acertifieduser | ○ 04: Maybe they once locked eyes.

[Filtered AWAY from George]
[AUDIO: There's a short pause before Eddie speaks.]

I have a favor to ask. I'm trying to help my warden understand a more modern approach to romance. What I need is a woman, between the ages of twenty-four and thirty-two.. thirty-three, who would be willing to take him out on a date. Maybe a private dinner, drinks afterward, and a starry walk in the CES or something. He'll know up front what this is; this isn't some trick and he won't be expecting to fall in love or anything.

I don't have anything specific to offer as a thanks, but I'm pretty resourceful if there's something specific you're looking for. I'm not providing any weapons and I reserve the right to refuse anyone for any reason.. because even knowing what's going on, he's still a nice guy and I don't want to mess with him. I'm really just looking to help him out.

Oh, it's George Crabtree. Some of you might know him.

[Private to George]
I want to know more about your time. Are there any books, fiction or non-, that you can recommend? I'm a pretty fast reader.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm setting him up on a blind date.

A...blind...date.

What's a 'blind' date?

Well, alright. A "blind date" in the traditional sense means two people set up by someone else or an electronic medium such that neither knows what the other looks like or knows much about them. This obviously isn't the traditional version because hopefully he'll know a little about them and vice-versa beforehand, as well as have a general idea about appearance, but it's still being set up by a third party and doesn't offer much insight before the date. I think it fits, even if it's not really the strict definition.

What do you think? You think it can pass as a blind date or should I be calling it something else?

You can call it what you want.

Just don't let him do something stupid.

[His voice shifts to something more solemn instead of his usual nonchalance.]

I won't. I care about the guy as a friend and as my warden and I really am doing this to try to help him.

This isn't something you do to help anyone else. Not here, at least.

Why?

Because this place is too unstable. Anything can happen.

Life is unstable. I'd rather appreciate the time that I have as much as I can before it's gone, even if that means ending up in situations I hadn't planned or dealing with things over my head. Most of the best experiences I've had in my life lately came from having a drink with perhaps the most worthless relation I've ever known. If I hadn't done that, if I hadn't been willing to try something stupid and unstable with someone I didn't care about, I wouldn't be where I am today.-- and I don't mean dead, I mean having an amazing history and getting a second chance. Life's too short to waste it.

Inspiring story.

But it's not really relevant to what I meant.

I'm sorry. What did you mean?

I'm not against taking chances and doing new things, but this isn't the place for it.

Why?

You might have a life to return to, but I might not. Why waste this time?

It's not a waste. We have a job to do here.

And he's doing his job. Now if you and I were to go on a date, I think you could argue that as being irrelevant, despite what a fantastic time we'd have. But George is doing this to understand me better, which will help with my redemption. Last I checked, that's part of his job-- part of mine too, really, since I'm supposed to be taking steps to work on my own redemption too.

Do what you want. I don't care as long as he isn't being hurt.

And don't make implications like that about me again or you'll find your whole beiging world gone brown.

I have absolutely no intention for him to be hurt in any way and I intend to do my best to avoid him getting hurt accidentally too.

I'm sorry that I implied you're pleasant company and that we might get along. I honestly wasn't trying to insinuate anything more than that.

Good. Keep it that way.