abrightboy | Voicemail (IC Contact Post) NEW

"Difficult." That isn't a secret at all if anyone had been watching. "I wouldn't say I've even started yet, but I do better with instruction." He can think for himself, though he's finding that all free thinking has gotten him this past year is trouble. It hasn't necessarily been different in the few weeks he's been here.

"I've never had a temporary inmate before but I imagine it's hard to build real trust and rapport in a two week period. Though... I think the Admiral paired me with my second inmate because I'd sort of organically started to build trust with her when we weren't paired in any way at all," Malcolm muses.

Trust is definitely hard. He might enjoy people's company that he's met but he isn't sure he trusts them. "I don't think the city helped, but I feel like maybe it will be better once I figure out how to relax." If forming a bond is what his task is, he can do that. It's just going to be painful for a while. All the more reason to work on himself. "All this change and lack of structure has got my temper on a very short leash. That doesnt really help build anything, mostly just break things down."

"What do you usually do to cope with that? Work out in the gym? I offer a yoga group on deck three mornings a week. Maybe you'd find that relaxing," Malcolm offers.

"Working is what I would have done, but I don't have any of that to focus on now unless I just buried myself in personal projects. Working out is more keeping with the routine, but I've been trying to do more with it. It helps that I work there, and while it isn't working on an engine, maintaining the machines is an easy task that is sort of familiar. That helps." He's already avoided talking about Cain so the other form of relaxation he'd had available to him were completely off the table.

"I've never done Yoga, though I'm pretty flexible...I wonder if I would like it. I might have to come to a session and see how it goes."

"It's open to everyone and I don't get offended if you leave in the middle. I find it really helpful for mental health," Malcolm tells him.

The thought of just leaving before it was finished gets a slight eyebrow raise, not sure if he would be able to convince himself to do that even if he hated it.

"I'd see it through, but I suppose that's nice of you, not requiring so much commitment."

"It's a service to help people. Making them stay if they hate it isn't helping anyone," Malcolm points out.

But if you didn't finish, how do you know if you hate it or not? "That makes sense. I guess it wouldn't help anyone else who actually was enjoying themselves to have someone around who wasn't either."

"Exactly. You get it." He pauses. "If you need something else, a lot of people practice fighting in the Enclosure."

He perks up at the mention, "Actually, I was thinking I might see if I could use it to do flight runs again, I just...Haven't finished my model yet. Do you know if people have used it for something similar in the past?"

Malcolm considers that.

"A friend of mine recreated his ship."

"Is he still here? I'd love to talk to him if so." His ship was a pile of ashes and crap metal now anyways, so it wouldn't be like he could ever fly her again unless it was some kind of simulation.

Malcolm's expression creases for a moment and he looks at a spot near Abel's elbow.

"No. No, he left."

"Oh." Well, that was awkward.

"Sorry." He doesn't want to add anything else to that for fear of shoving his foot further in his mouth. He could have left on his own terms, but judging by Malcolm's face, that probably wasn't it. He's suddenly remembering he has tea, which is more lukewarm now than it had been, like usual when he got himself something warm to drink and immediately forgot about it.

"Oh. No. You don't have to be sorry. He got everything he ever wanted." He absolutely left on his own terms; Malcolm just has trouble letting go. "I'm happy for him." Sad for himself.

Well, that made treading forward a little easier. He takes a sip of his tea, "Were you close then?" Because he would absolutely love to know more about you than just your sex life, Malcolm. It would probably help.

"When you're always moving forward loss is difficult." Who ever this was wasn't dead, but even so he was gone. It will be difficult for him as well, he thinks, now that he'd actually have time to grieve his losses. You didn't have much opportunity on the battlefield.

"Yeah," Malcolm admits. "He was like... a mentor. He taught me a lot."

Abel is reminded of Commander cook, how he had looked up to him before everything had fallen apart. Heroes, mentors, commanders, they tended to disappoint you if they stuck around long enough in his experience.

"valuable resources and friends are sometimes impossible to replace. Hopefully you have someone else who can fill that role for you if you still need it."

"I did," Malcolm tells him. "But he left too. But I have another one now. He disappeared for a while, but he came back."

"How long have you been here?" It would be good to know, if he's lost close friends like that so often, it might be better to try not to get too close, though Abel isn't entirely sure how he can try and prevent it. It was good being around people who actually enjoyed talking to him.

"Almost two years now," Malcolm tells him. "I just graduated my second inmate. I just had my first ever first anniversary with my soulmate that I met here. It's a great place."

Abel tries his best not to make a face when he mentions his soulmate. Alright, yeah, Norton, he can see it. Fucking with feelings and soulmates definitely are in line with the gossip. "Congratulations, those are both things to be proud of. I'll have to peak at your notes, get some pointers."

“I’m hoping to get another inmate at the end of the month. Will thinks they should give me a vacation first, but it’s not like we can go anywhere and honestly working keeps me out of trouble,” Malcolm says with a shrug.

Abel had been taking a vacation of sorts since he got here and he had not enjoyed very much of it at all. "I can understand that. I haven't known what to do with myself half the time since I got here and it's gotten me in trouble a few times." Thankfully not a lot, and he feels like he had kind of fixed that one conversation since he hadn't just stormed away, but it was awkward sometimes, going to the Gym. Ah well, Jacob could judge his form all he wanted so long as they could stay civil.

"Is...Will your soulmate?" He knows already, but if he slips up later it will help not give anything else away. Besides, it might be a good thing hearing it from Malcolm rather than the Gossip chain.

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