He is smoking, and the cigarette is definitely laced with his sometimes-nightcap of mellowlark, judging by the sweet smell. Otherwise, he looks much the same as he always does, composed and fully dressed save for his overcoat.
He steps aside and ushers Vane into the room. His bed is neat; the available bedside table and desk spaces are not. With a dignity that borders on the comical, he picks up the pile of journals and empty coffee cups on the desk and either stacks them on the side of the desk or tosses them in the trash. The mellowlark, liquor, and goodnight's kiss on his nightstand, he sweeps quickly into a drawer and out of sight.
Once he has neatened up to his liking, Javert folds his too-tall self into the desk chair and looks to Vane like a commanding officer might look at his lieutenants. He takes a calming pull of his cigarette.
Vane doesn't step much past the door, just closing it behind him. His eyes are on Javert as he cleans and there is a flash of annoyance at the attitude he gets once Javert finally sits down. But that can wait.
"This." he holds up the letter. "You're wrong. I should have known keeping the engagement from you would betray your trust. I saw the way you were about us with Silver." He takes a breath. "You shouldn't blame yourself for it, the blame lies with me. And I am sorry for the pain I caused."
Well. This is strange, and it is not what Javert is expecting. It also sits very wrong in him, no matter how true it is that Vane took advantage of his confidence and made him out to be the fool. He decides he must set the matter straight, and be as clear as he can.
"You are the one who is mistaken. I am not a victim," Javert says with a dearth of emotion. "You breached my trust, yes. This enraged me. But were it not for me giving in to libertine impulses, this whole mess would have been neatly avoided. What has happened now is a natural consequence of my goings-on. So much the worse for me!"
He grins crookedly.
"The apology is noble, but unnecessary. I intend to correct myself."
So Silver had been right, Javert is not intending on continuing their ... well, arrangement. Vane wants to swear. And Javert is making it clear what he thinks of their arrangement. Something to be ashamed of, a mistake. It stings more than Vane had expected. His hands tighten into fists and he just takes a few breaths to make sure he can say what he needs to say next.
"Javert. I don't care about the sex. If you don't want to continue that, then... I understand. But I'd like to continue to call you my friend. And I hurt my friend. I am sorry."
Javert's expression is downright bizarre. He cannot seem to figure out how to arrange his face. What results is a cross between confusion and melancholy, like he is having difficulty plucking the right words to say out of his brain. He takes another pull of his cigarette and his tense shoulders visibly relax.
"Is that so?" he says, surprise stamped between his brows. "I do not believe I have treated you how friends ought."
Vane laughs bitterly at that. "No, you treated me exactly as expected from a friend betrayed. The fault is mine Javert. You made it pretty damn clear that being honest is important to you when you went and talked to Silver and I forgot to tell you I was engaged. How the fuck were you supposed to know that? There hadn't been any indication. She and I are not particularly close or anything like that. Your anger is justified, Javert."
His lower lip trembles. He scoffs sharply, and slides out his chair, reaching behind himself to snatch some mellowlark cigarettes out of his drawer. A hand beckons Vane impatiently closer, and he gestures to the cigarettes, urging him to take one.
"That's enough," he says, deeply vexed. "All my life I have been severe, on myself as I've been on others. It seems you are all intent on reducing me to a pliant puddle. Sit down and accept what I tell you: It is done with, there is nothing more to say, and I should prefer to quit listening to you eviscerate yourself in my presence. Do not lie by omission again. Keep it simple!"
Vane eyes the cigarettes, licking his lips. They'd be good. Fuck, any drug would be good now. Maybe he could go find something later. For now he takes one, fumbles through his pockets to find something he can light it with and then settles down on the nearest flat surface.
"Only if you do the same. It is not your fault and if you can accept that I will shut up about how it is mine."
Vane nods. He tries to hide the swallow at the mention of friend. This wasn't something he had intended to let Javert know about.
"Fair. Then in the spirit of that honesty, I did show Silver your letter. You know I... I needed someone to just help me make sure I didn't read it wrong."
"That is well," he says slowly, rolling the cigarette between his teeth. It is almost through. He bats a brow, a thought occuring to him. "So was he responsible for this?"
"He did point out that if I wanted this friendship to stay I needed to apologize to you. He didn't tell me what to say or anything like that." He takes a drag of the cigarette and smiles slightly, it's been a while since he had any mellowlark.
Javert pinches the bridge of his nose and just barely bites back an exaggerated sigh. He plucks out the cigarette out of his mouth and waves Vane off, extinguishing the butt in the tray.
"You insufferable ass!" he complains without venom. "I don't care that John read it. I do not care if you would have plastered it in the busiest city square in tremendous lettering. There is nothing I wrote that I would not say publicly."
Because I'd let everyone know you think fucking me is a mistake. No, it is bad enough that Silver knows it Vane decides. He shakes his head. "I know."
He licks his lips, taking another long drag and then moves to get up. This is too awkward, too tense. And the Mellowlark isn't helping as much as he would like. "Thanks for this, I should get back to my room."
Javert is uncertain whether to feel reassured or confused. He chooses to accept what was said between them, that they have reached an understanding, and now they can move forward and attempt this thing called Friendship. Javert beckons Vane closer and offers his hand for a shake.
Vane hesitates for a second then comes over to take the hand and shake it. He isn't sure what it is for but it seems important to Javert so he is willing to do it.
He almost feels compelled to pull in Vane for an embrace. But Javert maintains some semblance of decorum and instead clasps both hands over Vane's for the shake.
"Go on, you may go. Find a decent rum to warm you, it is damnably cold," he says curtly, sounding much like his usual self. "I shall see you tomorrow."
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2019-12-17 05:46 pm (UTC)He is smoking, and the cigarette is definitely laced with his sometimes-nightcap of mellowlark, judging by the sweet smell. Otherwise, he looks much the same as he always does, composed and fully dressed save for his overcoat.
He steps aside and ushers Vane into the room. His bed is neat; the available bedside table and desk spaces are not. With a dignity that borders on the comical, he picks up the pile of journals and empty coffee cups on the desk and either stacks them on the side of the desk or tosses them in the trash. The mellowlark, liquor, and goodnight's kiss on his nightstand, he sweeps quickly into a drawer and out of sight.
Once he has neatened up to his liking, Javert folds his too-tall self into the desk chair and looks to Vane like a commanding officer might look at his lieutenants. He takes a calming pull of his cigarette.
"You may speak."
no subject
Date: 2019-12-17 06:07 pm (UTC)"This." he holds up the letter. "You're wrong. I should have known keeping the engagement from you would betray your trust. I saw the way you were about us with Silver." He takes a breath. "You shouldn't blame yourself for it, the blame lies with me. And I am sorry for the pain I caused."
no subject
Date: 2019-12-17 06:51 pm (UTC)"You are the one who is mistaken. I am not a victim," Javert says with a dearth of emotion. "You breached my trust, yes. This enraged me. But were it not for me giving in to libertine impulses, this whole mess would have been neatly avoided. What has happened now is a natural consequence of my goings-on. So much the worse for me!"
He grins crookedly.
"The apology is noble, but unnecessary. I intend to correct myself."
no subject
Date: 2019-12-17 08:08 pm (UTC)"Javert. I don't care about the sex. If you don't want to continue that, then... I understand. But I'd like to continue to call you my friend. And I hurt my friend. I am sorry."
no subject
Date: 2019-12-17 08:26 pm (UTC)"Is that so?" he says, surprise stamped between his brows. "I do not believe I have treated you how friends ought."
no subject
Date: 2019-12-17 08:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-12-17 08:49 pm (UTC)His lower lip trembles. He scoffs sharply, and slides out his chair, reaching behind himself to snatch some mellowlark cigarettes out of his drawer. A hand beckons Vane impatiently closer, and he gestures to the cigarettes, urging him to take one.
"That's enough," he says, deeply vexed. "All my life I have been severe, on myself as I've been on others. It seems you are all intent on reducing me to a pliant puddle. Sit down and accept what I tell you: It is done with, there is nothing more to say, and I should prefer to quit listening to you eviscerate yourself in my presence. Do not lie by omission again. Keep it simple!"
no subject
Date: 2019-12-17 08:59 pm (UTC)"Only if you do the same. It is not your fault and if you can accept that I will shut up about how it is mine."
no subject
Date: 2019-12-17 09:10 pm (UTC)"I do not exaggerate my faults," he says abruptly. "But I shall keep them quiet until you need a reminder. As a friend of mine. Will that do?"
no subject
Date: 2019-12-17 09:13 pm (UTC)"Fair. Then in the spirit of that honesty, I did show Silver your letter. You know I... I needed someone to just help me make sure I didn't read it wrong."
no subject
Date: 2019-12-17 09:16 pm (UTC)"That is well," he says slowly, rolling the cigarette between his teeth. It is almost through. He bats a brow, a thought occuring to him. "So was he responsible for this?"
no subject
Date: 2019-12-17 09:20 pm (UTC)"If I shouldn't have I am sorry."
no subject
Date: 2019-12-17 09:28 pm (UTC)"You insufferable ass!" he complains without venom. "I don't care that John read it. I do not care if you would have plastered it in the busiest city square in tremendous lettering. There is nothing I wrote that I would not say publicly."
no subject
Date: 2019-12-17 09:31 pm (UTC)He licks his lips, taking another long drag and then moves to get up. This is too awkward, too tense. And the Mellowlark isn't helping as much as he would like. "Thanks for this, I should get back to my room."
no subject
Date: 2019-12-17 09:41 pm (UTC)Let them shake on it, then.
"Come here."
no subject
Date: 2019-12-17 09:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-12-17 09:54 pm (UTC)"Go on, you may go. Find a decent rum to warm you, it is damnably cold," he says curtly, sounding much like his usual self. "I shall see you tomorrow."
no subject
Date: 2019-12-18 07:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-12-18 02:46 pm (UTC)"At this hour? I think not. Bonne nuit, Vane."