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[withintenfeet]

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[withintenfeet]

She might be able to accept that later, once she's settled more. It's not your fault, that you're a warden and she isn't, but -

It changes things.

[abrightboy]

A lot of inmates have said something like that. Yeah. Even Neal.

[withintenfeet]

I'm pretty sure inmates make the best wardens, if they choose to stay. There are things they're going to understand that we don't, not fully.

...I'd make a horrible inmate, I think.

[abrightboy]

I've never really understood why I wasn't one, but... Will seems to understand why.

If graduated inmates make the best Wardens, why does the Admiral bring people here just to be Wardens? Inmates resent us.

[withintenfeet]

The more responsibility you have, the more resentment you get with it. Especially if no one knows why we have more power than they do.

I'm pretty sure I understand why you're a warden, too. But there's nothing...objective or official I can point to. The Admiral isn't going to explain himself.

[abrightboy]

I’m not sure Walter - my Inmate - actually wants me to help him.

[withintenfeet]

You, specifically, or anyone at all?

[abrightboy]

I’m not entirely sure.

[withintenfeet]

He could be pinning any frustration about the Barge itself onto you. And then, any time you make a mistake or have a disagreement - that's just fuel for what he already believes.

It isn't fair, but it's normal. I know it's hard, not to take it personally, but sometimes...what people really need is someone who's patient and stubborn and won't let themselves be driven away.

[abrightboy]

That's what I've been trying to do.

[withintenfeet]

Then I think you're on the right track.

...Remember to be patient with yourself, too.

[abrightboy]

I try to be. But... sometimes I try to be stubborn and not let myself be driven away and people get really mad about it. They say that not just... going away forever when they tell you to fuck off isn't respecting their boundaries. So... so how do I tell when I should be stubborn and persist in the face of being told to go fuck myself and when I should just... go away forever and never bother them?

[withintenfeet]

Ah. [ It's the achingly sympathetic huff of a man who knows that struggle too well. ] That's...I think that's difficult territory for everyone. Especially if there are, um, mixed signals going on.

[ Like, wild example here, killing you three times and then making you immortal. ]

If it's a peer - someone who was a friend, or could have been - then the best response might be to just - honour it, but make it clear that if they want to reach out to you again, they can do that. You haven't stopped caring, you haven't decided they aren't worth it, you're just doing what they asked for however long they need. And if that's forever, that doesn't - that can be all right.

[ It's clear, in his tone, that he knows how difficult accepting that can be. ]

If it's someone you're meant to be responsible for, it gets harder. You can give them space, but only for so long before it feels like you've abandoned them.

[abrightboy]

What if... it's someone you just met and you think you just... got off on the wrong foot? Is there a way to get them to give you a chance or is it nor worth it? Or even... not possible?