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ladyfrownsalot

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From:

epistemological

...so, uh...

Given how things seem to have turned out, I believe we should probably talk.

From:

ladyfrownsalot

...I believe you're right. Where?

From:

epistemological

My cabin might be best, unless you have an allergy to dogs or cats.

From:

ladyfrownsalot

...That's not a problem. Where is it?

From:

epistemological

Cabin five, second level. I’m not far from the infirmary, if that helps.

From:

ladyfrownsalot

She doesn't respond to that message, but there's a quick rap on his door a few moments later and her voice calling through:

"Hey, Jonny."

From:

epistemological

”How do you even know that reference?” Though he realizes after, it probably isn’t one.

He’ll open the door and gesture for her to come in. She’ll be greeted by a Bernese Mountain Dog at Jon’s hip, wagging up a storm but not actually pouncing on her even though she’d clearly like to.

“The dog’s name is Winifred, the cat’s name is Sasha, they’re both very friendly,” he’ll explain as he gestures to the kitchen table. The file is right there, on top of it, neat and tidy and clearly untouched.

From:

ladyfrownsalot

Cassandra stares at the dog. She's pretty sure she's seen smaller horses.

"...Okay," she says, and moves towards the table without showing even an inclination towards petting either of them. "Is that...?"

Her file. Her life?

From:

epistemological

She probably has.

Jon will close the door and lead the way to the table and Winifred will walk along beside him, settling next to him and between the two of them as they get to the table. It’s clear she wants to greet new friend but Jon’d trained her since she was a puppy. None of that until it’s welcome.

“It is,” he says as he takes a seat. “And no, I haven’t read it.”

From:

ladyfrownsalot

Cassandra sits down opposite him.

"Assuming I believe that: why not? You want me to tell you my life story myself when it's already right there?"

From:

epistemological

He glances at the file, and then he focuses on her.

"Somewhat." He leans back a little and tries to find the words again. It'd been surprisingly simple with Elizabeth. Or maybe it wasn't and he was just remembering their ease later in the relationship. No, at that, it'd been terrible.

Well, lets see if they can do better.

"I haven't read it because I don't actually think it will be useful." He taps the folder a couple of times and he pushes it towards her. "Not just because it's a massive invasion of your privacy and a great big bomb planted right smack in the middle of any trust we might establish, but-"

He draws his hand back.

"I'm not interested in what the Admiral has to say about your life. What you have to say is much more important. And listening to him before you strikes me as a good way of getting an unhelpful bias."

From:

ladyfrownsalot

She pulls the file towards herself and stares at it but doesn't open it.

"So, what if I don't want to talk about my life?"

From:

epistemological

"Then we don't."

That's it. End all. Be all.

"And just to make it clear, I have no intention of using my abilities on you in the course of our tenure together unless you explicitly ask me to." He glances at the stove near them and after a moment, he'll get up and put the kettle on. He should have done it earlier but he'd been distracted.

"In some ways, I'm glad you got to see that bit in the Lonely. Now, you know what it feels like when I do that without having to show up. So you'll know you're not being coerced."