john_ofdarkness

What will he do if you trip down the porch stairs and land on approximately your head?

"Mother of God!" Melou swears, but without real venom--he's used to being graceless--and sets about picking himself up.

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He'll probably sprawl against a support beam, losing his cigarette in the process and hissing "Shit--!" because he does not exactly have cigarettes to waste. This is just the last straw in his bad day, and he rounds on Melou. "Do you look where you're walking, or do you enjoy dashing yourself against anyone who happens to be in your way?"

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Melou does what he always does when people get angry at him--he goes white, winces, and moves a safe distance away. No sense getting smacked in the face if you can avoid it. "Your pardon, sir."

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Agh, John will just squash out his cigarette before it can set fire to anything. "You think it means anything, asking for a pardon? Asking to be forgiven?"

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*if the typist won't mind, here's a fellow who was standing quiet-eyed near the porch, who might've stood there a long time without moving or making himself noticed; when he comes forward his voice is gentle, calm, yet there is something truly sorry in it* You needn't speak to him like that, John ... it's not as though he meant to fall, and you'll regret it later if you say something cruel to him. *to Melou* Are you unhurt?

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"Nay, sir!" Still standing out of smacking range, still very white, but it's almost a default. To John's question he says nothing, because that's a very uncomfortable subject.

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Ah, but you're pale ... Are you frightened? I don't think he means to harm you, he's only unhappy ...

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*cool* I'm perfectly fine. *and will be attempting to beat a retreat indoors*

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*oh -- looks up, eyes pleading* Please, don't leave. I wanted to speak with you.

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No, no, by all means, go tend to the wayward youth. *a glance at Melou* He's not bad-looking. Tend him all you like.

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*goes uncomfortably red -- frowning* You're saying that on purpose, to upset me.

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It was only a suggestion. *to Melou* You can stop looking at me as though I'm about to hit you.

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Melou flushes a little, pale over pale. "Nay, sir. Forgive me." He is feeling like he's right in the middle of somebody else's fight, and that's an even worse feeling--he remembers when he and Melehan used to hide from Cywyllog and Mordred and their angry voices, and it makes him deeply uncomfortable.

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*at least Alyosha's voice is only veeery seldom angry? and John is trying so hard to sound in control* Have my 'pardon,' if that's all you want.

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Yeah, see, that's how Cywyllog and Mordred argued. XD Mordred would pretend to be in control, and Cywyllog would be soft and kind of passive-aggressive, which Alyosha isn't being, but he's soft-spoken, and gahhhh.

He really doesn't know how to answer that.

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*poor Melou--! but this would be John trying that 'retreat' thing again--*

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*so John and Alyosha are like a dysfunctional married couple -- that's great XD wants to go after John, but he can see Melou's ... overwhelmed? and he has to reassure him, warmly and a bit foolishly* It's all right, it's all right -- you've done nothing that needs forgiveness. I'm at fault, not you! Forgive me, for involving you --

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Melou looks at them both helplessly and seriously considers bolting.

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I only wanted to keep him from saying something he'd regret ... but I see I've made things worse for you. You can leave, if you want to leave, but know you've done nothing wrong. *mournful* I'm sorry.

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Fleeeeeeeeee.

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*poor, poor Melou XD will just be dashing after John now --*

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*if he finds him, it will be in the hall, on the way to his room. he has every intention of locking the door behind him.*

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*quite breathless from dashing, catching his sleeve* Wait ... Wait, I wanted to speak with you. But he was so shy, that boy! If you'd only shown him some kindness ....

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What could you have to say? *prying Alyosha's fingers from his sleeve* Let go of me.

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