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[young_tmriddle]

There are times when Ingress truly vexes Tom. He’s been told that this is a normal parental response. You can love a child dearly even as you want to throttle her for behaviors such as speaking to potentially dangerous strangers at Milliways despite being reminded over and over not to do so. What’s even more vexing is the fact that, unlike a

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[oneman_onevote]

"I can probably save you the trouble of finishing that," says a quiet voice.

Havelock leans against the bar, a little way along from Tom, looking blandly helpful.

He lurks both as a matter of course, and - these days - to keep an eye on Puck. And he'd been expecting Tom Riddle to appear sooner rather than later, in any case.

[young_tmriddle]

“I daresay you’re right,” Tom says, folding the parchment and tucking it back into his suit robe pocket. “It’s good to see you again. I had rather hoped we could speak sooner rather than later.”

He gives Havelock his full attention. His manner is business-like and serious, but not unfriendly. The man is younger than he recalls, Tom thinks, but Temple and Arch, you’d never know by the way he carries himself.

“I understand my Ingress has sought out your services as a teacher. She made her case to me, but what are your thoughts on the matter?”

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock nods pleasantly.

"Likewise."

He folds his arms calmly. Teaching is not exactly his strong point, but he has done his fair share through Milliways, and the girl Ingress seems like she would be a sensible student.

(...No, it's fair to say that Havelock's behaviour never has quite fit with his relative youth.)

"She did," he says. "I am not a teacher by profession, but I have done it before here, and I have no aversion to sharing knowledge that may well be useful. Given what she told me of what else she has lessons in, she can probably learn something of value."

[young_tmriddle]

“Any techniques or strategies learned now that might save her life later, I highly encourage. She did mention her future as a Herald of Valdemar when she spoke to you? It is not the path either her sister or I would have chosen for her, but we had no say in the matter. We can only prepare her as well as possible before she leave us for further schooling.”

Though he’s come to terms with Megwyn choosing Ingress as her Herald, he has definitely not come to terms with the dangerous life Ingress can only leave upon her, or Megwyn’s, death. It is not fair. Not fair at all.

But very little in life is.

“Have you worked with children her age? Or had any experiences with children?”