Re: [The Bridge over the River: Patrick/Newt]
Even at the expense of other people? [Newt looked at Patrick, and his question was earnest. He'd his own ideas about these things, and, honestly, normally he wasn't too bothered by who he was or who he wasn't. But, talking with Adrian tended to have that effect on him. Perhaps it was what came of tending to someone else's emotions all the time.] All right, well, I'd hate for it to lose impact. If you're playing a prank on me, however, I'll have you know that I will seek revenge. [The teasing was light and short, but it was a nice break from the unending emotional drain of the day.] He's going to go it alone, which is better than involving any parties who can't defend themselves. I've made him a place he can settle in.
[It was annoying, but Newt wasn't going to say that. He knew Patrick was doing it, so he simply smiled as if it weren't bothersome in the least.] That's an enlightened view of it, [he said of goodness.] Our actions dictate it. [Newt'd been about to smile at Patrick, but the grin on the other man's face made him laugh. He was glad to see it.] I know you're not. But, I know it's all difficult. [He'd've liked to've been more of a help, but, well, he was limited, since he was, in many instances, the offending party; which is to say, there were things he knew Patrick couldn't talk with him entirely frankly about.] I'm glad, about Dahlia. So, it wasn't terrible then, her being angry about your not divulging immediately? It led to some help?
[On his back, Newt listened as Patrick laid back.] No, though I could ask. You were talking about feelings never going away entirely. [He listened about summer school. It hardly sounded like school at all.] You enjoyed it better than you did the rest of the school year, I imagine? [He would've.] If I wasn't lying and saying I was one place, when I was in the Dark Forest? When I was younger, I was home. Which meant I was alone, generally in the garden or off in the woods. We're not meant to use magic, underage and off school grounds, so while I managed it when I oughtn't've by being in the Forest, at home, I just dug about in the dirt and read my schoolbooks, so I wouldn't forget that I was going back come fall.