[ Archer is silent for a moment -- mostly to organize the thoughts he already had and make sure he doesn't misstate what he actually means. ]
You came to me with valid concerns, and I misinterpreted what you were saying as simply criticism and shut down the conversation rather than listening to your points.
It was unacceptable behavior on my part, and I offer no excuses for it.
It is the job of a Warden to listen to Inmates, even those we are not paired with, and I failed in that respect with you. I acknowledge it, and I apologize for it.
[ ...well, that is not what he expected at all, so he looks a bit surprised for a second before he manages to school his expression into something more neutral again. ]
It's all right.
[ He's more than happy to let bygones be bygones. As for her question, Archer shakes his head. ]
She did not. We've discussed planning for food project, but she never mentioned being aware of our disagreement.
[Colour her pleasantly surprised. Still stings that Misty was taken seriously where she wasn't, but at least Misty didn't have to cow Archer into it. Silver linings.]
Alright. Well, I was serious when I said you don't want me in the kitchen, so I'm not going to be helping out on your end, but I'm glad you're willing to do something about the situation.
[ Misty is just good like that. For him, it stings that she can ask for help and get a pleasant reception while he seems to fuck up or do something wrong with people all the time, but...such is life.
He flaps a hand. ]
I've never minded extra work. I'm just an idiot sometimes.
[ A lot of the time, actually. ]
I can't offer a solid timeframe on when everything will be done, but the effort is underway.
[She folds her arms and contemplates whether she should bother giving him advice. It could just set them back at square one. But no, she decides, she can't just sit on it.]
Not to be too harsh about this, but when we first talked about this, it pissed me off when your solution to not enough help was to say you'd just do it yourself. The thing about extra work is that if you make yourself too important, and you go, everyone else is fucked. You get that, right? We can't rely on you any more than we can all rely on Misty.
[ Surprisingly, perhaps, he actually laughs at that. A soft, brief, self-deprecating one. ]
You’re not wrong. It’s a problem I know I have, and it’s been on-going for quite some time. It’s not a bad thing for me to be reminded of it so I can...adjust accordingly, I suppose.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
text
text
That's fine. Does Level 5 work for you?
text
[And she'll be there shortly, curious but wary.]
spam
Tess.
[ He greets her evenly, his expression neutral. ]
no subject
Archer. What did you want to talk about?
no subject
I came here to apologize to you. If the conversation goes beyond that -- or doesn't -- I am prepared to accept that.
no subject
[She'd like to think she knows, but it never hurts to be clear. She's been burned too many times by letting small things go.]
no subject
You came to me with valid concerns, and I misinterpreted what you were saying as simply criticism and shut down the conversation rather than listening to your points.
It was unacceptable behavior on my part, and I offer no excuses for it.
It is the job of a Warden to listen to Inmates, even those we are not paired with, and I failed in that respect with you. I acknowledge it, and I apologize for it.
no subject
Apology accepted, thank you. I'm sorry for being a snippy bitch about it.
[And one last concern:]
Was this your call, to come talk to me, or did Misty push you in my direction?
no subject
It's all right.
[ He's more than happy to let bygones be bygones. As for her question, Archer shakes his head. ]
She did not. We've discussed planning for food project, but she never mentioned being aware of our disagreement.
no subject
Alright. Well, I was serious when I said you don't want me in the kitchen, so I'm not going to be helping out on your end, but I'm glad you're willing to do something about the situation.
no subject
He flaps a hand. ]
I've never minded extra work. I'm just an idiot sometimes.
[ A lot of the time, actually. ]
I can't offer a solid timeframe on when everything will be done, but the effort is underway.
no subject
[She folds her arms and contemplates whether she should bother giving him advice. It could just set them back at square one. But no, she decides, she can't just sit on it.]
Not to be too harsh about this, but when we first talked about this, it pissed me off when your solution to not enough help was to say you'd just do it yourself. The thing about extra work is that if you make yourself too important, and you go, everyone else is fucked. You get that, right? We can't rely on you any more than we can all rely on Misty.
no subject
You’re not wrong. It’s a problem I know I have, and it’s been on-going for quite some time. It’s not a bad thing for me to be reminded of it so I can...adjust accordingly, I suppose.
no subject
Don't worry, we'll have you graduated in three months flat.
no subject
Oh no, it'd take much longer than that. Especially for someone my age.
[ Old age brings more stubbornness, not less. ]
no subject
no subject
He is well aware of my flaws.
[ More so than most on this ship. ]
But yes, I do need to be the best that I can for him.
[ And he will. Archer is very fond of his shitpost of an Inmate, and he wants to see him succeed.
There is a pause, then- ]
Do you have any other concerns?
no subject
Not really. Do you?
no subject
[ He expects they may disagree again at some point, but in this case, this really was necessary. ]
Thank you for taking the time to come speak with me.
no subject
[She's always glad when wardens prove they have guts, after all.]