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[mandrakeroot]

Mandrake here.

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[lestercraft]

[......wait shit this is a child.

There's a significant pause before Arthur decides: well, he's here. And if he's anything like Kyoko he'll probably hate being reminded of the fact.]

Of course. Would you be amenable to the conversation happening there once you're done?

[mandrakeroot]

I would be. I can meet you at the door, if you wish.

[lestercraft]

Excellent. I'll see you shortly, then.

[He's only in his room currently, since he and his own John were very excited to hear their pairing announcements, so he takes the stairs down from two to five at a leisurely pace.

When he does arrive he's dressed in a pleasant fawn-brown suit, the jacket open with a vest and shirt beneath. He's also wielding a white cane in his right hand, though releases it and lets it hang by its strap from his wrist as he puts a hand on the doorframe to orient himself as he waits.]

[mandrakeroot]

[Nathaniel not only has a job, but it's one he chose to take, so he works industriously until the exact end of his shift. He doesn't believe in doing anything less.

Final book shelved, he approaches his new temporary warden.]

Hello.

[lestercraft]

Arthur's resting countenance while he waits is somewhat severe, but when his head flicks up at the sound of Nathaniel's voice it softens considerably, and his tone is a polite sort of warm.

"Hello, Mister Mandrake." Well he's committed to the 'mister' now. "Shall we take a seat to discuss this more comfortably?"

[mandrakeroot]

Nathaniel's tone couldn't exactly be called warm, but it's not cold, either, simply a bland politeness he's willing to employ even on a man who, from what Nathaniel has gathered, should be kept far away from polite society. Since that goes for most of the people here, it's a matter of adapting.

"Mister Lester. Yes, there's a table not far to your right that is reasonably comfortable."

[lestercraft]

"Thank you." And he does mean it, with a fleeting smile, as he turns to find the table with his cane.

So, an observant kid; or at least one who's seen his network post and recognised him, and at the least respects his situation.

When he finds the chair he puts his hand on the back of the chair, but doesn't pull it out immediately, instead turning his head towards Nathaniel's footsteps. "Now, as you're my first pairing, I must admit that I'm largely unfamiliar with how the process goes on an interpersonal level. So you'll have to entertain me some questions that may seem somewhat redundant to someone who's been here as long as yourself. Is that alright?"

[mandrakeroot]

When it comes to revenge, Nathaniel will take any advantage he can lay his hands on. When it comes to day to day life, he doesn't actually see a reason for pointless spite. Even if other people might not agree with where delineates 'pointless' from 'fully deserved'.

He stands by his own chair, politely waiting to sit down until he does.

"I'm willing to answer what I can, though I'll tell you now that there isn't a set process." He doesn't exactly approve. "I've had a number of temporary wardens who made no attempt to reach out." Something he firmly disapproves of, a feeling he sees no reason to hide. They're there for a reason, after all, and he sees failure to try to do your job as something to hold against people.

[lestercraft]

That makes Arthur's mouth press for a moment, as he pulls his chair back and takes his seat. "Well, I can't say I'll be doing the same. So long as I have you under my care, I'll endeavour to do my best to assist you in any way I can."

He slips the cane off his wrist and leans it against his own leg, balancing it against the chair, and Nathaniel will observe that his left hand remains completely limp. "And know that if I am unavailable, that anything you may wish to discuss or require assistance with can be achieved with John- ah, er. John Doe, my companion. We act as a team on all things, and while I will also be assisting him with working with Natalie on occasion, you are my current priority."

[mandrakeroot]

Nathaniel doesn't know whether he'll agree with his temporary warden on what that should mean, but he respects someone who has a different approach more than someone who isn't willing to bother at all.

Physical disabilities are quite common among magicians. It can be slightly embarrassing proof of lack of control, but it's also proof of having been able to survive the slip. Demon summoning is a dangerous business, after all. Arthur's strange 'connection' with John Doe 'being' is a much stranger danger, and one Nathaniel's willing to stand back and observe, for the moment. "I'll keep that in mind."

He absolutely will not go to him, but he will keep it in mind.

[lestercraft]

That's the diplomatic answer of someone who absolutely will not go to him. He might need some monitoring.

"Now-" he shifts in his chair to face Nathaniel a little better. "Is there anything exactly that you'd like to achieve during our time together?"

[mandrakeroot]

He folds his hands in front of him.

"I've been doing my best to work towards graduation, as I can't say I have any interest 'hanging around' here." He hasn't become that much more comfortable with slang. "Honestly, I don't know what you'd do." It's not meant to be insulting, Arthur has already proved more competent than many, which is why he's willing to say this much, he just hasn't seen much use from past temporary wardens.

[lestercraft]

"Well- as your warden, I believe that I'm to be your first port of call if you do require anything that isn't readily available on the Barge," he says simply. "Also if you require anything that only a warden can access, such as the Enclosure or any particular sections of the Barge that require supervisory access."

He leans back in his chair. "As well, though - I'm also in a position to be able to offer you some level of insight. I was a private investigator previously, and I have some now-extensive experience with manners of the occult, if that is of any relevance to you. However, I have been lead to believe that my time period is somewhat outdated for most people here, so. I'm not sure how much I could assist with more modern issues."

[mandrakeroot]

"I have been working to expand my understanding of science, so a few materials for projects would be appreciated." He's making pretty good headway through the curriculum he drew up for himself, but the readings are easier than the hands on portions.

"What would you consider a modern issue?"

[lestercraft]

"I'd say anything conceived between the years 1935 and 2010," he comments dryly. "I'm from 1934 myself."

He tilts his head slightly. "What manner of science projects are we talking about, though?"

[mandrakeroot]

"If you came from the year 1800 you wouldn't know about electric lights, that wouldn't make someone - using electric lights to kill someone into modern issue."

He shrugs.

"Looking at cell mitosis with a microscope. Seeing what antibiotics have more of an inhibiting effect. Boiling water in a paper cup. Those sorts of experiments."

[lestercraft]

"Interesting how murder is your go-to for a theoretical explanation," he can't help but comment, perhaps a little dryly. "But-- perhaps if I didn't know about electric lights, I wouldn't understand the magnitude of the act. I wouldn't be able to conceive the power of electricity, the damage it could do to a person in that specific form. The required context is lacking."

He'll come back to those experiments in a moment. because. He doesn't know what to make of them just yet.

[mandrakeroot]

"Murder seemed like a rather timeless crime." As far as he's concerned, he hasn't murdered anyone, which also made it an appealing choice. "I've heard a number of different ideas about what this place is for and what it does. What comes first, the action or the person."

[lestercraft]

That gets a slight smirk. "Ah. So how deeply philosophical do you plan on getting? The action cannot exist without a person to act it out, but a person is the culmination of the results of their actions, and will likely follow the same path they've already carved for themselves."

[mandrakeroot]

"I can't say I want to be any level of philosophical." It's not a subject he's interested in or thinks is actually useful. "But I believe the situation at least forces the question of whether the Admiral wants a change in action or a change in beliefs." Honestly, he thinks both his actions and beliefs are just as they should be, but he's used to having to play along with people who have power over him.

[lestercraft]

"And you don't think you should have to change either, in order to conform to the whims of a higher power that you hold in contempt?" he asks with a raised eyebrow. The boy's phrasing was telling.

[mandrakeroot]

"I don't hold the Admiral in contempt." Not with the amount of power the Admiral has. He might hate (fear) the Admiral, but it's not an emotion he looks at directly because he has to live under his power and that means holding himself together. "I won't say I haven't been given a compelling reason to change, as a matter of wanting to live, but I can't say I've been given a compelling reason that they're unreasonable."

[lestercraft]

"So you don't find the intrinsic motivation of wanting to stay alive a particularly motivating one," he posits neutrally. No judgements here. "But you currently lack extrinsic motivation as well, a reason to want to continue where you left off."

[mandrakeroot]

"I'd very much like to be alive, but motivation without direction is just spinning wheels. I don't know if you've been told about it, but a few months ago we were separated onto three different ships that were apparently part of the same - fleet as this ship was. The one I was put on had its own problems, but the being in charge there laid out the list of charges from the beginning. That would provide something to work on."

[lestercraft]

"Is that something you'd prefer?" he asks, and it's fully sincere. "To have a list of what the Admiral perceives to be your crimes laid out for you?"

He can certainly see how it'd be helpful, knowing exactly what it was that needed changing. But he's not fully certain that it's what his small John requires.