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

[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.

[omar]

...You think that likely to get a lot of interest?

[lesliemonster]

I'm optimistic! We can't know for sure until the first meeting, but there are a decent chunk of readers on the ship.

[omar]

And you wants me to pick out a book. The first book.

[lesliemonster]

I've been in a coma for nearly two months. Meanwhile, you've been posing as a warden -- getting to know this place and the people in it as well as you can.

[The first direct mention she's made of what he led others to assume during his first few weeks here. Her tone isn't particularly accusatory. He's done far worse things and who wouldn't try and get away with being a warden, here?]

You've got a better understanding of what people are more likely to read.

[omar]

Fair enough. [He's not even going to pretend the rest of it isn't true. Of course it's true.

He's also not even going to pretend that he's not going to look for a way to make this as entertaining for himself as possible.]

I'll root around a little, see if anything catch my eye.

[lesliemonster]

[She is aware of that. She gets that Omar is making a lot of this into a joke -- herself included, probably. But he's agreeing to participate in something, and that's a start. So Leslie really means it when she says:]

Great! I'm really looking forward to your selection.