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

[crab_rangoon]

And this is my fucking cabin and I won't have guests standing - well, floating - in the hallway. Now you stay here. John and I need to chat. Go to sleep.

[He gestures to the kitchen.]

[greatoldjohn]

[ There's one last glance of concern at Misty before he floats into the kitchen as asked.]

[crab_rangoon]

[Pagan turns the water on in the sink to driwn out the voices.]

Now. John.

What the fuck? And don't skimp on the details, please.

[greatoldjohn]

[ There is a long pause as he considers how to start. The question is a fair one. ]

Are you familiar with the King in Yellow? Or... the concept of beings not entirely unlike the Admiral?

Those for whom reality functions on a different scale, with a different perspective entirely from the restraints of mortal existence?

[crab_rangoon]

I have been on the Barge for two years. I'm aware of a great many things.

[greatoldjohn]

[ There's a short grumble noise, as if to say 'how the fuck should I know?' before he lets out a huff. All right. ]

I was a fragment of the King in Yellow, of such a being. Now I am... something between that and human, entangled as I am with my partner, Arthur.

The mural was of... that kingdom, painted from my memories. I assume something about that was too much for her to handle.

[crab_rangoon]

[Nonsense, he thinks, but there's a part of him that always believed Yuma when she talked about the power of the thangka. Of course, he mostly thought it was the drugs talking.]

Ah. And the argument when I walked in was...?

[greatoldjohn]

She wants to recreate it in the Enclosure. I told her it was a bad idea.

[crab_rangoon]

[He groans.]

Is there a reason for that or is it normal bullshit?

[greatoldjohn]

[ Very flat. ]

I just painted it. The Enclosure would try to recreate it as a place using the Admiral's power.

Does that sound like a good idea to you?

[crab_rangoon]

[He waves a hand at him.]

No, no, no. I mean - does she want to see it in the Enclosure because it's spelled with some weird compulsion shit, or is it just because she's nosy?

[He has been on the Barge far too long.]

[greatoldjohn]

[ That he needs to consider for a moment. ]

...obsession is a common part of the King's particular brand of madness. But she might just also be nosy.

I'll have a better idea once she's woken up.

[crab_rangoon]

[He flips off the water.]

Well, no more spooky fucking painting, hm?

[greatoldjohn]

[ Um, no? And also fuck you. There's silence for a moment before he says- ]

I'll be hosting from my cabin from now on. I never meant to hurt her.

I like her a lot, even if she can be difficult to understand sometimes.

[crab_rangoon]

[He leans back against the counter.]

Good, because she's a fucking diamond and I wish everyone saw that.

Besides, you being Natalie's warden means that you couldn't get rid of her if you wanted.

[greatoldjohn]

I cared about her before that. We talked during the party; she's the one who convinced me to come back.

I consider her... something of a kindred spirit.

Arthur's been in my room a few times, but he can't see, so I didn't realize it would be a problem.

[crab_rangoon]

I'm not blaming you for it. If there's trouble somewhere, she's bound to find it.

But I am glad that you seem to - see her.

[greatoldjohn]

I try. She doesn't make it easy.

...which I understand. But it can be difficult, given my lack of context with some things.

[crab_rangoon]

No, she's not going to make it easy. That's why it's worth it.

[He reaches up to push his hair back from his face.]

You're welcome to stay until she wakes, though I'm sure she'll go seek you out after.

[greatoldjohn]

Yes. I am very familiar with that.

[ Very tired but- ]

I'll stay. I don't mind. Unless you do.

[crab_rangoon]

Not at all. Make yourself at home.

[greatoldjohn]

You...have a lovely home.

[ A little wrote, like he's still getting used to these kinds of pleasantries. Because he is. ]

[crab_rangoon]

It's a reminder.

[He walks out to his dining room.]

[greatoldjohn]

[ A pause as he follows him out. ]

...like my mural?

[crab_rangoon]

In a way.

But it's a reminder of what I'm losing. What I gave up. And the shit that I did to get it.