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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[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.