fireincarnate | Video | Backdated to 30th

Video | Backdated to 30th | Private To Phillip

[She's nervous.

There's no getting around it, really. This is her first Inmate since Jason, and while that went well - she was a different person, then. It feels like a lifetime ago.

But it doesn't show in her smile. (She's grateful, today, that Phoenix doesn't need to sleep; the shadows of her nightmares don't hang beneath her eyes.]

Hey, Phillip. I'm Jean.

[She gestures to the file on her desk.]

I wanted to talk to you, before I read this. I won't do it at all, if you don't want me to.

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[Philip doesn't believe that she won't read it if he tells her not to. There's a lot of power to be had at knowing that many things about a person even if they don't immediately use it. He doesn't know her well enough to think she would respect his wish that she stay out of it. She'd be kind enough to lie to his face about it, sure. It gives the illusion that he has any power over what happens from this point forward. But sooner or later, she'd slip unless she was careful. Or at the very least, they'd both know the truth the entire time.]

That's considerate of you, though I'm not sure what exactly there is to talk about.

[She figures he won't trust her right off the bat. Why would he?]

What do you want me to know? What do you think I need to know?

[There's a brief flash of a derisive smile as Philip looks away for a moment. Is it a chance to confess his sins before she reads all about it? Or is it a chance to explain his side of the story? Whichever it may be, he's not interested.]

Read it. [He makes a face and shrugs a shoulder.] Or don't.

It doesn't matter to me.

[Only it does. It matters so much that it's enough to drive him insane, to drive him to do the terrible, unforgivable things he's done. It matters so much that he has to tell himself it doesn't to feign any sense of stability.]

It won't make a difference.

[And it might. He changed his name, tried to be someone else for a reason. He knew no one could accept him if they knew the things he had done. They'd be afraid of him. They wouldn't need him the way the Chamblers had. But he doesn't want to be needed and he doesn't want to be accepted by anyone here. So it does make a difference, but it's the difference he wants right now as long as it makes people like Jean keep their distance.]

[Jean just looks at him, for a moment, gently shrewd.]

Do you really believe that, or is it just easier to say? [She knows what that's like. She's seen it so often, and done it herself. Fake it 'til you make it.]

I don't say things I don't mean.

[Her eyebrows arch, lightly sceptical.] So if I take you at face value, you won't get grumpy at me.

As far as I'm concerned, you're free to do whatever you like with what I say.

[His feelings about the Barge and what it stands for should be starting to become clear.]

[She resists the urge to sigh, or pinch the bridge of her nose.]

Look - I know you didn't choose to be here. I know that's not fair. But if you want to go back, you need to work with me.

I never said anything about wanting to go back.

[And he hasn't. People seem to assume that's the end goal of every inmate here, but it isn't his. He doesn't care where he is; if he stays or goes. There's nothing to go back to in his world and there's nothing waiting for him anywhere else. He was expecting oblivion when Lilly pulled the trigger.]

...I didn't want to go home either, when I first came back.

You don't have to. You can start a life somewhere else.

["First" to Philip signifies that she thinks it will change. That he can change. But he sees both of these things as impossibilities. Circumstances only differ, they never. And him? Well, he's fallen over into the abyss. There's no coming back out of that.]

That's a nice thought.

[But that's all it is.]

Why don't you think you can change? [That's the crux of it, she thinks.]

[It is very much at the crux of everything. Philip knows his answer, but he's not going to share with the class if he doesn't have to.]

Aren't you supposed to figure that out?

I could, but doesn't that seem like a waste of time?

As far as I can tell, that's all I have.

[So, no.]

Are you always this difficult? [But she's smiling. She likes challenges.]

Fine, I'm making an executive decision - I'll read your file. But I'd like you there with me while I do it.

[He shrugs a shoulder.]

Fine.

Great! [Yes, okay, maybe she is being obnoxiously cheerful on purpose.] Where do you want to meet?

[She can be as cheerful as she wants. It won't get a rise out of Philip one way or another.]

Wherever's fine with me.

Savage Land it is. [When in doubt, dinosaurs.] Meet me at the Enclosure.

[He doesn't know what Savage Land is and doesn't particularly care. Zero fucks, lady. Z e r o.]

[But he nods and cuts the feed there to meet her outside the Enclosure.]

[Jean changes, before leaving, into something suitable for a wild tropical preserve; a light tank top, loose capris, sturdy hiking boots, and a faded bucket hat. A waterproof backpack of supplies she won't need but Phillip might. His file is tucked deep inside.

She doesn't need to dress for warmth either, not any more, but - she still remembers the first time she wore this outfit, dashing into an African wilderness to save Charles. That mission went well; hopefully this does, too.

She still gets there the same time he does, though, because why take the steps when you can fly over them?]

Hey. Thanks for coming.

Edited 2015-02-08 21:47 (UTC)

[He gives a cursory once-over, but gives no comment to her outfit or anything about this. It's fairly obvious that although he's doing this for her, he's not all that interested in this taking or lasting for long. Philip approaches this as he does most things: just get it over and done with.]

Mmhm.

[He's not really any more for conversation in-person than he is over the communicator.]

[She expected that, and doesn't let it dent her warm enthusiasm.]

I've got water and snacks. [The words are light, as she opens the hatch and steps inside. She presses the intercom button, murmuring "Savage Land, please", before looking back at Phillip.]

Stick close to me, okay? No one can die in here, but still.

[He wouldn't be all that concerned if they could die in there in the first place. He's already died once since his arrival here and he recovered quickly enough that he's not all that bothered by the idea of dying again.]

I won't go wandering off on my own.

[He gestures for her to go on ahead.]

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