(Untitled)

[onlynothuman]

Jervis might not be entirely wrong in comparing Simon to a caged beasty. He certainly has a tendency to pace as feeding time approaches. Four steps measures the length of his glass wall. Four steps turn four steps turn four steps turn, his shoulder just rubbing the glass

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[goshdarnniteowl]

Daniel takes his friend to one of the private therapy rooms, assuring the concerned guards that he won't need any more help. The call has been made to Superintendent Warden about what steps should be taken from here. It's all about waiting until they hear back.

The door closes, and he waits for Walter to sit. And then follows suit, burying his head in his hands.

"...Walter..."

[holyrorschach]

Part of Walter is deeply ashamed...but that's only because his friend is disappointed in him. He knows what he was doing was, in the grand scheme of things, what needs to be done. There's no fixing some people and no keeping them locked up forever. There's only one real answer. Daniel just isn't ready to accept that.

"Daniel... He was talking about attacking you. Took it as a threat. I'm tired of letting them threaten us. Tired of taking it."

He sighs and lays his arms on the table; palms flat on the surface as he surveys the damage to his bloodied knuckles.

[goshdarnniteowl]

"So you let them get to you, instead." He pushes his hair out of his eyes, glaring across the room at Walter. But anger only lasts so long. His expression softens into something more worried as he thinks more about the potential consequences of all of this. If Walter loses his job, if charges are pressed, if Simon's seriously hurt...

"What now? Huh?"

[holyrorschach]

His fingers curl and his hands ball up white-knuckle tight on the table. Daniel is right. Walter did let them get to him. But what's the alternative? Ignore them? Just allow them to continue ruining the world?

"Now? Now, they'll probably fire me. Give me more time to do what we should be doing. Less time wasted here babysitting monsters."
He huffs and stares back at Dan.
"Can't stay here anyway. I can't smile and cater to the whims of the same scum we're trying to fight. Can't be docile and obedient to them. Not like you."

[goshdarnniteowl]

He feels an angry reply rise in his throat. But he bites it back. Not because Walter's right. But because he isn't going to let the dig get to him. Because he can control himself.

"If that's how you feel about it. I'm not going to get into that argument with you."

[holyrorschach]

Lashing out hasn't gotten him anything but left even more alone. He's not good at this. At ... people. Walter doesn't know what to say when you let someone down. Everything is always wrong...

"... I'm sorry, Daniel ..."

He brings his two fists together on the table and lowers his head over them. A gesture of supplication. A familiar pose when expecting to be struck and willing to just accept it.

"I've let you down. Whatever happens... don't worry. I'm not your responsibility."

[goshdarnniteowl]

Oh, geez. He sighs.

"It's not... we'll get through it, okay? If you were provoked..." He runs his hands through his hair again. There's one big question, really, before -- anything else. "Do you want to keep working here? Because -- I think, I-I don't know what happened, but if he provoked you, you might still be able to keep your job. But if you don't -- um. That's okay, too."

[holyrorschach]

The right answer is 'yes'. He should try to keep his job. He needs the money to live and to help fund their real work. He needs to not leave Daniel alone here. It wouldn't be an honest answer, though.

"...No. I can't. Wouldn't be able to promise the same wouldn't happen again." He wants to go finish what he started, as it is.

"Will...find another job."
He's somehow doubtful, but Dan needs some reassurance.
"Short hours. Something simple. Boring. Like my old job..."

[goshdarnniteowl]

Dan, honestly... he's a little relieved. "Yeah. That sounds good. It'll -- it might be better for you. Less stress. And I can keep an eye on things here."

[holyrorschach]

"Heh. Yeah. Less stress. Not one of the patients here, Daniel. I don't need to be coddled."

His eyes are so blank, even when he offers small smiles for his friend. Walter's somewhere far off now. It's like that a lot, lately. His words and actions are like some kind of auto-pilot.

"More worried about you. Concerned that you're too trusting of the criminals here. Too sympathetic."

[goshdarnniteowl]

"I'm not trying to coddle you. I just..." Sigh. "Sorry. I didn't mean to sound like I was." He scrubs at his face, tiredly. "I'm not Miss Quinzel, you know. I'm not going to... try and help any of them to escape. I know what they did, just as well as you." But he has been talking to them a lot, hasn't he?

"It's not hurting anything. And if they like me, maybe -- you know, maybe they'll let me in on something they wouldn't, otherwise."

[holyrorschach]

"Don't think you'd do anything like that. Just concerned that they may take advantage of your kindness."
After all, Eddie managed to break out using Walter and he's never trusted one of them for an instant. Chatting nicely with them will just let them get closer and put Dan at risk.

"Maybe you're right." He doubts it. "Hope you get useful information from them. Just... be careful around them."

[goshdarnniteowl]

"I will. Promise." He smiles, trying to look reassuring. Confident. It doesn't go quite as well as he'd have liked. "They aren't going to get one over on me."

[arkham_warden]

Geoffrey got word, not that he needed it. He watched the whole thing in his office from several angles. He then set a timer and waited for someone to come to him with the news. He yelled at them for taking too long, then made his way to the room where the orderly was taken to cool off.

He bursts in the door, looking every bit like a disappointed and angered parent. He crosses his arms and turns his nose up, almost refusing to look at the two men.

"This is very unfortunate, Mr. Kovacs. I like you, I really do. You've been a good worker. However, I can't allow this behavior to go unpunished. I'm suggesting three months probation after which you'll be allowed to return, if you've completed anger management training. And if Simon doesn't press charges, of course."

[holyrorschach]

"Not necessary, sir. It's better if I just go. Not cut out for this work."

Walter stands up slowly, ready to leave the building for good and glad of it. Geoffrey Warden has done a lot of good work to secure this place, and for that Walter respects him. Even if he seems like a possible homosexual.

[goshdarnniteowl]

Dan isn't sure whether to sit, or stand. "We talked it over, sir. If -- if there's anything I can do to..." He doesn't even know. "How's... Mr. Garoux?"