goneawaycomms | (no subject)

Price tenses up when Sam does NOT kick him out of the room immediately and talks to him normally instead (he's used to being treated like a nosy and unnerving presence, which he absolutely is), but doesn't want to show it so he gives him a faint smile.

"They have indeed. I am alright, how are you?"

It's not that Sam doesn't know what Price has done. He does, after all, tend to keep an eye on the comms.

It's just that he has the privilege of distance and it not having happened to him.

"I'm okay. I seem to have gotten missed by the worst of it, after all. Definitely glad to have missed the whole cat thing. Or being in a sitcom. Again."

"Again?" Price is rightfully puzzled "How many times has this happened?"

"Here? First time." Sam takes the tray, putting it down on one of the desks. "Back home? It's happened before. Some people shouldn't have the amount of power they end up with."

Strangely, though, his tone of voice is almost wistful, not angry.

"That's interesting." Price notes softly, curious but polite and cautious enough not to ask. He looks down awkwardly for a moment, pondering what to say "Ah, I never got to thank you for watching my back during the mission against the shapeshifter. Thank you for that."

"Hmm?" Sam looks up, raising an eyebrow before shaking his head. "You're welcome, though it wasn't any trouble. I work with others all the time back home."

He works with his brother. That's close enough.

Sam's reaction is so interesting, it's like helping others is that natural for him. He's not making it sound like Price is in debt either, which is surprising. Price chooses not to dwell on that before he starts feeling miserable about his situation, and changes subject.

"How is Daniel doing? I haven't seen him in a while."

That situation is of Price's own making. Sam's nice, but he probably wouldn't feel too bad about the trouble he's gotten himself into.

"He's all right. I think the mission was about twenty times weirder than anybody was expecting."

"I agree." he nods, then starts mumbling "Well...I'm glad he is alright. He truly is one of a kind."

A bit scary, maybe, but Price likes him and is willing to enjoy their friendship while it lasts.

"Dan's certainly something, that's for certain." It's not meanly said. It's more that Sam's met guys like Dan before in his world. People who fall into hunting go one of two ways: either they become more caring or harden to be able to keep going. "He actually reminds me a lot of my brother. With fewer sharp edges."

"Your brother must have been a very good person."

He matches Sam's endearment. He'd like to hear about his brother, but he'll let him spill the beans himself if he really wants to instead of forcing him.

There's a pause as Sam considers that for a moment. "I'm not sure most people would consider him to be a good person, honestly. But they'd probably say the same about me."

"You're right. These matters are relative, anyway."

Then again Price himself is above dividing others in the good or bad person category, he's simply trying to have a conversation. Besides, it truly is relative. Judging by 'the content of one's heart', then the Director is a literal angel who messed up horribly.

"The people we've helped might say we're good. But the law? Probably not." He's been pretty open about what he does. So Price can likely figure out that it's not exactly legal where he's from.

Oh, don't even get him started on that. Price feels the urge to snicker but doesn't.

"There are many emergencies that the law doesn't take into account."

"Not sure the law ever took into account things like werewolves and vampires and demons, oh my." Then again, Jorgmund didn't seem to take that into account much, either.

"I wouldn't know." Price shrugs "It's your universe."

It's not like he hasn't seen unusual things like alien babies, talking bombs and alleged time travel in his files.

Sam grins at him. "From what I've been seeing, we all have our weirnesses." A pause. "Except Mac. I think he may BE the weirdness of his world."

"I haven't met him yet."

He replies dismissively, but he is aware that everyone seems to universally hate the man for reasons that are still unknown to him.

"Yeah. Avoid it if you can. He's..." Sam pauses, giving it a moment of consideration. "He's a lot."

"I'm sorry, Sam, I'm afraid that definition might apply to everyone here on the Rig."

Which is true, mind you, but he says it defensively. The only other universally hated person here besides Mac is, well, himself. They probably hate Mac for the same reason, an illness he can't help, with the difference that they may not justify that hate with 'he committed war crimes and killed millions'.

Sam shakes his head. "Mac is a different sort of 'a lot'. The kind that comes from Christian fundamentalism and terrible opinions about everything. Thought it was just about women to start with, but no. It's terrible opinions all the way down."

"Oh. Is there someone he feels comfortable talking to?"

He's not sure whether he wants to befriend Mac or torture him, he hasn't decided yet. To be fair others couldn't blame him for hitting what they consider an acceptable target. On the other hand, maybe they are just ableist and judging Mac for having ASPD or whatever illness.

"Oh, he is definitely comfortable talking to everybody." It's not that Mac might not be on the Autism Spectrum. It was more that his personality was just that repugnant.

He considers Price for a moment, then tilts his head. "That said. I'm sure he wouldn't mind somebody else to talk to." It feels mean, inflicting Mac on Price. But the man might deserve it.

Of course not knowing anything about him Price cannot make a diagnosis, but he knows from experience that low functioning antisocial behaviour is hard to live with and as much as he doesn't really care about Mac's safety he wants to prove others that they are the jerks who are wrong and who knows, maybe he and Mac can have a good time without stupid moral principles getting in the way.

"Good. I think I might give it a try sometime this week." he smiles as he heads out "Have a nice day."