"Well he's perfectly content for you to hear anything I learn from him," he points out first. "He gave off the impression of wanting to be seen and acknowledged- when I told him that if he preferred that I keep something that he told me private, he rejected it outright."
He digs in his jacket for his own cigarettes. "He told me about the Chief and his deputies, inferred a lot about how they and his parents treated him, quite a lot about the Entity and the trials. And he said he doesn't enjoy being cruel, but given his circumstances I think that's honestly the best possible conclusion he could have come to."
Sheehan leans over and presses a kiss to his cheek. "I love you. You're - perfect. And god knows I can handle everything else except the Entity. That I'd really like some help working through."
"I don't think Max knows what the Entity is outside of how he expects him to murder the survivors that get trapped with him to avoid being punished, but I'm familiar with the crux of it. A hostile and impersonal being that kidnaps as many people as it can under false pretences, if it even gives them a reason at all, and forces them to kill each other for- at a guess, maybe, its own amusement or as a way to fuel its own powers."
He takes a long drag of his cigarette as he lights it, exhaling through his nose. "Being in the King in Yellow's prison pits was... if not similar, then at least relatable enough that I understood the trials without any issue."
He looks down and away, letting out a long breath. "What a shitty comparison you have," he mutters. "But it's - accurate, I think. That's not the most integral part of him, though. That's not why he's here. He's not here because he got kidnapped and grew accustomed to killing as a means to keep the Entity pleased."
"No, no, that was the impression I got as well. That his suffering through everything might have been what attracted the Entity to him to begin with. An easy target."
"Ah, but a challenge means someone that might work out a way to fight back," he comments with a flat smile. "As it is, all it's done is make Max's old habits worse, reinforcing all the old ways he had to use to survive."
He glances back at Sheehan, and shifts so he can roll a glove back and take Sheehan's hand in his. Something grounding for him.
"He shouldn't have. But now he's got a doctor, one of the brightest and accomplished in his field, who Max trusts without question," he says gently. "He was very clear on that matter."
"You are biased," he tells him, but grips his hand like a lifeline. "But I appreciate it."
Sheehan doesn't know how Max's trust makes him feel. Responsible, surely. But Shaun needed a friend. Nana needed a friend. Max has friends now; he needs guidance. And there's a part of Sheehan that's afraid of slipping into old habits. Becoming attached.
"He does. By the look of things he's going to be very well supported, even with the, er. The speech barrier." That he had very conveniently shortcut past, but he doesn't know if Sheehan has that ability yet.
"But I'm glad you do as well." He tugs Sheehan's hand as he leans in to kiss his cheek. "An inmate coming in with such a violent entrance is going to carry a reputation for a while. And even if you can handle it, it's still going to be exhausting holding the more righteous demands from others at bay. Just make sure you let us know if you're getting overwhelmed."
That, he knows, is what will hold him back. It's not the work, it's the expectations that he puts on himself. He sighs into that kiss. "I love you," he tells him gently. "I'm going to be - insufferable, I think. Just drag me away if I get too - much."
He gives a soft laugh. "I'll hide your communicator and get John to help carry you out of your office. I'll sit with Max while you get some air, we can reconvene when I've explained to him and then we can go get lunch. Because God knows you won't have eaten at that point."
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timeasmymeasure
Re: After speaking with Max
Date: 2025-02-06 11:50 pm (UTC)He digs in his jacket for his own cigarettes. "He told me about the Chief and his deputies, inferred a lot about how they and his parents treated him, quite a lot about the Entity and the trials. And he said he doesn't enjoy being cruel, but given his circumstances I think that's honestly the best possible conclusion he could have come to."
Re: After speaking with Max
Date: 2025-02-07 02:25 am (UTC)Re: After speaking with Max
Date: 2025-02-07 02:53 am (UTC)He takes a long drag of his cigarette as he lights it, exhaling through his nose. "Being in the King in Yellow's prison pits was... if not similar, then at least relatable enough that I understood the trials without any issue."
Re: After speaking with Max
Date: 2025-02-07 03:02 am (UTC)Re: After speaking with Max
Date: 2025-02-07 03:36 am (UTC)Re: After speaking with Max
Date: 2025-02-07 03:43 am (UTC)He takes a final drag of the cigarette and flicks it over the edge.
Re: After speaking with Max
Date: 2025-02-07 03:52 am (UTC)Re: After speaking with Max
Date: 2025-02-07 03:53 am (UTC)Re: After speaking with Max
Date: 2025-02-07 03:59 am (UTC)"He shouldn't have. But now he's got a doctor, one of the brightest and accomplished in his field, who Max trusts without question," he says gently. "He was very clear on that matter."
Re: After speaking with Max
Date: 2025-02-07 02:19 pm (UTC)"You are biased," he tells him, but grips his hand like a lifeline. "But I appreciate it."
Sheehan doesn't know how Max's trust makes him feel. Responsible, surely. But Shaun needed a friend. Nana needed a friend. Max has friends now; he needs guidance. And there's a part of Sheehan that's afraid of slipping into old habits. Becoming attached.
Watching him fail like Andrew.
"I'm glad he has people."
Re: After speaking with Max
Date: 2025-02-13 01:18 am (UTC)"But I'm glad you do as well." He tugs Sheehan's hand as he leans in to kiss his cheek. "An inmate coming in with such a violent entrance is going to carry a reputation for a while. And even if you can handle it, it's still going to be exhausting holding the more righteous demands from others at bay. Just make sure you let us know if you're getting overwhelmed."
Re: After speaking with Max
Date: 2025-02-13 01:51 am (UTC)Re: After speaking with Max
Date: 2025-02-13 02:14 am (UTC)Re: After speaking with Max
Date: 2025-02-13 02:22 am (UTC)But he appreciates it all the same. And he would never miss a meal.