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[mandrakeroot]

Mandrake here.

Comments

[talesuntold]

Hi, I'm Maggie, I've been assigned to you for the month. Would you mind stopping by so we can talk? My cabin's 203.

[mandrakeroot]

[He doesn't respond. He absolutely had been planning on responding to his warden, he has a long list of requests and the sooner he can figure out how to get them the better, but opening his communicator to find his birth name on the network for anyone and everyone to see have sent him into something he doesn't entirely recognize as near a panic attack.]

[backdated to shortly after the flood]

[deuceoftears]

[It's not an especially complicated cypher, but the brevity of the message keeps it from being utterly trivial. When decoded, it only reads, So that was a mess. Are you doing okay?]

Re: [backdated to shortly after the flood]

[mandrakeroot]

[Nathaniel had done his best to avoid everything related to the flood. It hadn't been fully possible, but he thinks he did quite well. He dislikes the people on the Barge, he doesn't need more. And he refused to have any thoughts about why he hadn't been affected.

He almost decides to ignore the message. There's an oppressive amount of free time, compared to government work, but that just means he's found ways to fill his time. But it could be important. That it's not doesn't improve his mood. But however much he dislikes not knowing someone else's game, giving up the chance of getting something from it would truly be losing. Returned in the same code.

The Admiral remains as questionable as ever. Some might call that consistency.]

[deuceoftears]

[Backdated to shortly after this, still as a handwritten note encoded as a math puzzle.]

I want to make a small deal. Please meet me in 5-13 when you're available to discuss it.

[mandrakeroot]

[Nathaniel doesn't send a note in response, instead just knocking on Jedao's door after he's finished his maintenance shift. The potential deal lends a particularly polished edge to his expression.]

voice;

[sanityinruins]

SO. It looks like we were paired up. Shall we meet later today?

voice;

[mandrakeroot]

[It's the first time one of his temporary wardens has contacted him first, so he'll give this one that much.]

If you'd like.

Audio;

[goingtobeunwell]

[Oh boy, MORE TEENAGERS]

You're a friend of Kyoko's, are you not?

Re: Audio;

[mandrakeroot]

['Friends'? What sort of word choice is that? Not a reasonable one. But there are reasons not to explain that to a temporary warden. Still, he can't say 'yes' to something like that.]

I hope I can say we get on. [With great strength of will, and more than a little guarded.]

Francis Crozier?

[mycitynow]

Hey, Mandrake! Are you outta the infirmary yet, I got you something!

[mandrakeroot]

I'm out, what is it? [He can't remember the last time someone got him something.]

Pairiiiings~

[lestercraft]

Mister Mandrake? I'm Arthur Lester, it seems I'll be your Warden for this month.

[Prompt, diligent, prudent.]

I'd like to take the opportunity to discuss with you what you'd like that to mean for yourself. Might you be available at the moment?

Re: Pairiiiings~

[mandrakeroot]

[Nathaniel had seen Arthur's post on the network - stalking, taking reasonable steps to know what's going on, basically the same thing - and had put him on the list of people to avoid dealing with unless necessary.

Unfortunately, it has become a necessity, though at least he's off to a better start than some of his temporary wardens. If Nathaniel ignores the fundamental flaws.]

I'm finishing up my shift in the library, but I'll be available to meet in fifteen minutes.

[tarakan]

Idle curiosity. Do you remember specifics of what you learned during the breach? If not, more than happy to teach them again.

[ If you are cold and clinical, that means it doesn't bother you! ]

[mandrakeroot]

I believe I still have some grasp on it, but it'd probably be best to go over them again, to make sure.

[Solid logic! Nothing bothering anyone!]

[deuceoftears]

Come have tea.

[And read some warden filters - one of which is unusually pertinent.]

[mandrakeroot]

Thirty minutes? I'm finishing up some work.

[The exchange of filters is useful enough to maintain, but not time sensitive enough that he'd stop other work early. He feels comfortable enough with - the deal to make the request.]

Start of Gradumotion flood

[lestercraft]

[Mandrake gets an audio call around midday on the first day of the flood, and Arthur sounds... harried would be putting it lightly, perhaps, but he's making an effort to sound professional.]

Mister Mandrake. I'm- I imagine you've already become fully aware of the nature of this flood by now?

Re: Start of Gradumotion flood

[mandrakeroot]

I am.

[He’s close to professional himself, if from another direction. He doesn’t attempt to sound upset, but he is free of ‘gleeful’. If nothing else, there are plenty of inmates he fully believes should have their powers removed.]

Is there anything you need?

before Lark's announcement

[epistemological]

John? I don't suppose you have a moment to talk?

Re: before Lark's announcement

[mandrakeroot]

I'm free at the moment.

[He was heading towards the library, but he likes to go there early.]

[tarakan]

I have good news, Mandrake. Do you have a moment to talk?

[mandrakeroot]

I do. [Nathaniel is always happy to talk to him and if he's slightly more eager today, well, he's had a very emotionally confusing time of it recently so it's nice to be able to stand on steadier ground.] What's happened?

Like a week after the flood

[lestercraft]

Possibly it's a little cruel making a point of Nathaniel's schedule specifically to track the young man down so he can't avoid a conversation, but he also has full faith in Nathaniel's ability to avoid him to the ends of the Earth (or certainly the far corners of the Barge) if he doesn't want to acknowledge something. So, casually entrapping his ward with his own schedule it is.

At least he gives Nathaniel the mercy of having most of the day to himself; he only seeks him out one afternoon, entering the library with his cane in hand and casually entering the place with his goal in mind.

He just hopes his goal doesn't choose to ignore him.

Re: Like a week after the flood

[mandrakeroot]

It's absolutely cruel and unfair behavior, which could be enough to make it acceptable to - go deeper into the stacks for important shelving and is absolutely not running away. Unfortunately, the current status of Arthur's behavior means it doesn't fully cross that line, as long as nothing that happened during the flood counts. Which it does not. It basically didn't happen, when all facts are taken into consideration, so he has not thought about it at all.

All of which means that he just allows himself to shelve the last book in the pile with appropriate spite, before approaching his warden.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Lester."

[deuceoftears]

It's three days after the poisoning when Jedao finally knocks on Nathaniel's door.

[mandrakeroot]

Nathaniel opens the door, looking up at Jedao.

"Hello."

He pauses after that. He was well aware that this would come, but that's no reason to offer Jedao anything he doesn't ask for.

after the envy hole plot

[a_titanum]

[ Sounding like a very small and polite Germano-Slavic frog and looking like a very noble corpse-]

Herr Mandrake. I am contacting you concerning repayment for the grievous injury my manservant has done to you. Can we speak as gentlemen?

[ A harsh swallow- ]

Possibly through text. Considering.

Re: after the envy hole plot

[mandrakeroot]

[Nathaniel looks like death warmed over, which is perhaps a step up from just looking dead but it's a very long way from looking well. Still, he doesn't let that get in the way of responding to a reasonable request.]

I would be pleased to speak on such terms, Herr Leickenbloom.

[He does his best to hide his wince.]

Text - might be best.

After 4WW

[lestercraft]

Master Mandrake. Would you be alright to come and meet me on deck?

[Sure it's more public, but it's also markedly more neutral than his cabin.]

Re: After 4WW

[mandrakeroot]

[Positives of the flood: he got to talk to Kyoko. Negatives of the flood: pretty much everything. Nightmare that breaks any scale: that Arthur talked to Bartimaeus. Part of it in secret. Also part of it in public. It's all very bad, basically.]

...I'll met you on the deck.

[At least he doesn't have to pretend he's happy about this.]

Audio, after port

[lestercraft]

[The call comes apropos of nothing, but it's always good to check in with Nathaniel about these things, just in case.]

I don't believe I saw you much after I let you off the Barge, Master Mandrake. How was the port for you?

Re: Audio, after port

[mandrakeroot]

For the most part it went well. [Nathaniel isn't a big fan of crowds in cities he doesn't know, but while the layout wasn't as 'clean' as the London he knows, he could appreciate there was a logic to it. Besides, the important part was retrieving what he could from the Admiral's list.]

text, a few days after Hilbert attacked Johann

[tarakan]

[ Every proper scientist knows that you need to run multiple tests if you want to prove a hypothesis. Hypothesis: a drastic change in action is needed to jumpstart the redemption process. Test one: indulging in bad habits and drugging Johann. Results: inconclusive, dying sucks, make the chloroform recipe stronger. Test two: telling Mandrake why he picked Johann specifically. ]

Do you have time to visit? The forced inaction due to the death toll is going to drive me insane.

Plus, there is something I want to talk about with you.

Re: text, a few days after Hilbert attacked Johann

[mandrakeroot]

I do. I'd love to visit.

[Text is usually a good barrier against falling over his words, but he's been fretting about Hilbert since Crozier's post.]

Is there anything you'd like me to bring?

A couple of days after Johann

[a_titanum]

I will assume you were unaware of Herr Hilbert's intentions..

[ Because he likes Nathaniel. And he didn't think him the sort to allow for this.]

Re: A couple of days after Johann

[mandrakeroot]

Of course I was.

[He does think it's a mildly offensive question, even if he doesn't take any particular offense. He has no problem with Johann being hurt, but he and Florian had made a deal.]

after the news hits

[greatoldjohn]

I'm going to strangle your warden and you'll agree with me when I tell you why.

[mandrakeroot]

It's something about Collins.

[Nathaniel is many things, but he's not stupid.]

audio

[tarakan]

[ This is set before Crozier's post because Mandrake gets the news in person. ]

Meet me outside of Enclosure? I have something to show you.

audio

[mandrakeroot]

I'll be right there.

[There's no question. He's not far from the Enclosure, so it's not long before he arrives looking for Hilbert.]

Two days after the flood

[lestercraft]

Master Mandrake. I believe it's about time we spoke about that flood?

Re: Two days after the flood

[mandrakeroot]

What about it?

[Nathaniel can't think of a single thing anyone could have to say about... any of that. Actually, he can't see any reason to even think about it.]

[tarakan]

I have good news for you.

[mandrakeroot]

What is it?

[He's instantly alert, but from Hilbert he's able to trust that it's actually good news.]

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron doesn't usually bother him when he's in the library, but today he sets his communicator near him without more than a nod and has it ready on this conversation.

He walks off to find a book, but he'll be back in a few minutes.

[mandrakeroot]

Nathaniel listens to the conversation, looking up at Aaron when he returns. He'd seen Jamie's post and nothing in it had been new. Nathaniel had never thought of Peter as anything other than a demon, and his history falls along the lines Nathaniel would expect. It was a polite warning that he expected most people would ignore.

He hadn't taken it as anything more.

"Do you think it's worth talking to him?" He asks.

[lestercraft]

Mandrake, is it alright if we talked this evening?

[mandrakeroot]

[He'll always be a little suspicious of this sort of call that's just his normal grade paranoia, which exists on a not quite conscious level.]

I'm free. Where would you like to meet?