greatoldjohn | TLV Inbox

Okay. Well, I-- I'm going to help, too.

[She knits her fingers together, hard enough to turn her knuckles white.]

We can work together.

I appreciate that.

[ He knows better than to outright refuse her, for any number of reasons.]

As long as we can agree that I'm her warden. And that undermining me or going behind my back won't help her.

If we're going to be a team, then we have to be a team.

Well, what counts as undermining you?

That's not a good first question, Misty.

Of course it is; I'm trying to figure out where your boundaries are.

And thus, if you're willing to abide by them.

[ See how that part sounds bad? ]

Do you trust me with her?

I don't know.

[She says, pushing her glasses up her nose and looking at him steadily.]

To an extent.

Then let's start there: What are your concerns?

I don't have any specific ones yet. But she's my best friend, and one of the most important people in my life, and we have a lot of secrets and history together. I'm sure you understand why that makes it hard for me to trust anyone with her.

I do. I'm sure I'll have a very similar reaction when Arthur is paired, even if he's the warden in that case.

[ He's being honest here, Misty. ]

Are your concerns that I would harm her intentionally or that I would harm her unintentionally?

[ A pause. ]

Or that I would try to take her away from you?

That you'd try to take her away.

[She says immediately, clasping her hands more tightly together.]

Pagan already puts so many limitations on us. You could make things even worse.

I'm not Pagan.

And as you know, my feelings on close relationships is... different.

I know what it's like to have a Team. I know what I'd do if someone tried to take Arthur away from me.

It wouldn't help anyone.

[ A little grumbly sigh. ]

So unless you do something actively harmful to Natalie or myself, I don't see myself adding to that.

Well, I--

[She pauses for a long moment.]

What counts as harmful?

...you know the answer to that.

Even if you don't like it.

Actually, no, I don't know what you think of as harmful.

...which just means you're trying to figure out how close to the line you can get. Misty, that sounds even worse.

No.

[She snaps, pushing herself to her feet.]

It means I'm trying to figure out if you think I already have.

[ He just looks back at her. ]

In some ways, yes.

But I also don't think that means you should be separated. Relationships are more than just hurt or not hurt.

What you choose to do today is different from what you chose to do in your world or your time here before now. I'm not holding anything against you, Misty.

I said what I said knowing what I know.

And I know she's your Team. And that makes it so much more complicated.

Tell me what you think I did that hurt her.

[She needs to know where they stand; needs to know where his mindset does and doesn't line up with Pagan's. Needs to know what he knows, period.]

You mean what it says you did in her file?

What it says in her file, or anything you may have heard elsewhere.

[did you or did you not hear about the drug thefts]

Do you not know what you've done with her? To her?

What do you think you've done that might be harmful to her?

Why don't you just answer the question, John?

Because I don't want to.

I'll tell you where I stand with you; I thought I had.

I'll tell you what I think if you're concerned about something you've done.

But I'm not sharing anything from her file. That's a boundary I'm putting in place right now.

Fine, then; tell me about anything that's not from the file.

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