Entry One: Video Entry

[themountie]

[The camera turns on to show what appears to be an actual cabin in the woods, quite small, but complete with a roaring fire blazing in the hearth. The man holding the camera is wearing full Mountie regalia, including a Stetson hat, and looks pleased as punch.]

My thanks for the accommodations, Admiral. It's rather more space than I need, but I'm sure I'll finds ways to fill it.

[There's a bark from offscreen, and the man raises an eyebrow and says, quite pointedly:] No. Not with Krispy Kremes. We don't even have a Krispy Kreme on board, as far as I know.

[He turns his attention back to the camera, clearing his throat.] I beg your pardon, everyone. My name is Constable Benton Fraser, RCMP. I first came to the Barge-- well, that's not important right now, but I'll be here as a warden for the time being. I'm very much looking forward to it. [Horrifyingly, this appears to be genuine.]

Comments

[maybebatman]

Well, there's a slight difference in terminology -- ports are the various settings the Barge stops at, floods take place on the ship itself -- but it all falls under the general weirdness umbrella.

[themountie]

Ah. I see. [Some people get emotional when things bother them, or louder, or chattier, or just plain upset; but Fraser, he simply shuts down. Throughout this exchange, his shoulders have been stiffening, his expression going steadily more and more wooden, until finally he looks like he could have been carved from granite. It's not angry, or even cold -- just blank.]

Thank you for informing me, sir. Much appreciated.

[maybebatman]

You're welcome.

[ The tin soldier effect is a little disturbing to witness. A little disheartening, even. ]

Do you drink, Constable?

[themountie]

No, sir. I don't.

[maybebatman]

[ That's... unsurprising. ]

Well, I won't advise you to start, but I hope you've got a decent coping mechanism or two under your belt.

The CES might interest you.

[themountie]

Ah. [Something in his expression clears -- or, rather, animates -- a little at that.] That would be the Closed Ecological System, yes? I asked the Admiral specifically about it.

[maybebatman]

That's the one. I haven't had a chance to visit yet, but it should come in handy in case you contract cabin fever, and supposedly, it brings you closer to home. Your dog will appreciate the jogging opportunity, if nothing else.

[themountie]

Yes, I thought it might ameliorate the situation, being away from home again. Even Chicago had an outdoors of sorts... I'm afraid neither of us do well without fresh air. You don't feel the same-- I'm sorry, I never got your name.

[maybebatman]

Boyd Crowder. And I'm actually quite fond of the outdoors, coming from Eastern Kentucky. It's more that... well, I'm not sure how ready I am to confront an illusion of home.

Besides, I'd need an escort, or at least a permission slip to go in there.

[themountie]

You're an inmate, then? [The inmates are so polite! He feels good about this.] It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Crowder.

[maybebatman]

Likewise, Constable Fraser.

[ He's sorry to give you a wrongful impression of the general inmate population. ]

And yes, I am. I guess the lack of fashionable jumpsuits makes us harder to identify.

[themountie]

That seems like a good thing, in a non-traditional program such as this. I'm sure it fosters a sense of community and trust. [Yes, he's really serious.]

Would you say you're coming along well here, Mr. Crowder? If you don't mind my asking.

[maybebatman]

It's certainly less offensive to the eyes, and maybe it does help bridge the inmate-warden gap somewhat. A sense of community and trust, though... that might be pushin' it a little.

[ The earnest optimism is pretty endearing, though. ]

I'm doing alright, Constable, but I haven't sprouted wings and a halo yet, so I figure I still have some distance to go.

[themountie]

Nobody's perfect, Mr. Crowder. And I'm sure you're doing your best -- I'm sure most people here are. [Everyone, he does not say, because he's not quite as naive as he lets on.]

Do you have yourself a Warden yet?

[maybebatman]

No, not yet.

You seem to have a very positive view on people, Constable. Where does it come from, if you don't mind me asking? Law enforcement isn't a field where one tends to see the best mankind has to offer.

[themountie]

[There's a pause before he answers, and in his mind, what he's calculating is: the real answer, or the easy one? Which is a question he asks himself about a lot of things, really.]

Well, Mr. Crowder, my father used to say two things. The first was... [He hesitates, then frowns.] All right, I don't remember the first, but the second was: "Every man has a story, if you know where to look for it."

That's not to excuse criminal behavior by any means, and you'll find that I'm far from doing so, but... Very few people do things without a reason. Very, very few.

[maybebatman]

Well, I'm definitely inclined to agree with your father's assessment. And I can see how such a view would steer you away from assuming the worst intentions in people, but that's still no reason to expect the best.

As far as I know, people's chief reason for doing things is self-interest.

[themountie]

In which case, all I would have to do for any given person is show them how the public interest is also in their own.

But I'm not sure I agree, at any rate. I've had some remarkable successes.

[maybebatman]

Well, I wish you luck in that endeavor, although in some cases, you may have to lead a revolution to make sure public and private interests coincide.

What kind of successes have you had?

[themountie]

Oh, all sorts. Let's see... Ah. [He smiles a little, wistful.] All right. William Porter. Two years ago, he drove the getaway car for a bank robbery. However, he double-crossed his partners, stole the money, and set an elaborate trap to catch them and kill them -- a scheme in which he would undoubtedly be killed himself, but that was no matter, since the whole arrangement was intended to bequeath all the money to his son Del.

We had a long talk, William and I, standing right in the middle of this firetrap of his. The two of us, and my partner. And it was in his self-interest to murder us, and for a while, I genuinely believed he would...

[maybebatman]

And yet here you are, so I'm guessing no murdering took place.

[themountie]

[His smile widens, brightens. He really was very proud of William -- he still is.] It didn't, no. In the end, we agreed that while his self-interest was to make a great deal of money and die in a blaze of glory, leaving his son unburdened, that was actually very far indeed from what was in Del's best interest. William turned himself in and took a reduced sentence in exchange for testifying against his partners, and...

My goodness, I suppose he'll be getting out any day now. I should write to him.

[maybebatman]

You should. I'm sure he'd appreciate it.

[ He's not gonna let his inner criminal speak up about how unwise it is to rat out your partners in crime. It's too nice a story to ruin with technicalities. ]

That's quite the story, Constable Fraser. It sounds to me like you'll do a good job here. With some inmates, at least.

[themountie]

[Oh, he has stories about that, too, like the time his father died...]

Thank you kindly, Mr. Crowder. I very much appreciate the endorsement.

If you ever need that CES pass, by the way, please feel free to ask.

[maybebatman]

[ That sounds like a less uplifting tale. ]

I may take you up on that. Good luck, Constable.