lestercraft | TLV: IC Inbox

"And Ken's still down, right? I thought I saw something about that."

He'll get the pot out as well. He pauses as he looks at the pantry.

"...snacks?"

"Yeah, he's been in a coma for nearly two weeks now."

He glances up at the question, and gives a half smile. "Something savoury, maybe?"

He winces, because Ken's a sweet guy. They've talked a couple of times. All the same, he'll grab some crackers to make a cheese platter for them. It won't take but a few minutes and they can talk meanwhile.

"I'm glad it's him. He likes you."

"He's a good person. Exacting standards, but- that's not really a downside. I'm glad for him, that he's graduated."

It's hard to feel anything really negative towards other graduates, even now. They'd certainly earned it, and deserve that new chance at life.

"I'm glad for Johann." He starts cutting up the cheese and yes, a little fruit. Cut the savory just a little. "He's an asshole but he's not bad. We used to make baked goods for Florian in cabin in the morning."

That gets a light chuckle. "Right, I remember some of those. You got good at bread very quickly." He'll finish off the tea while John does that, an easy little ritual in sync beside him. Fucking domestic, and it never ceases to amuse him to see that with John.

It's amazing what can become the new normal. The tray is immaculately laid out. Just because it's for an afternoon chat and snack doesn't mean it's not going to look nice to eat from.

He adds a few vegetables as well.

"Bread is delicious. It's like a hug you can stuff into your mouth."

"Good bread is," he points out dryly, and he'll steal an apple piece before he picks up their mugs. "I've never had anything as good back home as you've been making here, you know."

That makes him blink and look over.

"Really? Never?"

Incredulous filters down into smug.

"Ha! I'm good, aren't I?"

He won't ruin John's fun by pointing out that between growing up on rations and the lacklustre range available in most bakeries that it wasn't much of a competition.

"Mmhm. You could start your own bakery someday. Probably get a pretty big name for yourself. Doe's Dough or, or something," he chuckles.

Those are still people doing it professionally, Arthur! Which raises another question and his eyes are very very big as he looks at Arthur.

"I mean... would that work?"

He glances up at John's surprise, but it settles into an easy grin.

"Well, why not? It's certainly more stable than detective work. And since you don't sleep you'll be ahead of the curve getting up early enough to bake."

He considers it.

"So... I would run a bakery and provide a steady income and you would have the detective agency. And together we could get somewhere nice."

A nod.

"I like that. It sounds... good."

Together.

A not-insignificant part of his mind can't grasp onto the image of it, of there being a future outside of the Barge. He knows that John brought back Parker and- and Faroe, but that's... something about the image of it all that he can't find himself fitting into.

They deserved to be happy.

He just hums in answer, and gives John a light elbow. "Shall we go sit down, then? Or do you want to see how high you can stack that plate?"

That earns him a grunt and a nod as he picks it up to carry the plate over to the table.

"I like trying the different combinations."

"Of course."

Not surprised, just fond. Easily pushing past his moment of doubt to focus on what's in front of him.

"I am curious, though. Was there anything you were actually looking to talk about, or was it just a thin excuse to spend some time together?"

It's mostly just an out, if John happened to change his mind about wanting a heavier discussion.

He shakes his head. Firmly. Then he realizes that that might not answer the question.

"Everything. It seems like everything happens all the time and we haven't had a chance to... get our hands around it together."

He gives a small snort.

"If I wanted to spend time with you, I'd just say so."

There's a heavy sigh of agreement there. "You're not wrong there. I don't think we've really say down and just talked since the breach."

He knows whose fault that is. And it's not like he's not spending time with John, but it was never about that. It was just... companionship, soaking in each others' presence. Trying to keep himself present on the Barge.

The answer to that is a brief grunt and a nod.

"Or checked in to see... how we're doing. With everything. Or, um, anything."

He wonders briefly how fair it is to ask John to go first, and puts some bread and cheese in his mouth to cover the moment of thought.

...he's not sure why it feels like so much of an olive branch to go first. "When Edwin graduated, he, um. He came to find me in the wardrobe to let me know. We- spent some time finding some new clothes for him, things to- experiment with." His expression softens as he looks down at his tea. "It was... nice, actually. He... he's trying so hard to try and do right by me, and that... I'm glad that I get to do the same for him. That we get a second chance on- on even ground."

John immediately starts nodding, because that's the best news he's heard all week. He'd been more than a little worried about Edwin graduating, for plenty of reasons. This is one of the bigger ones.

"He... he cares about you. A lot. And not just because you matter to me."

"I know." And he does; even more strangely, he feels it, too. "We- we want to try and know each other on our own terms. It's, um." He huffs, an awkward little laugh. "Well, I'm going to try and help him learn tact, if that gives you an idea of how that's going."

Edited 2024-05-24 08:42 (UTC)

Some of his lingering jealousy pops up then, though he tries to reign it in a little.

"Is there a reason you never taught me?"

The question is caaaaaarefully curious.

The question makes him regard John carefully. But after a few seconds his gaze casts down again, a little clouded.

"Let me rephrase," he says gently. "You know how to not push."

...and leaving it there just feels cruel, all of a sudden, so he clears his throat quietly. "Edwin asked me why I knew so much about clothes, and- I told him. Because of Bella, s-she was a seamstress. But he didn't- get the hint, when I was done talking about her."

If Arthur looks up, he'll get to watch an absolute face journey going on on John: first up is pleasure (wait, you think I know how not to push? you noticed I'm trying?!) followed by dawning realization (oh no, Edwin doesn't know not to push?) by concern (how badly did it go?) and then it settles (Arthur would have said something if it went bad enough or he wouldn't have been able to find Edwin for a few days and that hasn't happened) before immediately zooming into empathy (sorry, Arthur, he's sorry someone poked that open wound) and then a wince (goddammit, no, Edwin doesn't know not to push) which heads into a cringe (oh that probably still wasn't fun) and then his lips pressed tight (I'm a little glad to know Arthur did say no but I don't love that about myself but I also won't pretend it's not true). He tries to push past it.

"He... yeah. I've, um... I've noticed that." Then, because if there's one person he doesn't have to hide from, it's Arthur- "Sometimes, I'm jealous of him for that. It used to bother me a little."

Okay, no, real-

"...it still bothers me a little. It shouldn't, though. I know."

Edited 2024-05-24 12:42 (UTC)

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