❧ i n b o x

[abheirrant]

—pposed to know when to start speaking? That wasn't a very thorough explanation on what I'm to do this, now was it? Hello? Hello? Are you listening to me? Are you even still ther— [beep]

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[writtendestiny]

[She had been ready to go home. She'd been ready to find herself back in that big, high castle with the rain constantly lashing on the windows and the candles sputtering but never going out. She'd been ready to take Peter along with her, to introduce him to her friends, to have someone with her who existed outside the story that she would spend the rest of her life writing.]

I don't think I'd mind that. [Poison replies. She's already thought of that, too.] I wouldn't have tried to control him, anyway. That's not what you do to people you care about.

[abheirrant]

[His tone hardens.]

It's not something you should do to anyone, if you can help it.

[writtendestiny]

[Instantly, her tone slides into something entirely deadpanned. It isn't the first time she'd had to jump to defending her role in life, and doing so quickly becomes tiresome.]

Obviously. Don't start trying to lecture, Carlisle. I know my job better than you do. That isn't what it's about.

[abheirrant]

[There's silence on his end, the sound of a false start, then more silence. He hadn't meant to chastise her so much as himself, but in doing so, he clearly hit a nerve. Given when he knows of her -- of her life, her purpose -- he can understand why. Her control is her reason for being, as troubling a notion as that may have been; his is something very different. She writes existences, but him? He robs people of their free will. They would attack their friends if he commanded it; they would stand idle until they slowly withered away, unable to breath unless he released them.

And if he didn't? If he couldn't?

He finally musters up a couple of words, his tone impassive.]

Of course.

[writtendestiny]

[It's a subject that can quickly get her bristling up. A number of unpleasant conversations have been had between her and people who don't think that one person should have that kind of power over an entire world.

And perhaps they're right, but she's spend enough of her life being invalidated.

She exhales her next breath slowly through her nose.]

It's a sensitive topic. I don't mean to snap.

[abheirrant]

Of course. It's fine.

[Said in the tone of someone who is absolutely not fine and he's mad at himself again, as usual. He's silent another several seconds, and unable to find something better to say:]

I suppose I will leave you be for now, then. It was good speaking with you.