094 - MORE VOICE

[major_west]

Well. Free at last. After a week in Level 0, I find that peace and quiet is rather tiresome. If you need me, I'll be around, stretching my legs.

[OOC: SPAM AT WILL, I'm bored.]

Comments

Have a Rose made entirely of SPAM!

[roseoftime.livejournal.com]

[When Rose caught sight of West, she didn't hesitate to give him an enthusiastic hug]

Yay!

[major-west.livejournal.com]

[He's still not used to hugs, so he's stiff in her embrace, at first, then makes an effort to relax and smile]

Hello, Rose.

[roseoftime.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad I can do this now.

[She pulls back a little to smile up at him.]

You alright?

[major-west.livejournal.com]

[He puts a hand on her shoulder and nods, smiling]

I am, yes. My leg's healing up nicely. And yourself? I imagine the past week must have felt something like a welcome break, after all the madness.

[roseoftime.livejournal.com]

[She snorts]

Are you kidding? Sitting in meetings listening to the wardens bicker? Hell, compared to that, being tied up was restful.

{Sigh]

Really, though, been busy, and worried about my friends.

[She takes his hand and squeezes lightly]

[major-west.livejournal.com]

[He laughs a little]

Well, it sounds like things continued as usual, then.

[He offers a slight squeeze back]

I'm sure your friends are all fine now. Things have a way of... returning to normality quickly here.

[roseoftime.livejournal.com]

Well, hopefully they don't go exactly back to the way they were...

[major-west.livejournal.com]

I agree, but that's up to the wardens now. [And if things DO go back to the way they were, West will never give them peace]

[roseoftime.livejournal.com]

[She nods]

It is, but the inmates also need to work with us, give us feedback, you know. But I'm sure you know that. I have no doubt you'll be the first to raise an objection if you have one.

[She squeezes his hand again, smiles gently]

Just... hopefully by talking to us first?

[major-west.livejournal.com]

Oh, I absolutely will.

[He offers a slightly teasing smile]

No more riots. I promise.

[roseoftime.livejournal.com]

[She grins, and begins to reach up to touch his cheek... but catches herself, and settles with giving him another quick squeeze]

And I promise to do what I can to make sure it's never necessary.

[major-west.livejournal.com]

It's appreciated, really.

[He looks at her curiously]

And how are things with Charlie?

[roseoftime.livejournal.com]

[She shrugs a little]

Bit better. Got him to talk to me a little, which is... well, bloody amazing. I'm going to stop by in a few days to check on him, but for the moment I'm giving him his space.

[major-west.livejournal.com]

Hm. Probably a good idea. I certainly wouldn't wish to speak with my warden first thing upon release.

[roseoftime.livejournal.com]

Whether it will do any good... we'll just have to see.

[major-west.livejournal.com]

[He thought for a moment. Better to be honest or supportive?]

It probably won't do much. Charlie's a difficult case. But, at least, it's a start.

[roseoftime.livejournal.com]

[She nods. She's well aware she has a long road ahead of her.]

Thank you for your help with him. You seem to understand him, and that's incredibly important.

[major-west.livejournal.com]

You're welcome.
[He's not really sure if he understands Charlie that well, but he does hope that Rose will make some headway, if only because she seems to be a Warden who genuinely cares]

Ah-- I suppose. He reminds me of some people from back home.

[roseoftime.livejournal.com]

Some people? Plural? Blimey, can't imagine dealing with a whole bunch of Charlies...

[major-west.livejournal.com]

[He laughs a little]

Not quite as prone to flying off the handle, perhaps, but you get used to men like that in my position.

[roseoftime.livejournal.com]

How do you handle them? Is it just the knowledge that you could kick their arses that keep them in line?

[major-west.livejournal.com]

No, not at all. In fact, I'm fairly certain that if they'd wanted to, they could have overpowered me.

[After all, Major or not, West was only one man amongst a group of unruly, hopeless lads.]

Part of it is the inherent structure of our military-- in training, you are taught to listen to your superiors, regardless of your personal feelings. Another part is simply confidence and presence. If you make a sound decision and carry yourself as though you do not question or second-guess yourself, they, in turn, will not be as likely to question you.

[He shrugs a little]

And, naturally, establishing a sense of camaraderie strengthens loyalty. It's one thing to follow a man because you're meant to; it's quite another when you see him as one of your own and understand that he has your health and safety and happiness as his priority. [He smiles] But you mustn't cross the line between camaraderie and pandering; otherwise, they'll believe they can walk all over you.

[And what he doesn't mention, of course, is the occasional need to maintain order by making a quick, brutal example of dissenters and threats]

[roseoftime.livejournal.com]

[She is listening intensely, nodding, clearly taking mental notes. Maybe this will help her with Charlie... ]