keepsthemsafe | SIXTH ENTRY

...There another time?

Sorry my social skills are a little lacking, we don't have a society back home. I've forgotten how to make nice.

[the sad fact of this however is that it's true]

I don't need you to make nice with me. But you do make a good point.

[Dean is, himself, barely acquainted with society as most people know it; he's nowhere near stuck in the situation Shane is, mind, but he wouldn't have much difficulty if he were. He's half-feral as it is.

Now, though, he turns back around and wags a finger between them.]

You and me? We got similarities, sure, and I'm willing to do whatever I can for you. But let's get one thing straight: I wouldn't pull the stunt you pulled. I wouldn't turn on my partner for anything.

If the world's out to get you, the last fucking thing you need to do is make enemies out of your closest fucking ally.

[Shane's eyes go wide.] I'm gonna forget that I like a fair fight and fucking hit you if you talk about that again.

[This is just hard.] ...but I ain't...

He was fucking weak.

Newsflash: We're gonna talk about it.

And then we're gonna talk about it s'more.

And then? We're gonna keep talking about it, because look the fuck around you. It's less of a hint and more of a neon fucking sign.

[Shane runs a hand over his head] ...He killed me!

[Dean rolls his eyes, stabs a finger at him.]

You were going to kill him!

[no. He says, they just wanted to talk.

no he says. He put his gun down. Rick had talked him down.

No...]

....If I agree to this. To you. What's in it for me. Honestly.

[Sudden abrupt change of tact] what's this end game after you say no girls, no weapons.

[Dean knows he hasn't won, but he's not as certain of what the new endgame is. Not that it makes much of a difference for how he handles it, of course, but it would still be nice to know. He also wouldn't know what to do with the knowledge - he's never able to follow the abrupt mood changes, only explain them after the fact.

He raises both eyebrows, just barely manages to keep himself from pointing out that it really isn't a matter of agreement at this point so much as the way it is. He's not that person, doesn't want to be, so instead:]

You mean if you graduate?

You get to go wherever you want. Back home, somewhere else, stay on as a warden. You get choices, and another chance.

[Another chance means another opportunity to save - Lori and Carl from Rick as far as he's concerned. So he nods. Slow and precise.]

Fine.

[but he's not giving anything up. Any good card player can see that.]

[Even if Shane is only playing along long enough to find an opening, he's still playing along; if Dean can keep there from being an opportunity for long enough, it'll stop being pretend.

He's done this before, anyway. So Dean nods, too, and then claps his good hand on his thigh since his other hand isn't clappable right now.]

Alright. So. Is there anything I need to be aware of? Other inmates you've had trouble with, any jobs or routines you've already got around here, things that aren't in your file?

[Spoiler, Shane: Dean has already combed back through the network for your posts. This is a test.]

[eyebrow raise] you gonna hold my hand and make me feel better Warden?

[His tone is quick] there's nothing.

[What he's not saying: "That he can't handle"]

Nope, I'm the tough love sort. No hand holding unless you pay extra.

[A swift, hard smile that settles to his face a moment later when Shane outright lies. His tone stays light and friendly, though, the feint before the punch.]

So that wasn't you I saw death tolling a couple days ago, and it isn't you on the lunch shift in the dining hall?

The fuck about...

[He grimaces] That ain't my fault. I was fucking attacked. It ain't nothing. I didn't fucking started.

[And the smile vanishes, leaving behind the part of Dean that makes him look much older than his 27 years because he IS.]

This doesn't have to be hard, poncho. You're perfectly welcome to make it that way, and by all means, feel free to keep lying to me and trying to pull shit over on me.

Or we can get along long enough to put a bow on this whole thing and go our separate ways. Capiche?

One more time, for the slow kids: I didn't say it was your fault. I asked has anything happened, and are you doing anything.

[There is something in this man that reminds him of Rick Grimes. Something that makes him twitch.

That instinctive respect however, that straightening of his back - he can't shake that. He'll never shake that. As much as he wants to lead Shane is built to follow. His lips press together]

I walk a perimeter every evening. [He's ashamed of that.] ...least I used to. ....Easier then sleeping in here.

[He exhales] And I wasn't planning on doing anything. We talked and he fucking creeps me out. Some kind of blank soldier. I don't give a shit.

[No what he is doing and will do, if he gets a chance is get into a normal room that's not his and begin making weaponry.]

Good. [The hunter waves dismissively at the room.] I'll get this fixed when we're done here.

[Dean doesn't consciously acknowledge Shane's reaction for what it is, though he recognizes it on an instinctive level; he does it himself often enough, has learned to prompt the same reaction in others. He only knows that he's satisfied by it for the time being, willing to move on.

Well, until he hears the description anyway. He ignores the nutball soldier kid for the most part, but he's done his share of long distance observation, for curiosity if nothing else; Dean raises an eyebrow.]

Ben? [That's the only blank soldier prone to random attacks Dean is aware of anyway.] What happened?

...He beat the crap out of me and smashed my face in?

I expected to get jumped earlier, with being a cop and all. I wasn't surprised. We're done. [unspoken and obvious: For now]

[No, no they're not done, and Dean completely ignores that part.

Ben has, to his knowledge, been prone to random, unprovoked attacks before, but he also knows that Rhade is well aware of this. So he raises an eyebrow skeptically, and presses a little.]

Is that why he did it? 'Cause you're a cop?

Or was there something else?

[He puts his hand over his heart] I cannot tell a lie warden...I dunno I guess I threw him a look or something. Didn't mean to I don't...

[He looks briefly uncomfortable] ...fuck. I just...

[That first piece of theatrics just gets him a withering look.

The second part, though, tells Dean they're done for the day, here. There's only so much outrage one guy can take before he's just not going anywhere, and Shane is probably at that line.]

Alright, but I'm gonna ask again later. You'd better have the straight story for me, or a damn entertaining lie, 'cause I'm gonna check with Rhade.

You need anything else before I go? I'll... have a chat with the Admiral about these digs.

[Shane's smile is just plain nasty] Oh yessir Warden sir. Entertainin' lie is the name of the game for me.

Chat the fuck you mean chat. You're gonna fix this? [So confused]

[Again, Dean just ignores it; he's used to this by now, used to being treated like shit both by law enforcement and because he's a warden now on top of a delinquent and a vagrant. Funny how that works.

But both eyebrows go up at the confusion, one finger waving around the room.]

Why, you wanna keep this?

...No.

[One glance around] I'm not gonna forget Rick.

[and if he gets off the boat again he'll probably go back and kill him. For real this time]

[That's what we're trying to avoid, Shane. That's what we're trying to avoid.]

Then yeah, I'll get it fixed. Got a preference?

...I dunno whatever's standard?

[So confused by this]

SIXTH ENTRY

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