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[holyposition]

WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK

USERNAME:
t.laughlin

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text;

[homosexuals]

How's the chapel coming along? Spend any more time there and people might think you're taking over as the priest.

[it's out of the blue and there are more important things he'd like to ask, but it seems as nonchalant as any a reason to reach out.]

[holyposition]

[ Hitting him up just for a chat is not at all discouraged, Hawk. ]

I'm starting to feel like one. There's a lot of people here that have issues with faith to work through.

You're welcome to help at any time, you know.

un: dm

[break]

This place throws too many fuckin parties.

[ hi. ]

[holyposition]

This one is only half as blasphemous as the last.

You don't know how they decided who gets these tags, do you?

voice;

[missed]

[ the call comes extremely late into the night. the party still rages outside, but it's also taken a little bit of a turn. some of the screams aren't from music or dancing or gladiators, no.

after a long night of wrangling hawkins fuller (in the many ways that wrangling can mean in this situation), he's gotten the man secured in one of the hospital rooms the place has to offer. helped the nurses strip him out of his clothes, did a little work on the angry claw marks in his ribs to soothe them. when he calls, he's perched on the edge of the bed, his fingers in hawk's hair, mentally coaxing him into being calm as he rests. ]

Tim?

[holyposition]

[ Tim was there when it took a turn. He's looked death right in the eye tonight, face to face with the beast, close enough to taste the carnage on its breath. But it spared him. He doesn't know why yet, but he knows it means something, that he ought to be helping.

He's been looking for Hawk, while he helps to patch up minor wounds and move the drunk and uncoordinated to safety. Hasn't found him, which is concerning, but the young woman oozing blood on his toga takes precedent. It's a miracle of good timing that he's able to take the call when it comes in. ]

Louis? What is it?

[ A lot of noise in the background, all chaotic. Clearly he's still in the thick of it, but not in drunken revelry like the last party. ]

text — lockdown;

[missed]

You find somewhere safe for the lock down? Don't think the fire will be outside, so we can shout across windows if things look bad.

[holyposition]

Yeah, I'm in my room. Have a couple people with me so I don't lose my mind. Music, some games, plenty of food. We'll be alright.

What about you?

text - during lockdown;

[longitudinal]

Are you surviving without my missing buttons at breakfast?

[holyposition]

It's really difficult, but I'm making due.

What about you?

post-lockdown and event, etc.

[unapparent]

You have not seemed yourself, of late.

[holyposition]

[ He does not want to answer this. Not at all. Luckily, the only thing worse would be leaving Alicent on read. ]

I know. I stuttered through the prayer yesterday, it was a poor showing. It won't happen again.

the night of daniel’s post | voice

[homosexuals]

Skipp-y.

[one word, and it’s already low and rough and mildly slurred. someone’s been drinking.]

What’re you doing?

I sure know what you were doing this morning. Makin’ my life miserable at the goddamn gym.

[holyposition]

[ Tim doesn't answer the first time. Straight to voicemail. Or the second. But by the third, it's ridiculous, and Koby looks like he's about to start asking, so he excuses himself to the bathroom and answers the phone, his voice quiet, but annoyed. ]

I'm getting ready for bed.

Try minding your business and not staring at me, then.

un: hzf

[homosexuals]

Tim - that Danny kid.

Stay away from him.

[holyposition]

You're getting jealous over random people on the network now?

text;

[longitudinal]

i’ll do my best to keep koby busy :)
enjoy the room as long as you like

if you need us you know to call

[holyposition]

yeah I know I will

go love koby 😊

un: hightower

[unapparent]

It has been something of an eventful week.

[ she’d like to start with the girlkissing but — ]

My son Aemond is here.

[holyposition]

Really?

That sounds...complicated. How are you feeling about it?

un: koby

[kobes]

Do you know anything about ducks? Or mermaids?

[holyposition]

You're the sailor, shouldn't you know about mermaids?

text — @aemond_

[provoke]

[ just leaving a valentine's card (don't ask how he knows where you stay) with this note written on the back: ]

This whole thing is a jest at my expense. Do me the favour of accepting it without further question.

[ it is very ominously signed, ] Patches

[holyposition]

[ ....... ]

Okay.

You know, if we take it at face value, without the crude innuendo, I wouldn't be opposed. It's good to be prepared.

Patches?

text - un: hzf

[homosexuals]

[the day after hawk sleeps (not well) in his own bed on his side of their shared suite, somewhere around lunchtime, he sends the following message. breakfast was skipped in lieu of trying to catch some more zzz's, with little success.]

Hi.

Sleep alright?

[holyposition]

Yeah, I slept alright.

[ Would have been even better nestled into Hawk's chest, of course, but it's been too long since he's had that blissfully dreamless 'the love of my life just fucked everything out of my brain except for his name' kind of sleep. It'll do. ]

You?

[ He noticed Hawk skipped breakfast. Even thought about knocking on his door to see if he wanted to come down with him. Bravely, Tim resisted. ]

after the funeral announcement

[kobes]

Are you all right?

[He didn't know Embry. But he pays attention, he sees who speaks to who, and considering it was Hawk who'd made the announcement...]

[holyposition]

[ He knew Koby would ask. And he told Hawk, that even if he tried to, he doesn't think he'll be able to lie to him, because he always reads him like the scattered clusters of notes that are probably all over his floor again now that Tim's not there tidying them up.

Give him...20 minutes. ]

Yeah, I think so.

You might not see me for a little while, after the service. I need to be with Hawk.

text — un: aemond_ (the morning after;)

[provoke]

[ forgive the curtness, but immediately after this: ]

Keep my mother safe. Do not engage mine uncle.

[holyposition]

Always.

Tell me that you did not do this.

@moondancer

[moondanced]

Hell. Have I reached Tim Loughlin?

[holyposition]

Laughlin. :)

But yes. You have. What can I do for you?

@hightower

[unapparent]

Are you and yours safe?

[ why should it stop at six? ]

[holyposition]

We are. So far. And yours?

Aemond told me to keep you safe. Which I will, of course, but why isn't he?

text — un: aemond_ (i just live in your inbox now)

[provoke]

Tim, are you tired?

<3

[holyposition]

[ Physically, emotionally, existentially...yes! ]

What's your actual question?

text — un: aemond_

[provoke]

[ tim said to ask, didn't he? ]

Come see me.

[holyposition]

I was strangled almost the death, and I'm the one being summoned?

— text | un: jacaerys

[vermax]

Hello. Is this Tim Laughlin? ( he had a week to learn how to use technology before he died, he’s not sure he has the right person. )

[holyposition]

It is.

Welcome back.

ACTION.

[forzare]

[ Thing is.

Most of the time, he's just a strange person. Talkative, brainy, awkward angles and long limbs and darting, dark eyes with no social skills. The only presence he has comes from his strangeness, his solitary nature, the darting way he weaves through crowds. Harry's been quiet for the first round, anyways. A question or two, here and there, but a quiet, simmering presence.

( He knows the killers supposedly have no control. Stopping them will be slow going. All he can do is preserve as many people as he can. And then: Tim, Matt. )

The simmering becomes a spark against kindle, and as Harry leans into Tim Laughlin's room — mindful not to invade ( tall man, red mask ) in case he's got an armed guard or hyper-protective friends — the expression on his face is anything but the usual awkward smirk. It's hard. Tight. Dark eyes, emptied out of anything but focus — and a mouth set in a grim line. One hand sits on his hip, looking more like a gunslinger ready to draw on an outlaw than the sweet nerd who's been holding Tim's hand. ]

— you gotta' keep me in the loop now, Tim.

[holyposition]

[ He looks through the peephole before opening the door, but he does, once he knows it's Harry. Tim's room is in disarray, when it's normally neat - there's a dresser placed oddly, because it's moved in front of the door at night (not like that helped), more chairs than once person could possibly need because he's been hosting Alicent's family, notes scattered all over, so many empty tea bags in the bin that he's probably gonna give himself a heart attack any minute. ]

Sorry about the mess.

[ He croaks out, voice weak. There's an angry red welt that goes all around his neck like a collar, already bruising. ]

I was...grabbed from behind, with a belt. Didn't see him. Hawk saw some of a mask, that's all. [ One sec, need more honey tea. ] But half of them look the same in the dark, so...it wasn't green or blue.

text — un: q

[longitudinal]

Is Hawk with you?

Are you alright?

[holyposition]

He's with me.

"Alright" is a little more complicated. I'm safe, though.

text; un: persephone

[semicharmed]

I'm sorry I couldn't get anything more definitive.

[holyposition]

It's okay. It worked out in the end. And weakened the target on your head.

you'll have to forgive me though if I don't want to try again next time. We won't be able to afford to waste time.

@hightower

[unapparent]

I am sorry I could not guide your hand to those who needed it most.

[ a request to shoulder some of the blame he must feel. they caught three wolves and yet it hardly seems a victory, with five more dead. ]

[holyposition]

It's not your fault. Without your guidance I would have chosen Hawk, and he wasn't attacked either.

It's...well, it isn't FINE. Five more are dead. But I haven't been outed, that gives me another chance without having to worry about my own back.

And our aim was good. We're doing the best we can.

the night after the third murders

[homosexuals]

[the bruise on tim's neck isn't fading yet per se, it's still an ugly reminder of everything that's happened. but there's a part of him that's relieved - feeling like they're hurtling towards some sort of conclusion. two out of three correct last round on his part means pretty solid intuition, even if louis' came as something of a small shock. but it's the same as alia - there's no real feeling of malice or disgust at it having happened. they weren't themselves. hawk trusts them. and as for the rest of the battles he'd picked? it was the principle of the thing - justifiable in the moment because it reflected poorly on tim and the evidence he stuck his neck out on the line for. if anything had happened to him, there wouldn't be anywhere safe enough for luffy or his damn crew in all of the estate.

but for now he's lying side by side, one arm around tim as his lover is curled up half asleep and dozing for the night. the doors are bolted, the dresser is shoved up against the main entrance for a racket in case someones does come for them. at this point he's not sure what he'd do if he came face-to-face with one of the wolves - nothing really surprises him anymore. especially considering his babysitting of an actual werewolf, the vampire feast, a talking fucking chicken, resurrection, the library...

hang on.

talking chicken.

his shoulder jostles tim off as he reaches over to shake him, up ramrod straight like he's been jolted by a lightning bolt.]

Tim, hey, honey - wake up. Wake up! I just thought of something - don't laugh.

Who the hell talked back to that chicken?

[holyposition]

[ It's Tim's first decent night's sleep since this started. It might be the relief of putting Danny away, or exhaustion finally catching up to him, but he's dead asleep, as cozy as he's ever been, with Hawk's chest as his pillow and his arm as his second blanket.

He groans at being jostled awake, and turns around to try to preserve his sleep before the words fully set in. ]

It was...that girl. Turned into a chicken and clucked at it.

[ He's never talked to this girl in his life and having to say that sentence out loud is not motivating him to do so. ]

Lauralae. Go back to bed.

[ Eyes are still closed. Refusing to wake up. ]