[ Empathy is a painful state of being to dedicate oneself to, but not one Harold has ever regretted. Holding multiple contradictory truths in mind at once is a mental trick that takes considerable practice to get comfortable with, yet the world cannot begin to make sense without it, much less other people.
His earlier baffled irritation fades into a soothing tone as he replies. ] I won't tell anyone, Ms. Mason. I'm accustomed to keeping secrets. [ A hilarious understatement, but undoubtedly true. ]
Why would he be threatening you not to tell anyone? [ He puts two pieces of information together and hazards a guess: ] He's afraid it will endanger you.
[ The logical assumption is that there's something special or unique about Heather, which Harold hadn't previously guessed at all. ]
( surprisingly? she actually genuinely trusted harold in his promise to keep this secret. he'd help her so much over her time here in etraya and he was the one person not from her world that he held in very high regard. she'd tolerated and put up with accelerator for his sake after all—
but beyond that, she admired him and took pride in considering him a good ally. with a soft breath she could be heard taking a seat on what sounded like a leather couch before she began to laugh a bit. )
Okay he didn't 'threaten' me per say, I'm exaggerating just a little bit. That's pretty much it you know? We come from the same world and he's worried that someone's going to use what I reveal about myself against me. I'm not a normal girl after all...
( not in the 'i'm not like other girls' way but technically, she wasn't like other girls. )
He's not that bad of a person actually, but he's more worried of what I'm capable of if someone does something to me. Someone here I should say.
[ As mysterious and unknowable as Harold tries to be, to anyone who interacts with him on a regular basis it becomes obvious how much he cares, and how beneath the acerbic retorts is a deep well of kindness.
He's distinctly relieved to hear that Vincent hadn't actually threatened her. What she says next raises a whole host of questions more than it answers anything, but Harold distinguishes between what he wants to know for practical reasons and what he wants to know just because he loves knowing things. He cares for Heather enough that he won't prod her for personal information without reason. He knows how sore those wounds can be. She can share, or not, as she likes. ]
Is it anyone in particular he's worried about? [ he asks slowly, trying to gauge the possible threat. ] If you need protection, we can help you.
[ He's not sure Heather even realizes he has a we, properly speaking, but it slips out automatically, an offer he's made dozens of times before. ]
It’s this woman who showed up from our world as of late, but it could be anyone who upsets me. He think I’m like this ticking time bomb or something. I think I’ve been doing pretty well as of late these days in terms of my emotions and the like…
( though the speaker of her device, a soft sigh can be heard from her as she paced around a bit. )
As for that, I think I’m alright. That woman I’m talking about isn’t much of a threat at this moment. I kinda scared her into telling her Aurora is watching all of us closely and ensuring we do a good job at ‘proving’ our word is worth saving.
( an obvious half-lie, half-truth given some of the ‘crimes’ other people like hannibal have committed in the past but it seemed to work on keeping claudia in line. )
Thanks Harold, by the way. For checking up on me and offering to protect me.
Oh -- of course, [ Harold answers unthinkingly, frowning and preoccupied in working through what Heather had just told him. He's not able to move on from the topic that easily despite her assurances. ]
I can't say you've ever struck me as someone likely to have an emotional outburst.
[ The implication there is that she has some kind of ability or power that would react to it and make it dangerous, but anyone at all can be dangerous and Harold truly doesn't see Heather as someone reckless or volatile. If her assessment is that there aren't any major concerns at present, he trusts that, but... ]
Is there anything we could set up as a precautionary measure? A kind of panic button in case you need assistance? I have several individuals I could call on for you in an emergency. [ Gently, ] You don't need to deal with any of this alone.
[ And it's not conditional on telling them what's going on. They protect people; it's what they do. ]
( she realized how mysterious and strange all of this could sound to someone on the outside, and heather swore she'd till harold one day the intricate details of her life— but the version of her from the past? alessa? all the pain and suffering she went through left her so emotional and full of anger.
but alas, there heather went again, viewing the past her as a separate entity. she'd sworn up and down they were the same to vincent. this wasn't the time to question it after all. )
Well a while back Vincent gave me some kind of cryptic drawing of a protection seal. Do you know that guy Dean? He said it was....
( and there it was, she couldn't hide much more without it all sounding crazy and all over the place. how could she tell harold anything while still protecting vincent? while not admitting he was a member of the cult that had wrecked her life?
she supposed she could say she held no ill will towards him, but now instead of continuing on, she sighed. )
It's all just....a lot. I'm sorry I wish I could explain better, but sure I'll take a panic button. Whoever you think could help I'd appreciate it, and I'd like their names so I can get to know them too.
[ That's an interesting piece of backstory, that she used to be emotionally volatile but has found her footing now. It really is all very mysterious and strange from the outside. But then, Harold himself is when he starts to open up, too. He'd be a hypocrite in the extreme to call her out on it -- and he really is only prying from a practical sense of concern. Heather can make her own decisions about what to talk about and when for emotional support.
He actually does know Dean and has it on good authority (a literal angel) that he's trustworthy on these matters, so Harold is at least a bit relieved to hear that. It does tell him instantly that it's something supernatural or Biblical in nature.
But it's his turn to share, not just hers. ]
I do know him and believe he's reputable in that area. An explanation isn't necessary to have my assistance, but I'm happy to listen to anything you wish to say, [ he answers, still in that gentler tone. ] Two of them are compatriots of mine from home, John Reese and Sameen Shaw, and another two who've agreed to work with us, Brandon Carver and David Bossie.
I'm confident Accelerator would help you as well, despite grumbling about it.
[ Harold includes him here deliberately because he's the only one on the list who can potentially match whatever strange supernatural matters Heather has going on. The rest of them are all bog-standard humans. Very capable and not about to bow out of protecting someone because the opposition might be more than they are, but Accelerator fills a gap in their abilities, and Harold is certain he has his measure on this score by now and could depend on him to help when asked.
Plus, Heather is still young enough to qualify as not-an-adult, which he has a huge weakness toward protecting for reasons Harold well knows. ]
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no subject
His earlier baffled irritation fades into a soothing tone as he replies. ] I won't tell anyone, Ms. Mason. I'm accustomed to keeping secrets. [ A hilarious understatement, but undoubtedly true. ]
Why would he be threatening you not to tell anyone? [ He puts two pieces of information together and hazards a guess: ] He's afraid it will endanger you.
[ The logical assumption is that there's something special or unique about Heather, which Harold hadn't previously guessed at all. ]
no subject
but beyond that, she admired him and took pride in considering him a good ally. with a soft breath she could be heard taking a seat on what sounded like a leather couch before she began to laugh a bit. )
Okay he didn't 'threaten' me per say, I'm exaggerating just a little bit. That's pretty much it you know? We come from the same world and he's worried that someone's going to use what I reveal about myself against me. I'm not a normal girl after all...
( not in the 'i'm not like other girls' way but technically, she wasn't like other girls. )
He's not that bad of a person actually, but he's more worried of what I'm capable of if someone does something to me. Someone here I should say.
no subject
He's distinctly relieved to hear that Vincent hadn't actually threatened her. What she says next raises a whole host of questions more than it answers anything, but Harold distinguishes between what he wants to know for practical reasons and what he wants to know just because he loves knowing things. He cares for Heather enough that he won't prod her for personal information without reason. He knows how sore those wounds can be. She can share, or not, as she likes. ]
Is it anyone in particular he's worried about? [ he asks slowly, trying to gauge the possible threat. ] If you need protection, we can help you.
[ He's not sure Heather even realizes he has a we, properly speaking, but it slips out automatically, an offer he's made dozens of times before. ]
no subject
( though the speaker of her device, a soft sigh can be heard from her as she paced around a bit. )
As for that, I think I’m alright. That woman I’m talking about isn’t much of a threat at this moment. I kinda scared her into telling her Aurora is watching all of us closely and ensuring we do a good job at ‘proving’ our word is worth saving.
( an obvious half-lie, half-truth given some of the ‘crimes’ other people like hannibal have committed in the past but it seemed to work on keeping claudia in line. )
Thanks Harold, by the way. For checking up on me and offering to protect me.
no subject
I can't say you've ever struck me as someone likely to have an emotional outburst.
[ The implication there is that she has some kind of ability or power that would react to it and make it dangerous, but anyone at all can be dangerous and Harold truly doesn't see Heather as someone reckless or volatile. If her assessment is that there aren't any major concerns at present, he trusts that, but... ]
Is there anything we could set up as a precautionary measure? A kind of panic button in case you need assistance? I have several individuals I could call on for you in an emergency. [ Gently, ] You don't need to deal with any of this alone.
[ And it's not conditional on telling them what's going on. They protect people; it's what they do. ]
no subject
( she realized how mysterious and strange all of this could sound to someone on the outside, and heather swore she'd till harold one day the intricate details of her life— but the version of her from the past? alessa? all the pain and suffering she went through left her so emotional and full of anger.
but alas, there heather went again, viewing the past her as a separate entity. she'd sworn up and down they were the same to vincent. this wasn't the time to question it after all. )
Well a while back Vincent gave me some kind of cryptic drawing of a protection seal. Do you know that guy Dean? He said it was....
( and there it was, she couldn't hide much more without it all sounding crazy and all over the place. how could she tell harold anything while still protecting vincent? while not admitting he was a member of the cult that had wrecked her life?
she supposed she could say she held no ill will towards him, but now instead of continuing on, she sighed. )
It's all just....a lot. I'm sorry I wish I could explain better, but sure I'll take a panic button. Whoever you think could help I'd appreciate it, and I'd like their names so I can get to know them too.
no subject
He actually does know Dean and has it on good authority (a literal angel) that he's trustworthy on these matters, so Harold is at least a bit relieved to hear that. It does tell him instantly that it's something supernatural or Biblical in nature.
But it's his turn to share, not just hers. ]
I do know him and believe he's reputable in that area. An explanation isn't necessary to have my assistance, but I'm happy to listen to anything you wish to say, [ he answers, still in that gentler tone. ] Two of them are compatriots of mine from home, John Reese and Sameen Shaw, and another two who've agreed to work with us, Brandon Carver and David Bossie.
I'm confident Accelerator would help you as well, despite grumbling about it.
[ Harold includes him here deliberately because he's the only one on the list who can potentially match whatever strange supernatural matters Heather has going on. The rest of them are all bog-standard humans. Very capable and not about to bow out of protecting someone because the opposition might be more than they are, but Accelerator fills a gap in their abilities, and Harold is certain he has his measure on this score by now and could depend on him to help when asked.
Plus, Heather is still young enough to qualify as not-an-adult, which he has a huge weakness toward protecting for reasons Harold well knows. ]