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Passengers: Theo Crawford and inmates old and new
Location: All over the Peregrine
Date: Ongoing, during the month of April
Summary: Part two of speaking with inmates about his escape plan
Warnings: Theo's dirty mouth, who knows what else.

[Theo was still working on his escape plan, but a wrench has been thrown into the works thanks to Silco's departure. No other inmates really expressed interest in joining Theo, though some had volunteered to help, or at the very least, not let the secret out. But with still no one on his side, Theo's anxiety over the plan was only getting worse. He'd be more than glad to do it on his own, if he thought he could, but there were a lot of wardens and only one of him.

The Peregrine has had a few new faces arrive over the last few weeks, which meant it was time to get to those inmates while they were alone, or no more than in pairs, and out of the earshot of any wardens. Theo will be approaching inmates he hasn't spoken to yet in places like the mess hell, waving them into the Chapel as they pass the hall, or if they were alone in places like the dorms or the observatory. A paranoid person to begin with, Theo will be doing a lot of double checking and looking over his shoulder as he approaches any inmate.]

Hey. I need to talk to you real quick. Keep your voice down.

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What wardens, (with amusement now, and still at a normal volume, because again, they truly are the only two people here. But following that she decides that she'll be nice and play along. The memory of his anguished face from the simulation is still fresh in her mind, making her feel displaced.)

Sure. (Also, she's curious. She lowers her voice.) What did you have in mind?

They can walk here at any second! Come on. [Paranoia, it's no fun at all. It's also what made it difficult for Theo to try and hatch this plan to start with - needing to trust the other inmates, people he barely knows at all.]

In the greenhouse - I've been working in there - there's a plant that can knock people out. I think it's what's used as the ingredient in those sleeping pills they got in the Infirmary. The leaves are oily, and all you have to do to get knocked out is get some on your skin. You get what I'm sayin'?

I get it.

(And she's interested, very much so, eyes glinting in the dim light. Due to what happened to them in the simulation, the way that she behaved, and treated his grief,) Why're you telling me this? (Feels like a fair question.)

[After their encounter in the sim, Theo has found Amanda to be the most difficult person to approach about this. Even tougher than having to civilly speak to Travis. He knows it wasn't real, but it felt so real, and it was hard to tell his brain to separate the fiction from reality.

The way this is demonstrated is with how far back he stands from her. But with his mistrustful nature, it might not seem out of the ordinary.]

Cuz a few months ago, we landed on a planet. It wasn't a great place, it was pretty empty, but next time might be different. Next time might have more civilization, and it'll be a chance to get the fuck out of here, finally.

[He takes a steadying breath, running a hand through his hair.]

We can use the plants on the wardens. All ya have to do it hit them with some, get enough on their skin, and it should be enough to knock 'em out. It's gonna be tricky since we'd be fucked if we touch it in the process, but I think it can be done.

What, and go live on a planet we know nothing about?

(She doesn't know if she prefers that to what they have right now. Both seem like bad hands; admittedly, one would come with far less security. But neither have John, so what's the point.)

You want other inmates to help you with this. (It's compelling, admittedly. She can see what he's going for here, and the information about the plants is good to have in her back pocket. The sidelong glance she gives him is bemused.) What's in it for me?

-Don't say my fucking freedom, (because she doesn't even know what she'd do with it.)

[Her last line causes him to stop, as he was about to answer something to that effect.]

You don't want out of here? [He looks frustrated, shaking his head. Why were so many inmates willing to stay?]

If you're not interested in getting out of here, what the fuck else can I offer?

[In an effort to get her on his side, he can at least offer up a few details about last port.]

The last place we landed was pretty empty. Visited a little village. If the next place is like that again, I'm-- waiting. [Theo urgently wants to escape, but also doesn't want to get stuck in some backwater fishwife village either.]

If it's also like last time, though, they'll tell us what it's like ahead of landing, and we'll spend a few days there. It can give us some time to feel the place out.

(In all honesty, Amanda isn't sure what she wants. She's still contending with the fact that she's alive to have moved onto what she could be doing about it. She doesn't answer his question, simply stares, and pushes her hair out of her eyes, tucks it back behind her ears.

Thinking.)

I want a favour.

(Not to be fulfilled now, but to keep, in her back pocket. Perhaps this is testament to how well she thinks his escape plan is going to go. Or maybe she's wrong, and as uptight as the wardens of the Peregrine are, they don't care once you're off the ship and out of reach.

Time to find out.) Then I'll help.

[He looks perplexed.]

What? Really?

[He shrugs lightly, palms out. What can I possibly offer?

Maybe she'll forget about it and port will be soon, so he'll be gone and not have to worry about it.]

Okay, fine. What?

That's for me to know, and for you to find out.

(She's smiling, as she extends her hand.) Deal?

[In a very teenager move, Theo rolls his eyes a little, but ultimately shakes Amanda's hand.]

Sure. Deal. A favor to be called upon at a later date, I guess. For whatever that's worth.

Perfect.

(Now we're talking business.) What's the plan? We gather these plants a couple days before?

[A nod.] Yeah. Otherwise it'll just dry up and it's useless. Last time, they announced our stop only a few days before we landed, so it should be enough time to take care of it. That, and we wanna make sure this is a place we actually want to stay in. Can't let this shit go to waste.

Also gotta hand 'em out accordingly. Some wardens are gonna need a bigger dose than others. Like we're gonna need more for Lucifer than, say, Viktor.

(Thinking, planning, it gives her fuel. Makes her pulse race,) You'll need gloves to collect the plant. (And,) Do you have some way to store it, safely?

(Cross-contamination would be... bad.

But also:) Viktor is off-limits.

The greenhouse has a few extra sets. Until I find a better solution, I've just been keeping them pressed between two gloves to keep them from drying.

[That last bit gets a confused frown from Theo.]

Wait. Whattaya mean, "off-limits"? No wardens are "off-limits". They're wardens. But if he or any other of 'em aren't around, or don't get in the way, we won't have to do anything to them. We won't have the time or resources to hit 'em all.

(Seems like a disaster waiting to happen, really. He should find a container. Something from the kitchen could be taken and not missed, but she doesn't suggest it- she waits for him to finish speaking, instead.)

He's my warden, (is what she says instead, with deliberation, as if he's slow on the uptake.) So don't fuck with him.

I'll deal with him myself.

[Amanda earns an eye roll and a shrug, but at least he's in agreement. Mostly.]

Okay. I won't make promises if he gets in my way to stop me, but I won't go out of my way to poach him, either. Agreed?

(Amanda bristles, hopefully imperceptibly, but it's probably the best deal she can get for Viktor.)

Agreed.