(no subject)
[Who:] Severus Snape and Mozenrath [Complete]
[What:] Dealing and priority check.
[When:] Last night, after this meeting with Sirius.
[Where:] Mozenrath's room.
[Warnings:] Oh, the drama! None yet.
I compromise myself for you in ways you can't begin to imagine.
Looking back on that conversation, Snape was beginning to think he ought to have said those words to Mozenrath, rather than Martha. As he made his way back to level seven, he tried to put the discussion with Sirius Black out of his mind; he had to deal with Martha now, who would most definitely want to know what had happened. And eventually, he would have to decide what to do about Mozenrath.
The truth was, he had allowed himself to grow attached to his inmate. When he first began the task of playing warden to the sorcerer, he had seen enough of himself - and enough potential in Mozenrath to help him avoid making Snape's mistakes - that he had become invested. And, stupidly, he had interpreted Mozenrath's behavior as signs that his inmate saw him as anything other than a warden. In short, instead of treating Mozenrath like the criminal he was, Snape had begun treating him like a friend. Or a son. That was an unsettling thought - one he'd fought against once already, to Martha.
This entire situation was his own fault, for that reason. He was allowing this to become personal, and it wasn't. In any way. He needed to put boundaries back in place, and stop compromising himself for his inmate.
As he passed Mozenrath's door now, he changed his mind about talking to Martha first - but only for a moment. He slowed as though to stop entirely, then changed his mind again. He scowled and moved past it, made it ten feet, then stopped. He raised his eyes heavenward (Admiral-ward, really), tutted impatiently at himself, and turned back. He started to knock, but a noise from the other side of the door held him back. He lowered his hand slightly, confusion registering on his face.
Mozenrath was crying.
He stared blankly at the door, as though expecting some reasonable explanation for this unexpected development. Why was he crying? Crying meant emotional investment. With a dubious frown, he knocked.
[What:] Dealing and priority check.
[When:] Last night, after this meeting with Sirius.
[Where:] Mozenrath's room.
[Warnings:] Oh, the drama! None yet.
I compromise myself for you in ways you can't begin to imagine.
Looking back on that conversation, Snape was beginning to think he ought to have said those words to Mozenrath, rather than Martha. As he made his way back to level seven, he tried to put the discussion with Sirius Black out of his mind; he had to deal with Martha now, who would most definitely want to know what had happened. And eventually, he would have to decide what to do about Mozenrath.
The truth was, he had allowed himself to grow attached to his inmate. When he first began the task of playing warden to the sorcerer, he had seen enough of himself - and enough potential in Mozenrath to help him avoid making Snape's mistakes - that he had become invested. And, stupidly, he had interpreted Mozenrath's behavior as signs that his inmate saw him as anything other than a warden. In short, instead of treating Mozenrath like the criminal he was, Snape had begun treating him like a friend. Or a son. That was an unsettling thought - one he'd fought against once already, to Martha.
This entire situation was his own fault, for that reason. He was allowing this to become personal, and it wasn't. In any way. He needed to put boundaries back in place, and stop compromising himself for his inmate.
As he passed Mozenrath's door now, he changed his mind about talking to Martha first - but only for a moment. He slowed as though to stop entirely, then changed his mind again. He scowled and moved past it, made it ten feet, then stopped. He raised his eyes heavenward (Admiral-ward, really), tutted impatiently at himself, and turned back. He started to knock, but a noise from the other side of the door held him back. He lowered his hand slightly, confusion registering on his face.
Mozenrath was crying.
He stared blankly at the door, as though expecting some reasonable explanation for this unexpected development. Why was he crying? Crying meant emotional investment. With a dubious frown, he knocked.