Voicemail (IC Contact Post) NEW

[abrightboy]

This is Bright. Leave a message.

Comments

Re: Private | Audio

[talesuntold]

"I mean... he couldn't. Not safely, not with my virus involved. It would have meant waiting till I have a deal. I'm a science experiment. He doesn't have the scientific skills to do it, and Iris's blood worked better than his because she's different. He could have used her blood, been the one to inject it, I suppose."

Maggie purses her lips. "But he probably wouldn't have offered. Because I'm a woman. And there are complicated gendered pack dynamics that apply to any human woman who's turned. He never told Iris, because she's something different. Which I thought showed a stunning lack of foresight; he told me it never occurred to him that she might turn anyone someday. I wasn't angry on my own behalf; he didn't owe me anything. But I still believe Iris deserved honesty and candor."

Re: Private | Audio

[abrightboy]

"I think the... working relationship between Iris and Lark is complicated and fraught and nothing I want to get in the middle of. Did you talk to Iris about that situation between them or just Lark?" Malcolm asks.

Re: Private | Audio

[talesuntold]

"Lark first, because I got ambushed by 'one woman per pack, and if you sleep with any male wolves, they'll be beholden and bound to you in ways that compromise their future autonomy and ability to consent to situations.'" Which, you know, was a fun revelation. "So I kind of fell into the middle. And I'm really fucking glad the pack configuration here didn't leave any of us finding that out the hard way."

Re: Private | Audio

[abrightboy]

"When he got back, Lark did say it was a consideration when he offered to turn me. That I'm in a monogamous relationship with a man," Malcolm admits. "If it was something less... permanent, there might be cause for concern, but I'm with Will now." He makes a bit of a face. "So it's a change from people finding that the concerning thing."

Re: Private | Audio

[talesuntold]

"I think it's partly that I'm a journalist. I feel super strongly about the importance of truth and the fact that when you try too hard to control the flow of information, especially when you keep it from your own team, you leave them open to blundering into danger. Pack is too important for that." You contingency plan and share information to protect people. Period.

But she's going to switch gears and focus in on the last thing Malcolm said instead of lingering there. Maggie tilts her head. "You been taking a lot of shit for your relationship?"

Re: Private | Audio

[abrightboy]

Malcolm shifts his weight. Fidgets. Then finally just says "...Yeah."

Re: Private | Audio

[talesuntold]

She frowns. "Because of the warden-inmate thing, or...?"

Re: Private | Audio

[abrightboy]

"Sometimes. But not only that. Some people think I'm going to manipulate him. Some people think he's going to manipulate me. Will's warden thinks we're going too fast and using words that are too intense. Jesus thinks I'm an unethical sexual predator using Will for gratification and endangering his graduation without a thought or care. So the opinions vary wildly, but we're definitely considered the Barge's Most Problematic Couple, by and large," Malcolm tells her. "I kind of wish I could say it's just the Inmate/Warden thing."

Re: Private | Audio

[talesuntold]

"Jesus considers all warden and inmate relationships unethical, for the record. It isn't just yours. If you don't push, he keeps it to himself, but it's there." Speaking as someone else whose relationship he disapproves of.

"But hearing it from that many angles sounds exhausting."

Re: Private | Audio

[abrightboy]

"He does, but he considers mine... moreso. Worse. And I do not have to push him to hear about it. He says it's because Will was my counseling client, but... he wasn't. But Jesus doesn't believe me. He thinks I'm taking advantage of him or something. Like that's possible. He doesn't really know Will, is the thing, so what he thinks he's protecting him from... he doesn't understand what's actually a danger to Will," Malcolm explains. He shrugs again. "It doesn't actually matter. There's no... path to get along with him. He thinks I'm scum."