FIVE ✖ TEXT/SPAM

[wedonot]

[Private to the Admiral]

I'd like to request new living arrangements for my inmate, Felix Gaeta. Somewhere comfortable and familiar enough that it might actually feel like he has a safe place to be during his time here, but not somewhere he's lived before.

I'd appreciate confirmation of the change as soon as possible.

[Spam for Gaeta, following the events of this log.]

[Charles was quiet as they left the infirmary and headed towards the elevator, as stairs were kind of a no go, and it would be faster anyway. Once they had reached it, Charles pressed the button to summon the car and finally turned to Felix as they waited for it to arrive.

He hadn't wanted to directly address him until they were a decent distance away, because while it was highly unlikely that Sarah or Gaius would have been following them out, there was always a slim chance they might, and it seemed to him that Felix definitely needed some time and space to cool down before tackling the issue head on.]

What happened?

Comments

[itstopped]

[Felix is still absolutely seething with fury -- for Charles, it's probably coming off him in waves. But he's already trying to put up his defenses, which consist of acting like he has no feelings, which means that his voice is (barely) controlled when he says:]

Gaius was involved in the attack on the Colonies.

[The information in his file on Gaius is already murky and conflicted at best: he worked for the man twice, closely; exonerated him once, tried and failed to kill him twice; but Gaius came to see him in prison, came to his execution, was the last person Felix ever spoke to... Charles, you don't have any experience with complicated relationships, do you? :c]

[wedonot]

[WHAT WOULD GIVE YOU THAT IMPRESSION I mean yes, yes he does. :| And unsurprisingly, he kind of can't help but think he has some inkling of how that would feel, because while yes, their history was complicated, Gaius did ultimately sound like someone Felix cared about, and Charles had had issues of differences in opinions and ultimately realizing someone you really cared about was more or less going to have to be your enemy in the future, so.

Maybe it was just being selfish, but he kind of felt like he could relate a tiny bit.]

How did you find out?

[itstopped]

Something he said. Some things his Warden said. I worked out the rest for myself. We always knew the Cylons got access to our defense networks somehow...

[His mouth tightens sharply, every muscle radiating tension.] They knew it was Gaius all along. They mocked us with it. One of them accused him of collaborating years ago and I was stupid enough to exonerate him--!

[wedonot]

That wasn't your fault. It's his for letting you put your faith in him and exploiting it to his own advantage.

[He sighs, wondering what the hell the Admiral was thinking, really, to keep them all cooped up like this - was it really beneficial to Felix to have Gaius here? Or Morgana and Arthur? Or Erik and Wanda, or even himself and Erik, if we were really being honest.] What were you hoping attacking him would accomplish?

[itstopped]

[It seems like it should be such a stupid, small thing: of course it was Gaius's fault. But it's the first time anyone has taken Felix's side in a long, long time, and it's so astonishing to hear that he just kind of stares at him for a minute, looking like he might just-- what? even he doesn't know.

Eventually, he clears his throat and looks away, somewhat mollified.] I was hoping it would kill him.

[wedonot]

[He shakes his head a little, once again understanding the thought process, but certainly not agreeing with it.] Killing Gaius won't change what happened. I know what it would mean to you, but he's already being punished for what he did just by being here, and killing him - no matter what he did - isn't going to do anyone good.

[When the elevator arrives, Charles wheels himself in and waits patiently for Felix to join him.]

[itstopped]

Punished? [And now he's back to bristling. He limps into the elevator, jaw clenching tight.] He's being coddled! You saw his... Warden. [And the way he says it this time, it's more like "that bitch."]

Maybe I didn't make it clear enough what kind of situation he and the Cylons left us in, Charles. I hate this frakking place, but at least here there's always food and water and time to sleep. Medical treatment. Books.

[wedonot]

[Gaeta, she doesn't live next door to you when you're here. /badumching]

I know. But killing him isn't going to change that, especially not here. [Since he'll just come back a couple hours later, anyway. Please don't repeatedly try killing him. :|]

[itstopped]

[He glares at the door, muttering darkly.] It's a frakking start.

[Cycle of death sounds pretty awesome, really. It's too bad he never got to ask Kara about her wacky house of death with Leoben...]

[wedonot]

How? Is that going to change what happened, or bring back the people you've lost? I'm not going to try to tell you should forgive him and act like nothing's wrong, but killing him isn't the answer, either.

[itstopped]

[And now the same glare is turned on Charles, voice rising.] Because then maybe, just maybe-- if he felt even one iota of the pain he's caused, maybe he would stop, I don't know, pretending it never happened? That he's not responsible? I'm sick and tired of that man living comfortably when he deserves to be tried again and airlocked!

[wedonot]

Felix, I can assure you, this is not living comfortably. It might not be what you wanted for him, but living comfortably would be off on some beach sipping cocktails, not in a place that seems hellbent on cracking all our psyches. Either he'll be forced to come to terms with what he did, or he'll vanish and go back to being dead. He isn't being rewarded for what he did.

[itstopped]

You don't know that man like I do, Charles. There's no one better at making the best of a bad situation. Do you know what he'll really do? Nothing. He'll stay here forever.

[wedonot]

[Charles sighs and exits the elevator as they arrive at Zero, keeping up the slow, casual pace.]

Have you spoken to Sarah at all about your specific concerns?

[itstopped]

Sarah? Have you met that woman?

[Pfft. He hesitates when he sees where they are, but grits his teeth and follows.] It seems like she's used to getting her own way.

[wedonot]

Would you like me to speak with her? [He does want the situation to be resolved, and if Felix is unwilling or feels like she won't listen to him, talking to her himself was more than worth trying. And on top of that, he wanted to know more about her and Gaius first hand.]

[itstopped]

I don't think she's especially inclined to respect anyone who isn't herself, but you're welcome to try.