191. New inmates.

[thegooddrjones]

n case you don't know me, I'm Dr Martha Snape-Jones. For those who are wondering my medical qualifications, I passed my exams in 2007, after spending almost two years doing special on the job training as it were outside of school. Then I worked with two organizations that increased my specialty fields to emergency medicine and xenobiology.

Comments

Private

[likedarkmatter]

Alright. In an hour. Where do I find you?

Spam

[likedarkmatter]

[She held up a hand in a 'no thank you' gesture.]

No, nothing. I've always tried to travel light.

Spam

[thegooddrjones]

Do you have any questions or anything for me?

[Martha locked eyes with Alice and smiled for a moment.]

Spam

[likedarkmatter]

[Alice returned the eye contact but not the smile.]

I don't think so, thank you. Not yet.

Spam

[thegooddrjones]

Alright. I'll talk to the lab wardens and see which one you'll be working with. I know in the past I've asked for a computer, so that may be an option for your research.

In the meantime, I'd like to meet with you at least once a week for a check in, and if you ever need anything, you're my priority here.

Spam

[likedarkmatter]

I'll be sure to let you know. [She sipped her tea.] Are we finished here for now? Not that I'm trying to make good my escape, you understand. I just don't want to outstay my welcome.

Spam

[thegooddrjones]

You're welcome to stay as long as you wish, Alice. I'm happy to simply sit and chat with you.

[Martha smiled, and then she took a sip of her own tea.]

Spam

[likedarkmatter]

[Alice was silent for a moment, teacup held lightly between her hands.]

I think I'd just like to clarify something. So that we both know where we stand.

[Another brief pause: a long intake of breath and a slow exhalation.]

I will never feel remorse for killing my parents, or Henry Madsen, or Ian Reed. If that's going to present a problem for you in the long term then I recommend you follow Claire's example now and save us both a lot of wasted time.

Spam

[thegooddrjones]

You feeling remorse isn't why you're here. I haven't spoken to Claire, so I don't know why you were unpaired. I wanted to speak to you first and see if it bothered you for me to speak to her about it.

[Martha just watched her for a moment, her eyes wide with interest.]

Will it bother you if I do it?

Spam

[likedarkmatter]

[Alice sipped her tea unconcernedly.]

Not at all. I'm sure she'll spin you the same 'it just happened line' that she offered to me.

Spam

[thegooddrjones]

I'm sure if she said she didn't do it, then I don't think she did. Claire doesn't the seem the sort of person to lie, but I've been wrong before.

Spam

[likedarkmatter]

[A little shrug.]

I didn't get to know her well enough to tell.

[From extensive archival reading, though, she would have tenuously agreed with Martha's assessment. Although Claire's apparent need to be perceived as more than first impressions dictated wouldn't have gelled with an inability to help a given Inmate. Alice would have lied, in her position.]

Spam

[thegooddrjones]

I know she's generally a good person, and she tries to help when she can.

[Martha smiled a bit, but she was the sort of person who tried to see the good in everyone, and she definitely was the sort of person who defended people who meant well. That's what she was doing now. However, her expression became more serious.]

I won't ask to be reassigned, Alice.

Spam

[likedarkmatter]

[Alice just tilted her head, giving no impression of what she thought of that.]

Understood.

Spam

[thegooddrjones]

[Martha watched her inmate for a moment, and then nodded herself.]

So, what do you like to do in your spare time, Alice? I mean here aboard the Barge.

Spam

[likedarkmatter]

I read. Stargaze, sometimes, if you can call it that in a situation where you can't recognise the stars.

[Hang out with Capa. Comb through the network archives. Take notes.]