( v o i c e )

[likeboudica]

[ Tessa's been staring at her device all day, trying to find the courage to say what she wants to say, to find the right words. ]

That curse was-- [ no, she doesn't know how to finish that sentence ] I realise most people strongly dislike the curses and I am generally inclined to agree, but this one I did not mind. [ she loved having a father.

but there's more that she has to say. she takes a deep breath. ]

Will. I am sorry for what I said. It was out of line.

Comments

[feigns]

There is much to be said for honesty, and I imagine that it would be held in much lower regard if it were always nice.

[likeboudica]

I know that you care for Jem.

[feigns]

The curse gave you a father, Tessa. It did not change your perception of those at the Institute, as far as I'm aware.

[likeboudica]

Having a father changed how I perceived things, or perhaps how I interpreted them.

[ things look very different from the perspective of a girl still unsure whether she is not, in fact, a monster as compared to the perspective of a girl who grew up - or thought herself to have grown up - with unshaking affection and love. ]

[feigns]

Then the question was born of nothing, is that what you're trying to say?

[likeboudica]

What I am saying is that the one thing I am certain of about you is that you care for Jem. [ Even when cursed, the question had been less about Jem and more about Will in general, about how Will could never admit to caring for any of them (for Tessa). ]

[feigns]

The one thing. There's nothing else?

[mintjulep]

I didn't mind that one either.

[likeboudica]

It was [ another deep breath. ] it was nice. To have a father. [ To have you as a father. ]

[mintjulep]

It was nice to be one. 'specially to you.

[likeboudica]

Yes? [ please, please mean it ]

[mintjulep]

Yeah. [ He means it. ]

[likeboudica]

That is-- I am glad for it.

voice;

[guardianjoker]

What sort of curse was it that makes you say that?

voice;

[likeboudica]

Doctor McCoy and I believed that he was my father.

voice;

[guardianjoker]

Ah- I've been affected by that a few times before. I think it's one of the few nicer ones.

voice;

[likeboudica]

I truly enjoyed it.

voice;

[guardianjoker]

That's good. It's curses like that make it not so bad being affected.

voice;

[likeboudica]

No, indeed. It is wise to remember, certainly, that the City is not all bad. [ Though of course, she never quite thought so. ]

[deadly_legacy]

Some curses can be nice. I think I missed which you had. The network gets so busy on weekends like that it can be difficult to keep up with it.

[likeboudica]

I had a father. Or I thought I did, and he thought the same.

[deadly_legacy]

I've seen that curse before.

I think it would have a big impact even afterward.

[likeboudica]

He was a very good father.

[deadly_legacy]

I'm very glad to hear it. I hope there was no awkwardness for you afterward.

[likeboudica]

Oh, no. He says he will still teach me how to make pancakes.