In Tom's Workroom

[smallestopener]

Ingress hesitates a moment before pressing her palm to the painting of Tom’s workroom. She knows she has to talk to both Tom and Door about how she's been sneaking to Milliways and how she doesn't want to sneak any more and why it’s not fair that she can’t go as she likes. Tom’s going to be harder to talk to, so she's getting it over with first. He

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[young_tmriddle]

After a few moments and several precise stirs of the potion he’s brewing, Tom looks up and notices her.

“Hullo, little one,” he says, frowning with concern. He picks up a towel and wipes his hands. “Are you quite alright?”

[smallestopener]

She nods her head. “I’m okay. Are you too busy?”

[young_tmriddle]

“I’m never too busy for you,” he says, his concern not going anywhere.

Ingress has acted so strangely of late. He knows she’s growing up. He knows things have to change, although he’d freeze time if he could. Potion be damned; he can always recreate it later. He walks over to her, conjuring his own chair to set down beside hers.

“What’s on your mind?”

[smallestopener]

She stares down at her fingers for a moment, as they twist together on her lap.

“Tom, I’m not a little kid anymore. I’m not going to get myself into trouble like I did that one time with Blodwen. I’m tough, and I know how to fight, and even better, I know how to get away quickly from danger. I can Open better than ever, Door said. I want to go to Milliways when I want to and see my friends and have fun time. I know you’re worried, but I don’t like it when you don’t listen to me.”