tucky | ♻ 011

I got a question. Merlin--

[Nope, she can't do it that way. Just saying his name out loud makes her breath hitch, because even though it's just a name, it had represented something. She hadn't had to call him "Officer" or "Mister"-- he had let her call him by his given name, as if they were friends or equals. She'd thought they were friends and equals. But then he'd just told her that they weren't, and that he couldn't continue to let her think otherwise. He hadn't yelled or insulted her, but after months of being in awe over how friendly, open, and warm the wardens here were, his detached coldness had cut far worse than anger would have.

So she takes a breath and continues, her voice steady but her tone distant.]

My warden. He said he ain't gonna hang around with me so much anymore, 'cause he thinks I take advantage-- trying to get stuff, or being too friendly; I don't know. We've been real good friends in the past, I think, but he don't want that anymore. He wants to try a different way. He don't want to be my warden at all anymore, actually.

[She's trying hard to sound matter-of-fact, but in her head she's replaying every conversation she's had with or about Merlin-- every time she's given off the impression that he's overly permissive or generous, or allowed someone to believe that to be the case. With John when he'd first arrived (You want stuff? Ask the wardens.). With Mason in the infirmary (So you jus' give her everything she wants? Best of friends, you are?). While bickering with Dark (You get a warden to change your room yet? They're real nice if you're nice to them.). Countless more times besides.

It really had happened a lot.]

So I'm just wondering how that's gonna work out. Am I unpaired? Do I get someone new? Or is he gonna still be stuck with me even though he don't want me?

I got to thinking about the wardens in a way he didn't like, I guess; that's what he said the problem was. But the rest of you that I know don't seem like you mind it.

[Unless they're just humoring her. She doesn't think they are-- but then, she hadn't thought Merlin was, either.]

... Yeah. That's all.

[Click.]

[filtered to Dillon, Iris, Mason, and Simon]

Hi. Just wondering how y'all are doing.

[Behind the filter, she lets down her defenses a little bit more; she sounds not just subdued, but weary and sad. Merlin has removed himself from the little clique she's mentally formed for herself, and so she's reaching out to the remaining "members". Her warden's resounding rejection hurts, and she wants to reassure herself that none of the rest of them-- the wardens especially-- feel the way he does.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yeah, well. That's the biggest understatement I have heard today.

What? That I don't make friends, or that Mason's alright?

Mason being all right. He's a lot more than all right.

I don't know anything about how you do or don't make friends.

No. You don't.

'Least we can agree on him.

Guess so. I can't say I get why he likes you so much, though.

You and me both. I expect he's too trustin'.

... Yeah. He said it didn't even matter to him why I was in prison before here.

You don't want to hurt him, right?

Sounds like him.

You keep askin' me this like you're expectin' a different answer.

I've got no intention of hurtin' Mason. In fact, anyone who does hurt him will have to deal with a curse for their troubles.

I only asked you twice, and that’s ‘cause in my experience you don’t got a good track record of being a nice person.

… But good. Good. I ain’t a fan of curses, but I think I would make an exception for someone who’s hurting Mason.

You don't even know me, how can you even make that call?

They can go to hell. He ain't done a damn thing to deserve any harm going his way.

[It's surprising to him, really, that he could care for anyone like this. ]

'Cause you were awful to me for no reason. And anyway, I wasn't making a call, I was asking a question.

But no, he hasn't. So if anyone goes at him you'd better make it a good curse.

[He won't respond to that, because it was totally without reason.]

Trust me, I got the worse kind of curses for that sorta thing.

Like what? What can you do?

[Morbidly curious.]

Anything. Everything. Imagination is my only limit.

... Good to know you ain't actually going to come after me, then.

No. You're an irritating little pain in the backside, but I wouldn't do that to Mason.

Owe him that much, I reckon.

You owe him? What'd he do?

Nothing. Everything. I don't know.

[He really doesn't. He doesn't GET this friendship thing, and he's more than a little angry still that he's been suckered into it. All he knows is Mason is strictly off limits now. When he eventually razes this place to the ground, Mason can still stand. ]

There's a lot of difference between nothing and everything.

Thank you, Little Miss Observation.

I'm saying that don't make sense, is all. You could've just said you don't want to say.

Fine.

I don't want to say.

Okay.

At least you don't have bad taste.

I happen to have very exquisite taste.

[He just doesn't have the money to enjoy it.]

In people?

(no subject)

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