《Affairs of Demons and Men》Magi 4 - Location Redacted
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I am aware that I may have created some distance between us after our last exchange. It wasn't entirely what I wanted to say, if circumstances were different perhaps we could be a bit more open with each other. But our identities are obscured from each other for a reason, she only knows what she needs to know about me, and vice versa. The only person who knows more than us both is likely my father. He is after all my father, his history is my history, and well he hired Wolf.
He would have had to do a full investigation on her in order to have even been considered for the position or to be trusted with the position. Whereas we both have been kept in the dark about each other. She doesn't know my birth name, she probably only knows my birth city because of my circumstance, living out of hotels, and moving around from time to time. She doesn't know my full history. Much like I don't know her real name, or where she was born.
She recognizes it's for security purposes, even though I recognize it is for security purposes, but it doesn't necessarily mean the callousness helps in a situation where we share a space. I recognize this. Yet, I can't get comfortable assuming she is someone to trust either.
Sending yet another email, to another department. I am starting to wonder if any investigative skill is respected these days. Everyone wants a New Year Killer, the Tea Room Poisoner, the Puzzle Box Serial Murder. What they often get is none of these things. I hate the idea that murders and crimes have become sensationalized to the point that departments actively seek having a famous murder or crime. It's become a competition among departments these days. Everyone wants a famous crime.
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Wolf walks into the living space from her room, "Evening. Working hard?" she asks me.
"What defines working hard?" I ask her.
She smirks and shakes her head, "How about I make us something to eat?"
"Don't worry about it," I tell her.
She takes a second, "How do we make this less awkward?" she ask me.
"I'll confess," I pause, "I didn't - mean anything negative by what I said. I know the way it may come off considering my position."
Wolf processes what is being said, "I get it." she pauses, "This isn't my first guard job. I've watched other people before. Celebrities too. Other agents' families. I am aware there is a level of distance in our relationship, but well." she looks nervous for a second, she actually interlocks her fingers together in thought, "You're alone. With a lot more restrictions than them and that can't be easy. No friends. You spend your entire time working on, well to put it nicely, cases that someone didn't bother to check. At least my other clients had friends, they had people they could talk to without using burner phones, some of them lived with their spouses or even their parents. You're sent all over, alone." she pauses, a bit resistant to say the next thing, I watch her lower lip quiver in hesitation, "alone so young."
She's different from the others. Like Cisco or like Malcolm. In some ways I can see that she too is desperately trying hard not to numb herself while on this job, while Malcolm was content not really knowing me. Cisco attempted in similar ways as hers, but there was always this barrier between us. Like trying to get to know someone through a glass box.
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Considering her background, I think she's used to high security jobs with less security. What I mean is that there were still some elements of personhood. Taking on a code name. Knowing as little as possible. Constantly guarded even among ourselves, can be difficult to deal with.
But we, my family and I have experienced the unfortunate tragedy of people like Wolf knowing us too well. I would prefer not to be this callous or to keep her at bay. But unfortunately we can never truly trust each other in that way.
"While I recognize, and appreciate your empathy," I tell her, "I'm used to things being this way. Alone, that is. It's not something that necessarily bothers me, to be alone. But if it is any consultation, my biggest fear in this situation is not being alone, it's losing the qualities that make me human and I suspect the same thing for you as well."
"This position is difficult for you, isn't it, being your age, and having to be witness to so much death,"
"It's something that defines my family, it is what I was born into,"
Born for it is the better wording.
Wolf walks into the kitchen.
"Forgive me for saying this, but that is unfortunate," Wolf tells me.
"I accept your opinion on the matter, I know some would raise brows at how closely the death of others has surrounded me my entire life,"
"Well, how do we make living with each other in a hotel, in high security, less awkward and paranoid between us now?"
"I wouldn't know the answer to that,"
"Big famous detective, who solves unusual cases, cannot even figure out how to make another person in the same space less uncomfortable,"
"Are you uncomfortable?"
"Only by what I mentioned before, I am only uncomfortable in the situation I find myself, when your father mentioned isolation, I didn't think this much isolation,"
"He might have downplayed it a bit,"
"Do you like this life? Have you ever wanted to adopt a new identity and run away from this?"
"Someone who would want me dead would eventually recognize me, so, unfortunately I am past the point of no return,"
"So," she pauses, "will this be your entire life?"
"Considering, people die, I suspect I merely have to wait till my father is no longer in this present life, the organization is already to be passed down to me, I may still live in the same high security as my father, but I'll at least have more agents to talk to," I sort of attempt to joke with her. She gives a dry laugh.
"That's a morbid thought," she tells me, "still, working more closely in the organization will provide you more security." she shakes a box of noodles, "I'm still making dinner."
"All the same risk, just more eyes, more security cameras watching," I tell her.
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