[Frankly, Carlisle hadn't expected Qubit to just admit it like that, not even with his memory loss. Qubit is a problem-solver; he's always taken it upon himself to solve problems rather than to look to anyone else for the solution. It was a point of contention brought to light that day in the shift: he knew nothing about magic, and yet Carlisle had come to him for help, as he was the only one the clergyman felt he could trust with such a monumental task. More importantly, Carlisle felt that, should something go horribly wrong... well, Qubit would know what to do. Unfortunately, Qubit had cracked from the pressure when faced with a furious Carlisle in a place so tied to his past; the mask wasn't perfect, but it had largely held until that moment. It had to — he's a problem-solver, after all.
Or he was a problem-solver, rather. That was the Qubit who had a lifetime of experience behind him... as well as guilt and regret. He'd faced other worlds, suffered the loss of his friends in Paradigm, experienced unfathomable, unfixable horrors. He'd struggled with acceptance, and had seen Carlisle do the same. The Qubit before him, however, is a Qubit without all that knowledge and the solutions born from them, his problems laid bare rather than hidden.
Admittedly, there's something in that honesty that Carlisle likes. Awful as it is, it's a welcome change that he's the one needed rather than the other way around — that he's the one that Qubit has come to for help. While Carlisle knows just as much about how to solve his memory loss as Qubit knew about magic, he does have ample experience in dealing with a mind plagued by unending, all-consuming thoughts. That was largely the last few years of his life. Carlisle finally feels he can, in some small way, return the help and patience Qubit has given him thus far.
Maybe all he thought he knew about Qubit before was a part of some larger facade, but the technomancer trusted him to be sure he returned from the maze. Carlisle has yet to see or hear mention of anyone else who did the same; it stands to reason he was the only one trusted in such a way... and that has to mean something. Perhaps Qubit simply had no one else, but Carlisle isn't about to let him down when he's the one who needs help.
And certainly not when he openly admits it. Carlisle is his friend, as afraid as he may be to admit it these days, and he'd never forgive himself if he did otherwise. He nods, resolute.]
I swear to you I will do what I can, but for now...
[He pushes the mugs toward Qubit, the green one as well as his own.]
no subject
Or he was a problem-solver, rather. That was the Qubit who had a lifetime of experience behind him... as well as guilt and regret. He'd faced other worlds, suffered the loss of his friends in Paradigm, experienced unfathomable, unfixable horrors. He'd struggled with acceptance, and had seen Carlisle do the same. The Qubit before him, however, is a Qubit without all that knowledge and the solutions born from them, his problems laid bare rather than hidden.
Admittedly, there's something in that honesty that Carlisle likes. Awful as it is, it's a welcome change that he's the one needed rather than the other way around — that he's the one that Qubit has come to for help. While Carlisle knows just as much about how to solve his memory loss as Qubit knew about magic, he does have ample experience in dealing with a mind plagued by unending, all-consuming thoughts. That was largely the last few years of his life. Carlisle finally feels he can, in some small way, return the help and patience Qubit has given him thus far.
Maybe all he thought he knew about Qubit before was a part of some larger facade, but the technomancer trusted him to be sure he returned from the maze. Carlisle has yet to see or hear mention of anyone else who did the same; it stands to reason he was the only one trusted in such a way... and that has to mean something. Perhaps Qubit simply had no one else, but Carlisle isn't about to let him down when he's the one who needs help.
And certainly not when he openly admits it. Carlisle is his friend, as afraid as he may be to admit it these days, and he'd never forgive himself if he did otherwise. He nods, resolute.]
I swear to you I will do what I can, but for now...
[He pushes the mugs toward Qubit, the green one as well as his own.]
Drink. It will help.