closed RP: Susan Sto Helit and Stephen Maturin: comparing notes

[estebanmd]

(( Takes place after Susan's conversation with Gin, Dib's owls to Stephen and Susan, and Stephen's re-emergence from a week incommunicado. )) Aloysius had been dutifully collecting all the owls that should have reached Stephen and River while they were not-precisely-away, leaving on Stephen's office desk a pile of letters (some of them pointless

Comments

[sensiblesusan]

"Oh. Oh dear. How very ..." she searched for a word, and for once was entirely unable to come up with something that suited. "Was it a productive discussion, at least? Worth the possible reappearance of a rubber duck at an impolitic time? To say nothing of the horror of seeing him disrobed."

[estebanmd]

"No discussion with him is ever productive, is it, really? No, it consisted primarily of thwarting various lines of inquiry. As to his disrobing, I think he hoped it would be rather shocking, but really, what did he expect 19th-century sailors to have worn into the sea? I know there have been vast advances in textile science since my time, of course." Stephen did not seem the least bit embarrassed to be discussing his bath with Gin, now that the subject had been broached. "Perhaps it can be viewed as somewhat productive to have had the satisfaction of wiping that damnable smile off his face for a moment."

[sensiblesusan]

"I think that's about all the satisfaction any of us can hope for, when talking with him. It's exhausting, you know, to have to always stay a step ahead of him in conversation, and to keep from showing anything that could be interpreted as weakness. Ugh." She made a face. "At least it sounds as if he may be going back to Soul Society for a time; maybe things will be quiet in the interim.

"Oh, incidentally, I finally spoke to Professor Lupin and made him aware of the, ah, situation. With Teatime. He's agreed to keep an eye on things." She paused and wondered if she ought to mention her initial reluctance to bring Lupin into the mess.

[estebanmd]

"He is going back? Now that I did not know. And you mentioned a superior of his, an Aizen? I wonder what Byakuya Kuchiki would make of this." Stephen steepled his hands, reflective. "And I do not know what to say to Dib, at all. Any form of discipline I could impose would be no less than laughable. Send the man to detention with his friend Teatime? Take house points?" Stephen clearly did not think house points were particularly motivational.

"Now that is welcome news," he said, in response to Susan's comment on Lupin. "Not in that I think he could keep any better apprised of the situation than you can; but he is your Head of House, and as such, he does need to know things like this. He is a good man."

[sensiblesusan]

"I ought to speak to Rukia, you know. Gin hinted that if the other shinigami learned about his offer, they might be less inclined to trust me." She rolled her eyes. "Stupid, insulting threats. Even so, I ought to make sure. And you're quite right, you know, about the disciplinary measures here. They're practically useless."

"Lupin suggested, incidentally, that I talk to the Headmistress about Teatime. I would, but honestly, Stephen, I'm increasingly reluctant to involve too many people in this. I'm afraid that doing so might provoke him or alarm him." Whether there were any other reasons, Susan was not about to consider, even in the privacy of her own mind. "And I've pulled so many people in -- Lupin, you, River ... oh, yes, I suppose she's told you about our tea?"

[estebanmd]

"What kind of threat is that? As if the trust of shinigami mattered much in your affairs at all." Stephen snorted. "He must have been grasping at straws by that point, I suppose."

His expression at the mention of the Headmistress made clear that he thought little more of her effectiveness than he did of house points. "The Headmistress? She responded to Greyback's assault on Grant by suspending Greyback for two weeks. I hardly think she will be of much use to you, my dear, no offense meant to Lupin's sensibilities. I think his ideas of this school may owe more to his own memories of its past, when it was apparently an institution of quite a different character than it is now

[sensiblesusan]

"She was certainly still distressed, although she didn't discuss the details, and I didn't pry. She did mention that the friend was Johnny C., though ... with whom I've lately had a rather ... tense conversation." She shook her head. "On the whole, though, I was quite relieved that River and I got on rather well. It would've been awkward otherwise."

[estebanmd]

Stephen read nothing disconcerting into Susan's note of the tension between herself and Mr C. It made sense that Teatime's lover should dislike Teatime's mortal enemy, so it did not occur to Stephen that anything else might enter into it. "Mr C. is unpredictable," he said, something of an understatement. "You have your work cut out for you. I cannot say it displeases me he should have parted ways with River; though I think it grieves her sorely, and likelier than not she will hope to mend their differences, if it can be done." He sighed. "She has a damnable habit of befriending dangerous people." The remark was clearly uttered with no sense of its possibly reflecting on himself.

[sensiblesusan]

"In this place, just about everyone is dangerous to a certain extent," Susan said, with a certain note of self-deprecation in her tone. "But as for River, I do like her, Stephen. And I also find myself concerned for her well-being, and not just because you're her husband and my friend. She's such a curious combination of knowningness and innocence, and I'm glad she's with you -- there are plenty of unscrupulous people here who would cheerfully take advantage of that."

[estebanmd]

"Knowingness and innocence ... yes, I think that is the most apt way of putting the contradiction. She knows too much for her own good and too little for her own good, and she wants to learn everything from experience, will not listen -- at least she will not listen to me. What she needs to learn most of all is that she is not immortal; and that, there is no safe way to learn."

[sensiblesusan]

The anxiety and loving exasperation in Stephen's voice made Susan want to give him a hug, but she merely reached across his desk and squeezed his arm. "Oh, Stephen. I wish I could help. But it's as you say ... no amount of education is a substitute for learning."

[estebanmd]

Stephen appreciated the comforting gesture, though there was little comfort to be had. "Her judgment is probably impaired by what was done to her brain -- I am not sure if she explained it to you, or even if I fully understand it myself. We need more diagnostic equipment, and it would be rather helpful if I could speak with her brother about it. That, I fear, will not happen any time soon. I do feel for the man; it seems word has gotten around concerning our -- proclivities? -- and he is absolutely shocked." Well, Susan had spent a day in his body; she must understand what was meant by that.

[sensiblesusan]

Susan coughed delicately. "Ah. You know, I did wonder about --" she tapped her own collarbone, in the place where Stephen himself was marked. "-- but, um. I wouldn't be so bold as to ask -- and of course, you know I'd say nothing, but my gods, word gets around here in the strangest damned ways. She did tell me what happened to her; I can only just understand the outlines of it, and I hope Dr Tam can come round eventually, though ... surely his love for his sister must be a powerful motivator. And he may be one of the only people here who can really help."

[estebanmd]

"Oh, I am sure she has told enough people in enough detail that precious little assistance would be needed to spread word. What concerns me is that she is wholly insensible to any feelings he might have on the matter. From her perspective, no harm is being done, ergo he should not care. A school is little different from a ship in some ways: it is a small community; we all live in one another's pockets; peace is difficult to keep once breached." Stephen shrugged. "I did attempt to speak with him, and he would have none of it. It must be between them now. The longer this persists, though, the longer I remain wholly ignorant of anything he knows that might help her. At least Ryuuji has offered to teach her what he knows of Occlumency. Whether she chooses to make use of what he teaches her is yet another question entirely." He gave Susan a direct look. "Perhaps you see now why I once told you I was afraid of her."

[sensiblesusan]

Susan nodded. "She is a force of nature in an eighteen-year-old's body. I'm glad to hear about the Occlumency; I'd suggested that she talk to Professor Gryffindor, actually, but if Ryuuji is willing, that might be even better. Since you and he are already associates." She looked at Stephen with some concern. "I hope, though, that ... all of these things notwithstanding, that you are otherwise happy? I realise that question sounds rather ridiculous, but I hope that your union isn't entirely overshadowed."

[estebanmd]

Stephen had to smile. "We are extraordinarily happy, all things considered, and irregular though the match may be. I never looked for such a thing to happen again in my life. And I will admit it would not have happened were it not for her flagrant misuse of telepathy."