contact part deux

[bouchonne]

if this were modern times byerly would probably make you listen to total eclipse of the heart before you were able to leave a message

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[bouchonne]

[ Byerly allows the silence to stretch out a long time. But, finally, towards the end of the evening, he speaks. ]

The man said you acquitted yourself well.

[altusimperius]

[Benedict, having ruminated for so long now that he's all but counting down the minutes until he can finally leave work and go be unobserved for a while, looks up quietly.]

...I... tried to.

[His reticence, at least, doesn't seem to come from fear of what Byerly will do or say, as before. He's exhausted, from exhausting himself.]

[bouchonne]

Well, you succeeded. Well done.

[ What the hell else is there to say here? Maker, Byerly hates the way the boy acts when he's like this - cringing and miserable. It'd be so much easier if he were the sort of person who reacted defiantly, rather than miserably. He'd almost prefer someone who spat in his face. ]

[altusimperius]

Thank you.

[The words are an unexpected (but welcome) balm, yet somehow just manage to make him all the more aware of what a disaster today has been. He needs to go smoke something, maybe mash his face into a pillow and throw a fit like the spoiled brat he is, release some tension, but only where no one can see or hear or judge.

In the meantime, he's lucky to still be here.]

...um,

[But perhaps the point is made.]

...could I take off a bit early?

[bouchonne]

[ Please. Please, go. Save me from this. ]

You may.

[altusimperius]

[Without any further ado, Benedict rises and takes his leave.

They Are Free]