[By now, Sam's already gotten the talk. The reassurances that he isn't expected to do anything that he can't do. The promise that he could be outside of this one, looking away and waiting to see what would happen to Kyna. But now that it's been a few hours, he can't help but feel confident in one thing: sitting it out would just give people ammo. One wrong move can screw over an arena designer's life. One bad puzzle. One bad Quarry. He's gotten by this far by being theoretical, by working a niche that the others don't look at the same way. But it's the kind of theoretical thinking that can be preyed upon. Used.
He tried to be bulletproof, but that was a joke.
It was in carving a niche for himself that he screwed up. Popular enough to have a lot of followers, with the knowledge that if he had a touch more ambition, he could be elevated. But he never tried. Couldn't try. Wouldn't try. When he was younger, he had thoughts of becoming a Magpie; he figured it could give him the comfort needed for the rest of his life. But it didn't appeal to him. Not everyone's Tony Stark. Sam just wanted to have his thing. Do well.
And Brady spotted it. Used it. Twisted it.
Sam's footsteps feel heavy as he falls into place behind Kyna, hand falling to her shoulder.]
I know you don't think that I think you did it, but I know you didn't. I just—I need you to know that.
[Because his coworkers? They definitely think she did it. Don't they? It wouldn't cross their minds to think any differently.]
no subject
He tried to be bulletproof, but that was a joke.
It was in carving a niche for himself that he screwed up. Popular enough to have a lot of followers, with the knowledge that if he had a touch more ambition, he could be elevated. But he never tried. Couldn't try. Wouldn't try. When he was younger, he had thoughts of becoming a Magpie; he figured it could give him the comfort needed for the rest of his life. But it didn't appeal to him. Not everyone's Tony Stark. Sam just wanted to have his thing. Do well.
And Brady spotted it. Used it. Twisted it.
Sam's footsteps feel heavy as he falls into place behind Kyna, hand falling to her shoulder.]
I know you don't think that I think you did it, but I know you didn't. I just—I need you to know that.
[Because his coworkers? They definitely think she did it. Don't they? It wouldn't cross their minds to think any differently.]