IC INBOX; MoM

[pushtheboundaries]

"You've reached Robert Callaghan, Headmaster to the Heropa Organization for imPort Education. Please leave a message with your name, your phone number, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. As a reminder, my office hours are..."

Comments

[pushtheboundaries]

[hnh.

some of the tension eases, but he's still hard to read. he follows her with his eyes as she sits, sure, but most of his body language is neutral - if not completely closed. after a few moments, though, he closes his eyes and lets out a breath.]

You're trying to help.

[he knows.]

[lasthugs]

[She nods, the motion earnest.]

I want you to have days when you feel okay. I want you to have days when you feel good. And I want... when your days aren't good or okay, to know that you're not alone.

You suffered... all alone, after you thought you lost your daughter. That's a dark, lonely place to be.

[pushtheboundaries]

I'd rather not discuss that. [if polite deflection won't work, he'll go for bluntness, and there's a slight warning tone in there as well] I talk about it enough in therapy.

[beat]

Look...as I said, I know you're trying to help. And I do appreciate your concern. It's just...

[...he's used to handling things on his own. only he's not sure how to put that in to words and have it sound right.]

1/

[lasthugs]

[Oh.

Cass' eyes widen, realization coloring them in that moment. Oh. Her shoulders tense, and she sits up straighter as his words hit her like a bludgeon. She's looks at Callaghan like a deer in the headlights for a fraction of a second -- but then she looks down at her lap immediately, the motion bring her hair falling over her eyes to hide her expression from his eyes.

What am I doing? she berates herself.]

Oh you -- [she starts, then breathes] -- you do, huh? That's good! It's good, to talk about it, and-- gosh, what am I doing, huh? Bringing it up like that. I'm sorry, please forget I said that. I shouldn't be pushing myself on to you like this, and talking so much, too, when you probably have a headache.

[A squeeze of her hands, nails against palms, then she makes an attempt to tuck her hair behind her ear, then makes as if to bite a nail before stopping that and clasping them in her lap again, letting out a chuckle to fill the silence those actions caused.]

I'm such a busybody, you know? That's probably a bad habit I got from working the café, you meet so many people and you end up talking to them, and I'm so used to keeping an eye on the boys because you know? Kids, they never tell you anything so you always have to watch out for the stuff they aren't saying but-- what am I doing, you're not-- you're an adult, too, that's so rude of me...

/2

[lasthugs]

[All that's said in a long, rambling series of breaths before her train of thought crashes and she finds herself losing words to say and trails off, her last word fading.

But she looks up again before Callaghan, if he was planning to, can get a word in. Despite her expression earlier, the one on her face now is a smile again, and it's as warm and gentle as it's ever been.]

... Sorry. Um, that coffee? It's from the shop right by the library on Leandro Street, if you wanted to get some for yourself sometime.

[pushtheboundaries]

[great, now he even feels like a bigger piece of shit. he can't do anything right, can he? he warned her he wouldn't be very good company, but even so...

Robert focuses on the coffee, sipping it slowly and letting her babble. he hardly has anything to say at this point, and when she looks at him for something to say, he furrows his brow. but...]

...it's good. How did you find it?

[lasthugs]

[She shakes her head again! It's just a motion that he doesn't have to talk. But her smile, as always, is genuine no matter what, even if it's still a little apologetic.]

I have a roommate who works at the library. And I had time, so I tried out a lot of the shops around here... it was comforting. Familiar, you know? Makes me feel better when I'm missing home.

... I think the school will be good for you, in that way. I spoke with Mr Xanatos, I'm glad to hear he's supportive of you.

[pushtheboundaries]

[no, he doesn't have to. but now that he's done with his tiny tantrum, there's a need to make up for it. Cass didn't deserve him snapping like that. so he...makse the effort, nodding and even cracking a- okay, no, that's not a smile. it's a twitch of the corner of his lips, but. it's something?]

He's a good man. Wouldn't let me resign.

[okay, maybe that's an actual smile now, but it's quite self-depreciating.]

[lasthugs]

[It's a something she doesn't miss, and she appreciates the effort. There's a look of acknowledgement on her face if he notices, but she doesn't point it out loud, watching him instead.]

... You wanted to make something good of it, right? I think you would be able to.