greatoldjohn | TLV Inbox

It's... it's quite alright, John.

[And he does mean it, sincerely. It's just... not the conversation he expected to have to have today.]

I have a feeling it'll be something I'll have to do quite a lot. A-and that's-- please, don't take that as anything less than my full encouragement to ask me if something does ever come up you wish to ask about. It's just...

[He lifts his hand in a vague wave.]

Something I'll have to adjust to.

[ John doesn't answer in words at first, just a feeling of confirmation and a short grunt. Then- ]

[ I should hope you feel comfortable in doing the same. I realize my scope of knowledge is... alien compared to most of the beings here, but it is available to you.

I don't see the need for secrets from you, Arthur. ]

Yes, o-of course. [But that feels... lacking, even if he truly means it, so he continues:] Even beyond our circumstances, John, I do put a great deal of stock in your opinions, a-and the knowledge you can bring to the table. Your insight is... unique, and that makes it truly valuable.

[A good thing, then, that you've got access to it at least once a day.]

[ There's a wry fondness to the words, but he won't dwell on it for too long. ]

[We should stop by the art gazebo on the way down. I've finished the beads for our kitchen and the wardrobe.]

Oh, um. Actually- [Arthur Lester put that 'I found a thread and I need to pull it' tone back right now] -while we're here, we should have a look at Miss Quigley's page as well.

[Ah.

That one has entries. I've read them before.]

[ There's the shuffling of pages before John speaks again. ]

[It beings with 'Not to be trusted with surveillance equipment.' And there are several notes.

Anything in particular you'd like me to look for or should I read them all? ]

Wait, h-how many constitutes all?

[Which is definitely an invitation to tell him all of them.]

[ The first is from someone clearly suffering delusions.

The second is from Pagan, who details that she should not be allowed to work in the infirmary, even in cases of emergency. He's very emphatic.

The third is from Iris, who admits to liking her but acknowledges that she needs to learn boundaries.

The next is from Zhao Yunlan, who notes that Misty wants to be your friend but will be manipulative towards that end. That one should be careful with information given to her, and that she can become overly fascinated with "mysteries". It also says that she is trying to be better. ]

[ A pause, then, with audible annoyance at even mentioning his name- ]

[ The last note is from Mr. Sims, the librarian. He notes that Misty can be violent when provoked, mentions a ruined shirt, and says that she's banned from the library until further notice.]

Edited (Autocorrect ) 2022-11-22 08:03 (UTC)

Right, so. Nothing our previous experiences with her haven't already covered, really. Though, the library ban is somewhat reassuring, actually.

[He gives a soft hum.] How have you been discussing me with her, I do have to ask. [And with a wry sort of bitterness:] I never did get that answer from her, incidentally.

[ There is the distinct impression Arthur might get of someone just a bit sheepish.]

[ No real specific details of our shared time together or about you. Mostly I discussed my feelings about you.

Positive ones, of course. Or largely.

When she fought with you, I admitted to her that you could be a fucking asshole when you wanted to be.]

[He rubs his face thoughtfully with his hand.]

Well, I'm starting to understand why she took such an intense interest me coming out the gate. You do wear your heart on your sleeve, John, if you spoke too fondly of me I can see her becoming curious as to whom you might be so enamoured of, especially with her own... predilections. Especially if she didn't hear that I'm a bit of a dick until after the fact.

Edited 2022-11-22 13:06 (UTC)

[ 'Too fondly'? ]

[ John's tone questions how he could speak too fondly about Arthur.]

[...'e-enamored'?]

[ ...someone might be feeling just a tiny bit Seen and Called Out right now, sir. How dare. There's a blustery noise from within as he gains his composure again.]

[ It was during the later portions of the party. We were discussing those close to us. She told me about her team and Pagan and I told her about you. I wasn't about to lie to her in a moment like that. ]

[He keeps his hand over his mouth, as if John can see the little grin on his face at having apparently caught his companion flat footed, as it were, but there's no hiding the fond amusement in his system.]

Now- John, I'm not going to ask you to lie to someone, least of all because you're somewhat terrible at it. No, it's more... Misty's own inclinations towards invasions of privacy, plus her distinct obsession with teams and partners - of course she would have taken an interest in me, on your words. That's hardly your fault.

[A fair point.]

[ Shut up. He's allowed to have feelings.

...and yes, he knows he's a bad liar. You don't have to rub it in, Arthur. Christ. ]

[ I was there during your first discussion, as you recall. When things began to go... poorly, for lack of a better word, I messaged her. She... shares my unfortunate tendency to react to hurt and disappointment with anger and aggression. ]

Yes, that explains the deja vu.

[Taking the piss a bit, but it's not necessarily wrong.]

I didn't realise you were messaging her, I'll admit. It certainly didn't seem like she was changing tactics in any way. Just felt like she wanted to win.

[ Thus our first argument, between Misty and myself. I tried to... deescalate the situation and she refused to act on my advice. I thought it was because she chose not to, but it turns out it was because you'd hurt her feelings.

I can show you the messages once we're back in our cabin, if you'd like. Most of it was public anyway. ]

I hurt-- [But the defensive bark cuts itself off with a soft splutter, and he gives a grunt of annoyance as he looks away.] Alright, yes, I know that, but I couldn't tell you how many bloody times I seem to have done it, least of all because she seemed to be making a game of trying to get under my skin in response to every fucking one.

[I know. She does that. ]

[ Very very resigned. ]

[She doesn't like to stop attacking when something like that happens because she thinks it makes her look weak and vulnerable. I tried to explain that isn't the case, but she didn't believe me.

I also told her that you didn't even realize she was looking for empathy when she did. She didn't really believe me then either.]

Jesus Christ. [He leans a hip against the ledger podium so he can rub his face with his hand.] You know the argument I had with the girl, Kyoko. She came to me a few days later and we had a discussion about her behaviour, a proper one, about how knowing when you've overstepped and apologising for it isn't weakness. Being able to acknowledge that you've hurt someone and making an active choice to step away from an argument doesn't make you vulnerable. It makes you the bigger person.

[He scoffs dryly.]

I can't believe a literal child is able to grasp the concept more succinctly than a grown fucking woman.

[Given that she graduated shortly thereafter, it sounds as if Kyoko had progressed far enough on her journey to understand such a concept.

But I'm glad to hear that you cleared things up with Kyoko before she left.]

Yes. It was on the advice of her warden, admittedly, but she did a wonderful job at trying to understand how to go about our argument better next time. And it turns out we truly did have more in common than we suspected, so we even managed to get a quick bit of bonding in before she buggered off to adventure.

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