[Incomplete]

[giftedistheterm.livejournal.com]

Who: Harry Mason and Simon Tam
Where: 204 on the second floor
When: May 8th, later in the evening
Rating: PG, maybe PG-13 if Harry's been hitting the bottle again.
Summary: More than a week since Simon's death, and the doctor is finally ready to talk...at least as ready as he's ever going to be.
The Story:

For a man who had just been murdered, Simon felt strangely guilty. Putting his thoughts into order had been difficult and he still wasn't exactly sure on where to even begin when he did start trying to explain himself. One thing Simon did know was that he wasn't going to dance around the truth anymore. Trying to protect Harry that way was ridiculous, he had realized the hard way. This was something that should have happened a long time ago...though Simon highly doubted the outcome would have changed very much.

As much time as he had to think...Simon still didn't really regret the choice that led to his death. He felt guilty yes, but he knew that he would do it again if he had to. Simon was desperate, that's all there was to it.

That didn't make him a monster. At least, that's what he had been telling himself.

It did not take Simon long to reach Harry's door where he knocked quietly. His face was still bruised, and though they were healing it still didn't do much for his appearance. Simon had been trying to avoid being seen since he woke back up in the clinic...

Comments

[picksupstrays.livejournal.com]

A few days, and no food. This also meant limitations in the alcohol department. Only two bottles left, and Harry's been slowly nursing them.

He hasn't been avoiding anyone, but. Hell if Harry hasn't been trying to avoid the windows, hearing Cheryl, hearing sirens blaring, static hissing. It's tempting, to go see her, but he has no reason to.

Not when his family is right here with him.

And he has zero intention of leaving behind Lisa, ever again.

He's taken down the mirrors, tossed them away. Fine with him; Harry wouldn't be able to stand looking at himself right now.

At the knocking, he winces. He caps the bottle, tucks it into the closet for now, with the glasses.

Shuts the closet.

He stands (with a stumble) and heads to the door, opening it.

"Hey, Simon," he says quietly.

[giftedistheterm.livejournal.com]

Seems like Simon wasn't the only one looking poorly. Simon didn't comment on the author's appearance...or the whiskey he could smell, just a little bit. He knew he didn't look any better.

"Hello, Harry," he echoed back, waiting for the older man to let him in before intruding. The doctor had a familiar looking cane with him and was heavily favoring one leg, the same one that was injured during Simon's early days in Wonderland. It didn't seem to be bothering him too much...

"So."

Simon felt himself grinning. There was no real humor in the situation, but the doctor couldn't help himself. What else could he do?

"I suppose the first thing to ask...where would you like me to begin?"

[picksupstrays.livejournal.com]

The author steps aside, allowing him in. He's frowning a little, but he doesn't have the spine to be angry with Simon. He doesn't blame him for not being entirely truthful.

After all, Harry's done... similar things.

He sits, holding his forehead, dreading the headache that's going to come on soon.

"Wherever you think you need to. What have you been up to, and what parts haven't you been truthful with me?"

[giftedistheterm.livejournal.com]

Simon sat down as well, watching Harry...and staying just out of reach of his fists. It was impossible to say if the space given was intentional or not.

The author was always very obvious with his body language and Simon felt another twinge of guilt due to the timing of it all. Harry didn't need another problem right now...but for once, the doctor wasn't going to hide.

"Well then," Simon began, speaking carefully. "You remember the future, Harry... I've told you before that I wasn't going to let it happen, and I meant it.

"What I've been up to, exactly...I've been in contact with the Queen of Hearts. It's only been a handful of times. I thought that I could learn how Wonderland works and find a way to change things... What I have learned hasn't been that helpful.

"It was dangerous, I know. It wasn't until the Duchess went missing that things--that's where I lost control."

[picksupstrays.livejournal.com]

"Wait -- I've never met this Queen person. I only really know about a few choice faces around here." Obviously all a connection towards Alice in Wonderland; why this is, hell if Harry knows.

Looks like he'll have to go read a novel again.

"But she has a lot to do with this, I take it. Why and how did you lose control, exactly? Did the Queen figure out what you were up to?"

[giftedistheterm.livejournal.com]

"That's probably a good thing; she prefers not to show herself at all unless convinced otherwise. At first she didn't see me as a threat...I'm sure she knew what I was up to, but decided to humor me for some reason."

Simon's gaze had fallen down to the floor as he spoke, finding it easier to look away.

"No, someone else found out," he said. The doctor couldn't be vague about this despite how uncomfortable it was to talk about...so he began again.

"Walter Sullivan. You've never met him either, have you? After the Duchess disappeared he came to me, he kept calling her 'Mother', he wanted my help to find...

"No. He wanted to use me to get to the Queen. We both believed she was the one who had taken the Duchess, and if I could lure the Queen out again Walter would. He would take care of the rest." The doctor shifted in his seat.

"It took months, and I had to say things in order to get the Queen to show up. Things that he saw and did not care for. But. It worked."