SPAM;

[anewlanguage]

[Forward dated to the Truth Event]

[THE WHOLE BARGE]

[Cain patrols, half out of anxious habit and half because he enjoys the routine. But it puts him in the halls, the Warden-only areas, the deck, the library, the art room. Feel free to chat; he has no idea he's under the influence of the Barge.]

[THE GYM]

[But he spends most of his time here, practicing and training, and lately taking on new students. This is where you're most likely to find him.]

Comments

[Spam]

[anewlanguage]

Well, first off, I don't think he's beyond reason. Trick is getting him to realize that. But that's probably a job for his warden sometime in the far off future. If I thought he was so screwed up we couldn't talk him out of what he's planning, it'd be another story.

I think you shouldn't try to handle him all on your own. Honestly? I think I can help you.

[Spam]

[neverfeltbetter]

He's practical, but when it comes to wormholes, sometimes the usual rules don't apply. He's obsessed.

[He knows he needs the help, but...]

Can I trust you?

[Spam]

[anewlanguage]

[It's a funny question; there's no way to answer and make it be completely believable, even if the answer is honest.]

Yeah. You can trust me. Ask Dean Winchester for the footnotes if you're worried.

[Spam]

[neverfeltbetter]

[Now Dean he does trust.]

Good answer. You can bet I'll be checking you on that.

So, how do you think you can help?

[Spam]

[anewlanguage]

I'm a big fan of espionage when I need some background on a target. Surveillance is a specialty of mine.

[Spam]

[neverfeltbetter]

You want to spy on him? Be my guest.

He won't be real happy if he figures out you're doing it. Just so you know.

[Spam]

[anewlanguage]

Sure. He'd have to be touched in the head to be happy he's being stalked.

Don't worry about it, I've done this a couple times.

[Spam]

[neverfeltbetter]

I'm not convinced he isn't 'touched in the head.'

Is this the part where I ask what it is you do and you say 'I'd tell you but then I'd have to kill you'?

[Spam]

[anewlanguage]

[He barks a laugh]

No. I'm retired. Boring kind of twist, huh?

[Spam]

[neverfeltbetter]

It's one I can live with. Any extra set of eyes on this guy will come in handy. If you know what you're doing, all the better.

By the way, what I told you earlier stays between you an' me. That isn't public knowledge on the Barge. [Not yet.] Understand?

Re: [Spam]

[anewlanguage]

Got it. [Another set of secrets to keep is hardly a drop in the ocean for him, especially if it means a new ally.]

Anything else I should know, before I start watching this guy?

[Spam]

[neverfeltbetter]

Yeah, he can always tell when you're lying. [And not just because of the flood.]

He can read energy signatures. Well, that's what he called it. It's no good trying to fool him if you get caught.

Re: [Spam]

[anewlanguage]

[Well that's...good to know. And unnerving.]

Damn good thing my kid taught me to be honest. Puts a damper on a hell of a lot of plans, though.

[Spam]

[neverfeltbetter]

You see my problem now. Hard to beat this guy at any games when you have play honest and he doesn't.

I have to ask: kids?

[Spam]

[anewlanguage]

Yeah. [He can't quite smile about it, but neither does he let himself show any bitterness.] Just one, now. Cassandra. She was here a while, as a Warden, but she could read people. Knew if they were lying, knew what you were thinking almost.

Anyway. If we can't hide our lies we'll just have to get better at pulling intel out of him.

[Spam]

[neverfeltbetter]

So, you got some practice with this already.

[He's sensing maybe he's found a sore subject, so he'll let it go. He doesn't need to know.]

He's guarded, which shouldn't be a surprise to you, but he's got a nasty temper if you provoke him in the right way. I'm pretty good at getting him going. I tell you, nothing pisses him off faster than when things go spinning out of his carefully calculated control.

Then again, the man's got contingencies for his contingencies. So, catching him by surprise like that isn't easy to do.

Re: [Spam]

[anewlanguage]

[He doesn't show it, but he's grateful.]

If you've got a knack for pissing him off, that's as good as surprise. People who like to pull the strings lose control once they lose their temper.

[Spam]

[neverfeltbetter]

[He could teach classes in pissing Scorpius off.]

It's easy to see when it's happening to Scorpius too. He acts all calm and cool most the time, but when you start hearing his voice get low and growly, you know you're onto something.

Re: [Spam]

[anewlanguage]

Sounds like that could be the next national pasttime, to hear you talk about it.

[Better than baseball! More exciting than football!]

[Spam]

[neverfeltbetter]

Guy's gotta have a hobby.

[More dangerous too!]

He turned hounding me into a sport, least I could so was return the favor.