lestercraft | TLV: IC Inbox

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TLV: IC Inbox

"This is Arthur Lester. I'm not available right now, but do leave a message and I'll find the time. A-a voice message, please."

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[OOC: Please note Arthur is blind, so audio format is strongly ICly preferred, but by God don't let that stop you]

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Arthur? Do you have a moment?

Of course. What's up?

[ A pause before- ]

Can I come to you?

[Well that's... worrying.]

Bring me back to your room?

[ Arthur won't have to wait long before he's in John's kitchen and he'll see John peeking out from the lounge, looking a little worn and more than a little nervous. ]

Arthur?

Edited 2025-05-04 04:29 (UTC)

John-

[Now he is worried, and he quickly closes the gap to put a hand on John's arm.]

Are you alright?

[ There's surprise, a sharp little cello note, but still relief at the contact. Then, once he's reigned himself in a little- ]

Yes, Arthur, I'm- I'm all right. I didn't mean to worry you." A little quieter. "I just... got back from talking to Ashton and something came to me. Something I wanted to talk to you about."

"Okay?"

It's only a question because he doesn't know what to expect, but he gives John's arm a squeeze as he goes around him to get into the lounge, gently tugging his partner with him. "Let’s sit down, at least."

John usually immediately moves to wrap around Arthur when they're alone together but right now he keeps as they are, leaning into Arthur's hold on him but not starting one of his own. He goes where tugged.

"Okay."

He repeats it, mostly unsure of how to explain this.

"I-it's not about anything here. It's about... something I did back in our world."

Arthur tugs him to sit down, at least, but he's noticing the lack of any reciprocity, and that just makes him more concerned.

"Alright. As- yourself, o-or the King, or...?"

"John," he's firm. "B-back on the island. After the widow. When I-" and he breathes out slow, "when I goaded you and got us caught by the police. When I-"

A sigh.

"When I told you I killed Parker."

He hates how the memory of the argument still makes his stomach churn, and he swallows without thinking.

"...what about it?" There's no judgement, but no curiosity either. Braced, a little, but against what he's not quite sure.

He's watching Arthur carefully. Swallows. But he's going to push through this, so help him Azathoth.

"...I didn't... actually know. If I'd killed Parker. I-I still don't. I don't remember doing it. I just-" and he stares over at Arthur, hoping he doesn't- well, he's not sure what he's hoping, just that it isn't bad. But talking with Ashton, going over why they'd done what they'd done, and why it was self-destructive and fear based and hopeless-

"I just wanted to get 'it' over with." A sigh. "The idea that you'd condemn me, for all that I was, for whatever I was, that you'd... change your mind about me when I inevitably did something. I-I was angry that she was dead, and terrified t-t-that after you meant so much to me, you'd... you'd hate me."

A swallow.

"So I... lashed out. To hurt you first."

Arthur's brow furrows, as John talks, but he doesn't pull back, or even pull his touch away. His grip slides down, to John's wrist and stays there, giving him a light pat before it turns into another squeeze.

"Okay," he says quietly, as uncertain as it is, but he doesn't pull away. "So... I-I hear you. That... the lighthouse was... it wasn't the best we've handled things. We- we both fucked up there."

His jaw tightens, drawing a silent breath when he opens his mouth again, but - no words come, and he lets it go as a sigh. "I-I-I don't know what to say right now."

He relaxes, just a little, at Arthur's touch. But it's obvious he's still-

Having Ashton do the same thing, and then having Misty act as if Not Saying Anything made everything better-

It all added up to needing to address it, needing to look at his mistake and admit it to Arthur. He breathes out slowly and finally meets Arthur's eyes.

"You don't have to say anything. A-and it's obvious now that I did kill Parker, given... well, given that he came back. But," he swallows, hard, "I realized that while I've apologized for... being cruel, I never apologized for lying to you. Or for... giving into my fear instead of believing in you and hurting you for it. And no matter how far we are past that, you-"

He clears his throat.

"You deserve to hear those apologies. And you deserve to know the truth."

Edited 2025-05-04 06:12 (UTC)

"John, it's alright."

It's without hesitation, looking back up to meet John's eyes again. "I forgive you. You brought Parker back, and that's all the apology I need."

The words come readily, and genuinely at that. It's still so much to try and sort through, but at the very least - John needs to know that above all else. Perhaps that might have broken something between them before, and even if right now that's still a bit battering, they'll get through it.

He swallows, audibly. Visibly. But he nods. He had to. A-and maybe "deserve" wasn't true on a cosmic scale, for anyone or anything...

Between them? It absolutely was. And he wants Arthur to know that.

"I don't- I don't want to knowingly keep secrets between us. I just-"

He swallows.

"I hate this. But I wanted you to know."

Edited 2025-05-04 12:08 (UTC)

"I know." He reaches up to cup John's face, brushing his thumb along his cheekbone. "And I'm- I-I'm proud of you, for facing up to that fear. No matter how much you were worried a-and hated it."

He gives him a soft, worried smile. "No deliberate secrets. We can do that."

John leans into the touch, like a flower into a beam of sunlight, and while there's still a bit of tension in his frame, there's a stream of sweet, flowing cello notes that slides between them almost like a warm breeze. Now, and only now, does he reach for himself, put his hand around Arthur and tug him closer.

"...Arthur."

His his his his.

There's a soft, bright laugh from Arthur as he's tugged in, and he tucks himself neatly under John's chin.

"There we go, you lummox. Feeling better?"

"Mmmhmm."

So much better. A cello melody flows smooth and warm along a bed of golden affection, finally unfettered from his concern.

Quieter-

"Thank you, Arthur."

And it's harmonised with an easy, almost jazzy piano, perking up the simple cello with Arthur's pleased warmth.

"Always, John."

"Can I-" a pause before, "can we just-"

He just wants a little time with him. Just a little.

"Of course. Let me just--"

He pulls himself out from his little tuck against John - so he can shift around and climb into his lap properly, back against John's chest and reclining comfortably.

"There." A deeply satisfied little hum, accompanied by a faintly smug swell of piano. His turn to be in the damn lap today.

Yes, which is a very nice way for things to be. He'll feel as well as hear the low happy rumble against his back and the notes of the cello happily toddling along through an unscripted melody. It will come with a nuzzle to his hair and a kiss to the top.

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TLV: IC Inbox

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