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stressingwitchface

"Ugh. People"

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From:

stressingwitchface

Yes! Yes, whatever you like, Warden Bright! Should I fetch it for you? Can I command the kitchen inmates to prepare something for us?

From:

abrightboy

No, that’s fine. I’ll make it. You’re the guest of honour, after all.

From:

stressingwitchface

[Whoa]

Really?

Then I shall be at your door shortly!

From:

abrightboy

I’m glad. See you soon.

[He gets to work in the meantime, heating milk and scooping chocolate in a mug.]

From:

stressingwitchface

[Wanting to make a good impression, Kikimora changes into her best, cleanest outfit and arrives promptly, practically levitating with excitement.

She has a warden! One who has a track record and who she doesn't outright despise! Best day ever!

She waits to be called in, knocking at the doorway]

From:

abrightboy

Come in! It’s open!

[On the kitchen island, there’s a steaming mug of hot chocolate, just poured,, and a plate of sugar cookies.]

From:

stressingwitchface

[She walks in, staring at ~her!!!~ warden. Determined not to lose this one, Kikimora resolves privately to be the best inmate she possibly can be. She waits to be invited to sit, standing at attention]

Warden Bright.

From:

abrightboy

[He smiles, but he’s not laughing at her. He gestures to a stool at the counter.]

Have a seat. And you can call me ‘Malcolm’, if you want. We’re sort of partners now, right? Working on your graduation together.

From:

stressingwitchface

[Height at last! Kikimora scrambles up to the stool in a practiced way. She's used to chairs not being sized properly for her and enjoys the high tops most of all]

I'm happy you feel the same way, Malcolm. And I'm eager to prove my loyalty as your inmate and deal-holder.

From:

abrightboy

I'm prepared to offer you the same thing I offered my last inmate. When you graduate, you can have my deal. I didn't come here to get a magic wish; I came here to help my inmates graduate and, ultimately, you're the one that has to put the real work in to accomplish that, so. I think you should get the deal at the end.

From:

stressingwitchface

What?

[oh god. So many possibilities are swimming around in her head right now]

From:

abrightboy

When you graduate, you can have my deal, if you want it.

From:

stressingwitchface

...What's the catch?

From:

abrightboy

There's no catch. Graduating is hard and you're not going to like all the work we have to do.

From:

stressingwitchface

I don't shy away from hard work.

But I don't understand why you would give up your deal. Don't you know you can do practically anything with it?

From:

abrightboy

Yes. But I only came here to help people. I don't need a reward for it. A graduating inmate deserves it more. So they can take full advantage of their second chance.

From:

stressingwitchface

So there's nothing in your life, your world, you wouldn't change for the better.

From:

abrightboy

It's not that I don't have anything that I would change. It's that I think the inmate deserves the chance more. For the work they have to do to get there.

From:

stressingwitchface

But that means you aren't invested! I'm working to gain my freedom and eventual return from death, but you're doing this for..what, for fun?

From:

abrightboy

[He blinks at her.]

...No. It's actually very rarely fun. I do it because I want to help you. Why is that not motivation? Do you know what it feels like to know you genuinely helped someone?

From:

stressingwitchface

No! The only ones who do anything for anyone for no reward are gullible fools. And you're obviously not one, so please just tell me what you're getting out of this so I won't have to worry.

From:

abrightboy

...Would you be willing to do an exercise so you can believe me?

From:

stressingwitchface

I..suppose.

From:

abrightboy

I want you to do something kind for someone else this week that doesn't benefit you directly, then come have another hot chocolate with me and tell me about it.