INBOX {TLV}

[malicing]

Comments

[malicing]

You are. I'm not even sure what to ask of you.

[major_rawne]

The main thing I'm good for is making requests of the Admiral. I could... talk about things. If you have things you want to talk about.

[Rawne's never quite sure what to say to temp inmates. He doesn't want to just leave them, but few of them want to really talk to wardens, in his experience.]

[malicing]

I would like my sword, but a sword would do. {A light blade since he isn't a big man. Guangyao smiles at the offer and, really, he has nothing to lose in opening up a little.}

If anyone belongs here, it's me.

[major_rawne]

[Rawne winces.] I have a... a personal rule, about not giving inmates weapons. Not anymore.

Why do you belong here?

[malicing]

Afraid what they might do? {He can't exactly blame him. Guangyao is the sort who would stab anyone in the back if it bettered his situation.}

I don't know how many I've killed, but my father is one of their number - as is my son.

[major_rawne]

And afraid of the consequences to me if I arm another person and they kill people.

That would do it. I'm not sure about patricide, but you're far from the only killer here.

[malicing]

My sword is thin and flexible. I use it for protection. {Mostly.}

What a comforting thought!

[major_rawne]

Protection can still be deadly.

Most inmates here have killed people. It's why they're here.

[malicing]

Even so, most of the deaths I caused were done by other means.

{If that is comforting?}

I thought the crimes would be more interesting.

[major_rawne]

Still no.

[No, it's not comforting at all.]

There's interesting crimes, if you ask, but all the inmates I know have killed at least one person.

[malicing]

{He's just an innocent little man!}

Everyone has their own reasons. Is it always a crime?

[major_rawne]

[So innocent. So harmless.]

No, not always. But the Admiral doesn't see it that way. I was an inmate, then I graduated. And I killed a lot of people before I got here.

[Mostly as a soldier, but the Admiral seemed to count it against him to some extent.]

[malicing]

{He wouldn't hurt a fly!}

Why did you choose to stay onboard?

[major_rawne]

I wanted to help someone else the way I've been helped. And I have things I want the Admiral to do, and I only get a deal if I help someone graduate.

[malicing]

That's pretty selfless. I admire your reasoning. {Guangyao smiles slowly.} I might be interested in graduating.

[major_rawne]

Graduating opens up a lot of options. You could start a new life, or be a warden in exchange for a deal.

[malicing]

A deal. Is anything possible with these deals?

[major_rawne]

As far as I know. I want to bring back my home planet and at least some people think that's possible.

[malicing]

A fine goal. What I would ask for would be far less.

[major_rawne]

Then you'll probably get it.

[Rawne doesn't ask what deal Jin Guangyao wants. That's personal information. If he wants to bring it up on his own, he can.]

[malicing]

That is comforting. {He can be patient for that.} Will you have tea with me every week? Perhaps we can set a day?

[major_rawne]

Of course. How about Wednesdays?

And I can have tea with you even if you aren't my inmate, if you want.

[malicing]

Of course. Wednesdays are good for me. {Where else is he going to go?} I would like that very much! Your story interests me.

[major_rawne]

Yours interests me, too. I don't meet many other people around here who know how to fight with bladed weapons.

[For him its knives over swords, but he has used a sword a time or two.]

[malicing]

Cultivators are taught to hold a sword when they are only children. Of course those are practice blades. Once we graduate, we set the specifications for our swords and sometimes forge them ourselves.