⚖️ Inbox - Steven Grant's Communicator

[de_nile]

This communicator belongs to Steven Grant! :)

If you need to contact someone that isn't Steven Grant, maybe you're looking for Marc Spector's dead drop...

Put date and format in the header, please!
Marc tags from reflectedlight
Steven tags from de_nile

Comments

wiggling this in before the big thread happens

[de_nile]

[Steven actually jumps when he's addressed.

He looks like shit. Hair a mess, bags under his eyes, hunched over, wearing yesterday's clothes, a rogue sticky note clinging to his sleeve.

He forces a smile anyway.]

Oh! Hello, Anduin! Me neither, imagine that! First floor friends.

[There's a tablet clutched to his chest, with the spreadsheet on it. He just has to finish the plan. He just has to finish the plan and try to save everyone. ITS FINE]

Have you seen my plan? I can't remember who I have or haven't shown it to. I showed it to you, right?

Re: wiggling this in before the big thread happens

[bythelight]

You were going to, but we hadn't had the chance. Perhaps you can show me now.

[ They're both here, and Anduin Wrynn does love a plan! ]

We can sit in the common room, perhaps.

[ Since Steven Grant also looks like someone who needs to sit the fuck down before he falls down.

He's clearly twitchy. Stressed. Anduin wonders if he should double back and fetch some tea, but equally he's slightly afraid if he takes his eyes off Steven the man will vanish away into the barge again. ]

[de_nile]

Yeah, yeah, right. You can heal, that's going to be really useful, I'm putting you in the group that's got the other people that can do similar things, I'm hoping you each take about a third of the crowd, and expand to more if one of you can't, or something like that, I'll pull it back up-

[Steven's walking to the common room already while his eyes are occupied on the tablet. He is going to bonk clean into the doorframe here, actually.]

[bythelight]

Oh -- be careful.

[ Anduin moves closer, gentle hands hovering behind Steven to try and... guide him towards somewhere to sit down. ]

But, yes. I am happy to heal as many people as might need me. Here --

[ Please, Steven, sit. ]

[de_nile]

Huh?

[Steven is so sleep-deprived it takes him a few seconds to figure out what's wrong. (About to walk into a wall, which is not a door.) One-Mississippi-Two-Mississsippi.]

Oh.

[Another forced smile.]

Thanks, mate. Forget my head if it wasn't screwed on, I swear.

[He sits, keeps talking while he hands the tablet over. This is the data that's on it, although the arrangement is not exactly as pictured.]

[bythelight]

[ He takes the tablet, looking at the layout of information. There's something rueful in his smile. ]

This is very good. I must admit, part of me wishes the Admiral himself did more to organise us. Surely he must know all of this, after all.

[ Did he not recruit the Wardens to begin with, rescue all these Inmates? ]

[de_nile]

Thank you.

I don't know. I don't know about him. I think he might be at least as anxious and bad at talking to people as I am. Maybe more.

[bythelight]

Do you think so?

[ Anduin looks up at Steven. ]

I've never had that impression, from talking to him, but I'll admit I've only done so a few times. He may be very good at hiding that part of himself.

[de_nile]

The truth is, I can't think of another reason he wouldn't be transparent with us that is - is -

Plausibly good.

Imagine being notified someone replied?? Radical idea

[bythelight]

I believe he considers it our job to organise ourselves. I can understand that, even if admittedly I would find it easier if he assisted us.

[ He looks up at Steven, smiles. ]

If I may -- you seem... tired.

[ Diplomatically as he can. You do indeed look like ahit, Steven. ]

Oh God Not Again Please No. we just got the notifs back! 😩

[de_nile]

It's not!

It is our job to redeem inmates, not to protect him! I don't work for his benefit, that is NOT why I came, I came because there are people here who died before they could figure themselves out. Them, not him.

I am tired, but this is right. I'd never forgive myself if I didn't try as hard as I could. And - and I know it seems irresponsible, but this is what I want, and I'm not hurting anyone but me.

[This last part is soft, pleading. Please understand.]

[bythelight]

[ Is it his job, though? Anduin frowns, tilting his head as he looks down at the tablet again. ]

It's much harder to help others if you're tired. We cannot offer then our best if we don't take care of ourselves.

[ Also: ]

You mentioned you lost your Warden item, before. What was it?

[de_nile]

In general, yeah, I agree, but I am still able to offer something. When I'm not, I'll rest. Promise.

[Steven smiles, brief and bitter.]

Compass shaped like a scarab, writing on the wings. Just spun, never pointed to anyone because I was never paired.

[bythelight]

[ A strange, unpleasant sensation prickles over Anduin's skin at that. A shiver of unease.

It could be coincidence. It could not be. Still: ]

Mine is a compass, too. One my father owned.

[ Steven seems so genuine, yet -- ]

Do you remember when you last had it?

[de_nile]

You think it might have gotten stolen?

[Huhn. He didn't think of it, but it's not likely ...]

I keep it in here almost always, yeah. Same with the front door keys, communicator, wallet, that sort of thing.

[Steven pats the messenger bag he has over one shoulder. There's also a Dancer in it, shaped like a cat. They reach their paw out of the bag to pat Steven back. Patpat.]

[bythelight]

No, I don't know that anyone would have reason to steal it. Just for the sake of searching. Have you asked the Admiral about it? My understanding is if something of yours became a Warden item... well, it is still yours. If you had been demoted, I might have expected it to stop working rather than go missing.

[ So maybe Steven should still have this item, this compass. that he believes is his Warden item. ]

[de_nile]

I haven't.

[Steven ducks his head, puts his face in his hands.]

If I've lost it I'm going to feel like such a knob. Only I'm so sure I didn't, I'm positive... I wouldn't be that irresponsible, I know an inmate could do a lot of harm with that.

[bythelight]

[ Anduin watches Steven with the careful, calm curiosity of someone looking for a tell they're quite sure they will see if they focus enough.

He considers this, considers if he should ask another Warden first. To what end? Anduin has faced worse danger than one unarmed human. ]

I was concerned about that too, and equally concerned for you. Your fear that you had been demoted. I wasn't sure what would have counted when you'd been working so hard. So I did reach out to the Admiral, on your behalf.

[de_nile]

[Steven's head shoots up.]

You did? You have?!

[Surely this is great news on the way!]

[bythelight]

[ Well, if he is an actor he's a very good one. That reaction certainly feels in earnest. Anduin shifts his grip idly on the tablet Steven handed him, making sure it's secure. He thinks the data is important enough to Steven that he'd at least hesitate to bolt without it. ]

I did, yes. It was very strange, he didn't remember you being a warden. Do you recall the conversation you had with him?

[ Still in a mild, conversational tone. As if they might resolve this with only a little thought.

Perhaps they will, but not the way Steven hopes. ]

[de_nile]

What -

What?

No, but - well.

No. I've got proof, he left a letter?

[bythelight]

Perhaps you could show me the letter?

[ Still just as mild, just as curious. Anduin has never heard of the Admiral writing letters, but nothing is impossible. ]

I should like to see it. You could show the Admiral, too.

[de_nile]

Um.

Yeah. Alright. I'd need to find it?

[This is a serious problem, Steven is going to stand and go find it right now.]

Suppose it's like the medical system, lots of paperwork to make mistakes on...

[bythelight]

I'm not certain. I've never seen the Admiral's paperwork, and I didn't receive a letter myself. Perhaps I can help you look, however. When did you last have it? In your cabin?

[ He moves to stand. No escape, Steven, Anduin will be coming with you. ]

[de_nile]

[Steven nods, looking worried and grateful.]

Yeah, my cabin. Inside my desk, I think.

[It's a quick trip; Steven's door is dark green and plain and opens to a modest London attic flat that is just catastrophically messy. Everything is shoved to the walls except the desk, which is clearly being used to plan contingencies.

No kitchen, no bathroom.]