The way I see it, everybody makes their own choices. Even if you did something crappy to him, he has the free will to decide whether or not he wants to talk like a supervillain on the network.
[She pauses, then thinks to add--]
He's not anything close to the worst of the worst. My guess, the guy you knew is still in there somewhere.
If genetic degradation is involved, he might not have had much free will in the matter.
[There is a moment where the metholodical rowing becomes harder, a focused drive of some unpleasant emotion or other, but as soon as he realizes it he readjusts.]
... But I hope so. He's here because someone thinks he can do better, and I know he can. He was a good man, not so long ago to my memory. Reliable, kind. Loyal.
[Lots of good things, lots of things that hurt to think about if he accepted he might have had a part in things going so badly.]
[And that's the truth, at least. If it wasn't one thing going pear shaped, it was another. Sometimes it felt like life on this ship was just moving from one headache to the next with no pause inbetween.]
How long have they been partnered? If it's been a while and progress isn't getting anywhere.. might not be ideal.
[Sometimes a good, trustworthy friend isn't what's needed to motivate - maybe that's why Angeal's not really gotten involved either. He was exactly the wrong person ot handle a friend's problems.]
[It's the sort of blunt question that some might take offense to - but Shaw, queen of blunt questions, doesn't seem put off in the slightest. She gives a nod in acknowledgement of the point, but--]
Wardening's annoyingly inefficient sometimes, especially when the inmate's especially smart, especially stubborn, or especially bad. Like I said, he doesn't seem like that last one to me, but smart and stubborn's a tough combination. Could be that progress is happening, but it's happening slowly. Or, uh, circuitously.
[The unpredictability of the Barge isn't always an asset.]
Throwing a bunch of strangers together and hoping half of them have a fundamental realization about their entire lives is usually a pretty big ask.
[Obviously it works often enough that it's worth continuing. And it gave people like him another chance too, already pretty aware of what was wrong but not sure what to do about it.
There were worse topics for a boat ride across a foreign sea to who-knows-where to get special magic water.]
Especially with what seems awfully like monthly dips into trauma and suffering.
You get it. This place is weird all around, and I don't know what the Admiral was thinking when he set it up like this. Best answer I keep getting from people is that the chaos and confusion is a perk, but I don't buy it.
[She pauses, and then adds:]
Don't get me wrong; it could be a lot worse. If I were fundamentally opposed, I wouldn't be here. My objections are, I dunno, cosmetic.
If I didn't think it had potential I wouldn't have agreed to come.
[How many inmates were there by choice? Angeal hadn't found another yet, though he knew they existed, he wasn't unique. But most had to be dragged kicking and screaming.]
Though there's been some history, I guess, with how the Admiral does things versus usual ships, and .. he's got a pretty good success rate? So there's got to be a method to the madness, we just can't see it because we're at the bottom of the well looking up.
I'd rather not think of the other alternatives, if this is one of the methods with the highest success rate. The other ship had given up on it entirely hadn't they?
[He hadn't been conscious for almost all of it.
There were regrets. Maybe he could have interfered. Prevented more destruction. For a moment, Angeal is quiet, thoughtful.]
What are you getting out of being here, Shaw? I was offered a chance to make things right. What were you offered?
The Admiral's offer to wardens is a lot more... open-ended.
[Shaw says, reaching down to trail her fingers in the water that's just starting to show traces of glinting dawnlight.]
He told me I could have anything I wanted. And he came just a couple days after a good friend of mine had died.
[And even though he hadn't specifically said I can bring Root back for you, the implications, as far as Shaw is concerned, had been clear. He'd picked the time, the place, and the person for a reason, and despite her confusion and suspicion, she'd jumped at the chance.]
But then he brought her here as an inmate and negated any deal I could have made for her, so who the hell knows what he was thinking.
[That's interesting. He hadn't really asked anyone what they were getting out of this, but Zack hadn't given him the impression that the Admiral was sneaky and backhanded about it.]
As far as I can tell, we're just put back where we were before, but alive again if we graduate. I guess that means you could just.. leave if you wanted, and not put up with any of it.
I'm told, though it usually feels like bullshit to me, that sometimes it's okay to prioritize what's good for you. Something about not setting yourself on fire for others, I never really paid attention.
[He certainly had paid attention, but that's not what this is about.]
If no time passes, then she'll be there when you get back, right?
Yeah, sure, but there's a balance there, right? And anyway, home isn't so great either right now. I'm fine with the extra prep time. I've even gotten a few people to sign on to come help us fight.
[She lifts her hand out of the water, examining the glowing drips as the light continues to slowly spread.]
I like the extra time with her, too. Especially since there's no guarantee she'll graduate and get out of here - people disappear sometimes.
[It's pretty, in a distracting way, as were the occasional golden fish that turn up to investigate the boat's shadow. This wasn't the water they were after, but surely they'd get there, in the radiance and warmth.
And then, the five gallon buckets. That this won't work at all will just have to be discovered the hard way.]
First time anyone's mentioned people disappearing. Just.. kicked right off?
[Shaw pauses, her hand freezing above the water - and at just that moment, the light hits her at full strength, and reveals a truth to Angeal: that she hates having inadvertently been the one to break this particular bit of news to him, not because she doesn't want to bother having to explain, but because it's a potential emotional minefield, and she considers herself wholly inadequate to handle that. Beyond inadequate, even - she feels completely incapable.
But she answers all the same.]
Yeah, just-- poof. If they're wardens, they're probably okay, living it up back home. If they're inmates, they're probably not.
[When Angeal straightens up from his rowing, the oars briefly lifted from the water so they can coast while he studies Shaw directly, there's something in that measuring gaze that suggests it's not what she's just said that's caught his attention.
He doesn't speak immediately. There's certainly dark implication in inmates disappearing to who knew what fate, but...]
I am sorry if this is a rude question; Are you in possession of meta-human abilities?
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2024-11-24 01:11 am (UTC)[Angeal trusts his judgment about people, it's never failed him before. If Cloud seemed like a good person, surely he was.
It's something to think about, while he rows.]
When I knew him, Sephiroth.. wasn't like how he is here. I suppose I'm partly to blame for that as well, but I'm not sure how to make up for it now.
no subject
Date: 2024-11-26 10:20 pm (UTC)[She pauses, then thinks to add--]
He's not anything close to the worst of the worst. My guess, the guy you knew is still in there somewhere.
no subject
Date: 2024-11-26 10:52 pm (UTC)[There is a moment where the metholodical rowing becomes harder, a focused drive of some unpleasant emotion or other, but as soon as he realizes it he readjusts.]
... But I hope so. He's here because someone thinks he can do better, and I know he can. He was a good man, not so long ago to my memory. Reliable, kind. Loyal.
[Lots of good things, lots of things that hurt to think about if he accepted he might have had a part in things going so badly.]
no subject
Date: 2024-11-29 04:09 am (UTC)[Shaw asks - studying him closely, noting the way he leans into the work.]
Zhao's a good guy. Dedicated.
no subject
Date: 2024-11-29 09:27 pm (UTC)[And that's the truth, at least. If it wasn't one thing going pear shaped, it was another. Sometimes it felt like life on this ship was just moving from one headache to the next with no pause inbetween.]
How long have they been partnered? If it's been a while and progress isn't getting anywhere.. might not be ideal.
[Sometimes a good, trustworthy friend isn't what's needed to motivate - maybe that's why Angeal's not really gotten involved either. He was exactly the wrong person ot handle a friend's problems.]
no subject
Date: 2024-11-29 10:08 pm (UTC)Wardening's annoyingly inefficient sometimes, especially when the inmate's especially smart, especially stubborn, or especially bad. Like I said, he doesn't seem like that last one to me, but smart and stubborn's a tough combination. Could be that progress is happening, but it's happening slowly. Or, uh, circuitously.
[The unpredictability of the Barge isn't always an asset.]
no subject
Date: 2024-11-29 10:14 pm (UTC)[Obviously it works often enough that it's worth continuing. And it gave people like him another chance too, already pretty aware of what was wrong but not sure what to do about it.
There were worse topics for a boat ride across a foreign sea to who-knows-where to get special magic water.]
Especially with what seems awfully like monthly dips into trauma and suffering.
no subject
Date: 2024-11-29 10:27 pm (UTC)[she says dryly, shooting him a fingergun.]
You get it. This place is weird all around, and I don't know what the Admiral was thinking when he set it up like this. Best answer I keep getting from people is that the chaos and confusion is a perk, but I don't buy it.
[She pauses, and then adds:]
Don't get me wrong; it could be a lot worse. If I were fundamentally opposed, I wouldn't be here. My objections are, I dunno, cosmetic.
no subject
Date: 2024-11-29 11:35 pm (UTC)If I didn't think it had potential I wouldn't have agreed to come.
[How many inmates were there by choice? Angeal hadn't found another yet, though he knew they existed, he wasn't unique. But most had to be dragged kicking and screaming.]
Though there's been some history, I guess, with how the Admiral does things versus usual ships, and .. he's got a pretty good success rate? So there's got to be a method to the madness, we just can't see it because we're at the bottom of the well looking up.
no subject
Date: 2024-11-30 02:10 am (UTC)[Shaw mutters under her breath. Then, louder:]
It's not that I don't think people are right about the chaos being purposeful. I just think it's bull that it's worth it.
no subject
Date: 2024-11-30 05:40 pm (UTC)[He hadn't been conscious for almost all of it.
There were regrets. Maybe he could have interfered. Prevented more destruction. For a moment, Angeal is quiet, thoughtful.]
What are you getting out of being here, Shaw? I was offered a chance to make things right. What were you offered?
no subject
Date: 2024-12-02 06:20 pm (UTC)[Shaw says, reaching down to trail her fingers in the water that's just starting to show traces of glinting dawnlight.]
He told me I could have anything I wanted. And he came just a couple days after a good friend of mine had died.
[And even though he hadn't specifically said I can bring Root back for you, the implications, as far as Shaw is concerned, had been clear. He'd picked the time, the place, and the person for a reason, and despite her confusion and suspicion, she'd jumped at the chance.]
But then he brought her here as an inmate and negated any deal I could have made for her, so who the hell knows what he was thinking.
no subject
Date: 2024-12-02 06:41 pm (UTC)[That's interesting. He hadn't really asked anyone what they were getting out of this, but Zack hadn't given him the impression that the Admiral was sneaky and backhanded about it.]
As far as I can tell, we're just put back where we were before, but alive again if we graduate. I guess that means you could just.. leave if you wanted, and not put up with any of it.
no subject
Date: 2024-12-03 12:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-12-03 12:37 am (UTC)[He certainly had paid attention, but that's not what this is about.]
If no time passes, then she'll be there when you get back, right?
no subject
Date: 2024-12-03 12:45 am (UTC)[She lifts her hand out of the water, examining the glowing drips as the light continues to slowly spread.]
I like the extra time with her, too. Especially since there's no guarantee she'll graduate and get out of here - people disappear sometimes.
no subject
Date: 2024-12-03 02:57 am (UTC)And then, the five gallon buckets. That this won't work at all will just have to be discovered the hard way.]
First time anyone's mentioned people disappearing. Just.. kicked right off?
no subject
Date: 2024-12-03 03:32 am (UTC)But she answers all the same.]
Yeah, just-- poof. If they're wardens, they're probably okay, living it up back home. If they're inmates, they're probably not.
no subject
Date: 2024-12-04 01:07 am (UTC)He doesn't speak immediately. There's certainly dark implication in inmates disappearing to who knew what fate, but...]
I am sorry if this is a rude question; Are you in possession of meta-human abilities?
[That's a sudden topic shift.]
no subject
Date: 2024-12-04 04:07 am (UTC)[ She looks down at the water, and it clicks; realizing why he must be asking, she adds-- ]
Oh. If you're getting some kinda brainwave transmission from me, it's the water. Some lame-ass magic this place has.