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 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."