Pretty much all my temporary wardens have said the same thing. Don't really know what they're doing when it comes to temp pairings. You'd think the Admiral would at least give you basic training or something.
Don’t misunderstand. It’s not for lack of experience or basic training - though all of us could probably benefit from something at the outset. It’s more that there is a certain amount of mutual trust and understanding that goes - or should go into Warden-Inmate pairings. And that is very difficult to establish in a month, especially when you know it’s very likely that you will have an entirely different person the following month.
The Admiral does this, I’m sure, as a means of making sure Inmates are supervised - but also to see how well certain people might work together.
But a ‘temporary’ pairing still sets the expectation that whatever rapport is built in thirty days will end. That’s what makes it difficult.
[Cloud rolls his eyes a little when Archer talks about inmates needing supervision. He doesn't need that, he needs...guidance. Then again, there are inmates like Justine and Katie on board, so maybe it's not such a bad idea after all.]
Hm. Doesn't have to end just because the pairing does. I still talk to Ulla and Rawne.
[Ulla in particular has made it a goal of hers to keep up with her temp inmates even after their month together is over, which Cloud appreciates as someone who has a hard time keeping up with people in general.]
But there is a difference between continuing an acquaintance or…friendship, as the case may be…and being…responsible.
I knew the last person I was paired with fairly well even before the Admiral made things official - and I was already doing what I thought I could to help him.
But a permanent pairing involves a different sort of…obligation. It means you have been entrusted with the soul of another person, and that is no small thing. And with the stakes being as such…failure is not an option.
Other Wardens may take a different view - but that is how I think of it.
[Entrusted with the soul of another person. Cloud's never really thought about it that way before, but then, he's not a warden - he's never had to.]
Hm. Sounds right to me. But what would failure even look like? Zhao Yunlan once told me that as long as I don't disappear, I will graduate, even if it takes a long time. He said anyone can graduate. And I think...that sounds right, too.
Failure can take many forms. Not being able to meet the need of the person you've been assigned to... Seeing them disappear before they've reached the goal.
The second one hasn't happened to me personally, but I know others it has happened to.
Logically, perhaps, one should attribute something like that to the Admiral - but that doesn't lessen the impact of losing someone who was entrusted to you.
[ Both of the Inmates he was paired with ultimately graduated. So in that sense, he hasn’t failed. That doesn’t mean the idea of it didn’t haunt him. ]
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onlyembers
no subject
Date: 2025-01-26 09:08 am (UTC)[A pause.]
Pretty much all my temporary wardens have said the same thing. Don't really know what they're doing when it comes to temp pairings. You'd think the Admiral would at least give you basic training or something.
no subject
Date: 2025-01-26 03:40 pm (UTC)Don’t misunderstand. It’s not for lack of experience or basic training - though all of us could probably benefit from something at the outset. It’s more that there is a certain amount of mutual trust and understanding that goes - or should go into Warden-Inmate pairings. And that is very difficult to establish in a month, especially when you know it’s very likely that you will have an entirely different person the following month.
The Admiral does this, I’m sure, as a means of making sure Inmates are supervised - but also to see how well certain people might work together.
But a ‘temporary’ pairing still sets the expectation that whatever rapport is built in thirty days will end. That’s what makes it difficult.
no subject
Date: 2025-01-27 04:05 am (UTC)Hm. Doesn't have to end just because the pairing does. I still talk to Ulla and Rawne.
[Ulla in particular has made it a goal of hers to keep up with her temp inmates even after their month together is over, which Cloud appreciates as someone who has a hard time keeping up with people in general.]
no subject
Date: 2025-01-31 02:22 am (UTC)But there is a difference between continuing an acquaintance or…friendship, as the case may be…and being…responsible.
I knew the last person I was paired with fairly well even before the Admiral made things official - and I was already doing what I thought I could to help him.
But a permanent pairing involves a different sort of…obligation. It means you have been entrusted with the soul of another person, and that is no small thing. And with the stakes being as such…failure is not an option.
Other Wardens may take a different view - but that is how I think of it.
no subject
Date: 2025-01-31 04:47 am (UTC)Hm. Sounds right to me. But what would failure even look like? Zhao Yunlan once told me that as long as I don't disappear, I will graduate, even if it takes a long time. He said anyone can graduate. And I think...that sounds right, too.
no subject
Date: 2025-01-31 05:16 am (UTC)The second one hasn't happened to me personally, but I know others it has happened to.
Logically, perhaps, one should attribute something like that to the Admiral - but that doesn't lessen the impact of losing someone who was entrusted to you.
no subject
Date: 2025-01-31 05:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-01-31 04:44 pm (UTC)…it is always something I am concerned about.
Mostly because I am aware that I have…certain deficits. In terms of how I interact with people.
Both Inmates I was paired with permanently ultimately graduated - but there were certainly times where I felt…out of my depth.
no subject
Date: 2025-02-01 03:29 am (UTC)[Archer didn't really answer the question, but that's fine. Cloud's hardly going to push.]
no subject
Date: 2025-02-01 04:33 am (UTC)It is.
[ Archer drains the rest of his glass, then- ]
Was there anything else you wanted to know?
no subject
Date: 2025-02-01 04:57 am (UTC)[Cloud's still sipping at his drink, and makes no move to indicate he's leaving just yet.]
Think I'm gonna stay here for a little while. [A pause.] If...that's okay.
[Sometimes he forgets that he needs permission for existing in certain places.]