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!

Comments

[greatoldjohn]

Absolutely fucking not.

[ Not harsh. Not angry. Just firm. ]

[citizendetective]

[She gives him a knowing smile, wanting to let him know that she'd expected that answer.]

It was worth a try.

[Then expression turns serious.]

You've read her file.

[greatoldjohn]

[ He nods. ]

I have. I did before I went to speak to her.

cw: suicide

[citizendetective]

Okay; did it tell you that she wanted to die? She tried to kill herself.

[And then Misty smiles - only briefly before it flutters away, but it's a smile all the same. But though it's grotesque and inappropriate, it's not happy or gleeful. It's the awkward, uncomfortable smile of someone who doesn't know what to do, or say or think or feel, and is used to covering up discomfort at all costs.

She doesn't know what to do, or say, or think, or feel. But she is so worried.]

[greatoldjohn]

Yes, it did tell me that. It told me a lot of things. Things that made me... feel very strongly.

[ He watches Misty for a moment before he adds- ]

I'm going to help her, Misty. The way Arthur helped me. I wanted to look out for her before this even happened. Now, I can.

[citizendetective]

Okay. Well, I-- I'm going to help, too.

[She knits her fingers together, hard enough to turn her knuckles white.]

We can work together.

[greatoldjohn]

I appreciate that.

[ He knows better than to outright refuse her, for any number of reasons.]

As long as we can agree that I'm her warden. And that undermining me or going behind my back won't help her.

If we're going to be a team, then we have to be a team.

[citizendetective]

Well, what counts as undermining you?

[greatoldjohn]

That's not a good first question, Misty.

[citizendetective]

Of course it is; I'm trying to figure out where your boundaries are.

[greatoldjohn]

And thus, if you're willing to abide by them.

[ See how that part sounds bad? ]

Do you trust me with her?

[citizendetective]

I don't know.

[She says, pushing her glasses up her nose and looking at him steadily.]

To an extent.

[greatoldjohn]

Then let's start there: What are your concerns?

[citizendetective]

I don't have any specific ones yet. But she's my best friend, and one of the most important people in my life, and we have a lot of secrets and history together. I'm sure you understand why that makes it hard for me to trust anyone with her.

[greatoldjohn]

I do. I'm sure I'll have a very similar reaction when Arthur is paired, even if he's the warden in that case.

[ He's being honest here, Misty. ]

Are your concerns that I would harm her intentionally or that I would harm her unintentionally?

[ A pause. ]

Or that I would try to take her away from you?

[citizendetective]

That you'd try to take her away.

[She says immediately, clasping her hands more tightly together.]

Pagan already puts so many limitations on us. You could make things even worse.

[greatoldjohn]

I'm not Pagan.

And as you know, my feelings on close relationships is... different.

I know what it's like to have a Team. I know what I'd do if someone tried to take Arthur away from me.

It wouldn't help anyone.

[ A little grumbly sigh. ]

So unless you do something actively harmful to Natalie or myself, I don't see myself adding to that.

[citizendetective]

Well, I--

[She pauses for a long moment.]

What counts as harmful?

[greatoldjohn]

...you know the answer to that.

Even if you don't like it.

[citizendetective]

Actually, no, I don't know what you think of as harmful.

[greatoldjohn]

...which just means you're trying to figure out how close to the line you can get. Misty, that sounds even worse.

[citizendetective]

No.

[She snaps, pushing herself to her feet.]

It means I'm trying to figure out if you think I already have.

[greatoldjohn]

[ He just looks back at her. ]

In some ways, yes.

But I also don't think that means you should be separated. Relationships are more than just hurt or not hurt.

What you choose to do today is different from what you chose to do in your world or your time here before now. I'm not holding anything against you, Misty.

I said what I said knowing what I know.

And I know she's your Team. And that makes it so much more complicated.

[citizendetective]

Tell me what you think I did that hurt her.

[She needs to know where they stand; needs to know where his mindset does and doesn't line up with Pagan's. Needs to know what he knows, period.]

[greatoldjohn]

You mean what it says you did in her file?