For Alyosha

[john_ofdarkness]

Due to the playing-timeline not quite matching the in-game timeline, the typist has simply collapsed things such that this morning occurs after the timeline goes fractal. The best thing about timelines going fractal is, they allow typist to cut out awkward temporal gaps. :D

John has got muffins and bread, for no greater price than Alyosha's labor and his own writing. That Alyosha is absent this morning, he doesn't find particularly alarming; he can think of a dozen innocent excuses without actual effort, and so he sees no reason to be perturbed. Instead, he's sitting at his desk by the window, attempting to outline a muffin tragedy on bits of salvaged paper. There is a small smile on his face, and a slice of bread half-eaten by his elbow.

Comments

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

"You're not hurting me. I find the whole thing rather quaint." A soft scritch to the back of Alyosha's neck.

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

Laughing, muffled, "And I'm glad for that. I don't like forgetting you ... but I'm glad. Thank you."

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

He slips out of his chair, then, to lean against Alyosha's shoulder; the equality of the gesture is unlike him. "Here," he offers, a bit roughly. "Lean on me."

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

Grateful he leans and nestles into John's side, murmuring, "I love you."

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

Kissing the top of his head, "Love you, Alyoshenka."

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

He falls quiet then, comfortable -- it's a good thing, that his concerns aren't John's concerns, that what's troubling him won't trouble John, because it keeps him from feeling as badly as he could, and it helps him balance himself out. And he realizes he needs that balance; for now he only needs quiet and comfort.

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

Nudging him a little, "I told Cimorene that I could convince you to make her some soap."

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

"Oh --" He laughs. "Of course. I'd be happy to."

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

"I'd thought you might be."

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

"I like having something useful I can do ... I know I'm not particularly skilled at anything, but I've learned a lot, having lived at the monastery ... and Percy always speaks so kindly of Cimorene, so it will be nice to make something for her."

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

"She's not bad," he agrees, amiably enough. "Well worth three bars of soap." Too much specificity, what?

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

Laughing, "Three bars exactly?"

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

Smirking, kissing his cheek, "And a tragedy involving muffins."

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

"Muffins?" smiling-amused. "Why muffins?"

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

"She seemed to think that muffins connote comedy rather than tragedy."

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

"And of course you took it as a challenge."

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

"As a bartering chip. I got a loaf of bread on the promise of a play--with more to come upon the delivery."

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

"That's wonderful," he beams, and, remembering the spice-muffin he's holding, breaks off a piece to nibble on.

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

And see--everything's all right between them; they can lean close and talk about muffins, and everything is all right--

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

And Alyosha's giving him that glowing smile he gives when John's done something good -- if everything's all right, John's made it all right, and even if everything's not, he's made it's better than it could be. Alyosha kisses him quickly on the lips.

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

Amused, "What was that for?"

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

Simply, "For making me happy."

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

And that's the strangest thing--the strangest thing: he can make someone happy. The wonder of it never gets old, never stops making his eyes bright with joy.

[tinylittleonion.livejournal.com]

He kisses the laugh-lines at the corner of John's eyes, happier still to see the joy in them.

[john-ofdarkness.livejournal.com]

Laughing softly at this sudden surge of affection, wondering if it's relief, "You should wash, duck."