[CLOSED]

[baetiful]

WHO: Petyr Baelish and Hermann Gottlieb
WHERE: The prison Hermann was being held at.
WHEN: Backdated to when Hermann was imprisoned.
WHAT: Ambassador Baelish pays a visit to his scientist buddy.
WARNINGS: None that I can think of. Will update if needed!

When Petyr heard about Hermann being detained, he didn't visit immediately. The immediate visit would be for closer friends than him, and his husband, of course. But partway into the first week was when Petyr made his appearance, heading into the jail without a shred of disdain on his face. He was used to walking into prisons, speaking to prisoners or the staff in these places. So Petyr did not maintain an air of being above anyone here. He simply came into the visitation area and awaited Hermann's appearance.

And when the physicist entered, Petyr took his seat on the opposite side of the glass, offering him a wan smile. "Were this in Pennsylvania, I may have been able to interfere here in some way. But unfortunately, my power is limited. The least I could do is pay you a visit to see how you are faring. Have they been treating you well?"

A pause. "As well as these circumstances would afford?" Because if not, that is when Petyr might be able to interfere as an ambassador for imPorts.

Comments

[mathemagier]

His imprisonment would cost him friendships, he knew. Jacob had been the first, and he was very nearly certain Baelish would be the second. But honestly, he hadn't expected him to visit of all things- rather wash his hands of it and not get involved at all so not to lose face. That he was here at all forced him to reevaluate Baelish's priorities and wonder what compelled him here- not to mention obliquely offer assistance after a fashion.

Hermann looked him over through the glass, faintly puzzled. It seemed to be a common theme with this man and he was both intrigued and wary.

"The staff are about as reasonably accommodating as can be expected," he said with a bit of a shrug. "At least they do seem sincere in their efforts to ensure my safety, and I am certainly grateful for that. There are a great many reasons the native inmates here aren't fond of me, so it's rather trying in that regard but I'm managing decently so far."

He'd almost prefer solitary in all honesty, particularly if it afforded him a less populated shower slot. For now he simply slept with his back to the wall and tried to make as few ripples as possible.

"How are things in the outside world?"

[baetiful]

"I can imagine."

How the native inmates must despise an imPort, knowing that for his crimes, he will serve a minimal sentence and be out. How they must seek to take out their frustrations on him knowing that not only is he fragile, but also in a relationship with a man. And Petyr knows far too well what a hungry male's mind could subject a person to. He was a brothel keeper for many years, after all.

"Things have not changed much. More people arrive and more disappear. The ebb and flow of the porter. It's not one of those months where we are subjected to a large scale attack at the least. We're still picking up the pieces from those dreaded ghosts or what have you." A shake of his head.

"But that aside, I must confess -- I find what you did to be a rather bold move. Impressive, even. Were you able to at least start compiling your collected data before...well..." He nodded at the prison surrounding them.

[mathemagier]

Now that wasn't an opinion he expected to hear from an Ambassador. Hermann's brows rose and he sat back with a sigh.

"No.. No, I couldn't risk the data being recovered in a search, so I instead took the time to secure it and send it away. But really, it's nothing highly classified or that might compromise the government- just simple bits of data I've asked for before."

Despite that, his lips twitched into a smile. The promise of his research was one of the few things that made his imprisonment feel largely insignificant. The progress he'd be making here in the near future..

"But I look forward to compiling it and releasing my conclusions once I've finished with it. It should give us a broad picture of the Porter's patterns- a stepping stone to understanding and perhaps eventually predicting it."

[baetiful]

"When is your intended release date?"

These prison sentences never really ran longer than two months. But Baelish could not imagine that Hermann's crime would be on the same sort of tier as say Jonathan Crane's crime from years ago. So it likely wouldn't be for longer than a month. Maybe not even a full month.

"I can imagine that although you may not be in here for as long as some of the other inmates, it must be agonizing to know you have all of that data waiting for you, ready to be analyzed just out of your reach."

[mathemagier]

"The 24th, if all goes well. Then I'll be released on probation until June 25th- at which point I'll no longer be under anyone's thumb."

At least not directly. And with his abilities fully functional, he'll be able to retrieve his data and begin to work on it in earnest.

"I am a touch impatient of course, but it's good to know it's beyond anyone's reach at the moment. I can take heart in the fact the government won't be able to confiscate it and that will make all of this worth it in the end."

[baetiful]

"Having a goal in sight will always make what you must endure all the more worthwhile. And should anyone treat you in a manner that is unsatisfactory, you have my aid as an ambassador. It will be the one time I can intervene." He didn't have the same jurisdiction over De Chima as Lucy, but as an imPort, he could represent Hermann to that extent.

He also happened to know some pretty fantastic lawyers.

With a faintly amused smile, he said: "Sometimes, it can be beneficial to befriend a politician."

[mathemagier]

An unexpected offer, and one he didn't expect to use, but the gesture meant enough on its own.

"Well I suppose I can't deny that. I do appreciate the offer, though I hope it won't be necessary. And here I'd thought it might harm your political reputation to support a 'criminal' of sorts."

[baetiful]

"Oh, my political reputation has already been dampened by the fact that I've chosen Maurtia Falls as the city to represent. Supporting a supposed criminal could hardly do any more damage than I've already done myself." He flashed Hermann a self-deprecating smile.

So many politicians wouldn't even touch Maurtia Falls for fear of how it would reflect on their political careers when they failed to clean up the city. But Petyr always enjoyed a good challenge.

"I imagine once you get out of here, you'll need to find your footing once again in the employment field, correct?"

[mathemagier]

Well he could sort of see how that would be the case, though it's a touch unfair given all that Baelish has done for the city since becoming ambassador. Reducing crime rates, building a wonderful library..

"Oh, er- yes, probably. For my crimes, it will be near impossible to find anything in a technological field, which is certainly a shame. Newton's teaching in Heropa, though I must say it doesn't appeal. But last I was aware, all the imPort research facilities have been abandoned, so it may be necessary."

Unless of course, Baelish was offering.. Hermann wasn't quite sure how to feel about that.

[baetiful]

"If they've all been abandoned, why not start your own?" The question is as much planting the seed as it is offering genuine advice. Petyr doesn't have any specific job in mind for Hermann. Not yet. But Hermann is also the best person to create his own job to suit his needs. And Petyr could certainly use more scientific connections -- the more empowered those connections were, the better for Petyr. "I could aid you in the financial costs of such a thing. And if you decided to create within Maurtia Falls, I could aid you even more. But I do know how you feel about the city, and I certainly cannot blame you for that."

He shakes his head with a smile. "But in the meantime, to make ends meet, if teaching is something you find satisfactory -- you could teach a course or two at the library I built? I would pay you well for your time and expertise. And you would be largely helping people in my city learn about things that could grant them larger career opportunities. Larger than resorting to crime to pay their bills, at least. It would be beneficial to us both, and more than that, you wouldn't be locked in. You could take on as many or as few hours as you wish -- plus cease teaching at any point in time."

[mathemagier]

The thought had certainly crossed his mind before, but.. "That's a generous offer, Ambassador. Unfortunately, I haven't the first idea of how to found and well- run an entire research facility. I can manage a lab well enough, but neither myself or Newton are businessmen."

Though it's still tempting. If they had a sponsor.. What sort of books on the matter would he need to ask after? How time-consuming would maintaining a facility on a daily basis be? If it gave him time to perform his own research.. With funding and the license to pursue their own interests, so much could be accomplished that it was intoxicating to consider.

But of course the reality was that they would be attaching themselves to Baelish in a very significant fashion unless they grew a production side to fund themselves. Neither of them were interested in production, however.. Perhaps other imPorts would be? Or natives. Hermann was more than interested in hiring and working with native scientists.

Well it was nothing to make a decision about now. And the idea of attempting to impart understanding of higher mathematics to uninterested youths or troubled small-time criminals did not excite him.

"Then of course, there's my new reputation to consider.. Still, both ideas have merit and I will give them due consideration. It's not as though I have much else to do with my time at the moment."

[baetiful]

"Your new reputation..." Petyr spoke, his thoughts wafting into the air. "Which reputation would that be, I wonder? Your reputation as a criminal? Or your reputation as a man who demands answers and will not hesitate to do what must be done to get them? Yours could be one of heroism depending upon the answers you get from your actions and how much you could illuminate about the porter and its mysterious actions. And could you not do it best within your own proper work station, surrounded by your own equipment?"

And just as much as he allowed the thoughts to drift, Petyr brought the focus back to the present moment. "But of course, you do need to consider all of your options. You are an intelligent man, Dr. Gottlieb. You are not one to foolishly rush into things without considering everything first. And I can certainly appreciate that."

After how many impulsive imPorts he had encountered here? Yeah. He could definitely appreciate that.

[mathemagier]

He hadn't thought about that in great detail, though he'd certainly hoped the public opinion of his actions would be swayed when he publicly released his conclusions. But if he managed it correctly, there might be a foothold there to work from.

Hermann settled back, thoughtful. "And what would you want out of such an arrangement, Ambassador? If I were to agree."

[baetiful]

"Information, quite simply. You sharing what you might discover in regards to anything. I'm a simple man, really. My draw toward doing many of the things I do is the knowledge I might be able to gain from doing so."

Petyr offered a smile. It was a humble price to ask. But Baelish also knew, the man who held the most information at his disposal also became the most powerful. Strength and brawn alone didn't win wars.