If only there were company-mandated materials to read. The lack of clearly delineated parameters is nigh unto a personal attack, in Viktor's opinion. Anything worth doing requires a certain amount of spontaneity, but how can any of them expect to accomplish anything material without knowing the criteria for success? Intuition alone? Just guessing? It's absurd.

He has his crutch standing next to his seat like some kind of wizard staff. The glove holding it shifts its grip, briefly squeezes, settles. All right, then, the bullshit-free version:

"Honestly?" His bony shoulders barely nudge a shrug into existence. "At this stage, not much. We spend some time together, in whatever context seems fitting. We get along, or we don't. Ideally, the both of us learn something in the process. After thirty days, another warden is assigned to you." Such a dry summary could easily come off as indifferent, but his attention never dulls, his yellow eyes remain keen. "What anyone might come to expect from you depends on how you choose to conduct yourself."