(( Open to Archbishop Timothy ))

[cuteandsomodest]

 Marco's back from the Nexus, with a man who's much better dressed than he is in tow. As they make their way from the pretty-nice park where the Nexus spits them out to the pretty-not-nice side of town where the apartment is, Marco fills the Archbishop in on the basics - Mom drowned two years ago, Dad never got over it, they're about one more late

Comments

[ternaui]

Timothy has very little context for most of the scenery, but boy can he figure it out pretty well. There's nothing disgusted or judgemental in his judgement, though. The man's been a slave. And before that, he lived in the 14th century. In terms of dirt or dignity, he's not one for getting snooty.

And he'll nod to Marco before the boy scampers off, and then give the man in the chair a good look. "Good evening, Peter. I'm Father Timothy," he begins simply.

[cuteandsomodest]

There's about two seconds before Peter even realizes he's being spoken to.

"Mmm?" He looks up with his eyes a bit unfocused. He doesn't know how this man got into his apartment, but he's not too concerned. Marco's still out, isn't he? So if this man wants anything - and it doesn't look like he does - his son won't be around to see them get burgled. But would a burglar introduce himself, and know his name?

Peter suddenly feels even more tired than he was before. He closes his eyes for a few seconds.

"Oh. Hello. Did you want something? I know the lock's broken but..." He sighs. "Anyway, did you want something?"

[ternaui]

Timothy made a little affirming sound. "Yes. I wanted to discuss your son. May I have a seat?"

[cuteandsomodest]

"My son?" Peter's face flickers with emotion for the first time, worry, and he completely ignores the request for a seat. "Marco? Is he alright?"

[cuteandsomodest]

"Can't afford it. Marco brought some papers home to apply for government aid, but we haven't been through them and we decided we didn't want the handout." Despite everything, he and his son still have some modicum of completely misplaced and pointless pride. "I might just be able to stop taking them, but then what? After that? I'll just be sleep-deprived and high-strung."

[ternaui]

Timothy quirks an eyebrow just slightly. Hadn't it just been said earlier that they were relying on a pharmacist's charitable impulses to keep the pills coming in the first place?

"I suspect even few honest fits might be better than staying on this, but perhaps not best." Money matters are far, far, far out of Timothy's territory these days, and he certainly doesn't know how the local government works.

However, it couldn't be too hard to deal with those money-changers in the Nexus.

"And what is your opinion on being briefly lent something, then?"

[cuteandsomodest]

Yes, but they didn't have to ask the pharmacist. They'd have to ask the government. Take what is offered and never ask is an internal logic they've had in their family since long before they ever had reason to ask, before Eva disappeared, before everything went to hell. Despite everything, they stick to it still. They'll accept Jake's hand-me-down clothing that Jeannie makes him bring over, but Marco's skipping lunch rather than applying for discounted cafeteria meals.

And Peter's going to stay assuming that Father Timothy invited himself over, rather than Marco asking him to come.

"I guess it's worth a shot. It's been a long time since I've been off these things. Can't even remember what it's like to think clearly." Peter pulls his glasses off and cleans them, kills the cigarette butt, a little bit of non-pitying seriousness coming to his face. "What type of lending?"

[ternaui]

"A very small amount to help deal with whatever the greatest initial hurdle is in the matter of ...regrouping."