Spam for Barron

[buywithme]

[Prefect didn't leave a particularly wide opening between finding out about Cassel's graduation, and going to hunt down Barron. He exchanged a few messages with the Transformation Worker, then set off to find his own inmate.

He made a bee line for Barron's room, and rapped on the door carefully. Unsure if Barron would be upset or happy at whatever passed between himself and Cassel, Prefect lingered in the corridor, probably concerned to a point that wasn't entirely due.]

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[Spam]

[sharpememory]

[Barron was sitting on his bed, still staring at the pictures that Cassel had given him. He hadn't quite resolved how he felt about them, since they were both fantastic and heart wrenching.]

[At the sound of the knock, he went to answer the door, photos still in hand.]

Hey, man. You saw the post?

[buywithme]

Hi Comrade.

[Prefect raised a hand to give Barron a comradely little wave, before slipping into his cabin. His concern was pretty thinly veiled, but he's keeping his cool for now.]

I did see his post. You holding up okay?

[sharpememory]

I am. [Barron actually looks... happy, for once.] We talked. It was good.

[He stops, before clarifying.] We sorted some stuff out that we should have worked out a long time ago.

[buywithme]

[It feels like... kind of a long time since Prefect had cause to feel relieved in the middle of a conversation with Barron, but here it was. Prefect exhales slightly, and comes further into the room to perch on the edge of Barron's bed.]

That's really good to hear, Comrade. I do think that Cassel... he's been worried about you, Comrade. Despite everything.

[sharpememory]

I can see why, man. [Barron had, unusually for him, spent the last day really thinking about things.]

I've got something to ask you, though. [Barron pauses, then continues.] If I asked for my power back, would you give it to me?

[buywithme]

[Well... that sure is a question. Prefect pauses, then nods, his expression quite sombre.]

I would, Comrade. When you go home this power will be a part of you again, and you'll need to be able to live with it without abusing it. I think you can do that now.

[sharpememory]

I don't know. [Barron seems more resigned than unsure about that.] I mean, isn't it kind of inevitable to misuse it? If I use it for the right reason, than I'll start forgetting the things that I learned.

[buywithme]

Comrade I'm not going to tell you that you should use this power. Honestly, I want you to... keep your life. Keep your memories. [Your memories of him especially, but... Prefect shouldn't really be thinking that, so he averts his eyes and pushes his hands into his pockets.] Having someone else teach you to use your power without understanding what you were losing... I think that's an abuse, Comrade. I'm sorry, I know you don't like hearing these things about your family, but I think it's true, that makes it a curse.

Choosing to use it though? Knowing what you could lose, to do good? Comrade, that is a sacrifice. [Prefect studies the floor carefully for a moment, before lifting his eyes again, to look at Barron.] And honestly, Barron, I hope you never do it. I hope you stay selfish enough to actually take care of yourself when you get out of here, but if you don't then that doesn't make you a bad person. It doesn't mean that you're destined to do bad things again, as long as you have a choice.

[sharpememory]

I think you make me sound a lot better than I am. [Barron laughs, but he can see Prefect's point.]

[He continues on, more serious this time.] I can tell you what, though. I don't think I'd ever use it unless things were really, really serious.

[buywithme]

I promise I don't, Comrade. [Prefect offers with a tight smile.]

But I guess that means you'll have to move out of the family business when you do get home. Do you know what you do want to do when you get there, Comrade?

[sharpememory]

Well, I don't know. [Barron looks sheepish.] I suppose gangster and murderer-for-hire aren't really options now. Which is probably for the best, right?

[buywithme]

[Prefect smiles a little smile at that comment, nodding.]

For you, as well as everyone else. When you leave here, you'll have options, just like Cassel does now. You don't even have to go home if you don't want too.

[sharpememory]

[The prospect of not going home seems completely shocking to Barron, who just looks at Prefect for a second with his mouth slightly open before responding.]

...But what about mom? Whose going to look after her?

[buywithme]

I don't know, Comrade. I don't know if... if you can look after someone who can-- who will work you, if you don't do what she wants. Not if you need to look after yourself as well.

[sharpememory]

[Even if Barron doesn't want to say it out loud, he knows that Prefect is right - sooner or later, his mom will work him... just like she's always done.]

If I left, where would you go? [Barron asks instead. Because with Cassel here and his mom a dangerous person to be around, there isn't a great deal waiting for Barron back home.]

[buywithme]

I don't know. [Prefect answers, softly and honestly.] I haven't-- I guess I've just been thinking about you, and trying to forget about me.

[He could just throw it out there that Cassel told him to go with Barron. All casual like. It sticks in his throat though, and he looks away again. After a moment, he shrugs.]

I used to have friends here. People who asked me to leave with them, a long time ago.

[sharpememory]

[Damn, that's depressing. But Barron gets it. He nods, then smiles wanly.]

Almost makes me think that we should go back to that alien resort.

[buywithme]

I think I liked it best when you were a pirate, personally.

[Aka: when they were making out in a boat. Prefect quickly clears his throat, and glances away again.]

[sharpememory]

I think that might not be the most moral job to do...

[Barron pauses, then decides to take the plunge and ask.] Have you ever wanted to see my world for yourself?

[buywithme]

[And that earns another little smile.]

Of course. I mean, I'd love to meet-- I would have liked to meet the rest of your family. Even if I don't necessarily think that you... should be diving right back into your former life with them, Brother.

[sharpememory]

Maybe we could just visit them. [Barron pauses.] But I'm getting ahead of myself, I guess. This is all hypothetical until I graduate.

[buywithme]

Yeah. [Prefect agrees, although he seems to have relaxed a little. Barron talking about we is nice to hear.] I just... Comrade, I don't know what else you need. You understand what was wrong with what you did to Cassel, you've learned not to abuse your powers... You-- Comrade, I really think if you had a fresh start tomorrow, you wouldn't take the same path.

[Prefect pauses, and frowns slightly.]

All I can think of that's left is... for you to go home, and live a better life.

[sharpememory]

So is that it? [Barron looks rather blindsided by this development.] Does that mean that I'm good enough to go home?

[buywithme]

I... I don't really know, Comrade. It's never been my decision, but I think you are.

[He thinks for a moment, then reaches for the old police radio at his belt. He clicks it on, but no sound comes from it. It's dead. Lifeless. No longer connected to Barron.

Prefect feels a sudden, enormous tightness in his chest. Even knowing this was coming, on some level, it's still there.]

I think-- I think that was it, Barron. I'm not your warden any more, at least.

[sharpememory]

He wouldn't set me up with a new warden just now, would he?

[Barron stops talking, actually thinking through things for once. He takes off one of his gloves, examining his bare hand.]

I think my power might be back?

[And a grin.] But I don't think I'm going to test it.

[buywithme]

[Prefect laughs, a little louder and more awkward than he intends too, but... it's hard not too.]

See? Clear, clear graduate material, Comrade.

[He smiles, then quickly reaches up to put his hand over his eyes.]

Comrade, put your glove back on, you're embarrassing me.

[sharpememory]

Come on, man. It's nothing you haven't seen before.

[Barron is laughing as he says that, but he slides his glove back on anyway.]

So, are you going to come home with me? Now that it's a real thing?

[buywithme]

[Prefect hasn't stopped smiling. He drops his hand from his eyes, and when he looks back to Barron, there's something glazed and happy in then that's hard to define exactly.]

Yeah. I mean, I really want too. I don't really... I've never lived anywhere normal before, Comrade. There's been the Factory, and then the Barge, but I've never had a regular job, or lived in a city, or... I've never been anywhere in my entire life where everyone was free, and everyone was equal.

[He pauses, and the hand that was covering his eyes drops to press over his chest, feeling the beat of his heart.]

I'm... I think I'm really excited, actually.

[sharpememory]

You should be. I mean, here is nothing like the outside world.

[Barron gestures at the room around them, but really means the barge as a whole.]

Exploring space and that is great, but there are some things that you only see if you stay in one place for a while, you know?

[buywithme]

I know. I mean-- I don't know what those things are, but I believe you. I mean, people here miss things, right? So there must be something good in leaving...