IC Inbox III

[ukan]

This is Lark, leave a message.

Comments

[ukan]

Is that because death is a handy tool? [Honest question. He just admitted he's killed people, so there's no hint of judgment either.]

[citizendetective]

It can be! It can be a solution, or...

[Another shrug.]

But it's still a big step. That woman who I kidnapped? I killed her, and I didn't do it because it was nothing or because it was fun. I did it because she might have hurt Nat, Shauna, and Tai, and anything was worth stopping that from happening.

[And, of course, she could have - probably would have - blown the whistle on what Misty had done to her, too. That had also been a part of her motive. But it's not the part of her motive that makes her heart swell with pride and satisfaction.]

[ukan]

I need you to be more creative here. We don't torture, we don't kill, we don't leverage with threats. We want the facts and we need them to be untainted by pressure.

[citizendetective]

I can do that. I can do that! I mean, the stakes are lower.

[ukan]

They're not.

We're on a ship full of people with magical, mystical powers and no moral compasses. Our stakes involve not making them worse than they already are.

[citizendetective]

No, I meant--

[Hmmmmm. Maybe she shouldn't say what she meant; that might not help her case.]

-- Okay. Sure.

[ukan]

You meant what?

[You can't leave thoughts half-finished with Lark.]

[citizendetective]

I just meant the stakes are lower for me. My team isn't here. But you know what, that's actually a good thing for your purposes, because I won't necessarily take extreme measures like that for just anyone.

[... Pagan. She thinks she would probably take extreme measures like that for Pagan. But that's it.]

[ukan]

Good.

I'll take to Pagan, see what he thinks of this being your new job. I'm sure he'll follow up with you.

[citizendetective]

I don't see why we'd need to ask Pagan's permission. I mean... you were his warden. If there's a hierarchy at play here, you're totally at the top.

[ukan]

I'm not his warden anymore, but he is yours. And I try to work with him out of mutual respect.

Besides, don't you want him to see that you're able to help by thinking outside the box?

[citizendetective]

Yes, obviously, Lark, but here's the thing - he might say no.

[ukan]

Why would he say no to you? Because he knows about the fentanyl chocolate?

[citizendetective]

Because he doesn't want me participating in investigations or interrogations or anything.

[ukan]

You understand why, though, don't you?

[citizendetective]

I don't think he thinks I'm going to poison a bunch of people with fentanyl for no reason, no. He-- I don't think he, um. Hates me, or is afraid of me, or...

[ukan]

What do you think, then?

[citizendetective]

I don't know, he hasn't said.

[This is bullshit.]

[ukan]

You really want to start off lying to me?

[citizendetective]

Why do you think I'm lying?

[ukan]

Well, I'm a lawyer, it's part of my job to know when someone isn't being honest.

But I'm also a wolf and I can smell lies.

And most importantly I don't buy for a second you aren't clever enough to have guessed why Pagan has his rules about you. Don't try to deceive me or skirt the truth, and I will have your back. Lie to me, omit things, and... Well.

Don't.

[citizendetective]

[Uuuuugh.]

I think he just doesn't want to encourage, you know, the investigative stuff. He thinks it'll get me killed, or I'll get in the way, or I'm interested for the wrong reasons...

[ukan]

What are "wrong reasons"? He's no saint. He didn't expect you to be.

[citizendetective]

He just has some theories about why I'm here, that's all, and I'm assuming they're related to why he's so against me working in the infirmary or Zero. I'd rather not get into it.

[ukan]

You don't have to go into detail, but if you want me to help convince Pagan to let you, when you're ready, it would help if I knew what obstacles there are.