Charlie's calm, and Alan hates it. He hasn't taken the drink yet - it sits in his hand, and he tries to take a moment.
Charlie isn't trying to do anything but his. He knows that. His brows furrow, pinching together as his jaw flexes underneath clenched teeth. Charlie's trying so he has to, too.
"We had an argument about it before she was taken by the Dark Prescence. I'm sure that's in the file."
Now. He downs the shot easily, barely blinking. It tastes good. Warm.
Alan fills the silence. Some part of his brain has smoothly clicked into talk show mode, a skill he hates he has but begrudgingly thanks Barry Wheeler for. This is Charlie, though. That means what comes out of his mouth is the truth.
"I know I've got a temper. By the time I cooled myself off, she'd been taken." He parts his lips, glances over at the bottle, and when he talks again it's while he's reaching for it to pour himself some more, taking care of Charlie's if he needs it.
"Spent every single second after trying to get her out. Even when she got free and things changed, even when I traded spots with her, even though Saga's wish has undone what she's been through... I don't know. It's still there, in my head. Gotta save her. Last time we talked I was an asshole. Gotta make it right. And Alice, she's--"
The anger's gone now, replaced with someone else entirely. Love. "She's one of the most talented, smartest people I know. She figured it out. Figured me out before I was even taking a swing at it. I'm lucky she chose me."
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Charlie isn't trying to do anything but his. He knows that. His brows furrow, pinching together as his jaw flexes underneath clenched teeth. Charlie's trying so he has to, too.
"We had an argument about it before she was taken by the Dark Prescence. I'm sure that's in the file."
Now. He downs the shot easily, barely blinking. It tastes good. Warm.
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"I know I've got a temper. By the time I cooled myself off, she'd been taken." He parts his lips, glances over at the bottle, and when he talks again it's while he's reaching for it to pour himself some more, taking care of Charlie's if he needs it.
"Spent every single second after trying to get her out. Even when she got free and things changed, even when I traded spots with her, even though Saga's wish has undone what she's been through... I don't know. It's still there, in my head. Gotta save her. Last time we talked I was an asshole. Gotta make it right. And Alice, she's--"
The anger's gone now, replaced with someone else entirely. Love. "She's one of the most talented, smartest people I know. She figured it out. Figured me out before I was even taking a swing at it. I'm lucky she chose me."