theweakhavepurpose | Hadriel Inbox

...then I guess you'd have to go with time. And patience and understanding. And a whole lot of talking. Even if it's just the person trying to break the conditioning talking at first.

I don't know. Even in my time, it's not like there's a pill for that kind of treatment. Titanese psychiatrists can help--they're telepathic--but they have their limits, too.

I guess. . . I guess the best thing is time. Time and understanding and a listening ear for when they are ready to talk about it. And knowing that you don't have all the answers.

Then I guess I can see how it would be hard to leave. If the land's been such a part of their lives.

[He looks away for a long time, thinking about what she said. She's probably right. Just time and understanding and probably kindness and comfort as well.

Weak.

All of it is weak and if he's supposedly strong now then he shouldn't need any of that. He can tough it out. Walk it off.]

I don't really want to talk about this.

[she waits for him to speak. it's some heavy stuff, what they're getting into and she's not sure if she's saying the right thing or not. she hopes she is?

but apparently she isn't]

Okay. [a pause] So what do you wanna talk about instead?

I don't know.

[He takes a deep shuddery breath, very much not okay.]

But not this. This is too..

[too much. too close to home. too traumatizing. Take your pick. And the more he thinks about it the more worried he is that his "Normal and Sane Deputy Pratt" routine that he's trying to keep up, is going to shatter and everyone will know he's a basket case who could snap at any time and murder them all.

Or try to murder them all he'd probably get stopped by someone who could breathe fire three steps outside his door. Small comforts.]

I'll be fine. Eventually.

[Time and understanding.]

[she waits for him to determine what he wants to talk about, if anything.

but she worries about him. given what she saw in his memories, she knows that he's witnessed a lot of awful stuff, even participated in some of it.

but then it comes down to what he was and was not culpable for doing and what was the product of fear and brainwashing.

she honestly can't say. and she doesn't feel comfortable judging his actions in those memories because she doesn't know how much was the brainwashing.

but she assumes that a lot of it was. the man he's spoken of being before the cult, he doesn't seem like the kind of guy who'd willingly let people be attacked and killed by apparently sentient wolves. he just doesn't.

but if she knew he was worried about snapping and killing people, she'd have to respond as a part of the Guard.

however, her response would likely not be Guard-approved. she'd tell him flat-out that if he wanted to kill anybody, he should kill her. she wouldn't phase, wouldn't try to fight back. she'd stand there and let him do it. or not. whichever way it went, she'd accept the consequences]

I know you will be.

[she has the latter in spades and it doesn't seem like she's going anywhere]

[ At least someone believes in him since he sure doesn't. ]

Time right? Lots of time. I've only been here.. half a year. Maybe a few more and this'll all feel like a distant memory.

[ The way a lot of his life feels like now. ]

[she won't stop, either. she cares way too much about him for that]

Maybe? Even in the 30th century we say that time heals all wounds.

[she knows it's not as easy as that, but she's willing to stand beside him as he slowly heals]

Still haven't discovered some easy shortcut to making it all okay huh?

The future is disappointing.

[At least it's an attempt at a joke. That's something.]

[she giggles. it's a little sad sounding]

Nope. Unfortunately. It would be nice if they had, though, right?

It is. It really is.

[she knows. and she appreciates every effort he makes]

Are there at least flying cars?

[she hiccups a little laugh]

Yeah, there are flying cars.

Well at least something worked out the way I expected.

[He'll have those Back to the Future shoes someday dammit.]

Yeah. When all of this is settled, you'll have to visit. I'll take you for a ride in one.

[those Back to the what shoes?]

Does it work like that? Can we choose where we go back?

I don't see why we can't? If the aliens ever let us leave, why shouldn't we tell them where we want to go. They'd owe us after we fed them all that time.

I guess. I sorta figured they'd punt us back to exactly where we were when we left.

Sprock that. They owe us. And I'd love to have you come to my world.

I'd like to see it. But I don't know how well I'd adapt to city life.

[Or.. any life really.]

You wouldn't have to. What you called Montana is still a wildlife refuge, but it still needs caretakers. You'd be great!

[she hastens to reassure him]

Yeah?

That.. sounds pretty good actually.

So you'll come with me? Please? Wonderful!

It will take some time to get used to the tech, but I'll be there every day to help if you need it. It'll be fine. I'm so excited!

The other option is going back home to die.

[Which he's not entirely opposed to. Being dead means he doesn't have to deal with being.. well with being anymore. At all. That might be nice.]

--what? No. No. That's not an option. You're coming with me.

[never mind the fact that she might be dead in her own world. him dying isn't an option she's willing to allow]

I don't think I really get a choice about it.

[He's pretty much exhausted his escape attempts at this point. Sitting around feeling what it's like for each organ to shut down individually.]

Everyone has to die sometime right?

No. No. You should have a choice. If you're going to die, you should have a choice.

[and she remembers pain and the feeling of Jo's arms around her. but she's not ready to accept the fact that she's likely dead]

Eventually. When they're old. Like a hundred. Not when they're young, like you.

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