Whitelighter office hours are now in session [open]

[student_lighter]

Chris had replicated a pen and padd of paper--it just felt weird to work on spells on a PADD and he couldn't afford distractions. Trying to help Trever last night hadn't gone well, but hopefully he'd show up today for their 'date' AKA the only way he could get the man to sit with him and brainstorm about how to break whatever magic had hold of him.

So, Chris was in Ten Forward, a couple of pieces of paper spread over the table, each containing a different spell or potion, or some combination of the two. He had a couple different spells and potions for sleeping, a spell to discourage a lover and remove gods from mortals that he had found in the Warren Book of Shadows. But he was still concerned with how any magic he did might react with the magic already working on Trever.

Chris bit his pen, and twirled it between his fingers, frustrated. Maybe he could find a leprechaun? They could use a little luck.

Comments

[notalwaysstrong]

"Scans. Let's me know where's injured."

He sets the tricorder aside, picking up another wand-like device, turning it on, running it over a section of his leg. The pain starts to go away.

[student_lighter]

"And that device heals? Good." He still needed to figure out how to heal but at least it wasn't pressing with whatever that was.

Chris took a deep breath, working up the courage. "I know this wasn't exactly what you had in mind. It wasn't exactly what I had in mind either. "

[notalwaysstrong]

"You ever thought that this might be Q messing around with ya?" He remarks, starting to pack the kit away. "I don't need any magical help."

[student_lighter]

"It might be, but it also might not be. And at least where I'm from, things happen for a reason. It might not be the reason you or I think of, but it's always there."

Chris put his feet up on a nearby chair

"So why don't we just get to know each other and if you ever feel you need to talk or you need me, just say 'Chris'. Wherever I am, I'll come. " He shrugged.

"I'm not going to shrink on my duty just because Q might have messed with me. What if he didn't and you get hurt because I wasn't doing my job?"

[notalwaysstrong]

Mack watches the kid, judging him, sizing him up. He has a point.

"Thinkin' in "What-ifs" will drive ya insane if ya focus on it too much." Mack remarks. There was plenty of times where he caught himself doing just that. "And I can look after myself. I won't be callin' ya."

[student_lighter]

"Look, someone once told me trust goes both ways. You don't trust me, I get it. But right now I can't trust you not to pride get in the way. " Chris was going to have to monitor this guy.

"There's nothing wrong with asking for help. Working together. Teamwork." But then again, Chris comes from a family where they're stronger working together. It's ingrained.

[notalwaysstrong]

"I didn't last most've my life in the Army by not bein' careful." He remarks. "Folks who're idiots tend to get shot."

He leans back, watching Chris. "I'll be fine."

[student_lighter]

You know Mack, if you're not careful Chris is going to engineer a situation to 'help' you realize that you need assistance. Sorry, your Whitelighter's a Slytherin.

"So you were in the Army? As a soldier or a medic?" Chris asked, hoping to get some more insight into his new charge.

"And you know, you are very adamant that you're fine." Suspicious Chris was suspicious.

[notalwaysstrong]

A slight shrug at Chris' suspicions.

"I was a soldier. A Clerk in the 303rd Logistical Studies Group."

And something will smell about that story. This guy? All muscle and attitude, sat behind a desk?

[student_lighter]

Don't lie to a liar Mack.

"Yeaaah I'm going to call your bullshit on that one. If you don't want to tell me, fine, don't tell me. But at least have the decency to come up with a plausible lie." It was honestly taking all of Chris's willpower to not orb away from this guy. WHY were his charges here such a pain?

[notalwaysstrong]

And Mack reaches into his jeans pocket, pulling out a wallet, tossing it forward onto the table.

"My ID's in there."

And, sure enough, there'll be an Army ID card in the wallet.

Gerhardt, MacDonald J. MSG - US Army -Fort Griffith - 303rd Logistical Studies Group.

[student_lighter]

"Alright, then Sergeant, I'm going to ask the next logical question. Why was a guy like you sitting behind a desk? Is it by choice or did you piss someone off?"

Despite their not great interaction, Chris kind of liked this guy. Maybe he just felt a connection because Leo had been in the army too.

[notalwaysstrong]

"S'what happens when you sleep with the CO's mistress." He replies with a shrug. "'sides, it ain't the end of the world. Kinda miss bein' a Ranger, though."

[student_lighter]

"And you just kept up physically by living at the gym? You really expect me to believe that just because you slept with your CO's mistress, they grounded you to a desk job? That's an awful big waste don't you think?"

He just....didn't quite buy it. Maybe this guy hadn't been a clerk for a while? "How long have you been stuck doing this?"

[notalwaysstrong]

"A few years. My CO's the jealous type." Mack remarks. "And I'm still able to be called on Operationally. Gotta keep myself battle-ready."

It's a smooth lie, well rehearsed and practiced.

"Just the way shit falls."

[student_lighter]

Chris wasn't buying it. It was plausible. But a couple years? Wasnt that a huge waste of potential, even if this guy was still called on operationally.

"Sounds like your CO's got some issues."

[notalwaysstrong]

"You're tellin' me." Mack shakes his head. "Still, the only thing I can do is discharge myself, and I don't wanna give the bastard the satisfaction."

[student_lighter]

"Yeah, I get it." Really, he did. Sometimes he really did want to just stick it to Leo and the other Elders.

[notalwaysstrong]

A grunt. "If you do, must be a pretty shitty situatuion."

[student_lighter]

"You have no idea just how shitty. At least here, I get a breather from it. Mostly."

[notalwaysstrong]

"Mostly?" Mack probes. If anything, this gets the kid off of his case.

[student_lighter]

"Well, the three people making my life miserable aren't here, so I don't have to worry as much. Most of the danger the security guys take care of." Chris shrugged. "It's easier to relax and work when people aren't trying to kill you. Or get you to lose your job."

[notalwaysstrong]

"Office trouble, huh?" Mack asks, with a hint of sympathy in his voice. Affected sympathy, but it seems genuine enough.

"So, this place is better for you?"