Tim Laughlin (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
holyposition) wrote2024-06-13 06:55 pm
holyposition) wrote2024-06-13 06:55 pm
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t.laughlin
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WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK
USERNAME:
t.laughlin
text ❖ audio ❖ video
“Okay. Thank you,” he agrees, with a soft nod. Tim doesn’t want to push, hates that he himself was victimized so publicly, in a situation where he has no choice but to talk about it over and over. There’s no time to process, no time to choose when and to whom to reveal his pain. Maybe they don’t need to reveal it at all, if they’ve both experienced it for themselves. They both know the moment of losing faith in their own lungs, when the body knows it’s out of fight. The fear and the helplessness that’s hard to articulate without breaking down, the final bargaining with God to hear his case and not cast him away for his sins. If Harry knows at least most of it, then it doesn’t need explaining. It’s more than most people will understand, without that.
Slowly, as if he’s afraid he might make himself flinch at his own movements, he shifts his head so his neck is stretched out, letting Harry’s cold fingertips touch the bruise. It makes him tense again, for a few breaths, but the cool sensation is soothing. A more intimate icepack.
“You can stay,” Tim offers, perhaps too quickly. “But, um. Hawk—he lives here, on the other side, but he’s been on this side a lot, cuz of everything. He won’t throw you out. He doesn’t have a right to, I don’t really know where we are right now, it’s-- complicated. If you don’t want to deal with that, I understand, but right now, I...”
Can’t be alone. He’s barely holding it together with Harry here, having no company but his thoughts would be...well, it would be bad. Tim can’t shut down now, not with so much to do. A nap he can accept to keep his brain working, but he doesn’t have time to sink fully into crisis mode.
“I want you here.”
Slowly, as if he’s afraid he might make himself flinch at his own movements, he shifts his head so his neck is stretched out, letting Harry’s cold fingertips touch the bruise. It makes him tense again, for a few breaths, but the cool sensation is soothing. A more intimate icepack.
“You can stay,” Tim offers, perhaps too quickly. “But, um. Hawk—he lives here, on the other side, but he’s been on this side a lot, cuz of everything. He won’t throw you out. He doesn’t have a right to, I don’t really know where we are right now, it’s-- complicated. If you don’t want to deal with that, I understand, but right now, I...”
Can’t be alone. He’s barely holding it together with Harry here, having no company but his thoughts would be...well, it would be bad. Tim can’t shut down now, not with so much to do. A nap he can accept to keep his brain working, but he doesn’t have time to sink fully into crisis mode.
“I want you here.”
You're not wrong.
[ A lesson Tim could stand to take to heart a bit more, honestly. ]
He was a king in England, where we...might be right now, about four hundred years ago. Our holy book wasn't written in this language at first, so it's a translation he commissioned.
...I come from a country across the ocean. America. We don't have kings there, but we still use his Bible.
[ A lesson Tim could stand to take to heart a bit more, honestly. ]
He was a king in England, where we...might be right now, about four hundred years ago. Our holy book wasn't written in this language at first, so it's a translation he commissioned.
...I come from a country across the ocean. America. We don't have kings there, but we still use his Bible.
I'm sorry I couldn't get anything more definitive.
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.
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.
No offense taken. I'm starting to wonder if the house is affecting more than just my extraplanar communication skills. Normally a scry like that wouldn't have gotten so fucking weird
Though I guess the shifting nature of the space could have been having an effect too.
Though I guess the shifting nature of the space could have been having an effect too.
Louis, Koby, Harry - they all have abilities that aren't working. I think anything supernatural that would give you an advantage in the game is weird until it's over.
But thank you for trying. In your condition, it must be hard whether it's useful or not.
How are you feeling besides that?
But thank you for trying. In your condition, it must be hard whether it's useful or not.
How are you feeling besides that?
Oh, no, don't worry about it. it was really good for me to have a project.
Plus I got more takers than I expected, so you know. That was nice.
[ A pause between messages. ]
I'm okay. Trying to stay positive.
How about you? Throat any better? Honestly, I should've made you like a tea or something, that would probably have been a better use of time
Plus I got more takers than I expected, so you know. That was nice.
[ A pause between messages. ]
I'm okay. Trying to stay positive.
How about you? Throat any better? Honestly, I should've made you like a tea or something, that would probably have been a better use of time
That's...nice, I guess. It's not weird for them that you couldn't deliver?
A little. I've been guzzling tea with honey for a few days, but I did too much talking during the voting. Need to just rest my throat for a few days. Maybe start wearing turtlenecks now that it's purple.
A little. I've been guzzling tea with honey for a few days, but I did too much talking during the voting. Need to just rest my throat for a few days. Maybe start wearing turtlenecks now that it's purple.
[ Matt, for better or worse, interprets "deliver" as "dick," and tries to formulate an answer without kissing and telling: ]
I'll have to circle back with them and see if they thought anything about it was weird.
What I can offer is maybe a step up from tea with honey. I'm not a great healer, but I can support your body's natural healing processes, so ... depending how things go, and if you want it next week, hit me up.
Failing that, I suggest scarves.
I'll have to circle back with them and see if they thought anything about it was weird.
What I can offer is maybe a step up from tea with honey. I'm not a great healer, but I can support your body's natural healing processes, so ... depending how things go, and if you want it next week, hit me up.
Failing that, I suggest scarves.
Doing sex magic in the hospital is weird.
And that's nice of you to offer, but you should save it for yourself. You're way worse off. It's fall, I can do turtlenecks for a while.
[ He'll be wrapping nothing around his neck that can be used as a strangulation aid anytime soon, thank you. ]
And that's nice of you to offer, but you should save it for yourself. You're way worse off. It's fall, I can do turtlenecks for a while.
[ He'll be wrapping nothing around his neck that can be used as a strangulation aid anytime soon, thank you. ]
[ Matt huffs a laugh to himself at "you're way worse off." ]
I guess I should try to make a stronger case for myself here
but even where I come from, sex magic is weird no matter where you do it.
I guess I should try to make a stronger case for myself here
but even where I come from, sex magic is weird no matter where you do it.
I would hope so.
I mean, that can't be an efficient way to power...whatever it is you do.
I mean, that can't be an efficient way to power...whatever it is you do.
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. ]
[ 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. ]
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.
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.
[ it feels strange to says he’s proud of him, when so many are lost, but she is. few would choose duty over love.
and hopefully, the wolves who would target him and hawk have been sentenced to the dungeon for the remainder of the game. ]
It was, as was that of Koby and his crew.
We now know two seers speak true.
Have you space at your bedside for me? I know it was a most coveted spot this past week.
[ she only flitted in to see him briefly, when he was first injured, thrust into the throes of another investigation — and daemon’s bloody pursuit of justice — soon after. ]
and hopefully, the wolves who would target him and hawk have been sentenced to the dungeon for the remainder of the game. ]
It was, as was that of Koby and his crew.
We now know two seers speak true.
Have you space at your bedside for me? I know it was a most coveted spot this past week.
[ she only flitted in to see him briefly, when he was first injured, thrust into the throes of another investigation — and daemon’s bloody pursuit of justice — soon after. ]
We'll have to hope that they see again. Koby's promised to tell me what his crew comes up with, after the mess last time. And with your source, we should have two again.
What are you implying? I always have space for you.
What are you implying? I always have space for you.
I need not imply what is true, when you have softened the hearts of many in this place. Mine own included.
Shall I bring you breakfast? They’ve the darling pastries Alia is most fond of today, so I’ll be carrying one to her as well.
[ cinnamon rolls 😔 ]
Shall I bring you breakfast? They’ve the darling pastries Alia is most fond of today, so I’ll be carrying one to her as well.
[ cinnamon rolls 😔 ]
I'm flattered that you think so.
I'd like that. Better start before the doctors finish and we'll have no peace, again.
I'd like that. Better start before the doctors finish and we'll have no peace, again.
We are lucky none of them were targeted, though I tire of this routine.
[ with how crucial their knowledge has been. ]
I’ll be there shortly.
[ with how crucial their knowledge has been. ]
I’ll be there shortly.
[ Tim's room is a little neater than the last time she visited, in the aftermath of last week's attack - there's still far too many chairs strewn about for the number of people who actually live here, for accommodating Alicent's family and others like Koby and Quentin deemed close enough by Tim. But the dresser's been moved back into place, the dirty mugs and tea bags tidied up, and the unsightly bruising on his neck covered with a turtleneck. He's got a slight raspiness in his voice still, but he greets her warmly, with a tight hug. Generally, he'd have more decorum than to initiate one, but he's so relieved he can hardly think of another way to express it.
If something happened to her as soon as he stopped protecting her, there would be no visitors of any sort. ]
Thanks for coming.
[ Really, he could have gone downstairs to eat breakfast with everyone, if not for the stench of more death tainting everything. He's feeling...better, or as close to it as the circumstances would allow. But it's nicer to stay in sometimes. ]
How are you feeling?
[ Jace gone again. Daemon. ]
If something happened to her as soon as he stopped protecting her, there would be no visitors of any sort. ]
Thanks for coming.
[ Really, he could have gone downstairs to eat breakfast with everyone, if not for the stench of more death tainting everything. He's feeling...better, or as close to it as the circumstances would allow. But it's nicer to stay in sometimes. ]
How are you feeling?
[ Jace gone again. Daemon. ]
[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?
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?
Not perfect, but better.
Don't worry about that right now.
What's going on? The doctors can't tell if it's really Shanks or not?
Don't worry about that right now.
What's going on? The doctors can't tell if it's really Shanks or not?
[ 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. ]
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. ]
Edited 2024-10-20 06:18 (UTC)
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