rubi inbox

[pharmacy]

● ○ ○ ○

○ ● ○ ○

○ ○ ● ○

○ ○ ○ ●

Quentin Smith, 23

letters ◇ thoughts ◇ dreams

CODE BY

Comments

[pharmacy]

???

this is Quentin, who are you trying to talk to

[ please let him compartmentalize in peace, he's been doing great ]

[rehandle]

You, Quentin

Did you have anyone look you over?

[pharmacy]

sorry man I do not get it

[ but give him a split second to hike up his sleeves for kneading sugar dough and to see the bruises faded to green up his wrists and-- ]

wtf did you hear

[rehandle]

You know what I heard.

Please answer the question. I won't ask you to speak about it beyond that.

[ Unless he wants to. Or unless it becomes medically pertinent. ]

[pharmacy]

well if you heard what I think you heard, you know it's over and I'm fine so maybe this is none of your business

Who told you?

[rehandle]

I'll take that as a no

[ Look at that, we can both play not answering questions ]

[pharmacy]

what are you gonna do about it, jump me for a check up?

[rehandle]

Is that what it'd take?

[pharmacy]

yeah I think it is

[ do it, bitch, you won't ]

[rehandle]

[ There are times where he could and would be petty enough about the open challenge to do exactly that. As it is, I'm sorry you were assaulted, allow me to invade your personal space in direct contravention of your wishes when Quentin is at least physically fine enough to not initially know what he was talking about draws a line even he isn't willing to cross. ]

I give a shit, Quentin. I hope you can come to terms with that

[ It means this isn't the last time he's going to insert himself into matters that aren't his own. But he doesn't appear in a ring of fire or a puff of smoke or a silent blink through space. So, chances are good he's not coming. ]

[pharmacy]

[ Stephen doesn't show up in the middle of the apothecary or outside the window or anywhere, which gives Quentin a solid hour to be angry and huffy and affronted before he takes the five minutes he needs to be charitable. He gives a shit. That's good. Even very good. Besides, didn't Quentin butt his way into Stephen's business in the last few weeks? Fair is fair.

[ An hour and five minutes later: ]

sorry
I wasn't exactly trying to make it public knowledge

I didn't see a doctor, but I got help right away
Nothing's broken or torn or sprained, i'm just living that willow bark and smoking life

I'm sorry

[rehandle]

It's alright. I'm sure you weren't anticipating an abrupt unsolicited reminder either.

[ Which is to say, as loathe as he ever is to say it but willing now, for this - ]

I'm sorry too

[ For prying. But also for needing to. ]

[pharmacy]

stephen who told you? are you talking to Danny? 

[rehandle]

Occasionally. Did you tell him?

[pharmacy]

vasyl did
only danny and jin guangyao knew
I didn't think either one would run their mouth

[rehandle]

[ There's a delay here, consulting. But a few minutes later: ]

It wasn't them. Takeshi.

[pharmacy]

did vasyl tell him too? 

[rehandle]

I don't tend to check his sources.

[pharmacy]

I don't want people talking about me
like that

okay?

[rehandle]

Of course. Not a word.

[pharmacy]

thank you 
is he upset? 

[rehandle]

[ No, everything's perfectly normal, the men they herded into a dusty attic are doing great, and Takeshi's fine. ]

That's not your job to worry about. I have him, he's alright

If you need anything, you can call either one of us. He won't bring it up unless you want to talk about it, and he will be there for you. So will I.

[pharmacy]

[ His heart fills up fast. Too fast for comfort, it leaves him feeling stretched and strained. If, these days, he wasn't so hungry for the attention, Stephen would get a sharp nip as his elbow in retaliation. But Quentin needs it, so he just sits with the quiet for a while. ] 

I appreciate it 
I'm gonna make it worth it for you both 

[rehandle]

It's already worth it

[ Quentin doesn't need to do anything for that to be true. ]

Speak soon.