TLV: Inbox

[tinstar]

Comments

[tinstar]

[Malcolm would hear the hitch of Raylan's breath at the sound of Malcolm's voice, too much of the breach still rattling around. This one had hit different.]

I'm.. [Fine. The answer was fine, but he couldn't quite make the word come out.] Rough. This breach was-

How are you holdin' up?

[abrightboy]

I'm fine. You know I am. You made sure of it.

[tinstar]

[Raylan wasn't sure where this had left them, but there was no arguing with the protective brotherly feeling in his chest.]

There wasn't a chance in hell that I- he- we were gonna let you get into that.. Mess. No matter how much trouble you got yourself into.

This is the first breach, flood,.. thing that I've ever had.. family. Like that.

[abrightboy]

[That actually gets Malcolm's attention, because Raylan's been here a lot longer than he has.]

Really?

[tinstar]

Yeah. Don't seem to have much luck with that, but.. [He didn't want a pity party or sympathy, but he was good at being alone.]

I'm glad it was you and not someone I got problems with.

[abrightboy]

...You don't have problems with me?

[tinstar]

No, Malcolm. [The words are huffed, fond and warm.] I don't. I haven't for a while now. Hard to have a problem with someone who means so well and brings weddin' gifts and food to me when I'm tollin'.

I haven't forgotten the Clipper and the rationalizations you're capable of but there's no question that you really do mean it when you say you wanna do good here. I can appreciate that.

[abrightboy]

I… guess we’re all… capable of darkness.

[tinstar]

Everyone is. No matter how good they are otherwise.

The difference here is that.. even there, you still believed you meant well. That goes a long way.

It's part of why yo- Noah got away with so much of the stuff you did. Intention.

[abrightboy]

His brother taught him to stand up for what he believed was right.

[tinstar]

The end of the world and civilization is the best time for us to defend those that can't or won't defend themselves... Otherwise we were worried everyone would lose all their humanity.

Did you.. make it? Through the attack?

[abrightboy]

Of course I did. You were looking after me.

[tinstar]

Okay. Good. I-

Don't remember much after-.. it ended.

[abrightboy]

That's how breaches go, right?

[tinstar]

Some of 'em. Suppose I should be glad this one is like that. If it had maybe taken a little more.

[abrightboy]

It's over now. Put it behind you like a nightmare.

[tinstar]

Yeah.

I'm tryin'.

I'll talk to you later. Sure I'll see you around or something.

[abrightboy]

There's not really anywhere to go, so I'll be around. [He's teasing and Raylan can probably hear his grin before he hangs up.]