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]

[ 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.]

[lestercraft]

[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.

[greatoldjohn]

[ '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. ]

[lestercraft]

[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.

[greatoldjohn]

[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. ]

[lestercraft]

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.

[greatoldjohn]

[ 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. ]

[lestercraft]

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.

[greatoldjohn]

[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.]

[lestercraft]

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.

[greatoldjohn]

[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.]

[lestercraft]

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.