Nine - Now That I'm A Man...

[bob_fraser_rcmp]

Well, that's one way to break the ice. Especially after the tension of the last couple of weeks.

I don't believe I caused overmuch trouble, but if you find a discarded flare on the second level, I apologise, it was merely a distraction and I removed most of the gunpowder.

Ned? I believe I am in a better position to discuss the reasons behind my being here, so whenever you're available, I'd like to get started.

Damon? How are you?

Comments

[kingfor-aday.livejournal.com]

A flare? How did...

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

The Admiral's duplication of my cabin included them and well, something about bears. Nothing to worry about.

[kingfor-aday.livejournal.com]

I see. And now I'm curious what it included about bears.

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

Well, the bears were people.

[Private]
I'm not sure about the man's reaction to being made a child, but we were trying to get to the second level cookies without being seen and I had told him about encountering a bear.

Well, being all of eight, this excited Damon's imagination and I used the flare to distract the adults who he'd thought were bears.

Flares are rather dangerous to use inside, so I removed most of the gunpowder.

private

[kingfor-aday.livejournal.com]

And you were how old? Twelve?

...I have to say, I'm impressed.

Re: private

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

Yes, twelve.

Thank you kindly.

private

[kingfor-aday.livejournal.com]

I'm not even sure I knew what a flare was when I was twelve.

Re: private

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

We used them as Christmas decorations when we ran out of candles.

private

[kingfor-aday.livejournal.com]

Also, quite... resourceful.

Re: private

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

Had to be, sometimes.

Re: private

[kingfor-aday.livejournal.com]

I know that one, to an extent. Not quite the flares as decorations extent, but true enough.

Re: private

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

It's very festive.

Re: private

[kingfor-aday.livejournal.com]

There's nothing that makes me think Christmas like the smell of gunpowder in the morning.

[talldarksaviour.livejournal.com]

Fine.

[He doesn't know how to react to Bob now :(]

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

Ah, good. [Neither does Bob, really!] Well! I don't expect... I'd appreciate getting to know you, as a man.

[talldarksaviour.livejournal.com]

Of course. I, ah, suppose we've moved past the introductions stage.

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I suppose we have. Common ground, then. How long has it been since you've been that child?

[talldarksaviour.livejournal.com]

A... very long time. I've changed, pretty completely.

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

Change is a part of life, even, apparently, when you're dead. Over a long time, it can be hard.

It was forty five years ago for me.

[talldarksaviour.livejournal.com]

Apparently.

It was, interesting, seeing the barge from an eight year old's viewpoint.

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

It certainly was. I didn't realise how sensitive I was back then, trying to fix everything. I suppose I haven't changed all much, except I was better at it.

[talldarksaviour.livejournal.com]

Really? Better at twelve?

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

Yes. You know that last time I saw my son was at Christmas? I died in April. I don't think my twelve year old self would have stood for that, do you?

[talldarksaviour.livejournal.com]

Family is important. I won't argue with that.

[bob-fraser-snr.livejournal.com]

It was never even Benton's fault. I just didn't think I could take care of him and I used that as an excuse to have hardly any contact with him at all.