[In way she's been expecting this. A reckoning of some kind. She hadn't thought Chris would be involved, but there you have it. Things never go according to plan, and this is an abject lesson in the price of failure.
Maketh's face is perfectly blank when she responds.]
[She's drawn too flat to have any real reaction to his words, emotional or otherwise. At the moment, Maketh is operating on protocols and muscle memory. Part of her feels asleep.]
[This time, it takes Maketh a while to come up with a response. Part of her just wants to turn the damn phone off and go to sleep. It's the middle of the day still, but she's tired and maybe if she takes a drink or three, she won't have dreams.]
[It's not that she blacked out - Maketh can list the events as they happened, has already run through them in her head a dozen times - but that she can't recall exactly what she was thinking. There must have been a reason. There's always a reason.]
[His eyes flicker briefly; he doesn't disbelieve her, because he's had his own experience with that.
But it's not a good enough explanation, because there's still this twisting feeling his stomach that's way too familiar. The only way he can keep it--and all the emotions swirling with it--under control is so focus on trying to resolve the problem.]
Okay. So how are you going to make sure not to do it again?
[Maketh was sitting on the couch when she got the first message. She's lying on her side now. It's more comfortable. It would be nice to go to sleep, she thinks, and ignore this for a while.
[But he's starting to lose patience, not specifically even with her, just the situation. His thoughts are drawing more and more inward, to other memories and experiences, and it's making it difficult to stay as neutral as he's trying to.]
But fine. For right now like... I guess that's best.
[He almost adds something else, but he can't make himself say it and that's probably for the best.]
[Maketh gives him a vague wave, then accidentally drops the phone. It hits the floor and slides under the couch. Maketh sighs, then just decides to leave it there.
[He waits a moment to see if she'll pick the phone up, and when it's obvious she's not going to do so he feels a flash of anger and the sudden urge to throw his phone. But instead he just cuts the connection.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mismanagement) wrote2016-01-25 02:02 pm
[video]
Maketh's face is perfectly blank when she responds.]
There is nothing to discuss.
[video]
Maketh, come on. You know I don't like, take just being brushed off on this stuff.
Just talk to me, okay? I'm trying really hard not to be pissed, so can you at least like... Respect me enough to tell me what the hell happened?
[This is all way too familiar--and personal--to him and so keeping his tone even is difficult, but he's doing his best.]
[video]
I struck a civilian without provocation.
[It's really quite simple.]
[video]
[Part of him is sympathetic--a lot of him is sympathetic--but not enough to let this go.]
[video]
[She hit a civilian. There is no excuse.]
[video]
[Sometimes why is even more important than what.]
[video]
The only cause to strike a civilian is sedition or threat to one's safety. There was neither.
[It does not work like this, the system has rules that must be followed.]
[video]
[There's just a hint of sharpness in his tone this time, but he still doesn't sound angry.]
I'm asking so I can understand why you did it anyway.
[video]
The--
[She's quiet again]
Wendigos. Were discussed.
[video]
[Emily told him that much, but it's a start.]
And so you were... Mad? Freaked out? What?
[video]
[It's not that she blacked out - Maketh can list the events as they happened, has already run through them in her head a dozen times - but that she can't recall exactly what she was thinking. There must have been a reason. There's always a reason.]
[video]
But it's not a good enough explanation, because there's still this twisting feeling his stomach that's way too familiar. The only way he can keep it--and all the emotions swirling with it--under control is so focus on trying to resolve the problem.]
Okay. So how are you going to make sure not to do it again?
[video]
Not that she will. Unprofessional.]
I won't speak to her again. Unless needed.
[video]
[But he's starting to lose patience, not specifically even with her, just the situation. His thoughts are drawing more and more inward, to other memories and experiences, and it's making it difficult to stay as neutral as he's trying to.]
But fine. For right now like... I guess that's best.
[He almost adds something else, but he can't make himself say it and that's probably for the best.]
[video]
Enjoy your view of the dust bunnies, Chris.]
[video]