praesidium | Ψ 006 text

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Ψ 006 text

[Deathtolling, Alana posts to the network using text which is unusual for her. She most decidedly doesn't really want to talk about it or much to other people.]

Apologies to my current and potential clients, but I will be unable to see anyone at this time. For my current clients, I will notify you when we can resume sessions. For potential clients, let me know that you're interested and I will schedule you as soon as possible when I'm able. - Dr. Bloom

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Cool. I can drop one off. Whenever's good for you :-)

[He sees it as the lie it is, but smiles to himself anyway. She has always been polite with him, even here, even now that she must be in terrible pain.

He will check in on her - politely, from a distance. He does not imagine she is quite as adept at hiding her pain as he is, but expressing some concern for her well being would be a good half step forward. If he's to express concern for anyone, it would be over her or Abigail or Will.

Her words could be perceived a slight, a jibe meant to imply he has no more humanity than those poor creatures living in the dark. She'd be entitled to the thought, but among the least likely to have it. She knows him - one side of him - too well.]

I returned largely unscathed. Thank you for asking.

[Largely unscathed and well fed. Dirty and bloody and sorely lacking flavor and civility, but the caves were freeing. No mask to wear, no one to lie to - not after he took Bruce's kidney. He shredded his veil and strode the earth free of all bonds, with dirt beneath his nails and blood on his cuffs.

Then he washed himself clean, sewed the veil together, and became a man again. There are certain uses to creature comforts, and he will never willingly abandon his highest standards.]

I am sorry you cannot say the same.

[How much of that he means at all is anyone's guess. Alana isn't about to start trying, however. It's better, she thinks, to just let things lie with Hannibal more than to try and stir things. That's a lesson Will could certainly learn.]

It was inevitable.

[Alana has never been built for those particular types of circumstances. She's strong and brave enough to try, but she's ill-equipped to fully care for herself as well as other there all the same. There's not much in her life that could have possibly prepared for her for the brutality of that place.]

Was it?

[He will not say, not if I was there. He will not say, I would have protected you. He will not even say, I might have protected you, though that is as close to the truth as he may come. He might have kept her safe, had she been near.

Either she will not believe it, or she will avoid thinking too deeply on the matter at all.

But he will insinuate it.]

Did you wake with anyone?

[If she knew what he was omitting, she would be grateful for it. Will does everything that he can to protect her and while she doesn't particularly resent him for it, she would rather take care of things herself than leave herself in the hands of others.]

Yes, I was with two other people.

Were you separated?

[He almost asks who, but in the end that's not necessary.]

[She's surprised he doesn't ask who. Or more importantly, about how it is Alana died.]

Ultimately, yes.

[He focuses on pieces, building the whole picture slowly. Alana, alone and in the dark. Alana, struggling to survive. He wants to know how, but strangely, at the same time - he doesn't. It's not a jealous, possessive thought - he is not angry he was not the one to do it. There is some truth in his apologies, now and then: he is sorry she died.]

I ran into Will while we were down there. He seemed well enough, at the time. Have you spoken with Abigail since returning?

No. I trust her to speak to her warden if she had a problem.

[Abigail is not always the easiest to read or predict, but either Abigail would go to Ben or Ben would go to Abigail. Either way, she would not be without. And although Alana certainly cares about Abigail, cares about her enough to let her into her cabin whenever she needs to hide from the rest of the world for a little while, she knows Abigail is not her responsibility.]

[If she ever was.]

Nothing. I'll be a little sick and sore for a while, but I'll be fine and back to normal soon.

Try sometime around after dinner.

Fuck that. No. No, we've got to fix you.

OK. Do you need anything else??

Mason, there's nothing to fix. I do appreciate the concern, but this will pass in a few weeks.

No. I think I have most everything I need already here in my cabin.

A few weeks? That's both way too short a time and far too much, Alana.

Everyone goes through the death toll if they're killed on the Barge or during a port, Mason. They're fine after it's passed and I will be, too. It's uncomfortable, but I'm alive.

Yes, but I don't want you to be killed. I want it to have passed. I can get you around the death toll.

I don't think you can. Not even with your powers.

Can't I at least give it a try?

[There's a pause before she sends anything back.]

Will it make you feel better to try? Even if it doesn't work?

It might. Yes. I should like to try, please.

Alright. You can try.

Really?! Stay right there.

I didn't have any intention of going anywhere.

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