[Kyle is already waiting, his white coat hanging in the corner in favor of jeans and a button up in soft blue. He can't help but smile at that question. ]
A good friend who recently left installed them a few places. If you see a creepy clown painting, the likelihood is you could step into it and through to another place. If you know the points, you can go from one to the other.
[ There is a second there where his expression is nakedly, unmistakably, wry.
What is his life. ]
...as fascinated as I am by the concept and the potential for easier movement around the city, I can't help but feel I probably shouldn't seek out clowns.
[ A brow arches at that and then something hits him. He winces. ]
Right. Someone mentioned there was a Harley in their world, and that's mostly your world. Got it.
As for coffee. There's a nice set up in the lounge, my doing I admit, or we can go to one of the shops nearby. Depends on if you want more privacy or not.
I probably could have used a warning before she walked into my office, but she really isn't the issue. She does have some history with who the problem is. It isn't really important here.
[ Just mildly amusing and surprising that Kyle doesn't know. Surprising and something of a relief.
Which might be the explanation for why he openly admits - to Kyle when he wouldn't to Tim or Alex or really anyone except possibly Clark. ]
The conversation doesn't need privacy, but I need to not navigate this city any more than I have to for a while. [ It is... wearing on him and wearing him out. ] The lounge sounds good.
If I had thought about it, I would have. She's a good person though, and she's helped a lot of people here.
[ Himself included, and without knowing what might be between them back home, he wants to make sure there isn't too much grief Harley has to cope with for any reason. Even if she's the reason.
He considers that for a moment, his gaze narrowing slightly at Bruce. He wants to ask, but he knows it's not likely the time for it. Not yet. ]
Come on then. I admit, I like Haven maybe more than I should.
[ As if it was his choice to stay there within the building. ]
It doesn't matter. We're recognizable to each other, but only just.
[ They got past it and for all of his... everything, Bruce is more interested in saving people - even people a lot worse than Harley - than revenge.
She makes him uneasy but that's as much for what she is doing now as anything another version of her has done.
He nods and goes with Kyle, tugging his tie loose as he goes. Okay maybe he's more than business casual, but tie off, wrapped and tucked into his pocket as they walk. ]
I like it more than I expected to. Even the roof is nice.
[ That's still something new to Kyle. Those who knew him had known him before. He knew them. They'd even been lucky enough to mostly share the same memories that one another had.
But the time could happen. Any day, if he's honest with the craziness of this world.
Kyle smiles at that. ]
A lot of hard work and care has gone into this place. I was glad to be asked to be part of that and keep it going.
The gardens or the odd view of being on that kind of a rooftop and still so far underground?
[ He walks the halls easily, knowing this place well as he steps forward to open the door for Bruce. ]
[ Bruce walks the halls with Kyle, like a man who's never experienced a moment of self-doubt in his entire life.
He's a great liar. ]
Both. The gardens are impressive, particularly for being underground. The...height within a cave is a strange perspective. Even for someone relatively comfortable in caves.
[ Small talk because... well. Walking in a very public open space. ]
I'm not sure they're the same, but I do believe there's overlap, possibly a lot of it.
[ He's seen a lot on the network -- and a lot of Kyle. He's... pretty confident in, and comfortable with the man. No, not that everything was good, that he saw, but the whole picture.
He reaches up to take his coffee with a murmured thanks, then leans back in his chair. ]
I'm as settled as I can be, I think. [ Tired. ] I'd like Tim to get with it and settle before the clock runs out.
The longer you're here, the more it feels that way. Especially when you find yourself immersed in it.
[ His sire and his siblings were made what they were by magic, and that meant it was part of Kyle too. He had examined enough of his own dna now and all to learn it was certainly not science but...
Though he blinks at that comment, definitely not seeing this being where the conversation might go. ]
Well...
[ Yeah, that's a start. ]
I can't say I don't agree and I worry about that myself. I told him as much actually, and...
[ He remembers Alex's warning, considering if he should go on but he does. ]
I did offer him a fallback if he needs it.
[ It hadn't been a fallback in Kyle's mind or anything but a genuine offer to wanting him there but he knows this isn't the Tim he knew before and so his emotions about it all were not the same as the Tim here now. ]
He told me. I didn't tell him to take it. I did tell him that you'd be my first choice of people here.
I don't know if that will make a difference, but I hope it does. If it doesn't you may want to be prepared to... [ he takes a drink from his cup and grimaces a little ] catch him on the downswing.
If you had told him to take it, would he have refused just on that?
[ He nearly smiles as he shakes his head. ]
Don't answer that. Mostly just being a smart ass.
Thank you though. I appreciate knowing you would say that.
[ He's quiet for a minute, staring down into his coffee before looking up at Bruce. ]
If he'll let me, I'll be there for him. Even if he contracts with another. I would argue I have the means and ways of helping him here as much as anyone but I don't always listen to what's best for me, so I get it.
[ Bruce also smiles, too. Because it's astute and fair, which really sums up Kyle overall. ]
Tim is from at least a couple of years in my future. I know very little of what happened in that time, but Tim has always been more motivated to help than to be helped. That hasn't changed. If anything it's intensified.
[ Not gonna come out and say 'Tim thinks he might be a burden' but- ]
[ There was a time when Kyle had let his selfish desires rule and while they can still lead him, he works to do good as well. ]
He can find ways here to do it. I've seen others he's known manage it as well. It just involves a lot of risks. Which I get is not really that different, just maybe more chance of hurting those you get close to.
Most people can. Sadly not everyone does. Oddly here they seem to more than back home, but that could be my own viewpoint.
As for balancing things...
[ He falls quiet a moment, considering that. ]
I think what some of us are capable of balancing is not the same as what others are comfortable putting on our shoulders.
[ He knows they're still talking about Tim, or he knows he is, but he doesn't want to report on all Tim had told him about his worries with Kyle. ]
I can understand those that wait, see how things are. Accepting this is real and the exits are still hiding themselves from us isn't easy. Not to mention the other requirements. I was down to my last days before my first contract and she and I weren't fulfilling quota with one another.
While I'd like Tim to contract with me, I understand why he's reluctant and just hope he finds someone then.
[ He tries not to sound bothered by it, given he felt he had ruined that with a kiss before realizing it wasn't the Tim he'd known. ]
If I'd arrived without Clark, I would do exactly what he is doing. If I had arrived and it had taken Clark longer than twenty minutes to find me, I likely still would have.
[ Which is just truth. He is self-aware. His reasons wouldn't be any different. ]
[Kyle nods. They're definitely on the same page. ]
Hopefully between us we'll be able to see that he gets that.
No matter what his choices, I'm going to be there for him as much as he'll let me. I know we can't fix everything but I have resources those that haven't been here as long don't.
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A good friend who recently left installed them a few places. If you see a creepy clown painting, the likelihood is you could step into it and through to another place. If you know the points, you can go from one to the other.
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What is his life. ]
...as fascinated as I am by the concept and the potential for easier movement around the city, I can't help but feel I probably shouldn't seek out clowns.
Is there coffee or are we going out?
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Right. Someone mentioned there was a Harley in their world, and that's mostly your world. Got it.
As for coffee. There's a nice set up in the lounge, my doing I admit, or we can go to one of the shops nearby. Depends on if you want more privacy or not.
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[ Just mildly amusing and surprising that Kyle doesn't know. Surprising and something of a relief.
Which might be the explanation for why he openly admits - to Kyle when he wouldn't to Tim or Alex or really anyone except possibly Clark. ]
The conversation doesn't need privacy, but I need to not navigate this city any more than I have to for a while. [ It is... wearing on him and wearing him out. ] The lounge sounds good.
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[ Himself included, and without knowing what might be between them back home, he wants to make sure there isn't too much grief Harley has to cope with for any reason. Even if she's the reason.
He considers that for a moment, his gaze narrowing slightly at Bruce. He wants to ask, but he knows it's not likely the time for it. Not yet. ]
Come on then. I admit, I like Haven maybe more than I should.
[ As if it was his choice to stay there within the building. ]
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[ They got past it and for all of his... everything, Bruce is more interested in saving people - even people a lot worse than Harley - than revenge.
She makes him uneasy but that's as much for what she is doing now as anything another version of her has done.
He nods and goes with Kyle, tugging his tie loose as he goes. Okay maybe he's more than business casual, but tie off, wrapped and tucked into his pocket as they walk. ]
I like it more than I expected to. Even the roof is nice.
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But the time could happen. Any day, if he's honest with the craziness of this world.
Kyle smiles at that. ]
A lot of hard work and care has gone into this place. I was glad to be asked to be part of that and keep it going.
The gardens or the odd view of being on that kind of a rooftop and still so far underground?
[ He walks the halls easily, knowing this place well as he steps forward to open the door for Bruce. ]
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He's a great liar. ]
Both. The gardens are impressive, particularly for being underground. The...height within a cave is a strange perspective. Even for someone relatively comfortable in caves.
[ Small talk because... well. Walking in a very public open space. ]
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As for the gardens, those are Persephone's doing for one, and I'm told she has an advantage being who she is and all.
[ He holds the door for Bruce, glancing down the hall. ]
Is this going to be private enough? I can accidently lock the door.
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[ Even for him that was... a surprise, and overall a good one. Better than it could be, anyway.
He goes into the lounge and almost immediately sits down and leans forward to rub the back of his neck. ]
It's probably fine. You know how likely we are to be interrupted, but no one interrupting us here is likely to be an issue.
[ IT's all the shit out there. ]
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[ And now the lines between science and magic are slim and in healing they're practically as thin as a hair.
Kyle follows Bruce in, moving to the coffee machine to get them a cup. He glances at the door. ]
Honestly, I think we'll be fine. But your comfort in this matters.
[ He comes over with two cups, moving back to grab some cream and sugar. ]
So... Settling in?
[ He wants to ask more but he's leaving this on Bruce and how he wants to proceed. ]
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[ He's seen a lot on the network -- and a lot of Kyle. He's... pretty confident in, and comfortable with the man. No, not that everything was good, that he saw, but the whole picture.
He reaches up to take his coffee with a murmured thanks, then leans back in his chair. ]
I'm as settled as I can be, I think. [ Tired. ] I'd like Tim to get with it and settle before the clock runs out.
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[ His sire and his siblings were made what they were by magic, and that meant it was part of Kyle too. He had examined enough of his own dna now and all to learn it was certainly not science but...
Though he blinks at that comment, definitely not seeing this being where the conversation might go. ]
Well...
[ Yeah, that's a start. ]
I can't say I don't agree and I worry about that myself. I told him as much actually, and...
[ He remembers Alex's warning, considering if he should go on but he does. ]
I did offer him a fallback if he needs it.
[ It hadn't been a fallback in Kyle's mind or anything but a genuine offer to wanting him there but he knows this isn't the Tim he knew before and so his emotions about it all were not the same as the Tim here now. ]
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If he was keeping score. He's not. ]
He told me. I didn't tell him to take it. I did tell him that you'd be my first choice of people here.
I don't know if that will make a difference, but I hope it does. If it doesn't you may want to be prepared to... [ he takes a drink from his cup and grimaces a little ] catch him on the downswing.
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[ He nearly smiles as he shakes his head. ]
Don't answer that. Mostly just being a smart ass.
Thank you though. I appreciate knowing you would say that.
[ He's quiet for a minute, staring down into his coffee before looking up at Bruce. ]
If he'll let me, I'll be there for him. Even if he contracts with another. I would argue I have the means and ways of helping him here as much as anyone but I don't always listen to what's best for me, so I get it.
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Tim is from at least a couple of years in my future. I know very little of what happened in that time, but Tim has always been more motivated to help than to be helped. That hasn't changed. If anything it's intensified.
[ Not gonna come out and say 'Tim thinks he might be a burden' but- ]
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[ There was a time when Kyle had let his selfish desires rule and while they can still lead him, he works to do good as well. ]
He can find ways here to do it. I've seen others he's known manage it as well. It just involves a lot of risks. Which I get is not really that different, just maybe more chance of hurting those you get close to.
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Most people can find ways to help. Particularly when it comes to balancing interpersonal relationships.
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As for balancing things...
[ He falls quiet a moment, considering that. ]
I think what some of us are capable of balancing is not the same as what others are comfortable putting on our shoulders.
[ He knows they're still talking about Tim, or he knows he is, but he doesn't want to report on all Tim had told him about his worries with Kyle. ]
I can understand those that wait, see how things are. Accepting this is real and the exits are still hiding themselves from us isn't easy. Not to mention the other requirements. I was down to my last days before my first contract and she and I weren't fulfilling quota with one another.
While I'd like Tim to contract with me, I understand why he's reluctant and just hope he finds someone then.
[ He tries not to sound bothered by it, given he felt he had ruined that with a kiss before realizing it wasn't the Tim he'd known. ]
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[ Which is just truth. He is self-aware. His reasons wouldn't be any different. ]
I just want him somewhere relatively safe.
[ Relative to Duplicity. ]
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Hopefully between us we'll be able to see that he gets that.
No matter what his choices, I'm going to be there for him as much as he'll let me. I know we can't fix everything but I have resources those that haven't been here as long don't.