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[inthebiblicalsense]

[In a very serious, business tone, Abel's answering machine sounds after any attempted calls that aren't responded to right away.]

You've reached Abel. I am not available at the moment, but I'll get back to you as soon as I can. If this is urgent, leave the line open.

And if this is Fitz I hope you're having a good day.

Comments

[inthebiblicalsense]

And yet, as Abel reads and scrolls, he's putting it into context with what he'd seen, what he see's now.

To be completely honest, he isn't all that surprised, though the beginning of it, the sentencing grates at him. Of course if it were him in that position, on Earth, he can't see the same thing happening.

He's a fast reader, scrolling down to the end in a few minutes, using his free hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, rub at his eyes before resting his forehead on a fist, deep breath in, out.

"You know... This information is just a desperate attempt to justify what they did. But it doesn't, it doesn't even come close. You know that, right?"

[reargunner]

"That information is cold facts, Ethan," he replies, far too easily. "Dates, times, records, that's who I was when they took hooked me out of New Volga."

He glances down at Abel then, and shrugs.

"But before you get to thinking I feel bad about it, I don't. I know who I was before I was arrested, and I know what prison turned me into. What I did in there was necessary for my survival. Just like everything else I ever did." His eyes lower to the file. The words would be pretty damning without context. They're damning enough with context.

"Until you showed up, anyway."

[inthebiblicalsense]

"You misunderstand me." He turns in his chair, still holding onto his hand. "What you did, who you were, that has no bearing on whether or not what happened was ethical. It just wasn't, and that is also a fact, Alexei. You're a person, even in prison you have rights, and obviously they never afforded you those, or anyone else in New Volga." Given what he's heard and read of their force, the sentencing, it's all fucking corrupt anyways, but that isn't how it's supposed to be.

[reargunner]

Alexei pauses, then lets out a soft breath through his nose.

"Whether or not how New Volga operates is ethical doesn't change what's already happened." He shrugs one shoulder. "That damage? That's done. And I think I've got more right to be angry about it than anyone."

Even Ethan. Especially Ethan.

"I didn't ask you to read my file so we could talk about Martian judicial corruption. We both know it exists, and I've lived it."

[inthebiblicalsense]

"I never said you don't have a right to be angry, just... I sincerely doubt this is permissible in court at all." If it was, it would only be proof of corruption, in his mind. It sounds terrible, honestly, when he reads it, but when you start to add context, what happened, any of it, even if the board wouldn't see it for what it really is, the media sure would.

"I think I'm- We're not on the same page again." Because honestly, as much as the information is cold, he still see's it as an asset. "Why did you ask me to read it?"

[reargunner]

"Because I wanted you to know what it said."

No more or less than that. Alexei shrugs a little and retreats away from the computer to sit down again, sinking down and resting his head against the back of the couch.

"That's all."

Maybe Abel would have read it without him here, but at least now it's out of the way.

[inthebiblicalsense]

He's trying to talk himself out of believing it has to be more than that. Cain isn't him though, and maybe it's as simple as that.

"Alright...I read it." He affirms, frowning over at Cain as he makes his way over to the couch again. He glances back at the computer a moment, closing out of the file.

"I'm going to encrypt this, if you don't mind. I'll give you the passkey, but I don't think it's smart, leaving this on a thumb drive like this, even if I lock it in the safe."

[reargunner]

From Cain's side, it really is just as simple as that. He wanted Abel to read it, to be able to study his reaction when he did, and nothing bad happened. All good for him as far as he's concerned.

"Yeah, good idea." He rubs his hand over his face for a moment. "And—... let me know if you're gonna show it to anyone else, yeah? Got enough people here that I barely know knowing too much about me as it is."

He doesn't think that's going to be a problem, but it doesn't hurt to straight up ask either.

[inthebiblicalsense]

"I have a mind to show Tendi...she's been giving me information on conflict resolutions from her starfleet logs. I can leave the Evals out and lock those under a different key if you prefer?"

He feels weird just dropping the matter, but if Cain says he's fine, he should believe him. Fitz had said he needed to calibrate, and reading into every conversation, trying to be more attentive, he's sure it doesn't help either of them if he asks for clarification a bunch of times.

"We do also have lawyer on board, Lark Tennant... I wonder if it would be smart to ask him for legal advice."

[reargunner]

"... Yeah. I'd like that." A sigh. A little tension seems to bleed out of him. "Thanks."

Tendi is... fine. He doesn't think she'd judge either of them on what's on that chip no matter how bad some of it looks. Probably wouldn't mind too much if she had some questions for him about it all either.

But then his eyes snap open and he straightens up, frowning suddenly.

"Not Lark."

[inthebiblicalsense]

Well that's at least good. Mutual friends makes things easier at times, and he's thankful for Tendi, how she seems to make friends everywhere just like Aerith did.

He isn't exactly familiar with Lark himself though, unsure where that reaction is coming from. "Can I ask why? I'm honestly not familiar with him, just his profession."

[reargunner]

Alexei looks away for a moment, as if he's unsure if he should say anything, then he leans forwards to brace his forearms on his knees and sighs.

"Some of the things other inmates have said about that guy. He... I don't wanna trust him with this shit, Ethan." Not just for himself. The idea of someone with that kind of reputation getting hold of such sensitive information about both of them makes him uneasy.

"He gives me a bad feeling."

[inthebiblicalsense]

"I trust your gut feeling more than mine, but I do need legal advice. I can read all I want about the system and proper conduct but that doesn't translate into practical experience." Which is to say that he doesn't want to dismiss Alexei's concern, but he still needs the help.

"If I give him the base details I'm not sure how much that would help, but I don't have to give him this file. Does that sit better? Or would you prefer me leave our case out of it, just ask him for coaching?" That wouldn't be as helpful, but certainly more than nothing.

[reargunner]

"Seriously, we're on an inter-spatial, cross-universe prison ship and the only fucking real lawyer here is one with a recorded past history of attacking inmates unprovoked and being an emotionally manipulative fuckhead?"

He does have to press his face into his hands for a moment, there. Alexei knows that Ethan would find the help useful for his case and a lawyer is probably just what he needs, but does it have to be that one..?

"Guess that tracks for lawyers..."

Slowly, he drops his hands down again.

"I don't want him knowing about me. Not like this."

[inthebiblicalsense]

Abel's eyebrows raise, "where are you getting this information from? I feel like be should be demoted for that, unprovoked assault..." He swears there should be an incident log somewhere. In fact he has a mind to start one, at least for himself. Even if that isn't in the spirit of believing people can change, he'd like a record of this shit.

"Then I'll skip the counsel and ask for coaching instead. Thats still helpful. It's not just my case and you have a say in who knows. We have time, as much as I want to be prepared there are always chances for someone better suited to show up, someone you would trust more."

[reargunner]

"There's a-... there's a book, in the Speakeasy."

He drops back against the back of the couch again and loosely folds his arms.

"For inmates to record their experiences with the wardens here, if they want to. Give others an idea of what to expect. I read it in there."

[inthebiblicalsense]

Finishing the first encryption, he closes the file for now, figuring that is safe enough. He can store the thumb drive in the safe, empty and ready to reuse when they finally leave, but he isn't going to keep that intel on there much longer.

Pushing back from the work space, he gets up, finding a spot on the couch close to him, knee touching his thigh, "Oh god...now I'm worried about what might be written in there about me."

[reargunner]

A small half-smirk pulls at his lips for a moment. He turns himself on the couch and swings his legs up over Abel's thighs, getting comfortable.

"Would you be disappointed or relieved if I told you 'nothing'?"

Abel doesn't even have his name in there. At least, not the last time he looked.

[inthebiblicalsense]

"Relieved? No offense, but I'd rather not have a bunch of unfiltered opinions about me and my conduct go up and circulate where I can't see it." He understands that the same thing happens for inmates, and people might use them for the same purpose, but he doesn't tend to do that, just posts incident reports now that he's been paired with Fitz.

He rests his arms over Cains legs, getting comfy himself and gently rubs at his calves absently, still making a face at the thought of being in a gossip book.

"Justine already compared me to a slaver for having employees in the gym after I said I didn't want someone working in there that didn't want to. It's a safety hazard, but if she thinks I can force Jacob to do anything, she's sorely mistaken." Which if that's what someone will say to his face, he's a bit concerned what they might behind his back.

[reargunner]

"Hey, it's not all bad things. There's some downright glowing reviews in there for some of them."

He does make a face at the mention of Justine and shakes his head. She sure is something.

"Wouldn't worry about her though. Can you imagine her lowering herself to walking into a dive bar?"

[inthebiblicalsense]

"Now I feel like I should guess who has the best ones...got to be Aerith on top, John Doe?" He can think of a few others but those are his top guesses.

He does laugh at the thought, shaking his head, "absolutely not." He rests his head back against the couch and sighs, "I don't remember if I said thank you, by the way. For bringing me that chip. Thats- I thought it had been destroyed, and there's so much there that can help."

Another slow breath in, "if- If I didn't treat that the way you expected me to, I'm sorry. All that was going through my head was how it's going to help me ensure you don't end up back there, in New Volga."

[reargunner]

A nod, and another nod. Aerith and John being amongst the highest opinions is a given if anyone has even only heard of them in passing. He could give a few more names but Abel keeps on talking, and he looks at the other man with his eyebrows slightly raised.

"Didn't treat me the way I expected? Where the fuck is that coming from?"

Admittedly, even with Abel's assurances, Cain is still somewhat resigned to ending up back in prison once they're tracked down and brought in. He can't really see a way out of it even if Abel manages to start court proceedings immediately.

But he's ready for it. It's fine. He tries not to think too hard about it here.

[inthebiblicalsense]

"No, no...the chip. I just started looking at it, immediately. And it obviously made you uncomfortable." He hadn't even thought twice. He'd given it back, obviously the next step was review, at least for him.

"I know you said it was fine, but I guess...I feel like I did something wrong and you had to just deal with it. Again."

[reargunner]

He scrunches his nose up a bit.

"Ethan, Jesus—" His arm props against the back of the couch and he leans into it.

"You can't always assume that I'm having an emotional response to something you did wrong. Sometimes I'm just... feeling a way about something in the moment, you know?" He scuffs his hand lightly against his hair.

"Putting shit like that on yourself every time isn't fair on you. Or me."

[inthebiblicalsense]

"How am I supposed to know the difference when you react immediately after I've done something?" He did ask, and the answer didn't exactly clarify what he was feeling, just that he wanted him to read.

"I'm trying to be more mindful, but finding a happy medium between not enough and too much is a process." His hand slides up his leg, gently gripping his thigh, "I know it's probably going to be irritating, but I'm asking to learn, not because Im trying to torture myself, or make you feel bad."