It's strange. It's like we bonded quickly and intensely. Too much for any natural relationship. The nature of theirs was... mentor and student, parent and child, or... brothers. I think. Maybe it's a mixture of those.
I feel he was raised to take my Other's place when he died. So I want you to get to know him.
I'm not trying to depress you. I'm trying to talk to you, one adult to another, about something serious.
[He's been thinking about this since he got sick. How he's older than Tony... and how he doesn't heal at an accelerated rate. If anything, he's slower in that regard. His brittle body struggles to mend itself.]
Trying is all I can ask of you, but if you give it the effort I know you're capable of, you'll succeed.
His name is Nathan Brooks. He is an albino... I think I mentioned to you, once, that I happened to have met one previous to the Numbers? That would be him. I was almost 18, he was around 10, it was shortly before I "went away" to White Pines for awhile. He was into chess, we played a game and talked for awhile, and my uncle interrupted and thought something funny was going on. He grabbed me, it scared Nathan. I punched him, and I got sent away.
Nathan's quiet. He's not great with people; it's unusual for him to smile and he doesn't expect kindness. He was mistreated by his father growing up, and he is very skittish about the expression of physical violence. Even play-punching someone might get a negative reaction from him.
But he is very brilliant. More so than perhaps anyone I've ever met. It would be more than letting my Other down not to help him, it would be letting down mankind.
[Oh... he feels a little bad being so intimidated but that doesn't change it. Just makes him feel more awful about it. He knows that experience all too well.]
I'll keep that in mind. That could be problematic what with my temper and all...
I see.
[Oh there's that intimidation and jealousy again that was short-lived reprieve.]
As lucky, or unlucky, as any of us. And yeah, that's... pretty much what happened. I was officially too crazy to function at that point.
[There's a little time before he sends the next text.]
You have more self-control than you give yourself credit for. I need you to use it, until he's ready to see that side of you. I'd never ask you to hide who you are, just... maybe reveal it in the order that makes the best, least traumatic impression.
I can't control it all the time, you know that. But I'll do what I can. Barring some mafia goon showing up I don't think it'll be a problem anyway. Although I don't think 'least traumatic' is really possible if he ever does find out.
We do, but we've been out of contact for years now. What makes you think I might not be OK?
[Please, please don't let Tony guess that more is weighing on L than he's indicating, even though he's afraid he's already indicated too much.]
I know. It'll just be the three of us, we won't be bothered; I'll even make sure Luca stays clear, if that's a concern of yours. As for "finding out..." I don't know if it's on the same level as witnessing violence. I'll try to ask more questions and gain a little more insight so we can both be better equipped to make him as comfortable as possible.
I know your past is rough is all. Having reminders around can make things harder. If you need a movie break you know where I live.
[He hasn't completely guessed but it's a logical conclusion to come to. Things like that are never easy.]
Luca doesn't bother me any, but it's probably better to keep him away anyway. Dunno how Nathan would handle him. We'll keep it under wraps for now. No one really likes to know they're talking to monsters. He probably doesn't need to know anyway.
Everyone has rough patches in their past, and reminders only have as much power over us as we allow. I have no intention of allowing his reinstated presence in my life be a negative one, especially when I think there are ways only I can help him. Maybe there are ways only he can help me, too, but I don't want to get ahead of myself or expect too much from him too quickly. I realize that my expectations can be a little... overwhelming.
I don't always have a point, and I am hardly ever strong. You're too critical of yourself, and not nearly critical enough of me.
I honestly think that Luca wants to choke me with his mop. He does all right but he is a chronic spot-misser and I have this nasty tendency of pointing it out to him.
You always do when you're talking to me. You say that, but at least you accomplish things.
I wouldn't doubt it, you can be overbearing. His eyes kinda wander around, it's no wonder he misses some. Don't think he's ever had to clean like this before, heh. How's he doing otherwise?
Well, maybe you just "get me" in ways that most people don't. And believe me, anything I accomplish these days is happening on the tail of years of doing nothing but damage, so the mean of it all is pretty average, in the grand scheme.
Otherwise, Luca's doing decently. As well as can be expected. We have very little in common, so our talks don't go fantastically, but he's respectful enough. I think he looks forward to you visiting him, as a rule; he's taken a real shining to you.
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Someone from your other's past? What's that like?
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I feel he was raised to take my Other's place when he died. So I want you to get to know him.
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Doesn't make it hurt any less though.]
No one can take your place here.
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I need you to try to think that way for me, OK? I'm not intentionally going anywhere, but I don't want you to be alone, no matter what happens.
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Hn. I can't promise that. But I'll try.
You don't even know if we'll get along.
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I don't know if you'll get along, but he's a great deal like me. My feeling is that you will.
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Besides if anyone ends up on the wrong side of the tracks it'll be me. We both know that.
We'll have to see.
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[He's been thinking about this since he got sick. How he's older than Tony... and how he doesn't heal at an accelerated rate. If anything, he's slower in that regard. His brittle body struggles to mend itself.]
Trying is all I can ask of you, but if you give it the effort I know you're capable of, you'll succeed.
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[Doesn't mean he likes talking about it, though. Having to think about losing his family again, after just getting them, sucks.]
Like I said, we'll have to see. So, tell me about this guy huh?
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Nathan's quiet. He's not great with people; it's unusual for him to smile and he doesn't expect kindness. He was mistreated by his father growing up, and he is very skittish about the expression of physical violence. Even play-punching someone might get a negative reaction from him.
But he is very brilliant. More so than perhaps anyone I've ever met. It would be more than letting my Other down not to help him, it would be letting down mankind.
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Oh, wow. So that's how all that happened then.
[Oh... he feels a little bad being so intimidated but that doesn't change it. Just makes him feel more awful about it. He knows that experience all too well.]
I'll keep that in mind. That could be problematic what with my temper and all...
I see.
[Oh there's that intimidation and jealousy again that was short-lived reprieve.]
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[There's a little time before he sends the next text.]
You have more self-control than you give yourself credit for. I need you to use it, until he's ready to see that side of you. I'd never ask you to hide who you are, just... maybe reveal it in the order that makes the best, least traumatic impression.
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I can't control it all the time, you know that. But I'll do what I can. Barring some mafia goon showing up I don't think it'll be a problem anyway. Although I don't think 'least traumatic' is really possible if he ever does find out.
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[Please, please don't let Tony guess that more is weighing on L than he's indicating, even though he's afraid he's already indicated too much.]
I know. It'll just be the three of us, we won't be bothered; I'll even make sure Luca stays clear, if that's a concern of yours. As for "finding out..." I don't know if it's on the same level as witnessing violence. I'll try to ask more questions and gain a little more insight so we can both be better equipped to make him as comfortable as possible.
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[He hasn't completely guessed but it's a logical conclusion to come to. Things like that are never easy.]
Luca doesn't bother me any, but it's probably better to keep him away anyway. Dunno how Nathan would handle him. We'll keep it under wraps for now. No one really likes to know they're talking to monsters. He probably doesn't need to know anyway.
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Let's send Luca on a long errand.
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And yeah, they can be.
[Like right now, not that Tony will say as much. He has to do this, for L's sake.]
He'll probably like getting out for a while anyway.
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I honestly think that Luca wants to choke me with his mop. He does all right but he is a chronic spot-misser and I have this nasty tendency of pointing it out to him.
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I wouldn't doubt it, you can be overbearing. His eyes kinda wander around, it's no wonder he misses some. Don't think he's ever had to clean like this before, heh. How's he doing otherwise?
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Otherwise, Luca's doing decently. As well as can be expected. We have very little in common, so our talks don't go fantastically, but he's respectful enough. I think he looks forward to you visiting him, as a rule; he's taken a real shining to you.
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Has he? That's a surprise, considering how we started off. That's alright though, I like the guy well enough. Bullet in my face aside.
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[Don't indulge him.]
Delinquent kids love boundaries. You treat him well without letting him walk all over you, ergo... he likes you.
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[Too late.]
Huh, I never thought of it like that.
Hey, you don't analyze me like this do you?
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I think about you, but "analyze" is kind of a cold word, don't you think?
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