Tom listens quietly, carefully. The story unfurling is even worse, more tragic, than he imagined.
In a moment when Lan Wangji pauses, collecting the words that come with such difficulty, Tom discretely gestures for a waitrat and whispers for a pot of tea, nodding towards the younger man to indicate what kind would best be provided.
Tom remembers well being that younger man across the table, struggling for the words to divulge his secrets and confessions to patient confidants who listened without judgment. He always had a scotch in his shaking hand, at least. The least he can do is provide Lan Wangji tea.
"I'm so very sorry," he says. "Thank you for telling me. Should he ever need help - Dark Arts, wicked tricks, whatever you wish to call them, leave their marks, as we have discussed - I will readily provide it. But I know now that the situation is completely different than that of mine or others like me, and it will be treated as such."
The tea arrives, and Tom pours a cup for Lan Wangji. He's fairly certain that this goes against some expectation of etiquette, but if you aren't able to tell people that you care with words, you show them.
no subject
In a moment when Lan Wangji pauses, collecting the words that come with such difficulty, Tom discretely gestures for a waitrat and whispers for a pot of tea, nodding towards the younger man to indicate what kind would best be provided.
Tom remembers well being that younger man across the table, struggling for the words to divulge his secrets and confessions to patient confidants who listened without judgment. He always had a scotch in his shaking hand, at least. The least he can do is provide Lan Wangji tea.
"I'm so very sorry," he says. "Thank you for telling me. Should he ever need help - Dark Arts, wicked tricks, whatever you wish to call them, leave their marks, as we have discussed - I will readily provide it. But I know now that the situation is completely different than that of mine or others like me, and it will be treated as such."
The tea arrives, and Tom pours a cup for Lan Wangji. He's fairly certain that this goes against some expectation of etiquette, but if you aren't able to tell people that you care with words, you show them.