Mask Or Menace - IC Contact Post

[helpdesk_hero]

This is David Alleyne, I'm not available at the moment.
Please leave your name, contact information, and what this is regarding after the beep.

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[helpdesk_hero]

[Not even remotely like a date so David doesn’t even care about the implication. And he is already loading a plate with salad.]

Why did you need me?

[mysterioisthetruth]

I thought we should catch up... Talk.

[He takes a seat and watches David a little too intently now.]

You came here just for an easy dinner, didn't you?

[He sounds amused.]

[helpdesk_hero]

I came here because as your therapist I have a duty. But I am tired so those duties don’t change how tired and worn I am after everything. They don’t change the loss that nags at my head that I can’t explain.

[Stop being amused. This sounded urgent.]

I thought you had a crisis going on. Some fallout of Jeopardy.

[mysterioisthetruth]

[He sobers in an instant.]

Well, yes.. But I didn't want to start with: hey, David, I'm about to have a breakdown.... before dinner.

[helpdesk_hero]

The point of me being here is to deal with that.

[Was it wrong that he felt that way?]

[mysterioisthetruth]

I did think it would be off-putting to your meal but if you really want to start with the worst...

[helpdesk_hero]

In the past month I've been stabbed, almost bled out, paralyzed, clawed, nearly mauled, and that's all BEFORE Jeopardy. I've performed surgeries in the streets and moved houses and I'm planning a Thanksgiving feast for what might well turn out to be thirty people.

Frankly, nothing could stop me from eating save the food being poisoned.

[Speaking of, he reaches for the blue cheese dressing. Good stuff.]

[mysterioisthetruth]

That's... a lot.

It makes me wonder why you even need to keep an eye on me. Because that's the only reason you do this, right? Making sure I don't hurt your real friends.

[helpdesk_hero]

[Okay, that's got David's attention. And his severe frown.]

This ends when you break your word to me, when you hurt Peter or Marco, or when you tell me you are going to seek professional help that is CERTIFIED and not a conflicted party. But no, Beck. We're not friends. I try, I really do, but you keep biting the hand that feeds you, so to speak.

[mysterioisthetruth]

[Beck kind of shrinks into himself at that confirmation of them not being friends, stung, as if it wounded him somehow and he was bitter and hurt about it. He frowns off to the side and takes a drink and eats silently for a moment. The earlier cheerfulness now very much gone. He doesn't want to admit to himself that it's his own fault and that his actions push people away from him.]

[helpdesk_hero]

[Well, of course it stung.]

How do you expect me to be your friend with how you treat me, Quentin? With how you treat people important to me? With you framing Peter for crimes he didn't commit? My friendship clearly means nothing to you. And, as I noted before, having emotional investment with your therapist isn't a good choice.

[mysterioisthetruth]

What are you talking about? Framing Peter?

[Yes, he's going to deny it. He thinks David can have suspicions but no real evidence.]

And why are you acting like I've treated you badly? I got us dinner!

[helpdesk_hero]

You play dumb so often, Beck. It’s an insult to the intelligence of both of us. No one else here has motivation and skill to manage what happened. And you have treated me badly. You abuse my friendship. You abuse my friends. You invite me over for a merry little chat when I’m recovering from what that place stole from me.

Why? To entertain yourself?

[mysterioisthetruth]

[He looks hurt again.]

I went through a lot too.

[Not in Jeopardy but he's not going to say he wasn't in there fighting.]

I wanted to see you. To talk to you. I don't know what you personally went through so it's unfair to hold that against me.

[helpdesk_hero]

If you bothered to know me then you would know that I have been through more than enough and need rest. If you knew me at all you’d know I was there. If you cared, you’d have let me had time to process, or gotten to the point of what you went through because friends are honest and straightforward when it’s needed. And it’s needed now.

[mysterioisthetruth]

But as you've so pointedly told me - numerous times - we aren't friends.

So I haven't had a chance to get to know the real you.

[helpdesk_hero]

Because you don't want friends, Beck. You want people to fluff your ego. You want people to control. Friendship is equal partnership. That's not what you want.

[mysterioisthetruth]

That's very judgemental of you, David.

I hardly think you know me well enough either.

[Even if, for the most part, David is correct. He doesn't want to admit that, even to himself.]

[helpdesk_hero]

[Really? David just frowns at him, no concern at Beck's accusation.]

It's my job to judge you, Beck. For your own sake. That's what you've gotten me into this for.

[mysterioisthetruth]

And if it stopped being your job... If I said I no longer wanted you to analyse me but I did want to keep meeting up... Then what? You'd breathe a sigh of relief and just abandon me completely?

[He knows that's unfair to say, but he says it anyway.]

[helpdesk_hero]

Then I'd become a VERY annoying friend who used a lot more disappointed looks and smacked you upside the head when you did stupid things.

Worked with my best friend Josh.

[mysterioisthetruth]

You said friend.

[He looks amused.]

Like it's possible.

[helpdesk_hero]

[David sighs, fingers coming up to pinch at the bridge of his nose.]

I have this thing where I end up adopting bad people to improve their lives.

And you definitely count as bad.

[mysterioisthetruth]

[He winces.]

That's.... harsh, David.

[helpdesk_hero]

You ever seen that movie, Lilo and Stitch?