motivates her. Of course, getting an answer outta of her is every bit the game of cat and mouse you might expect.

[deadly_ned]

That does sound..difficult.

Having her file might help.

[neverfeltbetter]

It does, but the key to helping her graduate isn't gonna be in her file. I gotta find some common ground with her.

[deadly_ned]

You both have an affinity for leather.

[neverfeltbetter]

I never noticed...huh.

Not sure it's enough to go on, but, hell, she does like 'grooming' an awful lot.

[deadly_ned]

Then...maybe that's your in? A warden-inmate spa day?

[neverfeltbetter]

I guess it wouldn't kill me to try.

[He surrendered his dignity long ago anyway.]

[deadly_ned]

She likes you. So maybe that's your in.

[neverfeltbetter]

I don't know about that. She tolerates me, mostly because she has to now.

It's still a start.

[deadly_ned]

A start towards better understanding her likes and dislikes?

[neverfeltbetter]

Yeah. I'm hoping I can just get her to talk to me without it having to feel like I'm pumping her for information. I know she's got no reason to trust me, but I'm trying to show her she can.

Did you have much luck with that with your inmates? Am I just chasing a dream here?

[deadly_ned]

Thomas was very easy to get along with. Alpha in the beginning..not so much.

I had to wait until an opportunity presented itself. Until I had the opportunity to prove myself.

[neverfeltbetter]

Well, if there's one thing I can say for this barge, it keeps things interesting. Maybe I'll get my shot too.

How did you end up proving yourself?

[deadly_ned]

Alpha started to reset people's brains, trying to manipulate their personalities using some kind of technology from his world. He'd hurt four, maybe five people before he was caught.

When he was, he expected me to put him in the Attic. It was this..thing from his world, I don't know how to describe it. Sort of a mind prison. He had handlers there, and I think he equated handlers with wardens.

But I didn't hurt him. I was kind even when he did terrible things.

That's how.

[neverfeltbetter]

See, that's what I'm afraid of. What if Catra goes and tries something like that? I'd be so pissed-off I'd be sending her to Zero in a heartbeat.