[IC] Mistletoe (old/new)

[acloneforever]

[Spain/Turkey/Kondo/Banjou/Mori/Malik/Superboy]

Comments

[sharpasafawkes]

[You so know that Zhores is going to catch you if you keep that up]

[Buuut sitting down near, with a book and not at all giving Cesare a quick once-over to see if he's in one piece]

[maleborgia]

*turns another page then glances up*

Are you looking for something?

[sharpasafawkes]

No, got it already, just wanted to get out of the cabin.

[maleborgia]

In which case, could you look at something for me? *there is an empty seat next to him! nudges a book at it*

[sharpasafawkes]

Of course, why?

[taking the book though]

[maleborgia]

*it's on Canadian history, of all things. Social and political history of Quebec!*

Would you call this too biased? I am unfamiliar with the texts and trying to remedy this.

[sharpasafawkes]

...I'm afraid I can't be too much help here, it looks like there could be some French bias about it, but Canadian history's not my area of expertise. Did you ask tony?

[maleborgia]

No. I just picked it up. *takes it back, looks at it and then puts it in a pile to the side* In that case, help me find one with an opposing bias to even it out.

[sharpasafawkes]

[searching through a few.]

This one might be what you're looking for.

[maleborgia]

*takes it, puts it to the side with the other books he is clearly keeping for himself without doing more than checking the name and author*

Shaun, I...

Thank you.

[sharpasafawkes]

What, for that? That doesn't take much mate.

[maleborgia]

No.

*pause, slight irritated noise, going back to sorting through the books*

Never mind.

[sharpasafawkes]

[He really didn't mean to let out that long-suffering sigh, honestly.]

Of course, anything else Cesare? I'm sure I haven't hit my quota of your daily disgust for every part of my being yet.

[maleborgia]

*not looking up*

I want to apologize properly. Not just for what happened, although of course you deserve an apology for that, but for how I misjudged you. You've been very helpful, Shaun, and more than that you have been very understanding.

[sharpasafawkes]

[Oh lord what does he need now?]

... What do you want? You can skip the part where you try and boost my confidence and just get to the bit where you ask me to do something.

[maleborgia]

I am not asking you to do anything. I realize I have not dealt with this situation as well as I might have and I want to make certain you understand that I do appreciate how you have handled things. I thought once that you would have betrayed me as soon as a viable excuse to do so appeared. I should have understood sooner that I could trust you this much.

[sharpasafawkes]

... This doesn't have anything to do with Malik, does it?

[maleborgia]

I admit I was concerned about how he would take it if you told him about these past few weeks. Of course he'll have to know that I was the one who hurt you. I understand that you cannot hide that much and I do respect your commitment to your order. But much of what I said to you, Shaun, I said in confidence, and especially with the way events are starting to play out here I am forced to admit that I am relieved I can do so.

[sharpasafawkes]

You don't admit things like this.

[maleborgia]

*very slightly sharper* I do when I am forced to. *drumming fingers on one of those books* Don't make this any harder than it already is. I hate having to say this.

[sharpasafawkes]

Then you wouldn't, at least not this fast, you'd go about things with small gestures.

Listen, I can guess that Malik came by...

[maleborgia]

Of course he did. I was not sure if you had asked him to or not, but I guessed that you would at the very least be able to tell from what I said if it had indeed been a secret of his. Regardless, you are right and that is why...

Let me ask you something.

[sharpasafawkes]

Go ahead.

[maleborgia]

When I spoke to you in the hospital... What did you think of my answer?

[sharpasafawkes]

That depends...