monsterstoyou | TLV Inbox

You're not going to talk me into punishing you for sticking your neck out for someone you love, Vincent. No. You're not being punished.

I don't believe I've asked to be punished. [ He's not stupid. He just puts himself where he wants the punishment to go to minimize the effect on him specifically. ] You asked for security concerns, and I've given them: my locks and security on my library specifically.

And to your person specifically? CK has his own lovers and fans, I'm sure.

You've already given me a blanket protection, one which I can temporarily extend to another person. Anything else would be paranoia, since I have no actual knowledge to make judgments on.

My main talent is in avoiding detection and staying out of the light. That won't change now. Sokie's more than happy enough to take the 'dangerous' label and I'm happy to give it to her. No one would ever believe I'm dangerous. And I like it that way, honestly.

All right, so when Arthur comes crying, what should I tell him?

Oh, Arthur won't believe any of it. He'll know right away that we were equal conspirators in all of this.

Tell him whatever you like. Mostly, I'd recommend sending him to me. He can vent his ire at me for leading his inmate astray.

I'd rather he vent at me. Since I'm your warden and I gave you the raw materials.

You hardly betrayed your responsibilities, since the damnable cat wasn't harmed, Lark.

But I asked something of him, and then inconvenienced him. It's a personal slight I've managed, not a wardenly one. If I promise to call you in should he flex any warden-type ire, will you let me handle it?

[he tips his head, curious]

Do you promise to call me in if he gets...wardenly?

I promise. Should he attempt any such thing, I will make sure to bring you into it.

Okay.

Good.

I'll fight for you, Vincent. I need you to know that.

I do, actually.

[ It makes him wonder if Lark would not fight for him as well. But that's a question for another night. ]

I hope you don't think I'm afraid of anything to come from any of this. I promise you. Nothing here scares me very much at all.

I'm glad because I'm not good at reassuring people against realistic threats. But I'm going to be the first line against whoever comes for you. Whatever that ends up looking like.

You'll do what you can, and people will do everything they can to get past you or circumvent you because no one can be everywhere. [ A deep breath in before he continues. ] Suffice to say that I do... understand... that I have your support. That I can [ a long pause as he finds the word, doesn't like it, but has to admit it's the right one ] rely... on you.

I know this is hard for you. I do.

But I'm proud to be the first you can rely on. I hope you can believe I'll do my best for you.

Would you believe me if I said I do actually believe you but I don't know what to do with it?

...Yeah, I would. I've been there, too. And all I can offer you are my actions as proof from here on out.

[ That gets a laugh out of him. ]

How about some instructions? What am I to do with this 'support' exactly?

What, you want instructions from me, or you want to give them to me? Because if it's from me--make you requests. I'll try to fulfill them without the Admiral as much as possible, but if it goes that way, I'll make them.

Lark, do you realize that could seem very much like bribery. Like incentive to change the way I am, make me more pliable to whatever it is?

And what if I like you as you are now?

To the best of my knowledge, I don't believe the warden can tell the Admiral 'this one's done already, please graduate him, I'd like my prize now'. A bit counterintuitive, no?

No but I can protect you from other people seeking retribution.

And do you think that what I'm seeking is protection?

No. I'm offering it because I'm worried for you.

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