[He is frighteningly serious. That is, Beckett is always serious, super secret flower-crowning notwithstanding, but now there is a low undertone of almost-anger to his voice. A warning.]
The hunger doesn't know friend or foe. It doesn't care. I mauled two men - two armed men - and the only thing between me and killing them both was a hammer blow to the head. Do you have a hammer, and would you have been able to use it on me?
Rhys. [Beckett leans a little closer to the tablet, to look very intensely at it. It's quite surprising really how he can do that with the hazy eyes and broken nose and all. But he treats Rhys to a focused moment of three hundred years of scary vampire intimidation practice.]
Have you ever tried to restrain a man mad enough with hunger that he will eat your fingers?
Making unfounded statements about inevitability, mostly.
[He resents that. He's putting so much effort into maintaining something - some kind of control over his actions and their consequences. He doesn't need this doubt, not from his closest friends.]
You needn't ignore me. If you want to help, help me make sure I keep away from anyone I might harm. Others as well as you. Help me think of another way. But don't ask me to place the safety of strangers - or of myself - above yours.
[Perhaps that's fair. His brow furrows and jaw tightens as the balance of their conviction shifts, and he half glances away.]
Saps. Yes, you are.
[And there had once been a time when he could have dismissed that. But he no longer even tries.]
If I can't be around you without endangering you, then that is all there is to it. I've told Angel - if the need was physical, if it could be sated by feeding - maybe. But it isn't. So feeding won't resolve it. That's why I need another answer. [He half-gestures at his broken nose.] I told them to do that. The smell was driving me mad.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2016-08-04 09:48 am (UTC)[He is frighteningly serious. That is, Beckett is always serious, super secret flower-crowning notwithstanding, but now there is a low undertone of almost-anger to his voice. A warning.]
The hunger doesn't know friend or foe. It doesn't care. I mauled two men - two armed men - and the only thing between me and killing them both was a hammer blow to the head. Do you have a hammer, and would you have been able to use it on me?
no subject
Date: 2016-08-04 01:57 pm (UTC)[ He waves the cyber arm a few time for emphasis, then brings thumb and index finger together to emphasize Point the Second. ]
And yes, I'd use it if your teeth were in my throat, or Angel's.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-04 02:10 pm (UTC)Have you ever tried to restrain a man mad enough with hunger that he will eat your fingers?
no subject
Date: 2016-08-04 08:25 pm (UTC)There's a first time for everything.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-05 09:48 am (UTC)Beckett tries to press the point for a moment, but in the end he does, indeed, blink first. He looks Rhys up and down, reassessing.
People keep mistaking the man. He should have known better.]
And if it doesn't work as planned? If I get loose and hurt or kill either or both of you... how do you think I would feel?
no subject
Date: 2016-08-06 05:00 am (UTC)Then you -- inevitably -- stumble upon someone else. Shit goes down. YOU die. Where does that leave us, Beckett?
no subject
Date: 2016-08-06 05:25 am (UTC)[He resents that. He's putting so much effort into maintaining something - some kind of control over his actions and their consequences. He doesn't need this doubt, not from his closest friends.]
You needn't ignore me. If you want to help, help me make sure I keep away from anyone I might harm. Others as well as you. Help me think of another way. But don't ask me to place the safety of strangers - or of myself - above yours.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-07 04:03 am (UTC)[ Downcast eyes now. ]
Call us saps, but w-we'd miss you too much.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-08 07:27 am (UTC)Saps. Yes, you are.
[And there had once been a time when he could have dismissed that. But he no longer even tries.]
If I can't be around you without endangering you, then that is all there is to it. I've told Angel - if the need was physical, if it could be sated by feeding - maybe. But it isn't. So feeding won't resolve it. That's why I need another answer. [He half-gestures at his broken nose.] I told them to do that. The smell was driving me mad.
no subject
Date: 2016-08-10 05:38 am (UTC)[ Not the most serious of suggestions, that. Rhys looks up quickly and tries for the weakest and briefest of smiles. Just kidding, hahahaha...ha...! ]
no subject
Date: 2016-08-10 06:35 am (UTC)[There you go. A joke. See how fine he is? Almost as fine as Angel.]
If that were enough of a solution... but I doubt it.