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[Well. This is going to be sufficiently awkward.
Hux can barely stand to look the Grandmaster in the face when they live next door to each other. Now he's his temporary warden and he is....so much less sparkly than the other is.
He squirms, but knocks on the other's door]
Hux can barely stand to look the Grandmaster in the face when they live next door to each other. Now he's his temporary warden and he is....so much less sparkly than the other is.
He squirms, but knocks on the other's door]
General Hux!
[ He's never not going to call him that; it just rolls off the tongue too well, but here he is! The Grandmaster, as always, is genuinely surprised and happy to see him. Perhaps a little happier than usual. ]
I would ask to what I owe the surprise, but I saw the announcement. Best decision the Admiral could have made; I'm honestly disappointed it's only going to last four weeks.
[ He's never not going to call him that; it just rolls off the tongue too well, but here he is! The Grandmaster, as always, is genuinely surprised and happy to see him. Perhaps a little happier than usual. ]
I would ask to what I owe the surprise, but I saw the announcement. Best decision the Admiral could have made; I'm honestly disappointed it's only going to last four weeks.
[And isn't that a bizarre notion; someone happy to see him other than Bodhi Rook or his ex-warden? Hux looks confused and a bit suspicious]
Ex-General, actually.
[It's not said harshly, though; more like he himself is still getting used to the idea. He blinks at the surprising sentiment. After his and Jedao's unpairing, he'd been under the impression that he was a bad-luck warden]
You are?
Ex-General, actually.
[It's not said harshly, though; more like he himself is still getting used to the idea. He blinks at the surprising sentiment. After his and Jedao's unpairing, he'd been under the impression that he was a bad-luck warden]
You are?
Well of course!
[ It never enters his head that Hux is bad at his job, because he likes him, and he has a very selectively positive view of what a Warden's job is for him. ]
We already get along so well, and we had fun together before, right? And you, I've had a feeling about you since day one, I really have. Heck, you could have practically been my Warden already.
[ He starts to step back to wave him in. ]
Did -- did you want to come in? Need something else?
[ It never enters his head that Hux is bad at his job, because he likes him, and he has a very selectively positive view of what a Warden's job is for him. ]
We already get along so well, and we had fun together before, right? And you, I've had a feeling about you since day one, I really have. Heck, you could have practically been my Warden already.
[ He starts to step back to wave him in. ]
Did -- did you want to come in? Need something else?
[This is so bizarre. Hux flushes; he had a plan. Now that plan has gone completely off the rails and he's blanking out again]
Ah - yes, please.
[Part of the plan was getting inside. Obviously. He had just rehearsed a few debate points about the benefits of being allowed in and wasn't expecting to just be invited. Hux feels wrong-footed in the Grandmaster's generosity.
He walks inside, staring around at the cabin. He's dressed like a black hole surrounded by a sea of sparkling stars. He takes a breath, turning back to address the Grandmaster once he remembers what he's meant to say]
I felt it was good if we got to know each other a bit better. I know I'm your temporary assignment but if you weren't objecting to that, we could go to lunch together? Once or twice a week, schedules permitting?
Ah - yes, please.
[Part of the plan was getting inside. Obviously. He had just rehearsed a few debate points about the benefits of being allowed in and wasn't expecting to just be invited. Hux feels wrong-footed in the Grandmaster's generosity.
He walks inside, staring around at the cabin. He's dressed like a black hole surrounded by a sea of sparkling stars. He takes a breath, turning back to address the Grandmaster once he remembers what he's meant to say]
I felt it was good if we got to know each other a bit better. I know I'm your temporary assignment but if you weren't objecting to that, we could go to lunch together? Once or twice a week, schedules permitting?
Oh absolutely.
[ To be fair to him he seems to at least be able to sense that Hux is trying to handle business and regards him with a little more seriousness. For a minute, anyway. ]
I'm an open book; you should know that. Anything you wish to ask me. [ He will give you AN answer. ] Well, you hardly need to feed me for that, but I won't object.
[ To be fair to him he seems to at least be able to sense that Hux is trying to handle business and regards him with a little more seriousness. For a minute, anyway. ]
I'm an open book; you should know that. Anything you wish to ask me. [ He will give you AN answer. ] Well, you hardly need to feed me for that, but I won't object.
[He relaxes minutely when it's clear the Grandmaster isn't going to throw him off tangent again]
It's more of a social visit, food and conversation.
Can I ask you what you expect from me these next four weeks?
It's more of a social visit, food and conversation.
Can I ask you what you expect from me these next four weeks?
To be perfectly honest, I don't. I had this view when I first came here that I'd be assigned someone that could...assist me, consult with me. Jam. But I'm finding that while I'm making at least one new friend every month, four weeks just isn't long enough for a real rapport to be built, you know?
[A short nod!]
I agree. And it's difficult for me to take projects seriously when I'm transferred from assignment to assignment so quickly.
At least we were given the benefit of knowing each other beforehand, but I think it's potentially because the Admiral wishes to see how we get on with one another before he decides to go the more permanent route.
I agree. And it's difficult for me to take projects seriously when I'm transferred from assignment to assignment so quickly.
At least we were given the benefit of knowing each other beforehand, but I think it's potentially because the Admiral wishes to see how we get on with one another before he decides to go the more permanent route.
You think so? That would be wonderful!
And am I missing something? Do people request permanent pairings or is it all random?
And am I missing something? Do people request permanent pairings or is it all random?
Truthfully? I don't think it's either. We could request a permanent pairing, but I've never seen it done. But I hardly think it's a random occurrence either.
Is that something you wish to do?
[ He raises an eyebrow. ]
[ He raises an eyebrow. ]
[immediately flustered!!!]
I don't - you barely know me! I could be a terrible warden for you! You have to - to vet people properly!
I don't - you barely know me! I could be a terrible warden for you! You have to - to vet people properly!
[ The Grandmaster takes a seat in his favorite chair and gestures for Hux to make himself comfortable wherever. ]
That's very interesting. Why do you think you would be a terrible Warden for me?
That's very interesting. Why do you think you would be a terrible Warden for me?
[He sits down in the offered chair, gesticulating with his hands! >B[! ]
It's not that I think I would. It's just...you're committing to a potentially years-long relationship. You don't want to end up with someone who can't help you.
It's not that I think I would. It's just...you're committing to a potentially years-long relationship. You don't want to end up with someone who can't help you.
[ He shrugs. ]
You don't seem especially incapable. In fact, you've probably been more attentive than a lot of people when I've had a mind to speak up on the network or socialize in person.
You enjoy a good game, but it doesn't look like you know it most times, which is interesting. You fluster easily, which is cute.
I'm not seeing a downside.
You don't seem especially incapable. In fact, you've probably been more attentive than a lot of people when I've had a mind to speak up on the network or socialize in person.
You enjoy a good game, but it doesn't look like you know it most times, which is interesting. You fluster easily, which is cute.
I'm not seeing a downside.
[He makes an ill, high-pitched noise in the back of his throat, indignant and embarrassed that this is the second inmate of his to call him cute. It's mortifying. He's a decorated veteran of an evil empire!]
...That all aside, Grandmaster, I unpaired with Jedao last month and I was getting the sense that you deserve more of a fresh start with someone who doesn't have...I don't know the word for it.
...That all aside, Grandmaster, I unpaired with Jedao last month and I was getting the sense that you deserve more of a fresh start with someone who doesn't have...I don't know the word for it.
[ Psh. ]
What? Baggage? Are the other Wardens going to say you have loose morals? Or just hope that your next match is a better one for you?
What? Baggage? Are the other Wardens going to say you have loose morals? Or just hope that your next match is a better one for you?
I have no idea. Most likely not. But it's not a very good track record; the warden who helped graduate me was demoted last year. There may be a flaw somewhere in this lineage.
But you're doing such a good job.
[ You're nice. You watch TV with him. He's also pretty sure you'd be easy to talk into letting him do...pretty much anything he wants. ]
I mean, unsorted. Fine. But sometimes personalities clash. Not everybody can be me.
And you want to do a good job, don't you? Then you've got just as much of a shot as any of the others, right?
[ You're nice. You watch TV with him. He's also pretty sure you'd be easy to talk into letting him do...pretty much anything he wants. ]
I mean, unsorted. Fine. But sometimes personalities clash. Not everybody can be me.
And you want to do a good job, don't you? Then you've got just as much of a shot as any of the others, right?
[He looks a bit skeptical about the Grandmaster's first comment, because how can the man know that after a few hang-outs? But he gives a serious, immediate nod back at the second comment]
Yes, of course. That was never in question. But I may not be the right tool for the very specific procedure.
Yes, of course. That was never in question. But I may not be the right tool for the very specific procedure.
What, because you didn't mesh with one Inmate? [ Who's not me? ] Do you think you could throw yourself at any one of us on the ship and it'll be a perfect fit? I mean [ Shrug. ] I'm not claiming to be an expert on people, but that's people.
I suppose when you put it like that...
Are you sure? There may be other wardens you like better, ones more suitable to your unique situation. And the Admiral may say no.
Are you sure? There may be other wardens you like better, ones more suitable to your unique situation. And the Admiral may say no.
If he does, then we're no different than we are now. And I still like you, so I don't see how that would be such a huge upheaval.
[He's been worn down. Hux, still eyeing the Grandmaster skeptically for any sign that he's being played with, finally takes out his communicator to write the Admiral a message]
I like you as well.
I like you as well.
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