Bolton's Office Hours

[theoverseers]

[Want to chat with Bolton privately? Here is where you do it! Bolton's office hours will be held in conference room B in the library for approximately four hours in the morning several days a week. During that time the blinds will be drawn and that room will be off-limits unless you're there to talk to Bolton, though the other three study rooms will still be available for use.


Comments are screened for privacy.]

Comments

[theoverseers]

[Bolton shrugs. After all, so did he.]

He used it well.

[kingshaming]

I suppose he did.

[He drains off the last of his coffee.]

Well, like I said, I will leave you be now. Thank you again for the coffee.

[theoverseers]

Of course. Stop by anytime.

SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY

[theoverseers]

[The message that appears in the notes function of Xander's PIP is definitely not the Overseers' M.O.]

Your Royal Highness

Your stalwart loyalty and pragmatism is noble. I wonder...what would you wager for a guarantee to bring your lost princess home?

[The note-taking function of the PIP is active. Reply?]

[kingshaming]

[Definitely not the Overseers- even if notes were their MO it doesn't 'sound' like them. But what they are suggesting... even Jamie hadn't referenced Corrin. And after his dream...

'I don't know what to do! Corrin is gone, Leo is gone... Camilla is so depressed she hardly even leaves her quarters. What happened to our family, Xander?'

There's a rolling feeling of dread in his belly. But worse then that, hope]

I tend to not wager with strangers.

[Though he has his suspicions]

[theoverseers]

A deal, then, if you'll hear the terms.

You've already confessed to your willingness to kill in the right circumstances. What I ask will be easier than that. And should you agree, I can help you bring your dear little princess home.

[kingshaming]

Easier then killing? You have my attention.

[theoverseers]

Watch the Overseers. Just to make sure that they aren't playing favorites.

[kingshaming]

[...

He was right. Or at least right enough. A slimy feeling crawls up his gut- he himself had been one of those that had been almost befriending the men.

And now he was being asked to-]

You want me to spy for you.

[Well, the Overseers are their enemies, but assuredly this person(s) are the Benefactors, or an agent of them. Bolton and Jamie's 'boss'. It'd be stealing from Peter to pay Paul.

But this is his family. And he has done worse]

Very well.

[theoverseers]

Excellent. I knew that we could come to an agreement.

If you would present your observations every few days. I will let you know if I need you to act.

-EP

PS: It's White's turn for a motive this week. Don't let that distract you.

[stitch_in_time]

I would! And not just for the schadenfreude of it all. Mostly, but not all.

[And you know what, he will take some coffee. Specifically, that mug Bolton just set down to pose over.]

And speaking of, you never answered my question on day one. Where'd you get the tech to bring everyone here? Call that one professional curiosity.

[theoverseers]

[You can insult a man's morals, but you cannot take his almost-empty mug of coffee! He snatches it back out of the Doctor's hands with a glare.]

Where'd we get it? Same place we got the funding to keep the kitchen stocked and hot food prepared every day.

Sunday morning

[curdle]

[ Thomasin, if you want to talk about it I'll be at my office hours.

She shows up nearer to the tail end of said hours, because there's been a lot of hedgehugging and putting herself together to be done in the interim. Thomasin's hair is braided up again, her face scrubbed, and she's wearing her repressed alien clothes and a sober expression. She opens the door herself almost immediately after knocking and walks on in. ]

Caleb's death. You knew of it from the first.

[theoverseers]

[Bolton didn't leave the cafeteria with coffee, but judging by the empty mug he's acquired at least one cup today. He puts his book down immediately when she opens the door, standing to meet her.

He sighs. He can tell it's not a question.]

I did.

[curdle]

[ Now that that's out there, she's not sure where to go next. There's a long, pregnant pause. ]

Be there any question I might ask that you will answer?

[theoverseers]

[Bolton hesitates. He glances over her head at the corner of the room, and then down at the screen attached to his wrist.]

I can't...tell you anything that you don't already know. Or, at least, related to anything that you don't remember yet.

[Much though he sounds like his hands are actually tied.]

[curdle]

[ She may be (she is) technologically illiterate on a truly unprecedented level, but even Thomasin can tell something is amiss upon that combination of actions. She keeps silent, however, and moves on. ]

I know I mayn't ask of that what brought me here. But of Caleb...

Thou must know the twins accuse me. They say there is a witch. Was it her as sickened him, and drove him to death?

[theoverseers]

Oh.

[He motions for her to take a seat, but he waits until she does before sitting down himself.]

You didn't hurt your brother, Thomasin.

Week 3, Thursday. Report 1

[kingshaming]

[Sorry this took so long I was legit debating how verbose to make this playing someone obnoxiously detail focused is awful never do it]

Through my own interactions with the Overseers I have noticed an utter disregard for any emotional distance or any logical protocol one would have with captives. Jamison specifically was not only very cordial with me during personal meetings, but also answered questions about my home realm in order to ease my mental state. He also came to speak with me outside meeting hours while I was using the art room. There was no real conversation had about the experiment, only about my home and a very slight mention of his own.

My meeting with Bolton was less fruitful on my end, but as cordial. Bolton seemed very careful about his words but seemed willing to talk if asked the right questions. Though as much as Jamison, Bolton was willing to speak with us one on one and with a relaxed demeanor when outside meetings as well. During the dodgeball motive I was able to strike his back in a 'friendly' manner with no warning or repercussions, and after breaking Rule 3 he was more interested in having a joke at my expense as well as carefully warning me away from doing it again rather then any real punishment. I know of at least one incident of Bolton moving to comfort one of us while distressed, and have seen him look distressed by certain reactions (as well as Jamison).

Specifically while both are very animated during Jamison's motives, Jamison is easily aggravated and clearly upset during Bolton's. Bolton as well can become very defensive if called out during his in any emotional way. Both seem to be very emphatic people and are weak to emotional pleas. Not only from the younger members (though I suspect Bolton may be weaker to those then not) but Jamison also seemed thrown off by my anger during our first meeting.

The two also seem to be very close, personally. They are very casual with touch and joke with each other easily. Not knowing the standards of their position I can not say if this is inappropriate or not.

Overall I can state while it certainly benefits myself and my fellow participants, the Overseers seem to dislike the methods of this experiment, and will undermine it on an emotional level whenever they are able to avoid any actual breaking of protocol. I have listed all my personal sightings as well as days and times with the exclusion of scheduled motives and appearances below.

[And yes, yes he has a full list. "Date", time of day, any other random details he noticed (like Bolton's sleepwear, how he took his coffee, Jamison's art tips) Be glad I didn't write all this out cuz Xander would have]

[curdle]

I know that!

[ She really doesn't. But she sits down anyway, and waits for him to follow suit. ]

But some thing did. [ ... ] And if you know who, or what, still you will not speak. Canst thou not at least tell me if you know the truth of it?

[theoverseers]

[He sits down as well, then sighs heavily.]

I've read your extended profile. It's...about you, not Caleb, so I don't know exactly what happened to him. But...

The twins accusing you doesn't mean anything. Children their age are too young to completely understand loss like that, so they try to relate it to something they know. Like- a game of pretend with their big sister.

[theoverseers]

Very good, Prince Xander.

I am intrigued by your observations of Mr. White. Would you say with certainty that he has shown favoritism to any Champions in particular, or do you believe that his display of comfort was a matter of convenience?

Be careful with Mr. Fell. If you make him blush much harder he may combust.

-EP

[kingshaming]

Jamison needed to smile.

And I wouldn't say there is enough to for sure call out a pattern. Tell me this- if someone WAS a clear preference, what would the outcome of that be on your end? I will not set up my fellows for punishment for something that is not their fault.

[theoverseers]

A warning would be issued to Mr. White. His and Mr. Fell's contracts both state that they are to attempt to maintain some level of emotional detachment, in order to remain objective arbiters of the experiment.

[kingshaming]

I see.

I will say that Bolton has apparently attempted to comfort Thomasin more then once, but I can't say if that is out of any bias or because she has had a very rough time.