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[abrightboy]

This is Bright. Leave a message.

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[abrightboy]

He wanted me to restrict her access to the dining room so she can’t enter without a chaperone. I told him I won’t commit to a particular consequence until I finish investigating her conduct. He said if I wouldn’t, he’d take matters into his own hands. I tried to point out that I didn’t say I wouldn’t, I only said I want to understand what happened and then not overreact to it. Apparently that is equivalent to killing people.

[pharadyne]

[There's a long pause. Then Norton starts to giggle. And before long the giggle turns into sharp and shrill laughter.]

I couldn't get a lick of justice every time I was murdered and now someone comes along and banishes the pitiful little twerp from the dining hall over some broken dishes and a solo food fight?

[abrightboy]

This is kind of my point. And if she doesn't pose a continuing danger to the flatware, I won't allow that kind of heavyhandedness and if he doesn't like it, then we'll see about that.

[pharadyne]

[Norton gets his unpleasant giggles under control although he's still got a tense smile.]

Officially, I'm not entirely certain his remit extends beyond the kitchen. Dining hall is a different room. More common area than work area. Like banning someone from the deck if they made a mess of the greenhouse.

Unofficially, getting on the bad side of someone who handles your food can lead to unpleasant consequences, as I have the misfortune to know. Also Archer is one of those wardens who probably once fought off two-hundred soldiers, a dragon, and a pair of sharks simultaneously and thought it a pleasant diversion. If he gets stubborn about it, it might be difficult to stop him from blocking her from going in, regardless of what you decide.

[abrightboy]

I know I give the impression of an effete, mentally unstable talker, but I'm dangerous, too, I don't eat that much and I'm fed up with people treating murder like a parking ticket and parking tickets like murder.

[pharadyne]

I know you are, sweetheart, but if you're there fighting with Archer to let Kikimora in, and making sure she's allowed to stay, then in the process you're also providing the very chaperoning presence Archer wants in the first place.

What you do think ought to be done with her?

[abrightboy]

I haven't finished my investigation, so I don't know yet, but if this was a one off - and I currently suspect it was - then I think she should spend a week working in each area she vandalized, to understand and learn respect for the time and effort put into the things she destroyed. I think that would be fair restitution.

[pharadyne]

Very fair, although fair isn't always satisfying.

I think one problem the ship has after events like this is that there's no consensus on whether afterward the point should be punishment, prevention, or...blast, I can't think of another word that begins with "P." Let's just stick with "restitution" then. Can't do all three equally so someone's always displeased with the result.

[abrightboy]

If the point is to graduate inmates, then prevention - for the safety of people and property - and restitution - for the rehabilitation of the inmate and the peace of mind and justice for those already harmed - should be the priority. And openness about how the decided course of action provides those things is important too. And a just course of action, well-executed, provides all of them. Punishment may be periphery, if the inmate dislikes any part of their requirements or restrictions, but it shouldn’t be the point. And at this point, I feel this ticks all the boxes. It even ticks stupid Archer’s stupid boxes, except I won’t require her to be chaperoned into the dining hall until she’s made restitution; I won’t allow her to use any common areas she vandalized at all until she’s made restitution at them. So far, nobody has suggested that she attacked any people and her motives in her little crime spree align with that. I’ll hold off until everyone has had a chance to respond, because someone may yet bring evidence or testimony that changes my mind, but if I’ve done due diligence and the solution is fair, then I can stand by it. Everyone will never agree with anything.

[pharadyne]

What do you do if the people who would be the recipient of restitution only want punishment? Not that it's a given in this particular case, but I can tell you, darling, when Envy smashed in my skull some time ago, I'd have had no interest in restitution. Not even sure what restitution would look like for that. Anyhoo, at the time all I really wanted was for him to suffer in pain and fear and have enormous regrets about every choice that led to that moment.

Come to think of it, I still rather want that.

[abrightboy]

That’s an understandable impulse, Norton. But you don’t really want that. You want recognition of that. You want to be heard. You want that damage acknowledged, and it should be. And for violent crimes, restrictions and limitations should be involved. That’s when public safety is a factor. [He pauses.] Envy causes a lot of pain. What do you think it’s here for?

[pharadyne]

I want those things, but that doesn't exclude wanting Envy to suffer. I told you once that I never murdered just for fun and laughs. I don't think I mentioned at the time that I did thoroughly enjoy the murdering when it was someone who deserved it, though. And Envy absolutely deserves it.

I don't know why he's on the ship, but considering his behaviour here, I'm fairly sure good people back where he came from would celebrate his demise, too.

[abrightboy]

Of course. It will always be the natural impulse. But you’re a Warden here because you can rise above it. We’re not going to like everyone we’re here to help.

[pharadyne]

It's not worth getting demoted over, certainly. I'm a warden because I learned not to let my impulse to get even get in the way of more important things.

[He thinks of leaving it at that, but he respects Malcolm enough to be honest with him and Malcolm's never judged him badly for his less-than-nice feelings.]

I'm not really here to help people, though. That's just the job. I'm here for the payment, and because I like it here. There are some people I like, that I want to help. Inmates and wardens. But inmates collectively? [He gives a small shake of his head.] There've been some inmates I've been downright angry to see graduate. Like Henry. I don't care if he changed, or became a better person, or whatever. He did something extraordinarily awful to me and never really paid for it and I hate that he gets to go off and live his life.