alwayskayaking | Duplicity Inbox

you are within your right to defend yourself. i i do not mean this as a thret. please. PLEASE understand that. i say this because i do not want to see it happen. to you or to any person. but i am from a place like this. a city with watching guards who enforce hard rules. keeping involving the city channels gets them to notice you as much as it gets them to notice the ones you turn them on. if you need someone to talk for you and be an in between person without involving them i have many years experience. i offer this to you freely.

I'm not going to bother with a middleman. If I am attacked then I will be pressing charges. If you and her are that afraid for her friends then maybe she should talk to everyone she deems a friend individually and tell them not to be stupid.

that is your right with the laws in the city. if you chanj your mind, i am still here. the offer stays open. i will talk to her about talking to them. i will let you know what she decides, if you want me to.

Edited 2020-12-13 02:56 (UTC)

I want to be left alone and have no more to do with any of this or her.

understood. i know it was not easy to talk with me. thank you.

[ After their discussion on the network, Anduin makes certain he gets up a little earlier than usual to prepare for his potential guest. While he's not certain what methods Tim will be most comfortable with, there are a few they might try. One of the benefits of having so many mentors was that there were a far greater number of ways to reach out to the Light, to still one's mind and find that sense of inner peace.

Surely, one of them would resonate with him.

When Tim finally does arrive, he's greeted by a very solemn-faced young man, who nevertheless gives him a respectful nod and opens the door further to allow him inside. ]

You must be Mr. Stoker. Please, come in.

[ The room inside doesn't really speak to having been lived in long. There's almost nothing in the way of personal effects, saving a gleaming sword sitting to the far side of the room. Some rolled mats sit to one side, along with a handful of plush pillows laid against the couch, in case he'd be more comfortable on the floor.

And of course there's water, sitting with empty glasses waiting and what appears to be mint drifting in a strainer within. ]

[Tim has decided his usual dress of a loud Hawaiian shirt probably wasn't the best choice for mediation. Instead he's put on a comfortable dark blue sweater for this occasion.

He smiles warmly when the door is opened. Nodding his head and offering his hand for shaking.] Tim's fine. Good to meet you in person. [Tim does look around the room as he comes in. It looks a lot like his own as Tim didn't spend much time in his apartment and so not a lot of time decorating it.] So! [He claps his hands together in excitement. The early morning hour doesn't seem to be hampering his energy level at all.] Where do we start?

Tim. I'm Anduin.

[ There's a pause before he tentatively shakes his hand, like it's a gesture he's not quite used to, before allowing him in and closing the door behind him. ]

Are you thirsty at all? Hungry? It's best to tend to those things before we begin.

I had some eggs before I came over. Bit of toast as well so I'm alright.

[He looks at the cushions and raises an eyebrow.] So is this the type of thing where we sit with legs crossed going: 'Ohm?'

Some people do.

[ There's a flicker of a wry smile, there. ]

I thought I would ask how you'd feel most comfortable. It's likely you'll be staying as you are for a long while, so. We can use the couch, or the floor, or you could lie down if you prefer.

I dunno; I've never done anything like this before so I guess... the couch? Or maybe lying down? Are we sitting quietly? I'm not so sure I want to be put into any sort of hypnosis trance. I'd like to get to know a guy before he has me clucking like a chicken.

[ Not that he can't. But that rather defeats the point and purpose of this. Still, Anduin can't help a small chuckle. ]

Fair enough. And it won't be anything like that. You'll be completely in your own mind, and in control. If you want to stop at any point, we stop.

You're safe here. I promise.

[Inara leaves a brightly colored gift outside Tim's door. There's a card as well that says:]

Tim,

Perhaps you can wear this when you join me for dinner one evening.

XOXO,

[The gift arrives with no adornment, it's just a familiar photo album left at Tim's doorstep. There's no note, but if he opens it, he'll find that every photo of Sasha has been fixed. it's the real her. The Not-Sasha has been scrubbed clean.]

[Between the city gifting him his brother's sketchbook and the return of his photo album, now corrected, Tim finds his heart aching. He has to take a couple deep breaths and a few swipes at his eyes, but he manages to keep his composure.

It's after he's flipped through the pages for a third time does he finally think to text Jon two very simple words.]

Thank you.

[Oh, he likes. This requires a text.]

I will be happy to one day wear it for you, join you for dinner, and even take it off for you. Perhaps even all on the same day. 😘😊

[The response is equally brief.]

You're welcome.

[Sent to Tim are a couple of vouchers: one to the Plumage Boutique with enough to purchase a full outfit; the other to the Between The Covers bookstore for five books of his choice. There's also a boxed set of sturdy wrist and ankle restraints with a note - 'for next time'.]

Thanks. [It has been a long few weeks since Tim has felt safe. He's not so sure he feels safe yet here, but it seems like maybe one day he could.] So I suppose I should sit down? [He moves towards the couch and starts to sit down.]

Thank you for my gifts. I look forward to getting to use them with you.

That's a good start. Get settled in as comfortably as you can.

[ Once Tim has picked where and how he wants to sit, Anduin moves to join him, though giving him a fair bit of distance for the time being. ]

You can close your eyes or keep them open. I found the former to be more helpful for concentrating, myself.

Alright. I'll give it a try. [Tim closes his eyes. Body language probably giving away that while physically comfortable he's still a bit uptight. Possibly even feeling a little foolish.]

First, you need to clear away whatever's at the forefront of your mind. The things you know are troubling you. Whatever keeps you awake, whatever nags your thoughts during the day.

You can say what they are out loud, or you can stay silent. Just so long as you can see what they are.

That's easier said then done. [He does his best to keep that from sounding sarcastic because he doesn't mean for it to be.] If I could just tell my thoughts to go away then they wouldn't keep me awake at night.

Tim's gift for Sally and Tim Stoker will be run over by courier, a vibrant redhead who will get her to sign for three packages before disappearing at top speed.

It will be a USB thumb drive which when Sally has a chance to plug into a computer will contain files for an expertly made website for her new publishing company. It has an easy way to automate updates and change section as they please. There's also a contract for a new lease to office space at the Community Centre, something that charges only as much as they're paying for their current premises (exactly in fact, as if he knows) or the equivalent in volunteer hours at the actual Centre itself.

Sally's gift will be a few cute outfits that he's obviously picked out for her.

Tim Stoker's gift will be some pamphlets on self-defence classes at the Community Centre and a small self-defence kit with personal pepper spray and such. There will also be a mug

Duplicity Inbox

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Backdated to beginning of December

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Christmas Gift

gift delivery

no subject

no subject

no subject

Christmas gits

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject