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]

[They've got a better chance of going better if you do this. Don't forget that fact. You don't control the relationship, but you do control how you choose to act towards her. What you choose to tell her.

It's easy to feel powerless, but you're more likely to fuck it up if you do. You're not powerless.

You have a plan and you know what you need and what you want. There will be setbacks, but you know you have me here to help any time you need. And I know you can handle this. ]

[pitofguilt]

[ She crosses her feet, resting her left atop the right, which is currently John's. She's not really sure why, given she's not very touchy most of the time, but there it is, and she's not taking it back. ]

Having a plan and wants and needs kinda feels like I'm going in for a grift.

[ For someone who lives in the gray area of life, that's very a black-and-white way of seeing it. ]

[greatoldjohn]

[Are you going in planning to get what you want and need, regardless of what's good for Misty?]

[ He wiggles her toes a little to nudge her foot in return. He's here.]

[Do you plan to work with her or to manipulate her to end the conflict?

If it's for both of you, and you're working with her with your cards on the table, it isn't a grift.]

[pitofguilt]

Then it's not.

[ She wants to make amends, yes, but... well, maybe she's just not best friend material. Maybe that's okay, though she can't imagine Misty not being hurt by that. Lying and pretending would be worse, though. It's a no-win scenario. Typical. ]

Back when I... attacked Arthur, she wasn't mad I used her. What bothered her was that I lied about why I wanted her to do it.

[greatoldjohn]

[...she should have been mad. Using someone like that isn't right, or good for a relationship.]

[ He wonders if Nat is like him in this way. ]

[Were you mad at yourself about it?]

[pitofguilt]

I regretted it. I still do. I regret all of it. The three of you care about me even when I don't think you should, and I just--

[ Well. He knows what she did. ]

She should've been mad. But Misty doesn't exactly try to meet expectations.

[greatoldjohn]

[You think she was trying to please you? Or soften the blow for you on yourself?]

[pitofguilt]

I don't know. It's hard to guess with her. Maybe she really wasn't mad.

[ Misty is a mystery. ]

Guess we should talk about that too.

[greatoldjohn]

[ Don't worry about doing too many things at once. But keep it in mind for later.

Just because she wasn't mad doesn't mean that's a good thing. ]

A moment of quiet.

[ I did something that I remember now, in the future. It was... really really shitty. And Arthur said he accepted it as a possibility when he gave me the means to do it. But I was still a lot more upset about it than he was.

I think it's because he feels guilty about certain things. Like he deserved it.

He didn't. I panicked and said something shitty. It wasn't about being deserved. And even knowing why he feels that way, I don't agree. I don't want him to think I agree.

I don't want to project on Misty, but I *do* think it's something you should talk about. ]

[pitofguilt]

Hah, if that isn't the most relatable thing she's heard about Arthur.

"Great. Another serious conversation to look forward to." She sighs. "Okay. One thing at a time."

This first thing is going to be hard enough. Being honest? And vulnerable? And open? Terrifying. But the alternative is letting Misty think she doesn't care, and that isn't true.

"Think you'd have less trouble with me if I were eighteen."

[greatoldjohn]

[ And you'd be driven into a gibbering madness if I was what *I* was before. We are who we are now. And if we've changed since then, it means we can keep changing. ]

[pitofguilt]

She almost jokes that she could take the King, but... no. Not if he's what's out there in the woods, if there's anything there at all.

"Choices, right?" He's very firm on the fact that people can choose to be better. That even someone like her can be better. Choosing to talk this out with Misty, when all she wants to do is avoid the topic forever, makes Natalie a little less awful than she was.

"I'm gonna do this before the year is out." A deadline should help keep this in focus.

[greatoldjohn]

[ That's a good idea.

If you don't make the deadline, we set another deadline. And I'll keep you honest. ]

[pitofguilt]

God. Her, honest. The chuckle that bubbles out of her is more amused than wry, for once.

"Got your work cut out for you there."

[greatoldjohn]

[ We knew that going in. ]

[pitofguilt]

"True enough."

It's kind of like having a coach. Know what her goals are, keeps her working toward them. She likes that more than the idea of being a prisoner.

"I'll let you know how it goes."

[greatoldjohn]

[Of course.]

A pause, then-

[Would you like to do some cooking? Or look at some design books together?]

[pitofguilt]

"Design books. Let's indulge."

Having grown up in cramped quarters, with very little chance to decorate the way she'd like, means she spent a while spoiling herself with the settlement money from the crash. She's more controlled on that front now, but that doesn't mean she doesn't still relish the thought.