It's my only physical connection to you. Should I have need of your aid and no access to the EZWave or anything else, that brand is the only method I have of letting you know.
So, yes. For both of us to fulfill our side of the pact, it was very necessary.
[ a strained little chuckle ] Right! Right, of course. And that's great for you, but I'm supposed to contact you - how, exactly? Tap it three times and you'll whizz in through the window and I'll say "Hi, fairy godmother, it's been a while, now if you don't mind there's a few dozen rampaging human corpse robots between me an the ball"?
Jesus - do you have any idea what a bloody mess this is?
[ woah boy cool it you're starting to sound a little hysterical ]
[ well that - that stops John dead for a second, eyes widening slightly at the words that come from nowhere... oh, right. he can see how that might be handy.
when he speaks up again he's a little more level-headed, distracted from his blind anger enough to find the sense in it and tone calmer for it, if still a little lower, a little more charged than normal ]
I'm not upset because it's there - well, I am, yeah, especially if it's a two way line and you didn't bother to let me know. Were you ever going to tell me, by the way? Or were you just going to wait until you needed to make use of it and maybe slip in the bit about me being able to use it too if you absolutely had to?
It seemed like a little much to be throwing on you all at once. Besides, as I recall, you had other pressing matters to attend to. I figured it could wait for a better day.
[The other part of that, however, catches his attention.]
Are you kidding me? No. I didn't really tell him anything, but God knows he's not going to leave it alone. I wouldn't, and I'm not a bored stiff genius desperate for a lead.
[A very real, very genuine look of relief washes over Astaroth's face.]
If you must tell him anything close to the truth, I ask only that you keep my name out of it. [A beat.] Both names. The one everyone knows and the one only you know.
I'm warning you in advance, it might not be that easy. He's an encyclopedia. He's a walking folder of all the things most people don't need to know and I don't know what's in there, but this little bodypainting you so thoughtfully declined to clue me in about might just be shoved away in a box somewhere and if it is it'll only take him so long to fish it out. If it isn't I'll do my very best to keep the whole thing in the dark, but I want you to remember that while I'm grateful for what you've given me, you've put me in a position I never wanted to find myself in again.
[ lying about the Important Things ]
Next time, keep me an extra two minutes and explain the important parts. Alright? I'm pretty sure I'll thank you for it.
[Astaroth has to think before he answers. He doesn't like having to do that, not at all, for any situation in which he doesn't have the answer immediately at hand is far from ideal. While he does manage to school his face into a neutral expression, it's clear at least for a moment that he's not quite as sure of himself as he usually is.]
I'll be sure to keep that in mind.
Edited (whoops how did that 1/2 get there this is a one-parter only) 2013-01-07 05:22 (UTC)
[ the slight off balance of him in that time taken to think doesn't go unnoticed. he's glad for it, really, the knowledge that he's given Astaroth pause. looks like he's unwittingly developing a knack for making even the most self assured people take a second to think things through. ]
Thanks.
... Shit, right. I'm going to have to go and assess the mess and do some damage control. I'll keep you posted if anything goes too awfully, but if you don't hear from me, assume we're in the clear until further notice.
[Despite the please, it's more a command than anything else. He pauses then, considering something else.]
If you wouldn't mind telling me just one more thing... How was it, exactly, that your flatmate came to notice it? [He had thought surely some romantic liaison would spot it first, if not John himself, but Sherlock Holmes? This could be the cause of some even greater worry.]
Whether he deduces it or not, given the protection I swore for your service, Mr. Holmes is as much a concern of mine as you are. If there is anything I feel I must know about him to ensure that protection remains whole, I will look into it.
[Of course it isn't all about protecting Sherlock, not entirely. Astaroth is beginning to feel that he may well pose a threat to him, or at least to his mortal cover.]
[ it's hard to know what to do with that, because it's both a distinct statement of a good solid chunk of John's reasons for making this agreement in the first place and something that grates at him further - what possible link could knowledge of Sherlock Holmes's... personal pursuits have to do with his protection? except, no, it's not even as though Astaroth's pursuing it as a broad question. so what difference would it make? John's completely aware that any time Sherlock spends in the actual company of human beings in Rapture generally amounts to time spent in the flat with him, at least recently. in the shadow of that, whether or not they're... well, it seems sort of irrelevant.
it softens him slightly, though (i'm getting what I paid for). there's a little more humour in his tone despite the scathing words as he replies; ]
Maybe I'll slip a little spycam into his coat later. I'll let you know if I catch any decent footage of him with his pants around his ankles.
[That humorous tone brings him back to a more usual state of mind, lets him slip right back into his self-surety with a slow smirk and narrowed eyes. It's good to be back on top.]
Your initiative is duly appreciated, but I think those might be a little hard to come by in the 1950's. [He'll leave it to John to decide whether or not he's kidding.]
Been a good long while since we've had a chat, Barrett! Have to say, the whole Fort Frolic bit's been one of the most helpful pieces of advice I've been given since arriving in this Atlantian purgatory. Say, you fancy having a drink sometime?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
call; backdated a wh.... ile.....
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Yes?
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What the hell is what? [He honestly isn't sure.]
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[ no okay John temporarily calm your tits let's make sure everything's clear here ]
Your name. In a fancy circle. On my back.
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It was necessary, I assure you.
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Necessary to brand me? I don't see you with John Watson plastered over your damn back.
[ not that he's seen your back for a good long while and certainly not after the whole fealty shebang but he's pretty sure it probably isn't there ]
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So, yes. For both of us to fulfill our side of the pact, it was very necessary.
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Jesus - do you have any idea what a bloody mess this is?
[ woah boy cool it you're starting to sound a little hysterical ]
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[He deliberates it for a moment, then clicks off the EZWave for a moment, and John might a heat at his back for just a moment—]
All you have to do is think about it.
[—and then he clicks it back on.]
There's really no reason to be this upset.
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when he speaks up again he's a little more level-headed, distracted from his blind anger enough to find the sense in it and tone calmer for it, if still a little lower, a little more charged than normal ]
I'm not upset because it's there - well, I am, yeah, especially if it's a two way line and you didn't bother to let me know. Were you ever going to tell me, by the way? Or were you just going to wait until you needed to make use of it and maybe slip in the bit about me being able to use it too if you absolutely had to?
I'm upset because I'm not the one who found it.
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[The other part of that, however, catches his attention.]
Then who did?
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Is that what you told him?
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If you must tell him anything close to the truth, I ask only that you keep my name out of it. [A beat.] Both names. The one everyone knows and the one only you know.
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[ lying about the Important Things ]
Next time, keep me an extra two minutes and explain the important parts. Alright? I'm pretty sure I'll thank you for it.
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I'll be sure to keep that in mind.
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Thanks.
... Shit, right. I'm going to have to go and assess the mess and do some damage control. I'll keep you posted if anything goes too awfully, but if you don't hear from me, assume we're in the clear until further notice.
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[Despite the please, it's more a command than anything else. He pauses then, considering something else.]
If you wouldn't mind telling me just one more thing... How was it, exactly, that your flatmate came to notice it? [He had thought surely some romantic liaison would spot it first, if not John himself, but Sherlock Holmes? This could be the cause of some even greater worry.]
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[ pause ]
[ looking at you ]
[ judging you ]
[ what are you trying to say ]
I was changing. He invited himself in to let me know he'd got home.
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I needed to be sure. That's all.
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How it's any of your business anyway I don't know.
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[Of course it isn't all about protecting Sherlock, not entirely. Astaroth is beginning to feel that he may well pose a threat to him, or at least to his mortal cover.]
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it softens him slightly, though (i'm getting what I paid for). there's a little more humour in his tone despite the scathing words as he replies; ]
Maybe I'll slip a little spycam into his coat later. I'll let you know if I catch any decent footage of him with his pants around his ankles.
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Your initiative is duly appreciated, but I think those might be a little hard to come by in the 1950's. [He'll leave it to John to decide whether or not he's kidding.]
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On that note, I think 'll get on.
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In that case, I wish you the best of luck. [Even though what he really means by that you is both of us.]
text; i'm sorry moran fake hits on all of your characters
text; no ur not
Joy.]
If you know me at all, then you know that I'll always fancy a drink. Just give me your preferred time and place.
text; no i'm not