[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/5xgAJ5K.png[/img][/center]

Alistair is taken aback a touch at Tyler’s comment.  Of course, his thoughts immediately turn to the dark: [color=0072bc][i]If only they knew why…  All that and I remain stuck.[/i][/color]  And then darker: [color=0072bc][i]Perhaps this is impassable.  Perhaps the world is just…  Irredeemable chaos by complexity, all cause and effect with no trace between them.

Hume.  Ha.[/i][/color]

Alistair sighs, closes his eyes, and then looks up again.  For a moment, he clenches his fist, his eyes smouldering.  [color=0072bc][i]No.  The surface is barely scratched.  Give up and…

You can’t.  You can’t give up.  You can’t.[/i][/color]

It is in this state of mind that he listens to Tyler carefully step around discussing Mikhail – around his latent anger, his fragile self-control, his – his past…  [color=0072bc][i]That…  That could be useful.[/i][/color]  Shaking his head idly at Tyler’s question, his mind’s mechanisms suddenly slot into place, forging and throwing off ideas as a tempest throws off lightning: [color=0072bc][i]That implies broken processes, unintended consequences.  Analysed structures alone to now, lacking context – focus on a specific case could be useful for clarity, to create and test theories, to break established patterns of thought.[/i][/color]  He raises a hand to the side of his head, fiddling with a strand of hair.  [color=0072bc][i]Even beyond, another event akin to today would be best avoided.  The ability to avoid or diffuse – could be gained through knowledge.[/i][/color]

And thus, Alistair begins to entertain an almost heretical thought.

He looks at Tyler again, eyes flashing with worry.  [color=0072bc][i]Do I know…  Can I risk it?  Do I have the right?[/i][/color]  He winces.  [color=0072bc][i]Gah.  Balancing long-term harm for short-term – but it wouldn’t be short-term, would it?  Not potentially…   Agh, this is dangerous![/i][/color]  The fingers on his hand twitch, just a little.

Alistair shuts his eyes.  [color=0072bc][i]No.  No, you’re overreacting.  This would be a tiny, tiny aspect of his life.  It is time he is evidently spending anyway, you do not necessarily have to provide any input at all, he is even able to talk about something that concerns him.  Which could also backfi- [/i]no.[i]  This will be fine.  This will be fine.[/i][/color]

Alistair breathes.  Then he offers that same half-smile to Tyler.

[color=0072bc]“I’m currently walking up to Richmond Park…  You can join me and talk on the way, if you’d like.”[/color]