Inbox

[artistinexile]

You have reached the inbox of the former Grand Admiral Thrawn of the Imperial Star Destroyer Chimaera and the Seventh Fleet, also formerly known as Senior Commander Mitth'raw'nuruodo of the Springhawk.

I will return your message promptly.

[The message repeats in six different languages]

Comments

[whatthefudge]

Thank you, Thrawn.

And, um - are you okay? I feel like there's been some...stuff bubbling up around that job.

[artistinexile]

You are welcome.

[an unsure moment of silence]

Why do you ask?

[whatthefudge]

...Some people might not have liked being spoken to the way that you were.

[artistinexile]

So long as their dislike doesn’t turn towards violence, I am fine.

[whatthefudge]

Okay, if you're sure. And - you can call me Lucy, by the way.

[artistinexile]

Thank you, Lucy.

[Thrawn sends over his report: what he did, who he reached out to and why, what motivations or incentives he used and how these can be utilized to go further - how spite can turn to wanting appreciation for one’s hard work, how off-days or short vacations could be offered in lieu of monetary goods, and how most inmates he spoke to believe custodial work to be the place to transfer out of, never into, primarily due to it being the “default” job despite being one that requires more strain and physical effort than others.

He offers a blueprint of the mouse droid and how to build more using the cybernetic repair bay, currently empty of wardens, and how it can be tasked with the worst jobs that inmates may struggle with.

He includes an example roster of who can go on which floor, who is never to be bothered and should be moved immediately, and a list of potential people who were driven from custodial who may, with proper incentive, be brought back.

Also included is the rubric he said Richter should create, which denotes what’s considered a good or poor job of cleaning.]

[whatthefudge]

[After a little while spent digesting:]

This is great. How long did it take you to put this together?

[artistinexile]

I’m glad you approve.

Two days, and an additional day to reach out to all parties involved.

[whatthefudge]

Right. I guess this is all kind of small potatoes for you, seeing how your message says you were an Admiral. Grand Admiral.

[artistinexile]

On the contrary. In that role I at least could fire or move those who simply did not care about the job they were doing or why it mattered.

[whatthefudge]

[Lucy chuckles.]

I - yeah. I didn't think about it that way. I meant more in the sense of organising stuff, making it more efficient?

[artistinexile]

Ah.

Yes. I enjoy examining why we do things the way we do them, deciding on how best to address problems or blockages my people were having, and working to uncover solutions we could practice implementing.

[whatthefudge]

Not everybody can see the big picture like that. It sounds like you could help a lot of people.

[artistinexile]

Perhaps.

My struggles are with understanding people. I often have no idea how I must phrase myself, or how to have more patience for the stubborn, the reticent, and the disrespectful. I find that more often than not, I either make matters worse or waste valuable time when it could be better spent elsewhere.

[whatthefudge]

Oh-

My brother has that problem. Or, well. It'd be a problem if he...cared about it.

[artistinexile]

Truly?

[tell me more!]

[whatthefudge]

Yeah. Norm is...a lot of people think he's rude or disrespectful, but he's just honest. He doesn't say the polite thing if he doesn't believe it, he doesn't really try to spare other people's feelings. Add in that he's really smart, and he notices the small stuff, and...well, I think maybe he makes other people feel less smart, sometimes.

[artistinexile]

[oh no it's him]

Insightful.

Fortunate he has you to interpret for him.

[This might be a dig from others. From Thrawn it's a genuine compliment]

[whatthefudge]

[Lucy laughs again, softly.]

Oh, I do not do that! I don't even think he'd want me to. But I've known him his whole life, so...I know where he's coming from. We trust each other.

[artistinexile]

He is a fortunate man indeed to have a sibling who understands him.

[whatthefudge]

Thank you.

Did you - have anybody like that? People who understood you?

[artistinexile]

At times, yes.

[Never two together, and never for long enough]

Their insights were invaluable. I admit to some...well-placed nostalgia now when I think of them.

But the gulf of time and space is challenging to cross.

[whatthefudge]

I'm sorry, Thrawn. I hope you can make friends here too.

[artistinexile]

Thank you. I have some potentials in the works.

[whatthefudge]

That's super! Now you can add one more.