TLV Inbox

[greatoldjohn]

[in a rather deep voice] "This is John Doe. Please leave your message. I'll get back to you as soon as I can. I may respond in text if I'm currently with Arthur. Apologies."

Now Moved To: Inbox: Act II - please tag in there!

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[greatoldjohn]

[ Yes. That's what it says, Arthur.

It doesn't look like the sentence has been broken off. So I assumed it was a name.]

[ There's a short pause. ]

[ You stand taller when you're dressed like this, seem more steady, more sure of yourself. Maybe the Admiral thought to put you somewhere where you could give others the comfort of presenting themselves as they wish the same way. ]

[lestercraft]

[He hums, assuaged but not yet convinced.]

I do know something about how- 'clothes maketh the man', I suppose.

[He leans back in his chair again, scratching idly at his stubble. He didn't shave before the party, so it's getting unpleasant.]

Still, Edward Teach... th-that's something of a famous name, in our world, he's an infamous pirate, he was supposed to slaughter every ship he came across.

[greatoldjohn]

[ And yet, he's a warden here.

I'm sure there's more to the story than we could guess.

Or they simply share a name.]

[lestercraft]

True, that is- that's...

[He cuts himself off with a yawn, the slow kind that starts quiet and builds to a distinct pop in his jaw that makes him wince.]

Christ, my apologies. That's something we'll have to ask him tomorrow, I guess.

[greatoldjohn]

[ 'The pleasant dark that comes at night
Is just as friendly as the light.'

Perhaps we should head to bed for the evening. ]

[lestercraft]

[Arthur goes... oddly still, when he hears that little recitation, and clocks his head a fraction.]

Hold on, w-where did you get that one? That poem.

[greatoldjohn]

[ Huh? ]

[A book I found in the library. I... may have spent some time there while you were in the infirmary. ]

[ It's a big part of why he took long enough Arthur was out and about by the time he came back. ]

[I liked the sound of it.]

[lestercraft]

[Oh. That's fine then, and Arthur relaxes immediately, so he can lean over to unlace his shoes.]

Y-yes, uh-- no, it's-- The Pleasant Dark, uh- Annette Wynne, if I recall. One of her childrens' lullabies, it's really quite lovely.

[greatoldjohn]

[You've read it?

I have the copy in my room. Holding books is probably the only thing I'll use that place for.]

[ He'll help with the shoes. ]

[lestercraft]

You're more than welcome to keep them here as well, it's not like I don't have the shelf space for it. As long as you don't leave them where I'll trip over them. I'd rather not survive a cult sacrifice only to crack my head open slipping on nursery rhymes.

[It's always a little odd having the sensation of someone helping with his outfit, but he does appreciate his shoes being off faster, and he kicks them off to nudge under his chair as he stands up.]

...Christ, I don't remember the last time I had a proper bath, I might still do that first.

[greatoldjohn]

[I didn't want to assume.

A bath is a good idea. And you've got someone to keep you from falling asleep in the water.]

[lestercraft]

John, if I can have a hot bath then I'm absolutely going to fall asleep in it.

[He sounds delighted by the prospect, in fact, and he'll stand to walk towards it now, his hand already unbuttoning his shirt.]

The problem will be making sure I don't drown.

[greatoldjohn]

[ Fondly dry. ]

[Yes, well, we know I can do that.]

[lestercraft]

[That gets a little laugh, inordinately fond.]

Yes, well. Oh- what does the bathroom look like? In the real office it was just a toilet and sink.

[greatoldjohn]

[The floor is titled, white hexagons in a repeating pattern. To our right is a freestanding sink with a medicine cabinet and mirror just above. A few feet in is a white claw foot tub, complete with a white shower curtain. Beyond it, to the left, is the toilet and paper stand, well away from the water.

The rim of the tub is about two, two and a half feet high. ]

[lestercraft]

Ah, brilliant.

[He scoops his singlet and shirt off in one lift, and the rest of his outfit follows shortly after.]

Here, yes? [He's sweeping carefully with his foot to find the clawed feet, so he doesn't injure his- or, John's toes, and finds one shortly with the side of it, so he can put his hand on the rim.]

[greatoldjohn]

[ Yes, you've got it- a little more to your right. It's in the corner of the room, off center from the door. ]

[lestercraft]

[A part of him feels like he ought to be more self-conscious about being naked around John, now that they have the option to be separate. But that part is largely drowned by exhaustion, alcohol and the familiar comfort of his voice, still in his head, still in the softer moments they've had together.

So, John stays.

There's two sets of taps - one each for the shower and bath, but he misses the higher set completely with the way he aims low for the faucet first, and turns it on - pure piping hot water first, by accident, and he nearly scalds himself.]

[greatoldjohn]

[ Oh! Careful! That's... the other knob is about a foot over, same height if we want to adjust the temperature.

Are you all right? ]

[lestercraft]

Jesus.

[His fingers are bright red, but unharmed as he gropes quickly for the other tap, but he also gives a quiet, thrilled laugh.]

I don't think I've ever had my bathwater heat up so fast. [He lets the cold water run for a good few seconds before he bends to stick his hand into the flow again, and then rummages for the plug to jam into place.]

Where is it-- ah. [Nailed it.] Hold on, John, my feet have always been bit cold...

[And he's climbing into the tub, holding the edge with a vice grip as he carefully dips his feet in first.]

[greatoldjohn]

[ Feet first means toes first, meaning John gets that sensation as Arthur does. ]

[ Ooooh. ]

[ It's... nice. Very very nice. John is suddenly very glad they have a bath now. ]

[ ...and we can do this again? ]

[lestercraft]

Ohhhh, John.

[And that's definitely a moan, as he lowers himself fully into the tub, and he's so caught up in the sheer euphoria of a hot bath that he doesn't even care.]

My friend, if hot water isn't going to be an issue, I'm going to have one every fucking day.

[He slides down so he can rest his head on the edge of the tub, and turns the hot water down a bit; he wants to be fully cooked like a fucking lobster. And he'll only turn the water off when it reaches his shoulders in this position.]

[greatoldjohn]

[ Mmmmm. ]

[ John's response isn't so much a sound as a happy verbal purr, and it's clear that his friend is enjoying the hot bath just as much as Arthur is. ]

[lestercraft]

[Arthur's more than happy to just spend a few minutes in their companionable silence, just letting himself finally unwind. The gentle wash of steam across his exposed skin, where his elbows rest on the sides of the bath, hands in the water, his neck pressed against a cool patch of porcelain.

It's just nice.

Before he lulls into sleep completely, though, he pushes up a little, lifting his hand and brushing his hair off his forehead, checking how grimey it is now.

And then his face wrinkles in distaste, and--

He takes a deep breath, and dunks his entire self under the water.]

[greatoldjohn]

[ Arthu-

Oh. Huh.

...this is weird. ]

[But in a kind of neat and interesting way]

[ The water feels different on our arm when we're completely submerged like this. I never would have guessed that. ]