paradoxlol | .009

Entry tags:

.009 | Voice.

[Warden Filter]
As I understand it, the recent attack on [There's a SLIGHT pause, and Arthur's voice goes completely deadpan.] Victor Frankenstein [And back to normal!] was perpetrated through the use of a... "burning machine," as the victim called it.

[Wryly:] Given the lack of retail options on the Barge, I'm going to assume the device was made with found objects. [A beat.] Has anybody taken it apart and figured out where each piece of the machine came from? If they even came from the Barge at all. It could help us figure out where to beef up security.

[He starts to say something else, then stops. Nope, Arthur's not touching all of the recent drama and grumbling with a ten foot pole.]

[Private to Capa]
If you're ready, I have the sample.

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In a place like this, it pays to get a lay of the land. [He shrugs a little, then says nothing as his drink arrives. He just nods at the bartender and nurses the wine glass.] When the Doctor returned, it just seemed right to give him his job back.

Not a job that he seemed to care much about. The Doctor doesn't like to be in charge of things. [He takes a few long drinks of the beer, taking up the space between songs before he puts it down.] I'll cut to the chase. How game are you for some information sharing?

[He shrugs again, as though he has no opinion on the matter.] He seemed to like it good enough.

[Arthur's expression doesn't change, save for a sharp and very brief look he gives Kay-- it's there for a split second, then it's gone.] What kind of information and why me? There are plenty of wardens who've been here longer.

Nothing specific. Like you mentioned, and it pays to know and if you get that lot in a room together all they wanna do is snarl and bite each other's asses off like wolves over a kill that's not even there. I'm gettin' the feeling even with all the backstabbing going on, the inmates are gettin' their shit together to a higher degree than we are. And the wardens that have been here the longest are the worst for it. [He looks at some article about a "living batboy!" that his drink has left a ring around.] Right now... there's an inmate on the networks who can absorb information and funnel it through her cybernetic head and extrapolate conclusions. It could leave any one of us in a whole big pile of shit and I'm not really lookin' forward to trying out that death toll. [Sanctioned clones are bad enough.]

[Arthur snorts a little.] Yeah, I won't deny that. [He can't really complain about the wardens, though, since he's not been big on accepting the whole of them as his 'teammates' anyway.] So, what, you just want me to pass it along if I hear anything interesting?

Essentially. [He gives the next article he was kind of skimming an incredulous look.] And sometimes there are people that'll be more inclined to open up to you than to me and vice versa. That's some pretty basic networking. [He was hesitant to tell him this, and his hesitance was very visible in his wary eyeing around the bar.] I also got a guy that might be able to get past some of the filters. [He pulled out a pack of cigarettes, but as Arthur didn't seem like the smoking sort he didn't just light up and rather put them off to the side to wait.]

[Arthur nods and glances in the other direction, saying nothing as he sips on his drink. That remark about the filters catches his interest, and he casually returns his attention to Kay. Tentatively, he's agreeing to the man, but he doesn't outright say it. Still, his next remark makes it clear enough that he's willing to cooperate.] I assume certain topics interest you more than others. [After all, this is Arthur. HE NEEDS SPECIFICITY.]

With me, non-humans. They're my specialty. Also, potential troublemakers need to be kept an eye on. The Borg Queen. Arthas. Anyone that's served in a position of leadership and has been knocked down to scraping the bottom of the barrel, pretty much. They're not gonna like it. [Again he fills in gaps between songs by holding up the paper to look scrutinizingly with a frown of displeasure.] I'll keep my ear open when I'm asking around, and if you want someone tracked that you can't do using your warden device we can try to work out an arrangement.

[He pauses, considering.]

Okay. I'll see what turns up. [Arthas and Borg Queen aren't really priorities to him, but he's sure he can start keeping an eye out for them.] That all?

Don't eat the pretzels. They're stale as hell. [Translation: yeah.]

[Arthur's expression doesn't change, and he says dryly:] Thanks for the advice.

I'm making a habit of coming around about this time if you need me. [He's not ready to invite most people to his room yet.]

Yeah. I can see how this place might drive you to drink. [A JOKE, SORT OF. Arthur finishes his wine and stands, straightening and buttoning his jacket.] I'll be around.

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.009 | Voice.

[Spam II]

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[Spam II] "And I shall call him... mini-me"

[Spam II] The only difference is... ARTHUR MAKES THIS LOOK GOOOOD.

The joke! I knew it was coming! It was just fluttering out there waiting to land.

I just couldn't resist!