[IC] Mistletoe (old/new)

[acloneforever]

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

Comments

[maleborgia]

*annoyed noise, glances up at the clock, then back at his two stacks of books*

Would you mind helping me with these? I do not want to get them confused.

[sharpasafawkes]

[getting up to help him all right, but still vaguely a bit like a kicked puppy]

Yeah I can do that, but Cesare...

[maleborgia]

*hands him the smaller of the the two piles, the book Shaun picked out for him on top, then picks up the other and sets off* What is it, Shaun?

[sharpasafawkes]

[Following...]

Malik had some reservations about you, so I had to reassure him...

[maleborgia]

I know you had to explain what happened. I told you already. I understand. Besides, that was something you were directly involved in.

[sharpasafawkes]

... I told him you were going to work on the corruption in the church if you could.

[maleborgia]

*stops abruptly at that, back to him*

[maleborgia]

*turns back slightly to look at him after a very still moment*

What did you say?

[sharpasafawkes]

[repeating it, a bit softer]

-But I didn't go into the rest of your goals.

[maleborgia]

*doesn't say anything to that. turns around and continues walking to the shelves where the books go. starting to put the ones he has away once he gets there.*

[sharpasafawkes]

Cesare, please! I'm sorry okay? I had to explain why I thought you were safe.

[maleborgia]

I understand why you did it, just as I know you understand why I had hoped you would not have. I thought, perhaps... No, it is not important. Regardless, you know what I am going to ask you next. You have not told him the rest of what I told you, but will you?

[sharpasafawkes]

[Looking almost hurt before- wait...]

I don't see any reason to right now, but what was that little, unimportant detail?

[maleborgia]

I don't know which part of that you are talking about, but from that change in tone I will assume you think I am trying to trick you. I thought perhaps you had let something drop to Malik in conversation. When he came to see me I was not sure if he was trying to foster a better relationship or feel me out for himself. Either could have been the case. I did not, however, think you would have told him that, at least not so specifically.

[sharpasafawkes]

You were though, you'd started to do it even when I first came in.

[maleborgia]

I was?

[sharpasafawkes]

[repeating the bit from the start where he started to "apologize"]

[maleborgia]

*this slight recoil is real enough*

You think I was lying to you?

[sharpasafawkes]

At first, but I'm not sure now.

[maleborgia]

*shelving these books a little more forcefully now*

I wasn't.

[sharpasafawkes]

Even if you weren't, you still tried to manipulate me.

[maleborgia]

You still do not believe me. I tried and failed--miserably--to apologize while you were in the hospital. While I appreciate that we have been able to interact on a more normal level, some things require a formal act.

[sharpasafawkes]

There's a diference between formality and manipulation, and if you don't know what that is... well you far worse off than I imagined.

[maleborgia]

*snap.

slams that last book in hard, leaving his hand on its spine when he turns to look at Shaun.*

I know what the difference is! You are the one who does not understand. I have been raised my entire life to learn the system and how to work within it. Even knowing that you are working for an opposing side every word I have ever said to you here has been true to the best of my knowledge. I doubt I could say the same thing about you.

I refrained from asking you to divulge the secret machinations of your organization while you were delirious, even though you were very willing to start heading in that direction. I made the effort to contact you in a form you would find more manageable after you were wounded, even though doing so meant exposing myself. Do not dare to tell me that I do not understand these things, Shaun! I know these rules very well and I know that I have been breaking them. All I ask in return is that you do not let what I tell you go beyond the two of us! I am taking enough of a risk as it is!

[sharpasafawkes]

[Shrinking back slightly, even though it looks like he hates that it's happening]

I don't want to tell anybody about you, and I've stopped myself from doing it before, but when my brotherhood or my friends ask if you're a threat, I've got to tell them the truth. I'll leave out anything that's not required, but I wouldn't have to do it in the bloody first place if you didn't set yourself up as someone I'm not sure the people I know should trust!