last voyages // 14. video. open.

[tobecaprican]

You know.

[ Gaius hasn't done this in a while. Whined. ]

I thought I had my doubts before about the rehabilitative qualities of this place, but now I'm really beginning to question authority. [ His tone is very droll, a thin veneer of sarcasm over that usual 'reigned in hysteria' he is so good at, although even there, he's rather lowkey. ] Before the Barge, I never tried to saw off anyone's leg, or any other bits for that matter, which was unbelievably traumatic, by the way. I didn't have--

[ He pauses, there, to furiously scratch at his skull as he thinks. He doesn't really want to out his crazy person status yet, so he lies via partial truth. ]

--dreams that don't let me get sleep. It wasn't like this at all, I was a productive frakking citizen, you know, a genius. Actually. I bet most of you don't know that. And if you did then you mightn't even be here anymore, I don't know, people keep coming and going.

[ Pause. ]

I had a job, in the lab, but Rob-- er, Dr. Capa's since departed. I need another supervisor if I'm to go back in there.

[ It occurs to him he could have made a better impression with that not-question, and just ends the transmission there after a sulky few seconds of silence. ]

Comments

[itstopped]

No, Gaius, I'm still here.

And I'm so sorry that my crippling injury was difficult for you.

[tobecaprican]

[ Oh, well. Hello. The compulsion to snap at Felix is only mitigated by some lingering fear, although it's a lot easier over the network, frankly-- ]

Well, you know, some of us take objection to being murdering psychopaths.

[itstopped]

Do you, now. [He sounds unconvinced.]

[tobecaprican]

Hard for you to believe, is it?

[itstopped]

Actually? Yes.

[tobecaprican]

[ Well you know what, Felix Gaeta? ]

Right, well, then apparently you know me better than I do myself. Because the last time I checked, maiming and murdering wasn't how we go about things in civilised frakking society. You take someone to court, or you send them to jail, or fly to another frakking planet and never communicate with them again. But here, oh no, we choke people in their hospital beds or get mind controlled into hacking off their sodding legs, because we're being rehabilitated, aren't we?

[ You can't interrupt someone on the journals. ]

I wasn't like this, I wasn't-- these things didn't happen to me. The only reason I probably went after you was because you-- you feel guilty about what you did to me.

[itstopped]

Guilty? Guilty?? [Gaius Baltar, if he weren't in a wheelchair and on the other side of the ship, your neck would be in near-fatal danger right now.]

What do I possibly have to feel guilty about-- You're the one who's supposed to feel guilty, you frakking madman!

[tobecaprican]

[ OKAY FINE THAT WAS PROBABLY A SOMEWHAT HOPEFUL STRETCH and Gaius isn't sure how to reply except to make sure his cabin is locked before he bothers to try. He looks bothered. Madman hits somewhat close to a nerve. ]

I wasn't talking about any of that. Just what's happening here.

[itstopped]

Because what's happening here is somehow divorced from your mass-murdering lunacy? What exactly do you think you're here for, Gaius? Because last I checked, you've done more than enough to warrant it!

[darknessb4me]

Let me make the next realization easier. This place isn't here to help you rehabilitate.

[tobecaprican]

Oh.

Well that simplifies things. [ Dry. ] What's it meant to do?

[darknessb4me]

What's a city meant do do? A place is just a place. Trying to give it a motive will drive you crazy. The wardens are here for one reason or another, but there's no fate or higher power. The universe doesn't care that much.