[audio] many different locks, and not all at once - time and filter noted for each - BACKDATED

[talentd_tongue]

[locked to Percy Weasley]Tony Stark has been reduced to a child-like state in order to preserve his mind and keep him from seriously injuring himself. I made all decisions that led to this outcome and I take full responsibility for it, as well as for him. I'd like to do so as a representative of the government, since the power of the Magistrate is

Comments

[locked]

[goldn_boy]

My god, Uhura.

[Yeah, he knows what that means.]

What happened to him? If you need anything--I'm at least familiar with the... condition.

[locked forever]

[talentd_tongue]

[She sounds tired, physically and emotionally.]

The Magistrate's power was destroying his mind. He was dying. This... bought us some time, at least.

[goldn_boy]

[But at what cost? Jim wonders.]

I'm glad you were there for him. Uhura, take care of yourself. What can I do?

[talentd_tongue]

[Ah, Jim. Always there when she needs you, and in a supportive way, too. You're the bestest.]

At this point, I honestly don't know. I think it will be good for him to be around people, to have someone other than me to talk to. If you want to visit him.

[goldn_boy]

I can do that, sure.

[talentd_tongue]

I appreciate all the help I can get.

I'm... [This isn't easy for her to say, and the fact that she's had to say it so many times today hasn't lessened the sting.] I'm in pretty far over my head, Jim.

[goldn_boy]

I'm pretty sure anyone would be--but if anyone can rise to it, it's you. I'll do whatever you need, you know that. Part of any position of responsibility is delegation.

[Easy for him to say, of course.]

[talentd_tongue]

I don't know how you do it. I really don't.

[In her mind, her life and his are blending a little, overlapping in ways they never have and never will, but she feels like she can hazard a fairly good guess as to what kind of Captain he made.]

How can you take responsibility for someone else's life, for an entire crew, and be so sure. How is it that you know what to do?

[goldn_boy]

I probably wouldn't say this if you were my lieutenant. [But she isn't, and this is exactly who requires his honesty.] The deceptively simple answer is: I don't. What I do know is that I do have that responsibility, and that I can rely on my crew to obey orders and also to question them if their good sense or expertise tells them something's wrong. It's not about standing up there and making every decision unilaterally. It's about balancing when that's necessary, and when you have to call in help.

[He sighs.]

I know that's not very helpful, but I think that's the point--there isn't a set of instructions. Just a list of protocols you have to make split-second decisions about following or ignoring. It's the most difficult and most rewarding thing I can imagine, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone who didn't take it voluntarily.

[talentd_tongue]

So. It never gets easy, you just get better at pretending that it is.

[That sounds pretty awful, to be honest. Uhura feels bad for Jim, and also, inexplicably, slightly better about her own situation.]

I'm scared, Jim.

What if he can't be fixed? What if we never find the Magistrate?

[goldn_boy]

That's one way to put it, but it doesn't quite get at the reality that the pretending really does make it more true. It's a bit like positive thinking--thought doesn't change reality, but it sure as hell can change how effectively you interact with it.

[Jim only feels sorry that he's lost it--for all the stress and heartache, it's the desk job that had been slowly sapping him of his will.]

If he can't be fixed... Then you've done your best, Uhura, and you'll have made the best decisions you could at each juncture. And I know you won't give up until every avenue is exhausted. There are other powers here than the Magistrate. The thing about Bete Noire... the solution isn't always the obvious one and sadly that makes it almost impossible to see them all until they're upon you.

How did you get involved with this, anyhow? Through the Tower?

[talentd_tongue]

Yes. At first. I was keeping an eye on him, just checking in a few times a week to make sure he was all right. Percy Weasley wanted a more... hands on approach to government, so that's what I was doing. And he just... got so bad so quickly. I couldn't leave him to die like that.

[goldn_boy]

I'm sure you did everything you could, Uhura. And if I can help, I will.

I know someone will figure this out.

[talentd_tongue]

Thank you, Jim. I-- [So many ways to finish that sentence, and all of them a little more than she can stand to reveal in her current state. She just needs to hold it together.] Appreciate it.

[goldn_boy]

Always.

[His voice holds all the conviction that he will be there for her.]

[talentd_tongue]

[She can hear it anyway. And God, does she ever need it. But she can't say that right now, because that's getting into territory that opens things up to be too heavy.

So she just takes a deep breath. Gets her mind together.]

Uhura out.