07; Audio

[lesliemonster]

[Private to Omar Little]

Hello, Omar. This is Leslie Knope. We've spoken previously. [No mention of the warden assumption -- to be entirely fair, it was one that she made.]

As you've been informed, you and I will be working together towards your graduation. I'd like to meet and talk about where to go from here. Are you free for brunch? I have access to a waffle maker!

Comments

[lesliemonster]

[Ann Perkins is not, in fact, Leslie's girlfriend. But she is her partner in life and friendship, and the most beautiful nurse in the world, and Leslie's very best friend and possibly soulmate.

But enough about Ann (not possible).

Leslie pours the coffee, and hands a mug out to Omar. Her own is sitting on her desk, still topped off with whip cream.]

That's reasonable enough. But I'd want a few things from you in return.

[omar]

[He's not a big coffee drinker, but he takes the cup from her with a polite nod of thanks, raising a brow over the rim as he gives it a sort of cursory, customary sip.]

Ain't all that much I can get you, I'm afraid. Didn't you hear? I ain't a warden after all.

[lesliemonster]

No. No, you're not. What I need from you is to remember that.

[Leslie sets her coffee mug down, and the Harry Potter fangirl isn't gone, per say. But Leslie is a woman that has been able to run a succesful department on a shoestring budget for nearly eight years, and she knows when it's time to be direct.

This is her, being direct.]

What I need from you, Omar, is to set aside the idea that you have any right to murder an inmate. No matter what the circumstances, no matter who the inmate.

[omar]

And that's all I need to do for my Honey Nut Cheerios.

[lesliemonster]

If I had to guess, I'd say that's what you have to do for your graduation.

But Cheerios, in the meantime. Sure.

[omar]

Got some bad news for you on that front, warden.

[lesliemonster]

You're developing diabetes?

[omar]

I hopes not, but I can live without my cereal. [And honestly, he'll just steal the cigarettes. >>]

[lesliemonster]

[That is along the lines of what she was expecting, but Leslie looks disappointed nonetheless.]

You can live without doling out your own sense of justice, too.

[As cool as that sounds. God, that sounds cool. Leslie's face works very hard not to betray how cool she thinks that sounds.]

We already have wardens. There are already systems in place to deal with inmates who get out of hand. As you well know, being an inmate that's gotten out of hand.

[omar]

System don't seem to be working all too well, now do it? That boy killed three people already.

[lesliemonster]

Yes. He had.

[What? Is she supposed to not recognize a valid point?]

Your killing him doesn't change that. And I would highly doubt that it will alter his behavior in the future.

I mean -- how many drug dealers stopped being drugged dealers, just because they knew there was a chance that you would come along and steal from them?

[omar]

None. I's counting on that for my livelihood.

This different, though.

[lesliemonster]

Speaking of, we need to see about getting you a job on the Barge.

How so?

[omar]

No thanks.

Now how you think a man like Avon Barksdale or Prop Joe gonna just step out the game? Even if they wanted to, and they don't, 'cause most of 'em got the resources to manage around me unless I gets to huffing and puffing -- guess Barksdale crew done learnt that one the hard way. But even if they wanted to, where you think they gonna be going? Where you think their crew gonna be? You think anyone in Baltimore know how to get legitimized?

But this thing, with Ladd... this just a hobby for him. Ain't no supply or demand in what he got. Ain't no one counting on him but that pretty little girl of his, neither. He could stop any time. I means to see he do. And if you really wants to cut down on the bodies round here? You should be doing the same.

[lesliemonster]

[Again, Omar has a perfectly valid point. One that Leslie takes a long moment to consider, before she responds.

Because as valid as the point is, there's a truth underlining it that she's gotten from his file. Where Omar came from, he seemed to some people less of a man and more of a force of nature. His own system of order. It sounds difficult, trying to be just a man after that.]

I...don't think Ladd's the only one here with hobby, Omar. That's not to say that I'm comparing your respective philosophies in any tangible way.

But it seems to me that a lot of what you're doing isn't driven by supply or demand, either. Ladd has a warden. The barge has a way of bringing people back from the dead -- not that that makes killing them okay. There's a system of checks and balances in place that has worked successfully for many graduated inmates.

You're not part of that checks and balance system. And I think that bores you.

[omar]

[If Omar said things like, "bitch, please," he might say, "bitch, please," here, but he doesn't. His face shows what he thinks of that, though.]

That baby warden ain't stop him from killing them other boys, did it? [And no offense, Leslie, but you're not doing a very good job of stopping Omar right now, either.] Y'all say checks and balances, but I heard enough mutterings around here even staying off the warden filter. Ain't many people really believe in that.

You tell me this, Leslie Knope: how many people on board right now that ain't been done at least once?

[lesliemonster]

[At least he agrees the we do not call ladies bitches.]

I honestly could not tell you. At least one more than needed to be.

[omar]

Could be we agrees on that much.

I ain't one for senseless murder. You ought to have read enough about me to know that much.

[lesliemonster]

I have. Cover to cover.

[She says it like she knows it's unfair. Which it is -- she'd offer to let Omar read her life file, if she had one. But it's all pretty much on display in this room.]

I get that you have a code. But I also see what that code ultimately got you -- and the people you cared about.

[omar]

[His eyes narrow -- suddenly, this is dangerous ground, Leslie.]

People that knew what they was getting into. People I did right by, in the end.

[lesliemonster]

[Which probably didn't mean much to the people who'd already been tortured to death. Leslie can't imagine anyone who signs up for that.

But this is dangerous ground, and it's only her first meeting with Omar. She doesn't want to push so hard that he cuts off all contact with her -- she remembers well what a difficult time Fraser had with his inmate, after the latter started ignoring him.

Okay. Prodding time is over. Leslie sits back in her chair, and looks over to her bookshelf.]

What sort of books do you like to read, Omar? Your file mentioned mythology.

[omar]

[There's not much of a change in the air when she gives; he's on his guard now. He leans back as well, folding his hands over his stomach, but his expression is cool and closed off now.]

Picture books. Why you ask?

[lesliemonster]

Really? Like graphic novels? I loved Music for Mechanics.

[Leslie notices the change Omar's body language -- she notices much more than people generally expect her to. But she plows on, brightly, as if the change in demeanor doesn't register.]

I'd like us to work on a project together -- a monthly book club. I'd like to leave the first month's selection up to you.

[omar]

[Clever girl. He smirks a little at her response, but opts not to respond. The offer, however, has his brows lifting high.]

...A book club with who?

[lesliemonster]

[But Music for Mechanics is really good, Omar! You'd like it.

...also, Leslie is 80% sure she is older than you.]

With whomever on the barge would like to join. Wardens and inmates alike.