[No. No, they really can't. Anton sips his tea, watching Raine and waiting patiently for her to recover her composure.]
He can.
[It's said quietly, more because of the implications Anton knows than because he expected Raine to understand; but the fact that she knows enough to identify the discipline is both curious and relieving. At the final question, however, Anton puts down his cup and folds his hands, and gazes at her. Impassive though the expression seems on the surface, there is a hardness in his eyes she won't have seen before.]
He does not. He no longer has the right to choose how his issues are handled. That's why he came to me.
[Finally.]
If he falls, if he shows evidence that he can no longer remain in control, I will kill him. I don't wish to kill him, but I will. That's what he expects. What he doesn't expect is that I might take steps to save him. That is why he'll disapprove of my having told you anything: because he seems to believe that his power and his issues are self-contained. He's a fool, and I will not allow him the ease of self-destruction.
no subject
He can.
[It's said quietly, more because of the implications Anton knows than because he expected Raine to understand; but the fact that she knows enough to identify the discipline is both curious and relieving. At the final question, however, Anton puts down his cup and folds his hands, and gazes at her. Impassive though the expression seems on the surface, there is a hardness in his eyes she won't have seen before.]
He does not. He no longer has the right to choose how his issues are handled. That's why he came to me.
[Finally.]
If he falls, if he shows evidence that he can no longer remain in control, I will kill him. I don't wish to kill him, but I will. That's what he expects. What he doesn't expect is that I might take steps to save him. That is why he'll disapprove of my having told you anything: because he seems to believe that his power and his issues are self-contained. He's a fool, and I will not allow him the ease of self-destruction.