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[weaponwithoutpurpose]

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[weaponwithoutpurpose]

[He snorts, adopting a very terrible impression of Norton.] Sure, let me just pop the kettle on.

[pharadyne]

[Norton gives a short laugh at the impression.]

That would be splendid, darling.

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

[He snorts.]

I'll unlock the door for you.

[pharadyne]

[Since the visit isn't urgent, he politely walks to Jacob's cabin to give him any time he needs to prepare before Norton knocks briefly in warning and then walks in.]

Hello, darling. How are you?

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

[Jacob's playing with Mae at the moment, tossing a ball for her in the small room. She abandons it to run over and greet Norton with a wagging tail.]

Fine.

What did you want, anyway? You already got your answer.

[pharadyne]

[Norton takes a moment to kneel down and pet Mae's head and scratch behind her ears before he answers.]

I'd like to take the letter, if you don't mind. It's a minor thing, but I'd still like to try to find out who was behind it. But also I just want to visit, see how you are, see if you need anything.

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

Been flying under the radar mostly. I don't bother people, they don't bother me.

Went hunting a couple of times.

[The paper is still beside him, so he hands it over with no hesitation.]

[pharadyne]

[Norton takes the paper and tucks it away to examine later.]

I want to give you a gun back, with the same restriction as before. But I want your opinion first. Is it a good idea?

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

[He frowns, waiting for the catch. When it doesn't come, he nods.]

Yeah. I'm not gonna do anything stupid with it. Got my head on mostly straight.

[pharadyne]

All right. I'll put in the request with the Admiral. Any preferences on type?

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

SIG Sauer. P226. [The immediate answer. It's one of his favorites and Joseph's, too.]

Think I can have my music box too?

[pharadyne]

Yes, of course. [Although having said that...maybe he should find out more first.]

What music box is that?

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

The one that plays the song.

[He raises a brow.]

Only you.

[pharadyne]

[The brainwashy song. But Jacob has proved it's not the song that matters, any song can be used, so it's not as if the music box itself can brainwash people.]

Okay.

[He takes out his communicator and makes the request.]

Where did the music box come from originally?

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

Any chance I can get the red glowy shit off too?

[He doesn't think so, but it's worth a shot.]

It was uh - mom's, I think. Took it from the house after they called family services and just kept it with me. Found a use for it later on.

[pharadyne]

Not yet.

[He's not sure when it will be safe to remove the warning system, but he is sure they're not there yet.]

What was she like?

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

Mom? She - she did her best for a while. Joseph and Jacob don't remember her as anything more than a ghost of a person, but she didn't start that way.

[He fiddles with his hands.]

She liked music. I got my hair from her.

I don't know. She lost her spirit as dad kept drinking and the money never came in and the boys were born. I raised 'em when shit got too hard.

[pharadyne]

Did you take it when you left to remember her? The person she used to be? [Because that's a long time to carry around a music box, unless Jacob just really liked the song.]

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

Guess so. Didn't really think about it. It was with my shit when I got out of juvie and I just - kept it.

[He looks up, immediately pushing back against this line of talk.]

Not everything is that deep, you know.

[pharadyne]

I know, but you wanted it enough to keep it all this time. And to ask for it now. So I reckon it holds meaning, even if it's complicated and layered over the years.

[Because now it also carries memories from Montana.]

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

[Jacob runs his tongue over his teeth.]

Yeah, I guess. Pathetic, though.

[pharadyne]

I don't think so. Wanting tangible objects associated with important moments or memories is a very human impulse. Just look at all the monuments and memorials out there. Keepsakes are the same thing, just on a personal level.

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

Yeah? What do you keep around?

[pharadyne]

I--

I mostly try to avoid remembering things too much. [He confesses.] But I have some things from my time here.

[weaponwithoutpurpose]

[He picks up Mae's ball again and moves over on the edge of the bed, a clear invitation for Norton to join, should he want it. He tosses the ball across the room for her.]

You don't like things tying you down.

[It's not really a question.]

What do you have from here?