truth_is_cold

[Warden Filter | Audio]

My inmate has made notable progress recently, but still has difficulty understanding certain basics of interacting with his culture. This I'm not sure that I can help him with because while I've gained some knowledge from ports and breaches, it's not a lifetime of familiarity and certainly not enough to help him with the basics of interaction. I grew up in an entirely different environment [a surprisingly healthy one] with different standards of interaction, more confrontational. There's a cultural divide that I can't help him with.

So I need help from someone from the early 21st century to assist him. His has minor differences to the ones that we've encountered, like a class divide with technological capabilities, stronger military authority, and different popular figures, but otherwise on basic interaction it would be the same.

[Private to the Admiral | Audio]

I would like Ben's room changed to a hotel room appropriate to his universe, era, and geographical location if he should return.

Also, a sleeping bag should he decide he would like to entertain company again. [He knows Ben would probably sleep on the floor before sharing a bed with someone, otherwise he would have asked for a queen sized bed.]

[Private to Dylan | Audio]

[A flicker of silence, then he just turns it off because that is the most awkward conversation either of them could possibly have.]

[Private to Perry Van Shrike | Audio]

How is Dr. Kozak?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It is. [Rhade is pleased with himself.] Your old cabin was insufficient for a person that might expect to have company and informal conversations.

{. . .

. .

.

Ben is silent for several moments, processing this, and he sounds doubtful when he does speak again.]

I don't understand.

You had a girl in your room, and I know that you have been making friends. Now when they come in, they will see the home of a young man and not just a soldier.

[Plus he needed to get out of that mindset.]

Speaking of which, how much have you spoken with Aya since her return?

She required a safe place to recover.

[But he's warming to the idea now, curiosity coming through now that he doesn't think he's been somehow replaced or ousted. Now he's noticing his gifts tucked onto the shelf in the corner, sitting atop the new dresser. He pokes around as he talks.] A home?

[At least until Rhade mentions Aya. He hesitates again, and his voice is guarded once more when he says,] Only once.

It was smart of you. I'm not admonishing in the least. But if you should choose to do so again, now there is room as well as a sleeping bag so you can be comfortable. [He would guess that if Ben can sleep on his couch, a sleeping bag wouldn't be a problem.] It's a start, at least.

Do you want to discuss it? [He says of both Aya and the room.]

[It's true that Ben isn't exactly picky about his own sleeping arrangements. Even if he is, currently, pushing on the mattress of the bed to test it.]

Yes. [He says at last, then typically adds,] But not over this.

I'll come see your new room.

[There's something sad in knowing this may be the first time in Ben's life he's owned a bed he can bounce on.]

I'll leave the door open.

[It is. It's the first time he's owned anything, although he did try for a while; it never worked out. He's still standing in the middle of the room like he might not be sure he belongs in it, like someone who accidentally walked into an area in which they're suddenly aware they're not supposed to be. And to be sure he looks a little out of place in the cream- and brown-colored room, looking at the light-colored carpet and the thick comforter on the bed and the simple, tasteful lamp on the nightstand. He's not used to fabrics, or woods; to a welcoming, comfortable environment that he was expected to stay in and make his own.

He glances over quickly at Rhade when he senses movement there, a quick smile sparking and dying, still glancing around.]

It doesn't smell like anything.

You probably have to make it smell like you. It's all new. [He strides in and has a look around. Mundane, but great for someone's first home, a place to personalize.

He finds a place to sit, looking up at the uneasy Ben and waiting to see if he chooses to try and settle himself.]

Probably. [Ben stays where he is, tugging idly at the ends of the sleeves of the leather jacket Rhade gave him, at least until his warden sits down. He's still not much of one for fidgeting but ever since that flood, it's been showing up from time to time and he keeps picking at the leather until finally he moves to perch on the edge of the bed. There's a brief moment of surprise at quite how far he sinks onto it, glancing down sharply, but he tilts his head quizzically and pushes back further in his sit, bouncing slightly.

He glances back up.]

I've never had anything new before. It's... nice. This is what... people expect?

People expect people to look comfortable. And your room didn't seem as though it was. It felt as though the only way you could make it comfortable was with the words you put on the wall. They were Manticore's words, but in a way you seemed to make them your own.

[And despite the sad nature of what he's saying, he looks away at the bounce.]

They are comforting. They make the world less confusing. [This off-handed, casual, as he considers the room again, studying the popcorn ceiling as opposed to the exposed beams that had been there before. He's seen other rooms that look like this. He saw remnants of things like this during his time outside of Manticore, but not this nice.

He remembers the Overlook, certainly, but it had been different. Smelled different. He's still talking to the ceiling when he speaks again.] It was comfortable for me, but if this is what others would expect, then likely not for visitors.

Not that it mattered before, of course.

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