cuffit: (pic#16949323)

[personal profile] cuffit 2024-01-29 07:45 pm (UTC)(link)
[ God, he doesn't want him to go--he threads his fingers between Lyney's and squeezes his hand lightly with the thought--but he can't stay, either. Not like this. Not when Wriothesley is weaker than himself, a shadow of the man he knows he can be.

It should be easy. Tell him that's for the best, make sure he gets back to his dorm, or at least away from here. Anywhere but here. In his mind he envisions what should follow: a curt nod, helping Lyney to his feet, locking the door of his office behind him. He knows what to do. All that's left is to make it real. He steels himself, tries to find what should come to him naturally. He can't bring himself to meet Lyney's eyes.
]

I'm not going to punish you. [ Said flatly, measured. ] ...Rest assured. Think of this as my mistake.

[ He is, after all, the one who's been inappropriate. Perhaps he's made a joke of himself, thinking he could protect Lyney--he's gone and taken advantage of a troubled teen, one isolated beneath the waves, far from the people he loves most. Another sin to confront, an undoing of whatever virtue he's scraped together in this lifetime. But he can't take it back now. All he can do is collect himself--calm his head, put the brakes on, be the voice of reason this situation needs. ]
cuffit: (pic#16949328)

[personal profile] cuffit 2024-01-29 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He's forced to look Lyney in the eyes.

It's only fair. They had this discussion once, didn't they? What it means to accept one's sin. Right here, right now, that means looking at Lyney: beholding the hurt, the completely avoidable pain he's caused in letting this happen between them. He holds Lyney's gaze, eyes steely and even, until the boy turns away from him, headed for the staircase.

This is how it should be. He needn't say anything more. Let him go, and treat this as the momentary indiscretion it is.
]

Inmate 7646.

[ For someone who prides himself upon his ability to let go...Lyney sure has a way of undermining that. Of making it disappear. ]

...Don't misunderstand. I have a responsibility to put a stop to these things, no matter how I feel about them.

[ He straightens his tie, willing the warmth from his hands. ]

That will be all. Do take care.