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abrightboy

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From:

abrightboy

“More, actually,” Malcolm tells her. “His Warden sleeps in his bedroom and reads all his messages.”

From:

stressingwitchface

Her visible eye widens in horror and outrage. But she can't complain - it's against policy for inmates to voice complaints of wardens to other wardens.

"I see." She manages, after only a brief second to process this.

From:

abrightboy

“I’m not going to do that,” he assures her. “One of the reasons I have you staying upstairs is because some of the people mad about what you did are dangerous people and I don’t want someone to implement their own justice before you fulfill your obligations. Once you’ve finished the program, I think they’ll have simmered down and they won’t have anything to complain about. You’ll be… as relatively safe as someone can be here,” he explains.

From:

stressingwitchface

A slight sigh of impatience, once she relaxes back in her skin.

"If I had my magic, I could defend myself against dangerous people without any assistance or restrictions."

From:

abrightboy

He gives her a clearly affectionate smile.

“Kikimora, I say this with love, but if you had all your magic back, you’d be the dangerous people and you’d never graduate.”

From:

stressingwitchface

She scoffs, crossing her arms.

"You don't know that for certain. I'm a target here."

From:

abrightboy

Malcolm raises his eyebrows. “Is anyone targeting you that isn’t just mad at you for wrecking the place?”

From:

stressingwitchface

She shuts her mouth and refuses to look Malcolm in the eye, glaring at the wall. Diversion time!

"Is that you screaming I hear every night from upstairs?"

From:

abrightboy

Interesting.

“I did warn you.”

From:

stressingwitchface

"I crept downstairs in the middle of the night."

She takes a breath, then prompts;

"You were chained down. Like some mindless beast."

From:

abrightboy

"Yeah... I can see how that would be... alarming. But I can let myself in and out of them. They're for my safety. When I was about sixteen - when they started getting really bad - I actually ran out into traffic in the middle of the night. Almost got hit by a truck. That's when my therapist suggested the restraints and the mouthguard. So I wouldn't hurt myself or someone else walking during them and so I wouldn't bite my tongue," Malcolm tells her, gesturing to his face.

From:

stressingwitchface

Alarming? Kikimora scoffs. Try terrifying!

"And you have made no progress since you were sixteen? I can't imagine ever feeling safe sleeping in a new place!"

From:

abrightboy

"Well... I don't. But sometimes we have to do things that are uncomfortable. Though I wouldn't say I've made no progress. It's just... not enough to get rid of the restraints," he explains.

From:

stressingwitchface

Unacceptable!

"Have you tried spells! Hypnosis? Knock-out gas?"

From:

abrightboy

No knock-out gas. I have to be able to wake up, or it’s like I’m trapped in there. But I’ll tell you what: when you earn back your healing magic, I’ll let you try a spell.

From:

stressingwitchface

She scowls, unhappy, and moves away from the table.

"Healing magic doesn't WORK like that."

From:

abrightboy

“You’re the one that suggested a spell.” He leans forward. “So how does it work?”

From:

stressingwitchface

"I am only saying that you would need something else." She explains, scowling. "A diagnosis spell, to begin with. And then maybe a potion, to help you sleep through the night unencumbered."

From:

abrightboy

“How would you be able to be sure I’d sleep unencumbered as opposed to trapped in a mental hellscape?” Malcolm asks curiously.

From:

stressingwitchface

"Because the POTION is called Dreamless Sleep." She retorts, in that condescending tone of voice she rarely uses with Malcolm. Honestly!

From:

abrightboy

"Dreamless, huh? ...Does it work on parasomias, though?"

From:

stressingwitchface

"Only one way to find out."

From:

abrightboy

Can’t argue with that. So you’d need healing magic and potion magic for that?

From:

stressingwitchface

A dramatic sigh.

"Yes."

From:

abrightboy

"Then I think it's going to be a while," Malcolm tells her. "Sorry about all the noise. When you finish your restitution, you can sleep in your own cabin again." He pauses. "If, at that point, you ever feel like anyone might be... plotting anything against you, please come to me. Some people here seem to have an insane amount of regard for mashed potatoes and walls." And less for lives.