Nine - Now That I'm A Man...

[bob_fraser_rcmp]

Well, that's one way to break the ice. Especially after the tension of the last couple of weeks.

I don't believe I caused overmuch trouble, but if you find a discarded flare on the second level, I apologise, it was merely a distraction and I removed most of the gunpowder.

Ned? I believe I am in a better position to discuss the reasons behind my being here, so whenever you're available, I'd like to get started.

Damon? How are you?

Comments

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

Ah, good. [Neither does Bob, really!] Well! I don't expect... I'd appreciate getting to know you, as a man.

[talldarksaviour.livejournal.com]

Of course. I, ah, suppose we've moved past the introductions stage.

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I suppose we have. Common ground, then. How long has it been since you've been that child?

[talldarksaviour.livejournal.com]

A... very long time. I've changed, pretty completely.

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

Change is a part of life, even, apparently, when you're dead. Over a long time, it can be hard.

It was forty five years ago for me.

[talldarksaviour.livejournal.com]

Apparently.

It was, interesting, seeing the barge from an eight year old's viewpoint.

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

It certainly was. I didn't realise how sensitive I was back then, trying to fix everything. I suppose I haven't changed all much, except I was better at it.

[talldarksaviour.livejournal.com]

Really? Better at twelve?

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

Yes. You know that last time I saw my son was at Christmas? I died in April. I don't think my twelve year old self would have stood for that, do you?

[talldarksaviour.livejournal.com]

Family is important. I won't argue with that.

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

It was never even Benton's fault. I just didn't think I could take care of him and I used that as an excuse to have hardly any contact with him at all.

[talldarksaviour.livejournal.com]

We all make mistakes.

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

True enough. And we can't fix them from here, so we may as well move on the best we can.

[talldarksaviour.livejournal.com]

No we can't. Leaving the barge is our only option. You're quite right.

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

Are you close to graduating, do you think?

lies and deflection, business as usual

[talldarksaviour.livejournal.com]

...

Well, I couldn't say for sure... How about you?

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

I've just got here!

[talldarksaviour.livejournal.com]

Maybe you're a fast learner. I've gotta say, you don't seem exactly... inmate material.

Do you know why you're here?

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

Well, I have fallen down in my duties. After a lifetime of service to the RCMP, I took a bribe and allowed corruption to florish.

I was working to rectify that, when I had the misfortune of getting shot.

[talldarksaviour.livejournal.com]

That must have been... frustrating.

Why the sudden fall off the bandwagon?

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

Desk job. Retirement. Just fear of my morality. I needn't have worried.

[talldarksaviour.livejournal.com]

Well, like I said, we all make mistakes. How did that lead to the shooting?

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

When I saw what my decision was doing to the land, I realised how wrong I was. So I decided to expose the conspiracy and I got shot before I could do so.

[talldarksaviour.livejournal.com]

Seems to me you'd already turned the... moral corner. Like I said, not the usual inmate material.

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

Well, we'll see.