versusnurture | first ♢ voice

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first ♢ voice

[Abigail's voice quavers, as though she's uncertain of the connection, like someone making their first long-distance call. She starts out firm and then peters out into uncertainty, the tail end of her first sentence almost a question.]

My name is Abigail . . . Hobbs.

I'm not sure how I got here, but I'm here now. [A pause; who to ask for?] I'm looking for Dr. Alana Bloom. She's tall with dark hair. She was supposed to check in with me this morning, but instead I'm here.

Are there - [And here she inserts a little more tremor than necessary into her voice, because she doesn't know what else to do right now - ] Are there letters home? That kind of thing? How does this work? Because I need to talk to my dad.

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She's not here. [Not that Abigail really expected otherwise. But it would've been nice. She swallows audibly.]

I'm not a lady if I'm dead.

In this place, you are a lady until you prove otherwise. I give you the benefit of the doubt.

Unless the title gives offense; if so, I will call you how you wish.

It's not offensive, I guess. [Just weird.]

You don't seem very dead.

I am a warden, Lady Hobbs. I serve the Barge by will. So no, I am not dead.

You serve the Barge by will.

[She rolls this over in her head for a minute.]

To fix people. Like me.

Inmates come to find new paths to walk, Lady Hobbs. I am merely one of many guides. The Admiral will grant you one, when he deems fit.

But we do not 'fix' you. That implies that you are broken crockery, easily patched. Nothing could be further than the truth.

Oh yeah? Then what am I?

In need.

[This pulls her up short, leaves her conflicted. On the one hand it's true; on the other hand, she doesn't want it to be. She doesn't want to be anyone's patient anymore.]

[It's an advantageous position for someone to think her in, though. So out loud, she just sighs.]

I guess that's not that far off.

Everyone on the barge is, Lady Hobbs. Has it been explained to you? Wardens and deals, inmates and graduation?

Not in detail. I've been . . . picking things up along the way.

An inmate dies; they come here to win back their lives. A warden guides, protects, educates and when they must, punish.

When a warden assists their inmate enough that they can leave the Barge under their own power, they are given a Deal. I have heard of wardens buying back lives, their own or others, to restoring whole worlds.