tolaywaste | 10. » private/video

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10. » private/video

for ben

[His posture says it all: concerned, tense, but not afraid for his own safety. Not afraid at all. He's leaning towards the camera, though, like he can express worry just by being closer.]

Hey, Ben? I'm worried about you. Can you check in with me?

filter: bruce + rorschach + barbara

I'd like to help with Ben. I'm not as good at this as you all are, but point me where you need me and I'm there.

just bruce

Which means you're helping. He's my friend.

for oliver

I need your help with something, if you're willing to give it.

for charles

Check in. Did you hear about Ben?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

And to make sure no one else had tampered with his memories, or coerced him into committing the act. Unfortunately, I don't have any evidence as to who was responsible, but it certainly wasn't him, under the influence of someone else or no.

Okay. Good. Well, not good, somebody's messing with him anyway, but - good that it wasn't his hands that did it.

[He runs his hands through his hair, frustrated.]

Are you going to - I need you to stay on this with me, okay? He's my friend.

[No, he was going to throw him under a bus. Come on, sonthing, give him some credit. B(]

Of course. I'm not interested in watching people tear him apart for something he wasn't responsible for.

[Moooooom that's not what he meaaaant]

I just mean, you're good at talking to people and I'm not. I need you to watch and make sure nothing starts up. I can watch Ben, I can handle that.

I know you can. [And after kind of hitting the wall in terms of fucks to give after the Tosh thing, he is reaccepting his role as "guy who says unpopular stuff and gets bitched out for it", and this is a worthy cause. B(]

I was going to let everyone know what I found before you contacted me. The last thing we need is a witch hunt.

You're right. Thank you.

[A pause.]

We can keep him safe.

We can. He'll be fine.

Are you alright?

I've been worse.

[ . . . Okay this is not an answer and he knows it. Trying again:] I don't want people to assume that because he's done something once, that he'll keep on doing it forever. It pisses me off. He's doing so much better lately, but people don't realize.

I'm okay. I'm just - I'm pissed, and I'm worried.

I know. [See: his feelings about people's gross misunderstanding of one Erik Lensherr: problem dad/life partner.] He'll be alright. He's lucky to have someone like you willing to advocate for him like this.

Nah. It's not luck. It's just what friends do.

Rhade said thank you for being his friend, which I think is because not many people want to be. But like I said to him, it goes two ways. He'd do the same for me. No luck, nothing to thank me for. It just is what it is.

I'll be damned if somebody messes this up for him, Charles.

They won't. Not to sound too pleased with myself, but we have fairly indisputable evidence that he wasn't responsible, and he's got plenty of people on his side who won't tolerate this sort of thing. Whoever this was won't get away with it.

No. They won't.

[He tilts his chin up, stubborn. He knows what the right thing is. Now he just has to do it.]

Are you okay?

I'm fine. Why?

[He's actually felt... sort of okay, lately. Worried and sort of afraid of what was coming, sure, but he's been throwing himself into training pretty hard (probably to the point of seeming a little obsessed), and it's a welcome distraction.]

Because you're important.

[To him. You are important to him.]

[Oh. That startles a sort of embarrassed smile out of him, because he still doesn't quite expect that sort of thing from anyone. It's nice, to know you matter to people.]

I promise I'm alright, Alex. And I'll continue to be as long as you are, so keep up the good work.

Good.

Thanks for always having my back. I know I don't need to thank you, but I'm doing it anyway, so deal with it.

Of course I do. You're important, too.

Yeah. I know.

[Um.]

I might have slightly implied to Zane that . . . we're family. You know, figuratively. Just - if he says that, don't be surprised.

[Aw Alex. :c Charles just looks at him a little incredulously, smiling, hoping to God he's going to say the right thing because man he did not have good role models when it comes to being a parent.]

Why would I be surprised? Of course we're family.

[For a second Alex looks surprised, like maybe he was expecting the statement to get laughed at, shot down. But no, Charles has never been like that. Charles has always been kind to him, and Erik too, in his way. Kinder than anyone else.]

[The smile grows slowly, uncertain at first, and then wider. It's the best gift he's ever gotten.]

Yeah. I guess we are.

Of course we are. [And he still kind of can't believe that happened, because it's not like he'd planned on it, even if there had always been a desperately lonely part of himself that often went unacknowledged that wanted a family. He'd had Raven, and he'd been beyond grateful for that, but having the kids and Erik and Moira around too had felt good in a way nothing else really had before.] God knows I've told enough people here that I've got three kids at home.

[He's kidding, because you're not kids, he knows, he knows. (He has actually told lots of people he has kids tho.)]

Seriously, Alex, you've been a part of my family for quite a long time at this point, you certainly don't have to apologize for implying it to anyone, or just saying it flat out.

Wait, do you seriously say that?

[He looks about as far as insulted as anybody could possibly be, this is so awesome.]

I just - I never -

[But Charles knows, and he can't really handle saying it right now, so. He lets it lie.]

That's awesome.

Well, I'm glad you think so, otherwise this might have gotten a bit awkward. [Not that it was something he'd necessarily been concerned about, but. It's also not just something you casually insert into conversation with people you sprung from prison and effectively adopted.] But yes, I do seriously say that.

Cool.

[He considers saying thanks, but he doesn't because that's weird.]

It just, um. It was weird saying it out loud to him and not to you. And it reminded me of - Bargewell.

So I thought I'd tell you. You know.

I'm glad you did.

[He hesitates, not really sure if this is okay or not, but. While we're on the subject.]

To be honest, I'd already considered you my son long before that breach ever happened.

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