TLV: Inbox

[tinstar]

Comments

[abrightboy]

Thank you. I don’t really know what it will be, but… I don’t want it to be something that makes my family hate me.

[tinstar]

[He didn't want it to be something that makes his family hate him, but that didn't touch the fact that he'd done it basically behind their backs.]

'Hate' would be a real extreme reaction. Only person I hate is Arlo. And Hitler, but I think that's a given across acceptable society.

Whatever it is, you're not alone. [And he's sure they could figure out a way to undo this if they needed to.]

[abrightboy]

But you’re still angry about something. Just… not only angry anymore.

[tinstar]

I don't think you're a wet sack of broken man but what I think doesn't matter, Malcolm. You're the one feelin' it.

And I'm a little tired of everyone assumin' the worst of what I mean when I open my mouth on the damned network, but that doesn't have anythin' to do with you.

[abrightboy]

[Malcolm watches him with big, vulnerable eyes.]

I always feel reassured when you pop up on the network.

[tinstar]

[Raylan watches him back and considers asking for more scotch. Asking for validation wasn't something he really did, but he found the question falling out of his mouth before he could stop it.]

Why's that?

[abrightboy]

Because I know you’re still here and plus I always enjoy your matter of fact truths.

[tinstar]

[He studies Malcolm face for a long moment. He wanted to believe that he was speaking those, those matter of fact truths.]

I'm not leavin' til my job here is done. And at least someone enjoys 'em. They start a fight with someone, more often than not.

I'm sorry I came in strong at the start. It's easier to question you than sit around considerin' if I'm going to get good reason to shoot your inmate.

[abrightboy]

Can I ask a question? …Maybe a series of questions. What happened in your session with Lestat that you’re taking music lessons now?

[tinstar]

[He shrugs one lean shoulder.]

I didn't think he'd say yes. And it was a left turn in conversation. I haven't had any yet. How'd you hear about it?

[abrightboy]

He told me about it. Was Reid butting in all the time to ask why you were asking questions and stuff?

[tinstar]

I stayed on polite topics. God, Wine, Classism. So no, not really. I figured hard questions could come later, when Lestat was less.. poised and ready.

[abrightboy]

I didn’t ask hard questions.

[tinstar]

What did you ask?

[abrightboy]

I asked about French literature and about how he became a vampire and where he’s lived and whether he thought this program was working.

[tinstar]

And when did Reid start interjectin'? What was he sayin'?

[abrightboy]

He thought it was personal, asking about the becoming a vampire. Which, fine, Lestat is capable of saying he doesn’t want to talk about something. I thought the point of the exercise was to get to know each other on a personal level, though. I invited him to ask me things, too, in that spirit. And he didn’t like me asking if the meetings were working. I said we all know why we’re here and I’m asking, not trying to read him, so what’s wrong with assessing how it’s going? Lestat didn’t ask anything about me. Reid tried to roll that ball a little, asking where I was from. He did not seem to like it, though, when I pointed out how he was clearly actually there to protect Lestat rather than me. Since, you know. He sold chaperoning the meetings as a way for us - Lestat’s victims - to feel safe having them.

[tinstar]

He did, and I agree, his is there to protect Lestat. [From them, from anyone who might want to dance and give Lestat a reason to strike out.] But he is also there to protect us in case we strike upon a nerve that gets a sharp reaction.

I think they both find some protection in the politeness of civility. They might not have much practice in managing fighting energy. Which feels wrong, but I'm not above putting it on the board anyway.

I'll be waiting to see if anything follows through. Got ten bucks that one round is all they're really doing. I'd prefer to be proven wrong.

[abrightboy]

I didn’t have fighting energy and being invited to talk to him, Real Person to Real Person, only to have every question vetted by his chaperone didn’t feel like a fair way to manage his punishment, which was supposed to be for attacking me. He bled me like a kosher lamb and I have to be Closely Monitored just in case I ask a question that might make his sphincter tense?

[tinstar]

[Raylan lifts his eyebrows.]

Oh. Oh now you get angry? [Not when he was bled out, but now? This will be interesting.]

Malcolm, I ain't sayin' it's right, I'm just sayin' that's the way it is. Yeah. It's a shit situation, but none of us are perfect and I can understand why he feels that way based on the meetin' and your points that you made there. I still don't agree but I do see it.

Can't change what is, you can only set up the next interaction with all this shit in mind.

[abrightboy]

I've wasted two pointless meetings worth of time; why would I waste a third? The exercise has no point if the person running it won't let its point be exercised.

[tinstar]

You're right. So you got a few choices - you keep goin' and see if you can't wring some blood from those stones or you leave them to it and avoid both all together. That's not so hard here, and I'm sure Neal fills you in on how they're doin'.

Not the ideal situation but it is what it is.

[abrightboy]

Why should I tiptoe around? I didn't do anything.

[tinstar]

Who said anything about tiptoeing around?? There's a difference between not talkin' to them and tiptoein' around. There is middle ground between going in with your hackles up and bein' super careful. Do you think it's important to talk to them about it? Why?

[abrightboy]

He did what he did in the heat of the moment, but choosing to risk discomfort so we can have a frank conversation about why he chooses violence when he gets faintly annoyed and how he might learn not to choose it is the least his fucking Warden could allow.