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
IC Inbox
WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK
USERNAME:
t.laughlin
text ❖ audio ❖ video
WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK
USERNAME:
t.laughlin
text ❖ audio ❖ video
No, it's okay.
I called Louis. He'd know best, and he said I'd be okay. And Hawk's taking care of me, obviously.
I'd like you to. He'll let you in.
I called Louis. He'd know best, and he said I'd be okay. And Hawk's taking care of me, obviously.
I'd like you to. He'll let you in.
Louis, that's
Good, that's good. [Why in his head, his chest, leaping to conclusions, why would Louis know best, what had happened, Tim still isn't saying who or why--]
Do you need more supplies? I grabbed them anyway, I don't know why I'm asking, I'll be there soon.
Soon. Okay. Okay.
Good, that's good. [Why in his head, his chest, leaping to conclusions, why would Louis know best, what had happened, Tim still isn't saying who or why--]
Do you need more supplies? I grabbed them anyway, I don't know why I'm asking, I'll be there soon.
Soon. Okay. Okay.
You don't have to sound so defensive about it. [ tetchy. ] It's a pretty obvious guess.
[ that boy can't be trusted. but he isn't here to argue aemond's virtue, which he wouldn't do on any day, good or bad (he doesn't have any). ]
Well, there's no way that Hawk busted you up like this, so what're you trying to hide?
[ he carries the wastebasket to the door, leaving it out of the way before he turns around, genuine concern on his face and more than a little discomfort. he's well aware that to even begin getting answers, he has to give some of his own, and frankly, the burden is getting harder to bear. ash knows the bulk of it, of course. hawk knows some of it, but he doesn't want him to know that it's happened more than once, or how bad it's getting. and tim? tim just watched it happen, so it's not like he can just walk out and pretend this moment was make-believe. ]
Since I died. It's sleepwalking, I think. [ he knows that much. ] You'll be happy to hear that I'm ninety percent sure I'm an abomination now. Biblically.
[ that boy can't be trusted. but he isn't here to argue aemond's virtue, which he wouldn't do on any day, good or bad (he doesn't have any). ]
Well, there's no way that Hawk busted you up like this, so what're you trying to hide?
[ he carries the wastebasket to the door, leaving it out of the way before he turns around, genuine concern on his face and more than a little discomfort. he's well aware that to even begin getting answers, he has to give some of his own, and frankly, the burden is getting harder to bear. ash knows the bulk of it, of course. hawk knows some of it, but he doesn't want him to know that it's happened more than once, or how bad it's getting. and tim? tim just watched it happen, so it's not like he can just walk out and pretend this moment was make-believe. ]
Since I died. It's sleepwalking, I think. [ he knows that much. ] You'll be happy to hear that I'm ninety percent sure I'm an abomination now. Biblically.
Okay
:)
[ Tim's wrapped up in his bed, under enough blankets to keep him warm while he's anemic. He smiles at Koby wearily, no longer the dazed and confused mess he was the night before, but off, clearly. There's a bandage on one side of his neck, and on the other, bruises, marks in the shape of the fingers that had squeezed around his throat. His skin's pale, and there's more bruising around his ribs that's blessedly covered by his sweater. The knot on his head is darkening into purple, but perhaps worst of all...his glasses are missing. ]
Hey.
[ Not unlike the way he sounded after he was attacked by Eddie, even if he didn't make it quite that close to death this time. ]
Don't freak out. I just need to rest, but I'm okay.
:)
[ Tim's wrapped up in his bed, under enough blankets to keep him warm while he's anemic. He smiles at Koby wearily, no longer the dazed and confused mess he was the night before, but off, clearly. There's a bandage on one side of his neck, and on the other, bruises, marks in the shape of the fingers that had squeezed around his throat. His skin's pale, and there's more bruising around his ribs that's blessedly covered by his sweater. The knot on his head is darkening into purple, but perhaps worst of all...his glasses are missing. ]
Hey.
[ Not unlike the way he sounded after he was attacked by Eddie, even if he didn't make it quite that close to death this time. ]
Don't freak out. I just need to rest, but I'm okay.
I won't freak out. [It comes out soft, as Koby moves to sit beside Tim's bed -- and he doesn't, though the concern is palpable in his eyes, in his tight expression. But panicking won't help anything, it won't make Tim feel any better, and it won't give Koby any sort of answers.
So instead he scoots closer, reaches out for one pale hand and squeezes it in both his own.] See? No freaking out. This is a freak-out-free zone.
So instead he scoots closer, reaches out for one pale hand and squeezes it in both his own.] See? No freaking out. This is a freak-out-free zone.
Thanks.
[ He definitely believes you, Koby. Tim smiles, though it doesn't reach his eyes, and squeezes his hand back, though his grip is weak. ]
I told the person who did this I wouldn't tell anyone, so nobody goes looking and gets hurt. There are people working on fixing it, though. Just...tell me about the New Year's party.
[ Tim didn't attend, spending it here with Hawk instead. ]
[ He definitely believes you, Koby. Tim smiles, though it doesn't reach his eyes, and squeezes his hand back, though his grip is weak. ]
I told the person who did this I wouldn't tell anyone, so nobody goes looking and gets hurt. There are people working on fixing it, though. Just...tell me about the New Year's party.
[ Tim didn't attend, spending it here with Hawk instead. ]
What do you mean, hide? This is my own room, and it's the middle of the night.
[ A normal place to be. Remember normal, Embry? Don't answer that.
Tim watches him, fully aware that he's being both defensive and evasive. It's hard, when he's not sure what the right thing to do is. Before she almost crushed his windpipe to dust, Alicent asked him not to tell anyone he saw her, because they'd look for her and get hurt. The rationale was...sound enough, for the state she was in. There's an angry knee-jerk urge, to defy his orders, to refuse to give into the same paternalistic crap he was so mad at Hawk and Aemond about.
His teeth catch his lip to keep it at bay. Maybe he can wrangle some good out of this if he keeps his mouth shut. ]
...why would I be happy to hear that? [ Brows scrunching, shaking his head - slowly - in confusion. ] I've never wished any misfortune on you.
[ Except for not getting dick from Hawk, a fate worse than most forms of torture, actually. ]
[ A normal place to be. Remember normal, Embry? Don't answer that.
Tim watches him, fully aware that he's being both defensive and evasive. It's hard, when he's not sure what the right thing to do is. Before she almost crushed his windpipe to dust, Alicent asked him not to tell anyone he saw her, because they'd look for her and get hurt. The rationale was...sound enough, for the state she was in. There's an angry knee-jerk urge, to defy his orders, to refuse to give into the same paternalistic crap he was so mad at Hawk and Aemond about.
His teeth catch his lip to keep it at bay. Maybe he can wrangle some good out of this if he keeps his mouth shut. ]
...why would I be happy to hear that? [ Brows scrunching, shaking his head - slowly - in confusion. ] I've never wished any misfortune on you.
[ Except for not getting dick from Hawk, a fate worse than most forms of torture, actually. ]
[There’s a flicker of something – hurt, exasperation, youthful frustration – across Koby’s face, but he shutters it quickly. He’s had his own reasons for keeping secrets in the time they’ve been here, and Tim’s injured. Arguing about being kept in the dark isn’t going to help. So he swallows it, boxes it up, away.]
Can you tell me if it was on purpose or the house? [Danny or the wolves, deliberate or compelled. One is worse than the other.
Then, huffing a little, looking down at Tim’s hand in his:] It was weird. Everyone ended up naked, but it wasn’t in Otherworld, so it felt…bizarre.
Can you tell me if it was on purpose or the house? [Danny or the wolves, deliberate or compelled. One is worse than the other.
Then, huffing a little, looking down at Tim’s hand in his:] It was weird. Everyone ended up naked, but it wasn’t in Otherworld, so it felt…bizarre.
[ no, actually. he hasn't been normal for fifteen years.
it's strange, the halting look in tim's eyes. normally, he wouldn't think much of it. but normally, tim doesn't look like he went three rounds with a doorknob and lost.
that gets a snort out of him. ]
I know we're in a semi-decent place right now, but you don't have to lay it on that thick.
[ never wished any misfortune? never? embry finds that difficult to believe, but maybe it's because tim religiously (heh) reads his bible and lets hawk fuck him on the regular. not that different from ash, except ash is the one doing the fucking.
he feels a little pang of guilt, when he thinks about how ash hasn't really touched his bible since embry got back. ]
Don't tell Hawk. I mean, he knows. It happened once before. But I don't want him to know it's happening before I can figure out if this really is a pattern or just — a manifestation of all the bullshit that's been going on. [ he finally gives in, bridging the few steps between them and coming to sit on the edge of the bed, uninvited. ] Whatever happened to you... I'll keep your secret. You know I only care about a handful of people in this place anyway.
it's strange, the halting look in tim's eyes. normally, he wouldn't think much of it. but normally, tim doesn't look like he went three rounds with a doorknob and lost.
that gets a snort out of him. ]
I know we're in a semi-decent place right now, but you don't have to lay it on that thick.
[ never wished any misfortune? never? embry finds that difficult to believe, but maybe it's because tim religiously (heh) reads his bible and lets hawk fuck him on the regular. not that different from ash, except ash is the one doing the fucking.
he feels a little pang of guilt, when he thinks about how ash hasn't really touched his bible since embry got back. ]
Don't tell Hawk. I mean, he knows. It happened once before. But I don't want him to know it's happening before I can figure out if this really is a pattern or just — a manifestation of all the bullshit that's been going on. [ he finally gives in, bridging the few steps between them and coming to sit on the edge of the bed, uninvited. ] Whatever happened to you... I'll keep your secret. You know I only care about a handful of people in this place anyway.
What? Is that so hard to believe? I don't like being angry, and there's people that deserve it way more than you. [ Danny, Eddie, their violent, crazy friends. Daemon. Hell, Hawk would say he's well within his rights to be furious with Alicent now, even if he can't bring himself to feel it. ] Maybe...briefly, I wished Ash would dump you, actually. But only briefly.
[ He gets a snort back - that's an easier concession than giving Alicent away. But actual bodily harm, or...bizarre, unholy transformation? No, he would never be glad for that. The number of times he's had to talk Aemond down from stabbing him in the gut or dangling him out of a window should be a solid enough record on that.
Attentively, Tim listens to him, eyes locked on Embry even as he reaches for a half-full glass of water at his bedside. ]
I won't tell him. [ If Embry stays too much longer, he won't need to. ]
[ He knows Embry keeps the list of people he gives a damn about pretty small, and as he's unwilling to ask if he's on it, he sidesteps the question, keeping the focus on Embry. If he isn't, he won't go back on his word for him. ]
Do you think it's the house? Or just...the trauma of being killed?
[ He gets a snort back - that's an easier concession than giving Alicent away. But actual bodily harm, or...bizarre, unholy transformation? No, he would never be glad for that. The number of times he's had to talk Aemond down from stabbing him in the gut or dangling him out of a window should be a solid enough record on that.
Attentively, Tim listens to him, eyes locked on Embry even as he reaches for a half-full glass of water at his bedside. ]
I won't tell him. [ If Embry stays too much longer, he won't need to. ]
[ He knows Embry keeps the list of people he gives a damn about pretty small, and as he's unwilling to ask if he's on it, he sidesteps the question, keeping the focus on Embry. If he isn't, he won't go back on his word for him. ]
Do you think it's the house? Or just...the trauma of being killed?
Edited 2025-01-08 20:03 (UTC)
[ Can he? It's hard to know for sure. Alicent was angry with him before she died. Maybe all it took to come at him the way she did was the strength to do so. Teeth in the side of his neck, hands too powerful for their size squeezing the air from his lungs.
Would she?
No. She wouldn't.
Tim squeezes his eyes shut, blinking back tears. ]
It was the house. It'll come out eventually, just don't...don't be mad at them.
[ He shifts, scooting back to make room for Koby on the bed, and tilts his head. An invitation. ]
Glad I missed it, then. That awful nurse outfit was bad enough.
Would she?
No. She wouldn't.
Tim squeezes his eyes shut, blinking back tears. ]
It was the house. It'll come out eventually, just don't...don't be mad at them.
[ He shifts, scooting back to make room for Koby on the bed, and tilts his head. An invitation. ]
Glad I missed it, then. That awful nurse outfit was bad enough.
Okay. [Frustration, curiosity, the urgent need to know now gets firmly shelved, because Tim’s squeezing his eyes shut in that way Koby knows, and moving on the bed, in silent invitation. So there are important things to be done.
Ducking, untying his shoes, Koby toes them off, then carefully climbs onto the bed – he might be bulkier now than he was six months ago, but he’ll always be slight, small, not taking up too much space or rocking things too much. He settles next to Tim, warm and close, but not stifling, hand reaching for his again and squeezing.]
I thought you looked nice. In the nurse outfit, I mean. I know you didn’t like it, but it didn’t look bad. [Cheek resting lightly on Tim’s shoulder:] This party was all suits, until they melted.
Ducking, untying his shoes, Koby toes them off, then carefully climbs onto the bed – he might be bulkier now than he was six months ago, but he’ll always be slight, small, not taking up too much space or rocking things too much. He settles next to Tim, warm and close, but not stifling, hand reaching for his again and squeezing.]
I thought you looked nice. In the nurse outfit, I mean. I know you didn’t like it, but it didn’t look bad. [Cheek resting lightly on Tim’s shoulder:] This party was all suits, until they melted.
That's a really broad question. What's going on?
[ Clarified matters close to heart? Tim hesitates, feeling uneasy, letting t.laughlin is typing go a little too long. ]
Clarified?
I'm committed to you, Aemond. I know things are different where you're from, so I haven't rushed you. But I'd like the same in return.
What did Aegon say to you?
Clarified?
I'm committed to you, Aemond. I know things are different where you're from, so I haven't rushed you. But I'd like the same in return.
What did Aegon say to you?
I'll not have the rest of this conversation held like this with you. Where are you?
[ better they talk it in person. better that they speak to and hear each other clearly, however the conversation might fall.
he can give this one courtesy out of respect. ]
[ better they talk it in person. better that they speak to and hear each other clearly, however the conversation might fall.
he can give this one courtesy out of respect. ]
Okay.
[ He has to slip out. Hawk's barely let him out of his sight since Alicent attacked him, even a week later now, and he's fine. So Tim takes the opportunity when it comes, without much of a chance to dress appropriately for a meeting that's semi-public - casual jeans, a white t-shirt. A look of concern writ clearly on his face, something he's never very subtle about, but that shows even more clearly, without his glasses to obscure it. ]
Hey.
[ Softly, because this is...well, it's strange, that whatever it is, Aemond feels it's important enough that it must be done face to face. Text was good enough for the news that Alicent had died. What could possibly be more pressing?
He approaches, not directly into his space, but leaning against the table he's sat at. ]
What's going on?
[ He has to slip out. Hawk's barely let him out of his sight since Alicent attacked him, even a week later now, and he's fine. So Tim takes the opportunity when it comes, without much of a chance to dress appropriately for a meeting that's semi-public - casual jeans, a white t-shirt. A look of concern writ clearly on his face, something he's never very subtle about, but that shows even more clearly, without his glasses to obscure it. ]
Hey.
[ Softly, because this is...well, it's strange, that whatever it is, Aemond feels it's important enough that it must be done face to face. Text was good enough for the news that Alicent had died. What could possibly be more pressing?
He approaches, not directly into his space, but leaning against the table he's sat at. ]
What's going on?
[ he makes his way over to tim's hallway, his steps quick and quiet even with the chilled weather that rages on. he has tim's gifted brooch nestled against his shirt, hidden out of view - the pin reminding him of its point every time he moves. little things, little reminders. pain can be an anchor. ]
Tim.
[ he's stood straight, upright, hands folded behind him. the shortened length of his hair brushes against his cheeks in a distracting way every time he moves, so he simply stays still. ]
Aegon reminds me of duty. Sacrifice. The things we hold dear as a family. Do you remember my promise to you?
Tim.
[ he's stood straight, upright, hands folded behind him. the shortened length of his hair brushes against his cheeks in a distracting way every time he moves, so he simply stays still. ]
Aegon reminds me of duty. Sacrifice. The things we hold dear as a family. Do you remember my promise to you?
...which one?
[ He's not following. Aemond says everything as if it's of the utmost seriousness, it can be hard to tell what truly is. He's promised to knock someone out for him, to teach him until he's strong, to respect his relationship with Hawk, to always put his family first. Tim has never argued that last point, or gotten in the way of that. Taking all that Aemond's said about him into account, he's been kinder to Aegon than he ought to, simply to keep the man in front of him happy. His brows furrow, head tilted just slightly, in questioning. ]
Did something happen? You can tell me.
[ He's not following. Aemond says everything as if it's of the utmost seriousness, it can be hard to tell what truly is. He's promised to knock someone out for him, to teach him until he's strong, to respect his relationship with Hawk, to always put his family first. Tim has never argued that last point, or gotten in the way of that. Taking all that Aemond's said about him into account, he's been kinder to Aegon than he ought to, simply to keep the man in front of him happy. His brows furrow, head tilted just slightly, in questioning. ]
Did something happen? You can tell me.
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