[ Vincent opens the door, slips in, and closes the door behind him looking around. Then he makes his way to the kitchen to see Oscar setting up. He tips his head to one side. ]
[ He gives a slightly tighter, more awkward one back but he moves to fill in the gaps on the tea and scone preparation; clearly he's used to working in a group environment. ]
I'll see how I feel about them. I'll let you know. Though I don't have anywhere to store food in my cabin. [ a pause before ] That isn't a request.
And yet... would you not say that someone is more kindly indisposed to someone who is thoughtful and provides gifts and favors than of someone that they aren't? That, in certain mindsets, it could prompt a certain amount of reciprocity: that clearly they are trying to do right by me and thus, I should be more open and honest with them than I normally would be?
[ He holds up a hand. ]
This isn't an accusation, Father. Truly. [ Oscar will, eventually, learn that Vincent is much less open when honest when he feels threatened or is with someone he does not trust. That anyone he'd accuse wouldn't hear of the accusation until he had more locked down. ] But I'm sure you can see how the favor economy of this place can be used to loosen tongues and allow for more pliant inmates?
No...believe me, I didn't think it was an accusation. Or if it was, it was a very polite accusation, better then I've heard here or home.
[He's smiling as he sets the last bit on the tray, and glances to Vincent.]
If you could help me with the tray to the table, I'd be thankful. Then we can settle, and- yes. acknowledge that favors are used here, to make people more likely to open up and treat those around us like children longing for a sweet.
I thought love bombing would be more aggressive, even if what you speak of could be...very undercutting and subtle.
[ He nods and he'll reach over to take up the tray and bring it where directed. That just makes sense. ]
In truth, I don't think most of the ones who employ the tactic are even aware of how it might be... greasing the wheels. Contrary to many, I don't actually think that the wardens here are taking advantage of anyone. Or aim to, anyway.
[He still thanks Vincent in placing it on the kitchen table. If he had to, he could have done it by himself, but would have been worried about dropping things. It's nice to have a helping hand sometimes.]
What do you think most wardens are doing then?
To be clear- this isn't something I will get upset about if the answer isn't to my liking. Not with you. I...
I think that most wardens are trying to help people. Truly. That whether it's through a file or through association, they create a bond with the inmate under their care and they want to do whatever it takes to get them out of here.
[ He turns his hand. ]
And rest assured, you'd hear much different talk if I thought you were that man. But I digress...
At the same time, I think many of them fall prey to the specific dynamics of this place making them more ineffective if they weren't more careful.
Mmm. I suppose many fall into a bad habit or five if they're not alert to their own foibles, or get caught up in the place or...a number of things.
[He moves to pull out a chair and sit, gesturing with his head.]
Help yourself, if you'd like.
But- what do you think is a common mistake? For wardens, in their approach to inmates and attempting to help. Is it...forgetting how much inmates are prisoners here?
No. I think they're almost universally perfectly aware of that.
[ He turns his hand. ]
If I had to stick to that topic, I'd say that what they don't realize when it comes to that topic is that 'prison' means very different things to different people, not just between worlds but between prisoners.
It's one of the reasons I was trying to get something of a standard started throughout the ship, of things that should and shouldn't be considered 'reasonable' in regards to treatments of inmates.
[ He turns his hands up. ]
The things that one inmate can rely on because they have a particularly modern or reasonable warden and the things that another inmate might suffer because their warden believes in 'old fashioned' values can and often are very different. Even if the general guidelines of behavior here tend towards a more humanistic modern view of what's acceptable, it's very often that people only discover that after someone has suffered a mistake.
[He listened intently, frowning in thought. Vincent brought up good points, and it was little wonder that he had come up with the Inmate Bill of Rights- something that could be proven effective long after he's gone.
And the pair of them were a point in and of themselves, with Oscar being from a wildly different time from Vincent. Though some things they shared in common, terribly so.
He made to pop open the whiskey bottle, though he paled briefly- that was just from his handless arm brushing against the table.
It was still painful in his recovery.]
The way people have treated each other in different worlds, in different times...no, I can understand why you have wanted to set the standard. 'We'll know when we've made a mistake' is...
[He shakes his head, his hand going to his throat briefly.]
That's not always understandable. I know...at least one person who does not care here if he makes mistakes. He's only holding back to get what he wants, in the end.
And he is hardly the only one, even if he is more honest or open about it than others. [ A snort. ] Though honesty in exchange for actually working on oneself is another one of those 'common' issues here.
There's honesty, and there's doing something about it. There can be a lot of self blame and a lot of...creating oneself as a victim of circumstance, among other things.
I've found it much more likely that people decide there's nothing to be done about themselves: not that they don't know the answer, but that another answer does not exist.
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It's a life I lived for a few years before the hollowness of it all repulsed me.
[ A pause before- ]
I'll make my way to your cabin.
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Door will be unlocked.
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[ And so he does. ]
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[And hearing the knock he calls:]
Come in!
[He's almost got everything set up in the kitchen, including some plain scones and butter.]
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May I assist?
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[He offers Vincent a warm smile. Some things are easier with extra hands.]
The scones are plain but- please feel free to take them back with you. If you like them, that is.
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I'll see how I feel about them. I'll let you know. Though I don't have anywhere to store food in my cabin. [ a pause before ] That isn't a request.
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[He sounded surprised. It's nice to have cupboards, but still.]
It's your personal space. That's something that requires some thought. That's too much of an ask for some scones.
Not to mention exerting control over you. I wouldn't be surprised if you've had your fill of that lately.
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I just don't like being bribed. Or... is the term 'love bombing' used in your era, Father?
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[He frowns.]
But I'm not familiar with the term 'love bombing' no.
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And yet... would you not say that someone is more kindly indisposed to someone who is thoughtful and provides gifts and favors than of someone that they aren't? That, in certain mindsets, it could prompt a certain amount of reciprocity: that clearly they are trying to do right by me and thus, I should be more open and honest with them than I normally would be?
[ He holds up a hand. ]
This isn't an accusation, Father. Truly. [ Oscar will, eventually, learn that Vincent is much less open when honest when he feels threatened or is with someone he does not trust. That anyone he'd accuse wouldn't hear of the accusation until he had more locked down. ] But I'm sure you can see how the favor economy of this place can be used to loosen tongues and allow for more pliant inmates?
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[He's smiling as he sets the last bit on the tray, and glances to Vincent.]
If you could help me with the tray to the table, I'd be thankful. Then we can settle, and- yes. acknowledge that favors are used here, to make people more likely to open up and treat those around us like children longing for a sweet.
I thought love bombing would be more aggressive, even if what you speak of could be...very undercutting and subtle.
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In truth, I don't think most of the ones who employ the tactic are even aware of how it might be... greasing the wheels. Contrary to many, I don't actually think that the wardens here are taking advantage of anyone. Or aim to, anyway.
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What do you think most wardens are doing then?
To be clear- this isn't something I will get upset about if the answer isn't to my liking. Not with you. I...
Don't want to be the man I was in the past week.
[Not the cult leader.]
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[ He turns his hand. ]
And rest assured, you'd hear much different talk if I thought you were that man. But I digress...
At the same time, I think many of them fall prey to the specific dynamics of this place making them more ineffective if they weren't more careful.
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[He moves to pull out a chair and sit, gesturing with his head.]
Help yourself, if you'd like.
But- what do you think is a common mistake? For wardens, in their approach to inmates and attempting to help. Is it...forgetting how much inmates are prisoners here?
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No. I think they're almost universally perfectly aware of that.
[ He turns his hand. ]
If I had to stick to that topic, I'd say that what they don't realize when it comes to that topic is that 'prison' means very different things to different people, not just between worlds but between prisoners.
It's one of the reasons I was trying to get something of a standard started throughout the ship, of things that should and shouldn't be considered 'reasonable' in regards to treatments of inmates.
[ He turns his hands up. ]
The things that one inmate can rely on because they have a particularly modern or reasonable warden and the things that another inmate might suffer because their warden believes in 'old fashioned' values can and often are very different. Even if the general guidelines of behavior here tend towards a more humanistic modern view of what's acceptable, it's very often that people only discover that after someone has suffered a mistake.
Not to mention the obvious favoritism problems.
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And the pair of them were a point in and of themselves, with Oscar being from a wildly different time from Vincent. Though some things they shared in common, terribly so.
He made to pop open the whiskey bottle, though he paled briefly- that was just from his handless arm brushing against the table.
It was still painful in his recovery.]
The way people have treated each other in different worlds, in different times...no, I can understand why you have wanted to set the standard. 'We'll know when we've made a mistake' is...
[He shakes his head, his hand going to his throat briefly.]
That's not always understandable. I know...at least one person who does not care here if he makes mistakes. He's only holding back to get what he wants, in the end.
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[He sighed, shaking his head.]
There's honesty, and there's doing something about it. There can be a lot of self blame and a lot of...creating oneself as a victim of circumstance, among other things.
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