[ it surprises him, more than he can say, that adam wants him around at all, but he doesn’t doubt it — finding himself unable to imagine adam lying to make him feel wanted.
the fact of it helps, then, with the burn of public rejection and humiliation. with the festering dark, at the corner of his mind. ]
[ man who does not like anyone save for like two other people and perhaps a mysterious third. man who doesn't usually give people the time of day, giving someone access to his time and his personal space and likely whatever else bob wants, if he should only ask. man who is definitely not developing a mild obsession because he is normal. ]
[ he takes a photo of the message, so he can always go back to it. although bob finds it hard to believe adam is as disinclined to sharing as he claims, he’d be lying if he said he didn’t like the thought of being exceptional, in some way. ]
[ until now, adam hadn't really considered that the people who made bob what he is were people to be feared. he's still not sure that they are, with what little knowledge he has of them, but if bob needed to be 'saved' from them, then he's willing to give it some more thought. ]
Where are those people now?
[ not here, obviously. presumably. but he's speaking in less... physical terms. ]
[ i liked the way she made me feel, certainly, for the short period of time that he was of use.
it occurs to him — in light of the werewolf game and his latest foray into the spotlight — that he shouldn’t say anymore. ]
she was the first person to believe i was worth something in a long time but then she tried to kill me, when i didn’t listen to her and i tried to kill her so it’s a little weird now
[ there are so many things adam could say, many of which could be misinterpreted in a negative sense even if he wouldn't mean them that way. because bob seems to have had a bit of a rough day, and because adam doesn't wish to unintentionally make things worse by being misunderstood, he chooses his response carefully. besides, bob is meant to be resting, not entertaining all of adam's curiosities. ]
Ah. I suppose that makes you even then.
[ a mild attempt at some light humor. eye for an eye, attempted murder for attempted murder. call that square.
[ not a rejection, which he didn’t think would come from adam, knowing what he does. given what he is. other, the way bob is now, too.
instead: an answer as even as adam himself. bob feels an uneasy kind of relief. what do you do, after you stick your hand into the fire, and it fails to burn? ]
i guess so
they put an off switch in my head, something they thought would kill me, but it just knocked me out
[ would you have followed through? if they hadn't stopped you? adam doesn't ask, but he does wonder. he does try to imagine it, how easy it might be for bob to tear someone apart the same way he tore apart a log in the woods behind the lodge. flesh gives way so much easier. ]
Well. I'm glad they were shit at science in this specific instance.
[ as he senses the conversation coming to a close, adam casts a brief glance toward the pair of moths that seem to accompany him everywhere. always hovering in his peripherals, always uninvited, though adam has never once shooed them away. for a moment, he wonders if he could send one of them off with bob while he's away, distant but watchful. if they would even understand, or if every time he's made an attempt to communicate it's been pure coincidence that they display signs of comprehension.
it would probably be somewhat of an overstep. right? ]
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I always want to see you.
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seriously
i’ll come by like
all the time
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mine too
i like you a lot, adam
so much
[ it surprises him, more than he can say, that adam wants him around at all, but he doesn’t doubt it — finding himself unable to imagine adam lying to make him feel wanted.
the fact of it helps, then, with the burn of public rejection and humiliation. with the festering dark, at the corner of his mind. ]
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[ man who does not like anyone save for like two other people and perhaps a mysterious third. man who doesn't usually give people the time of day, giving someone access to his time and his personal space and likely whatever else bob wants, if he should only ask. man who is definitely not developing a mild obsession because he is normal. ]
I have something for you.
Next time we meet.
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[ he takes a photo of the message, so he can always go back to it. although bob finds it hard to believe adam is as disinclined to sharing as he claims, he’d be lying if he said he didn’t like the thought of being exceptional, in some way. ]
something for christmas?
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Which is a hint in itself, I suppose.
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you know i have no idea what that means
[ because adam knows things and bob, well, doesn't. ]
the team's taking me on some kind of wellness retreat
i'll come find you as soon as i'm back, okay?
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But not too hard. I would hate to disappoint.
Will you be safe?
[ with "the team", whoever that may consist of. ]
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they saved me, back home
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Where are those people now?
[ not here, obviously. presumably. but he's speaking in less... physical terms. ]
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[ either by bob’s hand or yelena's. ]
their boss is still around though
she’s kind of my boss now
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Do you like her?
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i don’t know
[ i liked the way she made me feel, certainly, for the short period of time that he was of use.
it occurs to him — in light of the werewolf game and his latest foray into the spotlight — that he shouldn’t say anymore. ]
she was the first person to believe i was worth something in a long time
but then she tried to kill me, when i didn’t listen to her
and i tried to kill her
so it’s a little weird now
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Ah. I suppose that makes you even then.
[ a mild attempt at some light humor. eye for an eye, attempted murder for attempted murder. call that square.
but of course, he just has to know one thing: ]
What made you stop?
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instead: an answer as even as adam himself. bob feels an uneasy kind of relief. what do you do, after you stick your hand into the fire, and it fails to burn? ]
i guess so
they put an off switch in my head, something they thought would kill me, but it just knocked me out
[ and the moment passed. ]
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Well.
I'm glad they were shit at science in this specific instance.
[ adam. who are you. ]
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me too
say shit to my face next time, okay?
it’ll make me feel better about everything
[ 🥰🥰🥰 ]
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it would probably be somewhat of an overstep. right? ]
I'll try to remember.
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[ brave, for half a second. all it takes to pull the trigger and fire off a message. ]
see you soon, adam
1/2
2/2 🎀