[oopfsb / darkest timeline] Tom

[stilljustandrew]

The corridor outside the Security Office isn't the busiest place, usually; not a common spot to run into someone else.

Andrew might be upping the odds a little, though, by dithering indecisively outside it for several minutes.

Comments

[riddleofthebelow]

"I can say you needn't feel that way, but I doubt you'll believe me."

[stilljustandrew]

He shakes his head.

"I'm just so sick of being an easy mark."

[riddleofthebelow]

"I'd never classify you as an easy mark. A human being, yes, but not an easy mark. Especially in this case. It's not on you. Matt is... a powerful and potentially dangerous magic user who's very good at tricking people. This is on him."

[stilljustandrew]

"It's not --" His free hand closes into a helpless fist. "It's not just him. It's never just him, it's like -- like I've got a frelling sign on my back or something --"

[riddleofthebelow]

He pauses, wondering what on earth to say. He was a predator once. He knew how to pick the most trusting or the easily tricked. He still knows how to read people, how to charm them, the best things to do to get what he wants in negotiations and dealings. He doesn't use his powers to influence unless it's a serious situation, and even then he discusses the option with Door.

More often than not, she advises not to go to that extreme.

But still. He's never stopped.

"Perhaps I should be teaching you Occlumency."

[stilljustandrew]

A cracked huff of bitter laughter. "Maybe."

He gulps the last of the scotch and sets down the glass, with a careful gesture at odds with the tension in the rest of him.

[riddleofthebelow]

"Would you prefer me not to work with him any longer? I've made progress with him in regards to shielding and containing his magic, but you and I both know that change in behavior has to come from within."

[stilljustandrew]

He shakes his head. "No, you should still ..."



Subdued: "He needs it."

[riddleofthebelow]

"Bloody right, he does," Tom huffs.

"I'll do what I can. He knows a little about who I was before. I'll tell him more. And if worse comes to worse, I can always take him on an excursion into the Underside and lose him in a fatal area."

He winks. He wouldn't do that! Probably!

[stilljustandrew]

His smile at that is badly crooked and short-lived, more like a flinch than anything else.

[riddleofthebelow]

Ah. Not an option.

Andrew may be farther along than Tom on the whole moral compass thing.

"Please excuse my poor attempt to lighten your mood."

[stilljustandrew]

"'S okay. Sorry."

He looks down at his hands.

[riddleofthebelow]

"I wish I could do more to help."

[stilljustandrew]

Low: "I don't want anyone to hurt him."

He isn't looking up.

"I don't know, maybe that just makes me that much more of a sucker."

[riddleofthebelow]

"I think it makes you a good man. Matt reminds me a bit too much of who I was, but I'll help him all I can."

It's a good thing Tom didn't know the whole truth from the start.

[stilljustandrew]

His face tightens in pain again.

"You too, huh?"

[riddleofthebelow]

"Of course. Always."

[stilljustandrew]

"And he's -- he's trying to change."

And I have to believe he can.

[riddleofthebelow]

Tom isn't so sure. Matt is complying under duress.

"It can happen. We know that."

[stilljustandrew]

"There's ..." Slowly. "There's someone who got him into this. He's talked about him. A little."

[riddleofthebelow]

"He mentioned a boyfriend to me, but no name."

Tom frowns. "Good Lord, I hope that was something you knew already."

Blast.

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew flushes, his shoulders hunching a little involuntarily.

"Yeah. He said it was an open relationship, but ..."



And in a slow double-take, he looks up at Tom warily.

[riddleofthebelow]

Tom suspected the situation was more than platonic, judging by the intensity of Andrew's responses.

"If you expect any condemnation or judgment from me, you're not going to get it," he says, his tone gentle. "If you had, or have, feelings for him, then the whole matter makes more sense. How could you not be caught unawares if you cared for him?"

His opinion of Matt, unfortunately, spirals downward as a result of the confirmation. Tom will keep his promise to help him for Andrew's sake, but Matt has some respect to earn.

[stilljustandrew]

"I --"

He tries twice to answer Tom, before giving up and burying his face in his hands.

[riddleofthebelow]

Tom places his hand on Andrew's shoulder and says nothing.