♠ | 001 | Video

[lastrat]

[Bond has been laying low, for the most part: investigating quietly, observing, looking for the Admiral and the Bridge and all the other things people initially told him he'd never see or find.

It galls him that they were right.

He's also spent his time half convinced that this is all a drug induced dream meant to obtain information from him. He still isn't sure either way, honestly, so when the video clicks on, Bond's face is inscrutable, because you're getting nothing from him, Quantum. When he talks, it's easy, smooth, because he is a very good bluffer.]

Suppose this is real. Suppose we are actually on a ship meant to cure us of our villainous ways. Tell me how it works. Tell me how often it works. And what do the wardens get out of it?

[He smiles, and it's easy but doesn't reach his eyes.]

While we're here, I've learned from my mistakes, 'Admiral.' [The inflection is small, but present: he really means Quantum.] Kindly send me back to live the quiet retired life, if you please. [There are much more important things than his immortal soul, or whatever the fuck this is supposed to be about, at stake after all.]

[Private to Ivy]

It strikes me that I may or may not owe you an apology.

[Private to Lark]

Heard anything?

Comments

[Private; Video]

[lesliemonster]

[Here James Bond. Have a Leslie Knope: she's here to help.]

The deals are different for every warden.

And I don't know that the intent is to "cure you of your villainous ways." That's too simplistic.

Private

[chlorophylliac]

[Ivy is just chilling out in her extremely plant-filled room and has bruises circling her upper arms and doesn't like you.]

Then I suppose I may or may not be inclined to forgive you.

[makeitwork]

[Excellent use of the word gall btw]

Suppose it is real but it won't matter in the end. [Because you'll go insane ahaha]

[secretasshole]

What would make you accept this as reality?

And then I don't notice comment titles because I just changed DW themes.

[most_feared]

We don't exactly get the same things.

[lost_humanity]

It sounds as though you've already had more luck learning about the ship than I did when I arrived, whether you believe it or not.

[It was sort of a frantic arrival though, admittedly.] Ronald Sandoval, FBI.

[je_suis_avec_toi]

I don't think it works that easily, sir.

video;

[buildindreemz]

[Ariadne is already preparing her little spiel, because yep. That's what she does.]

Sometimes reality does get kind of shaky around here. But it's not a dream, no matter how many times you get turned into an animal or a child, or how many times we end up docking in Wonderland or Middle-earth.

Actually, I'd kind of like to see Middle-earth. [Huh. Right. ANYWAY.]

All wardens have deals. All of us are here for something, contingent on graduating an inmate.

And the problem with announcing you're better is that no matter how good a liar you are, the Admiral always seems to be able to tell.

video;

[trenchcoatedly]

When wardens graduate inmates, the Admiral bends their own reality for them in a way they like, usually to make up for their past mistakes.

Kay looked at the numbers since his arrival not too long ago. I don't know how long the barge existed before that. According to his research, 15 wardens out of 141 had a deal, graduated an inmate, and successfully got their deal result. Additionally, there were 181 inmates, and 21 had graduated at the time of his posting. Many inmates and wardens disappear back to their home realities before this task is accomplished.

[thestarspangledman]

We get a deal, as I'm sure people have told you by now. Some of us are just doing it because it's the right thing, though. [At least that's the case for him -- he's not sure of his deal, just yet. He has quit a few options, after all.]

Video

[bodilesswarrior]

[Barbara's smile is wryly sympathetic.] If it were that easy there'd hardly be anyone left.

The system is far from perfect, but it's been successful in various, distinct cases. There are a few Wardens who used to be Inmates - I think their perspective would be particularly valuable.

voice

[mattersverymuch]

Whatever their hearts desire, apparently. Aren't they lucky?