maddest | [Text] the medium is the message; a riddle

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[Text] the medium is the message; a riddle

If I were to type you a poem, what would you think of me?

Look closer. Not all is as it first seems.

Ah, see, there's the reaction.

[Al swallows, hard. He can barely remember, but this conversation-]

You can't have...

[Al shakes his head, looking at the ground.]

He did this for nothing?

In return for my kindness. I didn't have to give away anything.

[Al's shaking. Just a fine trembling in his hands, but he is.]

He's going to want something.

Yes, he wants several things, and we'll bargain for those down the line. But this, by itself, was a self-contained issue. I don't owe him anything for it, he won't expect anything because of it.

Walk with me- and keep a secret?

[More secrets. Al takes a slow breath and finally nods. He trusts Break, but he doesn't trust this situation. Not at all.]

... okay.

He was far more hurt by recent events than he let on. I helped him through it.

[Al gives him a doubtful, nervous look.

He's scared for him. And it shows.]

And as part of that, I got my eyesight back. Giftwrapped, signed and sealed.

I'm happy for that.

[Softly, admitting it as he begins walking with him.]

He did something very good for you.

I know it doesn't make an entire amount of sense, but to give you all the puzzle pieces would be to betray his trust. Just rest assured that I'm safe.

... I hope so.

I just- I don't want you to get hurt in this. It's so dangerous, Break. It could happen so easily.

Let me handle myself. I have experience with this.

Why do you have to do everything alone?

[Quietly.]

Because I'm not risking your neck for my eyes.

[Al looks away, silent and thoughtful for the moment before turning back.]

I don't want to lose you either, or see you in more pain.

I understand, but... please. If there's something, anything I can do, let me help you. I'd honestly rather be in constant danger helping the people I care about than live a safe life without being of use to anyone.

What, precisely, were you hoping to do to help?

At the very least, keep you from being isolated.

[Flatly.]

When Sebastian had me close, the first thing he did was isolate me from the people I cared about. He took steps to make sure I depended on him more and more, and came to him when I needed things.

You can also use me as a checking system, like I do with you, for Yuca.

I've been talking to him again.

Is it going well?

[Bending to check some plants growing in a patch of sunlight.]

By our standards.

[Al picks several sprigs of the plant, crushes the edge of one of the leaves and tastes it. With a hum he holds a leaf out to Break. It tastes sweet.]

Stevia.

[He smiles and then nods.]

No fighting? He's been a little quiet lately.

Let's cut some.

[Sounding pleased.]

He's- we talked about what happened.

[Al nods happily, and hands him some more sprigs of it, leaving enough for the plant to grow back.]

When you two separated?

When he fed me to his pet beast.

[Text] the medium is the message; a riddle

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