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[Disoriented is a word for what Philip feels upon waking on the Barge. There's a dull throb of pain in his chest and his head, things he know he should be dead from, and his shirt is still slick with blood. He also recognizes the room he wakes up in with everything where it should be, but he knows it should burned out. The view outside the windows, however, aren't looking out into the streets of Woodbury, but an infinite void. He isn't sure if this is what death is supposed to be like, but he has a feeling it's not because it feels very much alive.]

[He's willing to stay as long as it takes to change and clean the blood off his face, but no longer than that. He doesn't feel particularly keen on lingering in a room with this many reminders right now. Already he's trying hard to not think of what just happened, the large amount of nothing he just left behind once more. He looks for any of his weapons before leaving to find them gone. So perhaps not everything is in its place. But no matter. He can improvise if the situation calls for it.]

[Stepping outside into the hall, he still doesn't know what to make of any of this. but if there's one thing he knows, it's that he needs to get his bearings and so he sets off to learn the layout of wherever the hell he's ended up.]

text.

[Later, after he's had the chance to explore and numerous explanations and perspectives on what this place is, he only has one question:]

How many of you are here?

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[It's a fair enough answer, Philip supposes. Moreover, the important part is not human.]

[He recognizes the tactic of mentioning a warden. Philip isn't particularly keen on identifying as an inmate, but he isn't keeping it under wraps either. Something like that, he knows he can't control who will find out and who won't. Scorpius is maybe smart enough to recognize that. Which is why he mentions the warden. A false sense of camaraderie.]

[Or maybe it's just a stray remark. There's always that possibility Philip is giving him way too much credit. But why chance it?]

I wasn't overly concerned in the first place, but I appreciate the reassurance.

[Scorpius watches Philip's heat signature, quietly determining truth from lies. It's easier if the man answers direct questions, but Scorpius is content with just some minor light probing, for now. Who's to say whether this human offers any value whatsoever?]

I should think you might be very concerned, to find yourself dead and in an unfamiliar place.

[Small though it may be, Philip can't help the smile at that as he looks away from Scorpius for a moment. He's dead. He knows he won't turn. What concerns could he really have anymore?]

Maybe a little concerned being in an unfamiliar place, but beyond that? [He looks at Scorpius, his head tilted slightly to the side and smile still in place.] I don't have any further concerns.

[The answer both surprises and pleases him. He's not used to inmates arriving without much fuss. Scorpius smiles]

Then allow me to answer what little concerns you may have.

This is the Barge. An interstellar prison ship.

[There is probably some irony in Philip having died trying to take a prison and then ending up in a prison anyway, but you know. It will go largely unremarked upon.]

And how long exactly have you been here?

Nearly a cycle by now.

Or one human year, approximately.

That's quite a while.

[And frankly removes any notion of escaping. Not that Philip had much intention to even try. But a year is a long time to be going absolutely nowhere.]

Any intention of ever leaving?

When I'm confident that such is the best move I ought to be making, yes.

[He doesn't mention achieving any atonement or redemption, which is telling. Calculating would be a word for it.]

That's a wise choice.

It's often my choices that have kept me alive.

....Present situations notwithstanding, of course.

Of course.

[Clearly it was just a fluke, right?]

I wish you luck when the time is right.

Thank you. But I prefer to make my own luck.

I think most would. But given what I know of this place so far, the choice doesn't seem to always be in your hands.

[Connor may have implied that Philip needed to learn a lesson in humility, but he'd disagree. He's realistic and knows his own limitations. He makes it his business to know the limitations of others as well. And while Scorpius, on the surface, may look and seem very different, he so far isn't really all that different from people he's met before.]

[But who knows? Maybe Scorpius will find a way to make a daring escape.]

This is not the worst or seemingly most impossible situation I've found myself in. I find that choices tend to follow given time, opportunity, and the desire to seize both.

Whether that is through escape or actual graduation remains to be seen.

Not making any bets on one over the other?

I have not seen anyone escape on their own in all the time I've been here.

I'd imagine people would be talking about it if anyone had managed successful escape.

[Even if the wardens perhaps tried not to talk about it much to avoid "encouraging" any followers.]

Most likely not. And there are some disappearances, but who can say how they managed it or where they've gone off to?

[Those that have left are probably not willing to keep in touch with those left behind.]

The wardens and Admiral probably wouldn't be forthcoming about those kind of details.

I have it on good authority that the wardens, at the very least, are not cognizant of any successful escape attempt.

[Helps to be a living lie detector sometimes]

As for the Admiral..I can't be sure.

That seems to be a running theme around here.

He does enjoy keeping himself sequestered. I don't know a single person on this ship who's seen him in person.

But he's on the ship. Or is that just a general assumption?

As he too seems to be affected by the immediate environmental factors, I must conclude that he is here, with us.

And yet no idea where exactly.

[This would be an appropriate time to slow clap for the crew aboard the Barge. Philip will, however, refrain from doing so.]

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