[ Locke appears there not much later, plain white t-shirt and khaki jeans, it's a relief for him not needing to carry the vest chock-full of things in the pockets anymore. He looks worried, and when he sees Narvin, it strikes him he doesn't look unlike John had pictured him: polite and collected. Very scientist-like. When he speaks he does so in a rush. ]
Doctor Narvin. [ He holds out a hand. ] John Locke. I'm-- sorry I never contacted you earlier.
Coordinator Narvin, actually. [In Narvin's mind "Doctor" is a mad renegade with poor fashion sense. His handshake is very brief and his hand has an inhuman coolness.]
Between the general events of the past month and the communication lines frequently on the fritz, there was hardly opportunity for an extended chat.
[ He is more startled by the title than by the coldness of Narvin's hand, and he is quick to take a seat on an armchair, with another nearby for the other man to take if he pleases. His eyes have dazed away elsewhere, and it's obvious he is uncomfortable about what he has to tell. ]
I should have talked to you earlier. It's not that I don't take interest in Jesse's job. I didn't want him to feel... coerced. But now, I, I think I know why he didn't want me to, either.
[ His brow furrowed, eyes wide open, he runs a hand across his own face. ]
But I don't want him to lose his position, Mr. Narvin.
[Narvin sits as well and waits with perfect stillness for Locke to speak. When he does, Narvin tilts his head in slight confusion. He has the feeling he's missing something, especially since as far as Narvin is concerned, they did communicate about Jesse's job, albeit very briefly and non-verbally.]
You're talking about his...mental instability?
[His planet doesn't have a problem with addicts or drug abuse. What they *do* have is a population highly prone to mental illness and a massive taboo against acknowledging it or talking about it. So when Narvin makes assumptions about the problem with Jesse, they go all in the wrong direction.]
I'm not talking about a mental disease. Well, sort of, just... He is an addict. And he has been taking lately, you know?
[ Suddenly he's anxious. What if this warrants Jesse being kicked from the lab for good? Either way, he tells himself, it's no question that Narvin would have sooner or later noticed that Jesse was failing to go, and if he was in zero... ]
It's-- a problem of his, and I'm sure the position at the lab..., eased it somehow..., but it's also all he has.
[ Eyes wide open he looks up at Narvin, seeking comprehension. ]
[ He leans back in his armchair, still rubbing the chin, and gestures with extended fingers as he speaks. ]
What he has made, it's... a form of amphetamine. It keeps one awake, enhances-- physical sensations. But once it's taken constantly, which I believe he has been doing... [ He lowers his head, a little shame, a little guilt evident in his expression. ] It makes one... need it. Feel... sick, and paranoid. Aggressive. And it could damage his brain, if it went on. The withdrawal is why I decided-- why we decided-- he should stay in level zero. He must be physically needing the substance now.
[ John leans forward now, closer, running a hand though his bald head, obviously trying to explain himself. ]
Why-- I'm telling you this... It's because it's not fair. It's not fair what he did. It's not fair that you don't know that he used your lab equipment for that, that he lied to us. But, once he gets out... He's going to need things to do. To fill his mind, his time. Which, [ he clears his throat ] can be hard here, if we don't have
( ... )
[He frowns. Narvin doesn't like that he was lied to. Used. But at least Mr. Pinkman's actions didn't seem to be particularly malicious. And although he may not understand addiction very well, he knows the value of second chances. Narvin sighs.]
I'll need to know how the drug is made so I can prevent him from misusing lab resources again.
[ He closes his eyes, exhaling a breath of relief. ]
Thank you, sir.
[ The softening of his brow only lasts as far as Narvin's secon sentence, though: ]
I don't know how it's made. [ Just the basic high school formulae, since he used to be huge on chemistry himself, but if only with that... ] I think... could you figure out the composition if I had some of it?
[ Which brings him to another thing. ]
There's something else. I think Jesse may have more. No-- I know. He said he'd get rid of it, but... [ He looks away. ] The lab is one of the potential places where he may have hidden something.
A sample will help, yes. I'll do some research as well.
And I'll do a thorough sweep of the lab to make sure it's clean. I have training in that sort of thing. [What he was trained to search for was bombs, not drugs, but the same basic principles hold.]
Would you prefer to talk over the network or in person, Mr. Locke?
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In person... if you don't mind. I mean, if you're not busy.
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[And not long after, Narvin makes his way up to the warden meeting room to meet Locke.]
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Doctor Narvin. [ He holds out a hand. ] John Locke. I'm-- sorry I never contacted you earlier.
Reply
Between the general events of the past month and the communication lines frequently on the fritz, there was hardly opportunity for an extended chat.
Reply
[ He is more startled by the title than by the coldness of Narvin's hand, and he is quick to take a seat on an armchair, with another nearby for the other man to take if he pleases. His eyes have dazed away elsewhere, and it's obvious he is uncomfortable about what he has to tell. ]
I should have talked to you earlier. It's not that I don't take interest in Jesse's job. I didn't want him to feel... coerced. But now, I, I think I know why he didn't want me to, either.
[ His brow furrowed, eyes wide open, he runs a hand across his own face. ]
But I don't want him to lose his position, Mr. Narvin.
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You're talking about his...mental instability?
[His planet doesn't have a problem with addicts or drug abuse. What they *do* have is a population highly prone to mental illness and a massive taboo against acknowledging it or talking about it. So when Narvin makes assumptions about the problem with Jesse, they go all in the wrong direction.]
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I'm not talking about a mental disease. Well, sort of, just... He is an addict. And he has been taking lately, you know?
[ Suddenly he's anxious. What if this warrants Jesse being kicked from the lab for good? Either way, he tells himself, it's no question that Narvin would have sooner or later noticed that Jesse was failing to go, and if he was in zero... ]
It's-- a problem of his, and I'm sure the position at the lab..., eased it somehow..., but it's also all he has.
[ Eyes wide open he looks up at Narvin, seeking comprehension. ]
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Taking...what? What are the effects? If I'm to make any sort of decision, I need more information.
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What he has made, it's... a form of amphetamine. It keeps one awake, enhances-- physical sensations. But once it's taken constantly, which I believe he has been doing... [ He lowers his head, a little shame, a little guilt evident in his expression. ] It makes one... need it. Feel... sick, and paranoid. Aggressive. And it could damage his brain, if it went on. The withdrawal is why I decided-- why we decided-- he should stay in level zero. He must be physically needing the substance now.
[ John leans forward now, closer, running a hand though his bald head, obviously trying to explain himself. ]
Why-- I'm telling you this... It's because it's not fair. It's not fair what he did. It's not fair that you don't know that he used your lab equipment for that, that he lied to us. But, once he gets out... He's going to need things to do. To fill his mind, his time. Which, [ he clears his throat ] can be hard here, if we don't have ( ... )
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[He frowns. Narvin doesn't like that he was lied to. Used. But at least Mr. Pinkman's actions didn't seem to be particularly malicious. And although he may not understand addiction very well, he knows the value of second chances. Narvin sighs.]
I'll need to know how the drug is made so I can prevent him from misusing lab resources again.
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Thank you, sir.
[ The softening of his brow only lasts as far as Narvin's secon sentence, though: ]
I don't know how it's made. [ Just the basic high school formulae, since he used to be huge on chemistry himself, but if only with that... ] I think... could you figure out the composition if I had some of it?
[ Which brings him to another thing. ]
There's something else. I think Jesse may have more. No-- I know. He said he'd get rid of it, but... [ He looks away. ] The lab is one of the potential places where he may have hidden something.
Reply
And I'll do a thorough sweep of the lab to make sure it's clean. I have training in that sort of thing. [What he was trained to search for was bombs, not drugs, but the same basic principles hold.]
Reply
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