It Was Cold Outside

A Malevolent roleplay blog based on John and Arthur from Benevolent

[aguidetothemultiverse]

Just around this corner. There we go. Take it easy.

*Arthur's hand shakes as he knocks on the wooden door. But he doesn't wait for a reply. He needs help.*

"Charlie?" *Arthur calls as he practically falls through the door*

Arthur... he isn't here!

@mistletoe-and-music-notes

*The room is as barren as the three of them left it, which is not barren at all. It's dark, it's cramped, and it's riddled with little traps that trigger the bell to jingle lightly above the bed.

But there was no Noel. John was very right. There wasn't a sign of Phoebe, let alone anything living there.

...He told them, too. He told them to not get attached. He knew this would happen. He knew it was inevitable. And they tried to convince him otherwise.*

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"He isn't...?"*Arthur sinks to his knees in the doorway, defeated.* "We promised him... We promised him god damn it!" *His fist slams against the wood*

A long time ago, you said missing person cases were your specialty?

"...yes?"

Then we are going to find Charlie.

"Damn right you are, John!" *Arthur gets up, ready to search the room*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

The bar is lively, some patrons are drinking at the bar, others are eating, talking or some other activity at the surrounding tables. The stage is empty for now, its thick red curtains hanging heavily. It's nice being around more people.

"It really is. We... really haven't made much of an effort to meet anyone else here." *Arthur starts to pick his way around the crowds, letting John point anyone out to him*

There is someone pouring over a book of wedding ideas and-

"John?" *Arthur asks, stopping in the middle of the room*

Parker...

*Thankfully Arthur is already dead, because he can't breathe.*

- @mistletoe-and-music-notes

-🍻

Parker was at one of the poker tables; not actually playing but more so teaching some of the other patrons how the game worked and as soon as they had a handle on the ropes he let em have at it.

Then he noticed Arthur and he stopped in his tracks, doing a double take before his expression shifted to one of surprise.

“Art that you?”

He called over as he picked up the pace of his walk to see Arthur more clearly.

He looked… different. Not quite the same as he remembered. His eyes more sunken and look a bit more wild lol he’d seem something he couldn’t unsee, but otherwise… it was Parker. No doubt about it. Which Parker it was though was an entirely different question.

“The hell you doin’ here?”

The relieved, lopsided smile that spread across his face was so… genuine and heartfelt they could practically hear it in his tone.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John's hand twitches, unsure of what to even do.* It's Parker. I... can't be a good judge of how well he looks... but he's happy to see you. It's as real as can be. It's him. *He only has the memory of Parkers corpse in a closet*

*Arthur doesn't answer the question yet. He doesn't care if this is his Parker or not. Does it even hold weight here? Arthur instead wraps his arms around Parkers body, holding him tight while a weight melts off of his frame. How he missed that voice.*

"We- I died, Parker. Just like you. It's... I had given up hope that you might have ended up here."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Parker’s arms wrapped around Arthur in one of his giant smothering bear hugs.

“I know… I know Artie. It’s okay, we’re both here now though. That’s all that matters now.”

He shifted his weight to better support Arthur.

“If we weren’t both dead right now I’d strangle you to death for being a fucking dumbass.”

He squeezed Arthur a little tighter, making no move to strangle him. He had a habit of threatening to do things and then doing nothing to enact those things. Specifically in regard to Arthur.

“I thought I’d never see ya’ again.”

He held Arthur a bit tighter. They could feel his back popping from the force of the hug.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Fuck!" *The volume of the expletive is proportional to the pop his spine made, Arthur's ears even ring from it.*

Jesus Christ!

"Parker I... I wish I could see you. I know after everything I look different..." *He finally pulls away*

"Parker, what do you remember?"

Arthur where are you going with this? *John's voice is wary and guarded inside Arthurs head. Charlie is one thing, because John never killed Charlie.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Oh shit- sorry Art-“

He loosens his hug, taking a step back to better look at Arthur and check him over.

“God Damn- y’ look like y’ went 4 rounds in a boxin’ ring and got the snot kicked outta ya’. How the hell did that happen?”

He didn’t seem to be kidding, grimacing as he noted all the scars he didn’t recognize.

“Well- I remember the book, you mentioning the weird voice in your head, you collapsing and dropping it, you goin’ blind and leanin’ on me and that weird voice to describe shit, me thinking you were pullin’ my leg half the time until y’ up n’ ditched me-“

He was saying details that he shouldn’t know if he’d died. He… he didn’t die like he should’ve remembered.

“I was worried sick about ya for months. Some- whatever it fuckin’ was had to show up wearing your face and tell me you’d died for me to find out what happened.”

He took a breath, reaching for a pack of smokes like he always did when he got stressed.

“Assumin’ that’s not what you remember. Ain’t it? Don’t think either of us that lucky to find the needle in the haystack of whatever shit we got ourselves into.”

Lo and behind he’d lit up a cigarette to try and calm his nerves down.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

He didn't... I didn't kill him? *John's voice sounds so guilty and so hopeful at the same time...*

"Parker- you... You know about John? Parker, your body was on the floor of our office when me and John woke up. We both died, but I was uh... it's complicated." *Arthur sighs. He knew it would be too good to hope this was his Parker. But it was still there. This one still smells the same. Arthur sure it's even the same brand.* "Me and John went on the run, trying to follow any lead that would tell us what he was, or how to separate us. It's... jesus fuck I don't know where to begin."

*It's easy to see the ordeal Arthur has been through. His neck features a long slice bow the adams apple, his nose was clearly broken at least twice, and a hand sized scar cradles his right eye, nearly stretching to a torn ear. Grey hair has become sprinkled through out his auburn hair, and he's somehow thinner than when they first met.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Oh so that’s what y’ calling em!”

There was a sort of bitterness to Parker’s tone when talking about John, though nowhere near as bitter as it probably would’ve been if John had killed him.

“Yeah I know of em. You mentioned a voice in y’ head that didn’t go ‘way.”

He sighed. He had a feeling this wasn’t the Arthur he knew, but… close enough. He was close enough to the man he knew and loved that it was good enough for him to accept.

“I got no clue why your me got killed there and I didn’t but I do know you’re a damn idiot.”

he didn’t want to comment on the changes in appearance any more than he already had, but damn did he think the scars looked good on Arthur.

“The scars look good on ya’. Make y’ look like the kinda type not to fuck with.”

He hummed for a minute, thinking for a bit.

“Did’j ‘least hide the body decently?”

The humor in his tone made it apparent he was joking.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John holds out his left hand, trying to connect, to learn about the man Arthur loved so much* His smile is light. Despite the circumstances, I think he is happy to see us.

"John choose the name, actually, but..." *All color drains from Arthurs face at the last statement, Parkers stiff body is in his hands as he frantically shoves his best friend in a closet.*

*so many nights spent laughing, drinking, loving, sleeping on the same overstuffed secondhand couch. And Arthur never turned around to look at what he did*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He noticed the reaction almost immediately with a grimace, knowing that expression well.

“Sorry, sorry, bad joke- I… didn’t mean t’ press.”

He knew not to press Art when he got like that. He looked down at the offered hand with uncertainty.

“… why y’ offerin’ me y’ hand…?”

When his eyes returned to Arthur’s face there was something almost like suspicion in his eyes. Apprehension was probably the proper word for it.

“… is John doing that?”

His tone shifted with how he spoke about John, the warmth he had for Arthur missing, like he was gritting his teeth that he had to share Arthur with some… well, parasite that took his best friends eyes. And apparently, one of his arms as well.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Huh-" *Arthur feels his left arm, finding it raised* "That would be him."

It's polite, right? And If he already knows about me... then it should be like Charlie?

*"Like Charlie" Arthur's heart gives a flutter at the concept, or Parker back into his life, along side John. Honestly the idea of introducing Parker and Charlie is appealing as well... for reasons Arthur shouldn't speak out in the middle of the bar.*

"He wants to get to know you. I think uou'll like him if you can give him a chance?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Who?”

He frowns slightly, but he doesn’t pry further than that. He sighs, taking Arthu- John’s, hand.

“S’pose if I gave you a chance I can give him one too. Good to meet y’ John.”

His handshake was firm, the skin leathery and rough but not unpleasantly so. There were more than a few old scars dotting them that Arthur had probably heard the stories to at least once or twice.

His grip tightened a bit.

“John, if you give Art any trouble, I’ll give ya double that.”

His menacing expression the accompanied the threat was clearly meant for John and John alone. It disappeared pretty quickly, his other hand that wasn’t wrapped around John’s hand patting his arm.

“Glad we got that settled! I hope me can get along bud.”

His expression returned to the smile it was before.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John doesn't comment on Parkers grip, or the clear hostility in his face. He needs to bridge this gap for Arthurs sake.* Then I suppose we can't tell Parker much, huh? *The chuckle is somewhat false, but he won't tell Arthur.*

"You don't have to drag John out of a bar every night! You two will get along better that you think."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Guess that’s true. Though it wasn’t that hard t’ do though, y’ were light as a feather and it looks like y’ still are.”

He elbowed Arthur playfully, smiling warmly as he always did. It didn’t change much of how he felt about John, but if Arthur liked him… he’d give the guy a chance to earn his trust.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I started a diet." *Arthur elbows back, settling back into the easy friendship him and Parker always had. It felt so... normal.*

You still aren't back to your weight from when we first met...

"You now what, John is complaining about my poor habits, why don't we have something to eat, talk over food?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He laughed wholeheartedly.

“I’m starting to like John already!”

He gently guided the pair to a table, letting John figure out the rest after leaving the two by the chair across from him. He didn’t want to make John feel useless now, did he?

“I already ate a bit ago but feel free t’ dig int’ whatever. I’m good with just talkin’ while y’ eat.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

There's a chair to your- yes there- Parker sits across from us. If it wasn't two friends catching up I'm sure some would think this was a date.

*Arthurs ears burn at Johns commentary, grinding his heel into the left toe of his shoe. Not hard, but enough to get the point across* "I'll be honest an appetite hasn't been the easiest to find since getting here. Eating is more of a habit than a nessecity now."

Ow- Arthur the fuck?! And you need to eat!

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah I think I get that now. It’s hard t’ think ‘bout eating when you’re constantly worried ‘bout somethin’.”

He smiled easily, not pushing the matter too hard. He could tell by the way Arthur jumped slightly that something was said that he didn’t expect.

“What’d John say?”

He looked amused.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Oh, just that I needed to eat" *John pinches Arthur sharply on the back of the hand, causing him to curse and wave the pain out* "Bastard!"

What's wrong with what I said?

"Because-" *Well... he can't exactly find the words for his reasoning. John doesn't know Parker and him's history. About the fact that they never spoke about the things they did while drunk, that it was agreed that the polite thing to do was treat those moments as different men all together.* "Because it's just not nessacary."

Not nessacary. Really. Why are you being so cagey about this of all things? What is it about Parker?

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“What, did he suggest we’re…”

He struggles to find the word until he decides to just gestures vaguely before doing a sort of gesture that looked like he was limply trying to swat a fly.

“I- I don’t know if he’s gunna be able to figure out how t’ describe that-“

He felt somewhat stupid for using a visual gesture to try and communicate with his best friend who’s blind.

“I mean- only after a few drinks but he ain’t wrong.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

He's put his hand up and is letting it fall at the wrist in a sort of half-hearted "Hello"

*Oh jesus christ these two are going to be the death of him!* "Y- Both of you! Incorrigble!"

*It's not prudishness that stokes Arthur's embarrassment, similarly it isn't the fear that came from when he was alive in Arkham. In the Waylay it's quite obvious the same rules do not apply, he'd almost assume this place was meant to be a refuge for homosexuals if he wasn't dead. No, this is born from his need to stay private. He always kept certain things from Parker. His failed marrige, most details about Faroe... how long he had let his liver pickle in grief. Even his parents deaths, just that they died. That fact alone resulted in Parker pulling Arthur into every family celebration he could justify.*

*Even now Arthur has no desire to burden Parker with these emotions. The ones he held close to his chest and only let out when he was too drunk to second guess.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He had to stop himself from bursting out laughing, because he’d been right, and of course he found that rather funny.

“Hey if it makes y’ feel better I don’t mind at all. I’m glad I got to be your partner one way or another.”

He didn’t even seem bothered in the slightest, though for just a moment he seemed a bit hurt. Like some scrap of hope just got snuffed out.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...One way or another, huh?"

Arthur the look in his eyes is forlorn, avoiding us like we are the reason why.

"Was that... how close you and your Arthur were? That you could talk about it?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah- well… a lil’ more than just talking about it, I’ll admit. Took em to a few bars I knew where people would let it fly and kept shit hush hush ‘bout it.”

His face was tinting red just remembering it.

“Mainly cuz one night it sorta became somethin’ we couldn’t keep avoidin’ mentioning and had to sit down and talk ‘bout it ‘stead of never mentioning it.”

He seems… happy, thinking about the memory.

“Assumin’ you and him didn’t talk ‘bout it much, did ya?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*his hearing fizzles out for a moment before he comes back, shaking off the second of dizziness to respond* "We uh... we agreed that what happened when we were drunk was seperate from who we were sober. It was safer that way, for both of us, and his family."

And now that you're here? Now that you have Parker blushing?

"He is?"

To the ears, Arthur. I've definitely started to see why you found him so charming.

"I-I'm sure you aren't keen on me just... coming onto you."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I know but it can only happen so many times before y’ gotta address the elephant in the room. Though, family’s not really an issue now.”

He paused, looking somewhat stunned.

“I- I wouldn’t mind at all actually- I- fuck it- please do.”

his face turning even more red than it was before, looking off to the side like he expected something to interrupt the moment. Nothing interrupted.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Arthur. A day will come when we meet a man who neither wants to fuck you or fight you... but it seems that today is not that day.

So what now?

*...Arthur did not think this far ahead. Shit. Arthurs hand reaches across the table with a much softer smile, palm up for Parker to take* "Well then... John asks 'what now', and I want to know the answer too."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Parker takes it happily, smiling like he’d just won the jackpot of all time.

“Hey if I had a ring on me I’d offer it t’ ya but uh- yeah I don’t got any. Best I can offer y’ right now is this.”

He stands up from the table, not once letting Arthur’s hand go as he steps around to stand beside him, letting the man adjust to the proximity before pushing his lips to Arthur’s in a firm kiss.

As soon as he had to pull back for air, his other hand was taking John’s and pressing a kiss into his palm before looking them in the eyes.

“You two’ve clearly been through the wringer more than enough. I wanna give you somethin’ nice. You deserve it.”

This was the first time he’d flirted with Arthur sober and oh was it a whole new experience.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*Arthur utterly melts in Parkers arms, kissing him back like a man starved for years. His hand travels to the nape of Parkers neck, thin pianist fingers threading their way through his hair.*

Oh Arthur... *Johns arm snakes behind Parkers waist to pull him that much closer... until they finally break. When Parker kisses Johns hand though? He can't say a coherent thing from the shock* Arthur he- He-!

"Now what did you do to make John so flustered?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I kissed his hand. Did he think i wasn’t gunna make him feel included?”

He teased, continuing to pepper John’s hand with kisses, traveling down the arm a few times before his eyes trail back up to look at Arthur’s eyes.

“How’s he feel about that?”

He leans in a bit closer till they can practically feel his breath on Arthur’s neck. His own hand was still against Arthur’s, holding his where it was in Parker’s hair.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*The connection between John and Arthur is warm and fuzzy, the sort of tipsy one drink will bring on. But this is a better buzz than Arthur could ever know.*

I- I thought he was only here for you.

"John thought that this was going to be a... one sided affair. But I had a feeling you'd warm up to him." *Arthur cranes his neck to give Parker better access above his collared shirt. though what he does with the space is all hia own*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I wouldn’t want him t’ feel left out. Plus I wanna make the both of ya feel special. Wouldn’t make much sense to favor just you, Art. You don’t get to hog all the attention now darling.”

He pressed a quick peck to Arthur’s neck before his arms wrapped around the man’s waist and pulled him up to stand.

“Much as we can get away with here I think a bit of privacy would do us some good. What d’ya two think?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Oh god yes. I wasn't sure how much longer I could be polite."

*Johns hand taps twice against Parkers arm, a 'yes' that him and Arthur developed a long time ago for when Arthur couldn't speak*

*Or when John is rewiring his brain over the idea that not only did Parker not hate him for killing him, or taking over part of Arthur... But wants to treat John with the same affection? Arthur idolized this man, and he's starting to see why* "Please?"

"John is a bit more polite about it, he said 'please'"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Well how can I say no to that?”

He smiles as he helps lead the pair out of the dining area, though he doesn’t have the best grip on where they should be going.

“Where to then? I don’t got the best grasp on this place n’ you’ve been here longer than I have probably.”

He chuckles, finding the fact that John’s saying pleas to be rather adorable. He was starting to get why Arthur likes John so much.

“So uh- whatcha think? Where to?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...well, I don't know either. It's been about six weeks since we slept in our own room and-"

They might have already tidied it up and given it to someone else.

"-John aays it might have been given to another patron." *If you looked closely at the right side of his neck, someone could see a wound fresher than the rest peeking above his collar.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I’m sure they haven’t cleared it out yet. You’re still here aren’t ya? Could even go ask if you’re really worried.”

He took note of the other injury but didn’t comment. Not yet at least.

“if you wanna head to my room that works too. Probably not as nice though.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I wouldn't know the difference anyways! How about yours?" *Means Arthur can steal one of Parkers shirts in the morning. And... well he has a plan forming*

*John is just describing Parkers face, the walk down the hall, but his hand... is sliding to rest on Parkers tail bone.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah. I think that sounds good.”

His smile grew a bit, feeling John’s hand trail down his back like he wouldn’t notice.

He turned his head to look the two in the face, tilting his head just to silently say ‘really John?’ With the sort of coy look that wasn’t actually that serious. He just winked at John slyly.

“That and I actually know where mine is. I had a feelin’ you’d prefer mine. You’re gunna steal my cloths again aren’t you?”

He chuckled, not seeming bothered.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Maybe. Though... not for long hopefully." *Arthurs voice dips low and sweet, for Parker and John's ears only.*

*Inside, John chuckles evilly as the land continues to travel*

"What on earth are you doing?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Don’t worry bout it; you can keep em for as long as you like. I know you like the feel of em, though don’t know why you keep insisting they specifically be mine and not just the same kind I wear.”

He kisses Arthur softly on the cheek as a way of reassuring him in place of a smile.

“Oh- John’s grabbing my ass. That’s what he’s doing. Got a whole handful.”

He says it like it’s an amusing factoid.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...He's gotten very handsy."

*John starts laughing even louder in Arthurs head, but the only effect besides making Arthur feel warm and fuzzy inside, is trying to roll their eyes. Which doesn't work.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I can tell. His hand is on my ass.”

Parker slowed to a halt,

“We’re at my room now. I mean- it could be our room if that sounds alright with you- sharing a space like old times…? If that’s alright with you of course- would’t wanna push you on that-”

He started stumbling over his words trying to get them all out, looking at Arthur and John with a sort of worried expression. Like he hoped they’d say yes but expected them to say no.

“I- just thinking about how you haven’t slept in your room for so long that you might rather wanna stay in mine…?“

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John at this point is not only resting his hand right on the cheek, but any "evil" laughter has devolved into... schoolboy giggling. He finally relents with a squeeze* We are in front of another door, like all the others in the Waylay.

"He's finally stopped laughing, so I assume he's stopped. But...It'd be the first time you've ever pushed me... but I think I'll fall easily. Any bed is better than a hospital bed. Yes, please." *If anything else, his back just aches from the infirmary bed.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“John, you’re just as much of a rascal as Arthur is aren’t ya?”

Parker scooped Arthur up into a bridal carry with ease, opening the door with little effort and using his foot to close it behind him.

It looked almost exactly like any other of the rooms, though the placement of the bed had shifted to have the foot of it facing towards the door rather than the side be facing it, kinda like the old couch back in their office when they were both alive.

His smile was positively lively and almost giddy at Arthur accepting the offer as he gently set the man down on the cushy mattress. His hands beside Arthur, leaning his weight onto the bed.

“These are a lot better than any motel I’ve stayed at. That’s for sure.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

The room is just like ours, but the foot of the bed is towards the door. The dresser hasn't been moved to the new spot the bed left vacant.

"Like the office? Are you that nostalgic? And trust me, you'd have a lot to aay about the places I've stayed at before getting here. Be glad you never heard of Addison"

*Arthur fiddles with Parkers collar, popping off each button slowly. John is busying himself with the cuff of Parkers shirt, rolling it up so he can knead the soft flesh of the wrist*

That's the least sexy thing you've ever said, Arthur.

"Oh hush up!"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Hey, it was a damn nice office.”

He defended himself, clearly not offended in the slightest at the remark, especially not from Arthur.

“Oh don’t tell me unless you want me to go down there personally and give em hell for bad service.”

He chuckled as his hands traveled across Arthur’s chest gently, just feeling him in his arms again; Holding him again. It was almost blissful.

“What’d ol’ John say this time? What, that complaining bout old hotel rooms ain’t the kinda bedroom talk he expected from us two?”

He smiled warmly, helping Arthur unbutton Parker’s own shirt, knowing how difficult it was to unbutton the damn things even with being able to see.

“Hell- remember that time we argued about the best cheap coffee and if it was worth the time just tryin’ to figure out a coffee maker in the office at all?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I remember the way your face lit up when I got you a coffee pot for christmas that year! Then you banned me because I can't make coffee."

Arthur what did you do?

"It doesn't matter what I did!"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“That’s cuz you burnt every batch you tried to make cuz you made it like tea.”

He kissed Arthur’s cheek, smiling softly as he started messing with the buttons on the others shirt, opening up the collar just a bit.

“Let me know if I should stop, alright? Don’t wanna make you two uncomfortable.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*Arthurs hand leaves Parker's collar to tug his open a bit, over his heart is what look like a gunshot wound, then there is what appears to be a line further down his neck before John grabs Arthurs wrist*

Arthur, are you sure you want to show this all to Parker? We can't take it back. He's looking at us with a heat in his eyes...

*Arthur kisses the top of Johns knuckles so reassure him* "I want him to see everything."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Parker’s eyes trail over the scars, an unreadable look in his eyes as he notes each one and his hand gently trail over each one by one.

“Damn Art… you got busy out there didn’t ya? Got some nasty injuries here…”

He chuckled a bit, though it was muted slightly.

“Holy shit… how did some o’ these not kill ya immediately?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John's hand drifts to the one he sewed up, but the one on Arthur's mind is the bullet over his heart* "I never said they didn't. I just... had some people insistant on bringing me back."

Parker is taking in each one, trying to read the story of each dark mark on your skin... He looks pained, seeing them there.

"Parker." *Arthur rests his hand over the other man's* "Are you...uncomfortable?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

The bar is lively, some patrons are drinking at the bar, others are eating, talking or some other activity at the surrounding tables. The stage is empty for now, its thick red curtains hanging heavily. It's nice being around more people.

"It really is. We... really haven't made much of an effort to meet anyone else here." *Arthur starts to pick his way around the crowds, letting John point anyone out to him*

There is someone pouring over a book of wedding ideas and-

"John?" *Arthur asks, stopping in the middle of the room*

Parker...

*Thankfully Arthur is already dead, because he can't breathe.*

- @mistletoe-and-music-notes

-🍻

Parker was at one of the poker tables; not actually playing but more so teaching some of the other patrons how the game worked and as soon as they had a handle on the ropes he let em have at it.

Then he noticed Arthur and he stopped in his tracks, doing a double take before his expression shifted to one of surprise.

“Art that you?”

He called over as he picked up the pace of his walk to see Arthur more clearly.

He looked… different. Not quite the same as he remembered. His eyes more sunken and look a bit more wild lol he’d seem something he couldn’t unsee, but otherwise… it was Parker. No doubt about it. Which Parker it was though was an entirely different question.

“The hell you doin’ here?”

The relieved, lopsided smile that spread across his face was so… genuine and heartfelt they could practically hear it in his tone.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John's hand twitches, unsure of what to even do.* It's Parker. I... can't be a good judge of how well he looks... but he's happy to see you. It's as real as can be. It's him. *He only has the memory of Parkers corpse in a closet*

*Arthur doesn't answer the question yet. He doesn't care if this is his Parker or not. Does it even hold weight here? Arthur instead wraps his arms around Parkers body, holding him tight while a weight melts off of his frame. How he missed that voice.*

"We- I died, Parker. Just like you. It's... I had given up hope that you might have ended up here."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Parker’s arms wrapped around Arthur in one of his giant smothering bear hugs.

“I know… I know Artie. It’s okay, we’re both here now though. That’s all that matters now.”

He shifted his weight to better support Arthur.

“If we weren’t both dead right now I’d strangle you to death for being a fucking dumbass.”

He squeezed Arthur a little tighter, making no move to strangle him. He had a habit of threatening to do things and then doing nothing to enact those things. Specifically in regard to Arthur.

“I thought I’d never see ya’ again.”

He held Arthur a bit tighter. They could feel his back popping from the force of the hug.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Fuck!" *The volume of the expletive is proportional to the pop his spine made, Arthur's ears even ring from it.*

Jesus Christ!

"Parker I... I wish I could see you. I know after everything I look different..." *He finally pulls away*

"Parker, what do you remember?"

Arthur where are you going with this? *John's voice is wary and guarded inside Arthurs head. Charlie is one thing, because John never killed Charlie.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Oh shit- sorry Art-“

He loosens his hug, taking a step back to better look at Arthur and check him over.

“God Damn- y’ look like y’ went 4 rounds in a boxin’ ring and got the snot kicked outta ya’. How the hell did that happen?”

He didn’t seem to be kidding, grimacing as he noted all the scars he didn’t recognize.

“Well- I remember the book, you mentioning the weird voice in your head, you collapsing and dropping it, you goin’ blind and leanin’ on me and that weird voice to describe shit, me thinking you were pullin’ my leg half the time until y’ up n’ ditched me-“

He was saying details that he shouldn’t know if he’d died. He… he didn’t die like he should’ve remembered.

“I was worried sick about ya for months. Some- whatever it fuckin’ was had to show up wearing your face and tell me you’d died for me to find out what happened.”

He took a breath, reaching for a pack of smokes like he always did when he got stressed.

“Assumin’ that’s not what you remember. Ain’t it? Don’t think either of us that lucky to find the needle in the haystack of whatever shit we got ourselves into.”

Lo and behind he’d lit up a cigarette to try and calm his nerves down.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

He didn't... I didn't kill him? *John's voice sounds so guilty and so hopeful at the same time...*

"Parker- you... You know about John? Parker, your body was on the floor of our office when me and John woke up. We both died, but I was uh... it's complicated." *Arthur sighs. He knew it would be too good to hope this was his Parker. But it was still there. This one still smells the same. Arthur sure it's even the same brand.* "Me and John went on the run, trying to follow any lead that would tell us what he was, or how to separate us. It's... jesus fuck I don't know where to begin."

*It's easy to see the ordeal Arthur has been through. His neck features a long slice bow the adams apple, his nose was clearly broken at least twice, and a hand sized scar cradles his right eye, nearly stretching to a torn ear. Grey hair has become sprinkled through out his auburn hair, and he's somehow thinner than when they first met.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Oh so that’s what y’ calling em!”

There was a sort of bitterness to Parker’s tone when talking about John, though nowhere near as bitter as it probably would’ve been if John had killed him.

“Yeah I know of em. You mentioned a voice in y’ head that didn’t go ‘way.”

He sighed. He had a feeling this wasn’t the Arthur he knew, but… close enough. He was close enough to the man he knew and loved that it was good enough for him to accept.

“I got no clue why your me got killed there and I didn’t but I do know you’re a damn idiot.”

he didn’t want to comment on the changes in appearance any more than he already had, but damn did he think the scars looked good on Arthur.

“The scars look good on ya’. Make y’ look like the kinda type not to fuck with.”

He hummed for a minute, thinking for a bit.

“Did’j ‘least hide the body decently?”

The humor in his tone made it apparent he was joking.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John holds out his left hand, trying to connect, to learn about the man Arthur loved so much* His smile is light. Despite the circumstances, I think he is happy to see us.

"John choose the name, actually, but..." *All color drains from Arthurs face at the last statement, Parkers stiff body is in his hands as he frantically shoves his best friend in a closet.*

*so many nights spent laughing, drinking, loving, sleeping on the same overstuffed secondhand couch. And Arthur never turned around to look at what he did*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He noticed the reaction almost immediately with a grimace, knowing that expression well.

“Sorry, sorry, bad joke- I… didn’t mean t’ press.”

He knew not to press Art when he got like that. He looked down at the offered hand with uncertainty.

“… why y’ offerin’ me y’ hand…?”

When his eyes returned to Arthur’s face there was something almost like suspicion in his eyes. Apprehension was probably the proper word for it.

“… is John doing that?”

His tone shifted with how he spoke about John, the warmth he had for Arthur missing, like he was gritting his teeth that he had to share Arthur with some… well, parasite that took his best friends eyes. And apparently, one of his arms as well.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Huh-" *Arthur feels his left arm, finding it raised* "That would be him."

It's polite, right? And If he already knows about me... then it should be like Charlie?

*"Like Charlie" Arthur's heart gives a flutter at the concept, or Parker back into his life, along side John. Honestly the idea of introducing Parker and Charlie is appealing as well... for reasons Arthur shouldn't speak out in the middle of the bar.*

"He wants to get to know you. I think uou'll like him if you can give him a chance?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Who?”

He frowns slightly, but he doesn’t pry further than that. He sighs, taking Arthu- John’s, hand.

“S’pose if I gave you a chance I can give him one too. Good to meet y’ John.”

His handshake was firm, the skin leathery and rough but not unpleasantly so. There were more than a few old scars dotting them that Arthur had probably heard the stories to at least once or twice.

His grip tightened a bit.

“John, if you give Art any trouble, I’ll give ya double that.”

His menacing expression the accompanied the threat was clearly meant for John and John alone. It disappeared pretty quickly, his other hand that wasn’t wrapped around John’s hand patting his arm.

“Glad we got that settled! I hope me can get along bud.”

His expression returned to the smile it was before.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John doesn't comment on Parkers grip, or the clear hostility in his face. He needs to bridge this gap for Arthurs sake.* Then I suppose we can't tell Parker much, huh? *The chuckle is somewhat false, but he won't tell Arthur.*

"You don't have to drag John out of a bar every night! You two will get along better that you think."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Guess that’s true. Though it wasn’t that hard t’ do though, y’ were light as a feather and it looks like y’ still are.”

He elbowed Arthur playfully, smiling warmly as he always did. It didn’t change much of how he felt about John, but if Arthur liked him… he’d give the guy a chance to earn his trust.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I started a diet." *Arthur elbows back, settling back into the easy friendship him and Parker always had. It felt so... normal.*

You still aren't back to your weight from when we first met...

"You now what, John is complaining about my poor habits, why don't we have something to eat, talk over food?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He laughed wholeheartedly.

“I’m starting to like John already!”

He gently guided the pair to a table, letting John figure out the rest after leaving the two by the chair across from him. He didn’t want to make John feel useless now, did he?

“I already ate a bit ago but feel free t’ dig int’ whatever. I’m good with just talkin’ while y’ eat.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

There's a chair to your- yes there- Parker sits across from us. If it wasn't two friends catching up I'm sure some would think this was a date.

*Arthurs ears burn at Johns commentary, grinding his heel into the left toe of his shoe. Not hard, but enough to get the point across* "I'll be honest an appetite hasn't been the easiest to find since getting here. Eating is more of a habit than a nessecity now."

Ow- Arthur the fuck?! And you need to eat!

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah I think I get that now. It’s hard t’ think ‘bout eating when you’re constantly worried ‘bout somethin’.”

He smiled easily, not pushing the matter too hard. He could tell by the way Arthur jumped slightly that something was said that he didn’t expect.

“What’d John say?”

He looked amused.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Oh, just that I needed to eat" *John pinches Arthur sharply on the back of the hand, causing him to curse and wave the pain out* "Bastard!"

What's wrong with what I said?

"Because-" *Well... he can't exactly find the words for his reasoning. John doesn't know Parker and him's history. About the fact that they never spoke about the things they did while drunk, that it was agreed that the polite thing to do was treat those moments as different men all together.* "Because it's just not nessacary."

Not nessacary. Really. Why are you being so cagey about this of all things? What is it about Parker?

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“What, did he suggest we’re…”

He struggles to find the word until he decides to just gestures vaguely before doing a sort of gesture that looked like he was limply trying to swat a fly.

“I- I don’t know if he’s gunna be able to figure out how t’ describe that-“

He felt somewhat stupid for using a visual gesture to try and communicate with his best friend who’s blind.

“I mean- only after a few drinks but he ain’t wrong.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

He's put his hand up and is letting it fall at the wrist in a sort of half-hearted "Hello"

*Oh jesus christ these two are going to be the death of him!* "Y- Both of you! Incorrigble!"

*It's not prudishness that stokes Arthur's embarrassment, similarly it isn't the fear that came from when he was alive in Arkham. In the Waylay it's quite obvious the same rules do not apply, he'd almost assume this place was meant to be a refuge for homosexuals if he wasn't dead. No, this is born from his need to stay private. He always kept certain things from Parker. His failed marrige, most details about Faroe... how long he had let his liver pickle in grief. Even his parents deaths, just that they died. That fact alone resulted in Parker pulling Arthur into every family celebration he could justify.*

*Even now Arthur has no desire to burden Parker with these emotions. The ones he held close to his chest and only let out when he was too drunk to second guess.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He had to stop himself from bursting out laughing, because he’d been right, and of course he found that rather funny.

“Hey if it makes y’ feel better I don’t mind at all. I’m glad I got to be your partner one way or another.”

He didn’t even seem bothered in the slightest, though for just a moment he seemed a bit hurt. Like some scrap of hope just got snuffed out.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...One way or another, huh?"

Arthur the look in his eyes is forlorn, avoiding us like we are the reason why.

"Was that... how close you and your Arthur were? That you could talk about it?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah- well… a lil’ more than just talking about it, I’ll admit. Took em to a few bars I knew where people would let it fly and kept shit hush hush ‘bout it.”

His face was tinting red just remembering it.

“Mainly cuz one night it sorta became somethin’ we couldn’t keep avoidin’ mentioning and had to sit down and talk ‘bout it ‘stead of never mentioning it.”

He seems… happy, thinking about the memory.

“Assumin’ you and him didn’t talk ‘bout it much, did ya?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*his hearing fizzles out for a moment before he comes back, shaking off the second of dizziness to respond* "We uh... we agreed that what happened when we were drunk was seperate from who we were sober. It was safer that way, for both of us, and his family."

And now that you're here? Now that you have Parker blushing?

"He is?"

To the ears, Arthur. I've definitely started to see why you found him so charming.

"I-I'm sure you aren't keen on me just... coming onto you."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I know but it can only happen so many times before y’ gotta address the elephant in the room. Though, family’s not really an issue now.”

He paused, looking somewhat stunned.

“I- I wouldn’t mind at all actually- I- fuck it- please do.”

his face turning even more red than it was before, looking off to the side like he expected something to interrupt the moment. Nothing interrupted.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Arthur. A day will come when we meet a man who neither wants to fuck you or fight you... but it seems that today is not that day.

So what now?

*...Arthur did not think this far ahead. Shit. Arthurs hand reaches across the table with a much softer smile, palm up for Parker to take* "Well then... John asks 'what now', and I want to know the answer too."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Parker takes it happily, smiling like he’d just won the jackpot of all time.

“Hey if I had a ring on me I’d offer it t’ ya but uh- yeah I don’t got any. Best I can offer y’ right now is this.”

He stands up from the table, not once letting Arthur’s hand go as he steps around to stand beside him, letting the man adjust to the proximity before pushing his lips to Arthur’s in a firm kiss.

As soon as he had to pull back for air, his other hand was taking John’s and pressing a kiss into his palm before looking them in the eyes.

“You two’ve clearly been through the wringer more than enough. I wanna give you somethin’ nice. You deserve it.”

This was the first time he’d flirted with Arthur sober and oh was it a whole new experience.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*Arthur utterly melts in Parkers arms, kissing him back like a man starved for years. His hand travels to the nape of Parkers neck, thin pianist fingers threading their way through his hair.*

Oh Arthur... *Johns arm snakes behind Parkers waist to pull him that much closer... until they finally break. When Parker kisses Johns hand though? He can't say a coherent thing from the shock* Arthur he- He-!

"Now what did you do to make John so flustered?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I kissed his hand. Did he think i wasn’t gunna make him feel included?”

He teased, continuing to pepper John’s hand with kisses, traveling down the arm a few times before his eyes trail back up to look at Arthur’s eyes.

“How’s he feel about that?”

He leans in a bit closer till they can practically feel his breath on Arthur’s neck. His own hand was still against Arthur’s, holding his where it was in Parker’s hair.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*The connection between John and Arthur is warm and fuzzy, the sort of tipsy one drink will bring on. But this is a better buzz than Arthur could ever know.*

I- I thought he was only here for you.

"John thought that this was going to be a... one sided affair. But I had a feeling you'd warm up to him." *Arthur cranes his neck to give Parker better access above his collared shirt. though what he does with the space is all hia own*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I wouldn’t want him t’ feel left out. Plus I wanna make the both of ya feel special. Wouldn’t make much sense to favor just you, Art. You don’t get to hog all the attention now darling.”

He pressed a quick peck to Arthur’s neck before his arms wrapped around the man’s waist and pulled him up to stand.

“Much as we can get away with here I think a bit of privacy would do us some good. What d’ya two think?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Oh god yes. I wasn't sure how much longer I could be polite."

*Johns hand taps twice against Parkers arm, a 'yes' that him and Arthur developed a long time ago for when Arthur couldn't speak*

*Or when John is rewiring his brain over the idea that not only did Parker not hate him for killing him, or taking over part of Arthur... But wants to treat John with the same affection? Arthur idolized this man, and he's starting to see why* "Please?"

"John is a bit more polite about it, he said 'please'"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Well how can I say no to that?”

He smiles as he helps lead the pair out of the dining area, though he doesn’t have the best grip on where they should be going.

“Where to then? I don’t got the best grasp on this place n’ you’ve been here longer than I have probably.”

He chuckles, finding the fact that John’s saying pleas to be rather adorable. He was starting to get why Arthur likes John so much.

“So uh- whatcha think? Where to?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...well, I don't know either. It's been about six weeks since we slept in our own room and-"

They might have already tidied it up and given it to someone else.

"-John aays it might have been given to another patron." *If you looked closely at the right side of his neck, someone could see a wound fresher than the rest peeking above his collar.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I’m sure they haven’t cleared it out yet. You’re still here aren’t ya? Could even go ask if you’re really worried.”

He took note of the other injury but didn’t comment. Not yet at least.

“if you wanna head to my room that works too. Probably not as nice though.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I wouldn't know the difference anyways! How about yours?" *Means Arthur can steal one of Parkers shirts in the morning. And... well he has a plan forming*

*John is just describing Parkers face, the walk down the hall, but his hand... is sliding to rest on Parkers tail bone.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah. I think that sounds good.”

His smile grew a bit, feeling John’s hand trail down his back like he wouldn’t notice.

He turned his head to look the two in the face, tilting his head just to silently say ‘really John?’ With the sort of coy look that wasn’t actually that serious. He just winked at John slyly.

“That and I actually know where mine is. I had a feelin’ you’d prefer mine. You’re gunna steal my cloths again aren’t you?”

He chuckled, not seeming bothered.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Maybe. Though... not for long hopefully." *Arthurs voice dips low and sweet, for Parker and John's ears only.*

*Inside, John chuckles evilly as the land continues to travel*

"What on earth are you doing?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Don’t worry bout it; you can keep em for as long as you like. I know you like the feel of em, though don’t know why you keep insisting they specifically be mine and not just the same kind I wear.”

He kisses Arthur softly on the cheek as a way of reassuring him in place of a smile.

“Oh- John’s grabbing my ass. That’s what he’s doing. Got a whole handful.”

He says it like it’s an amusing factoid.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...He's gotten very handsy."

*John starts laughing even louder in Arthurs head, but the only effect besides making Arthur feel warm and fuzzy inside, is trying to roll their eyes. Which doesn't work.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I can tell. His hand is on my ass.”

Parker slowed to a halt,

“We’re at my room now. I mean- it could be our room if that sounds alright with you- sharing a space like old times…? If that’s alright with you of course- would’t wanna push you on that-”

He started stumbling over his words trying to get them all out, looking at Arthur and John with a sort of worried expression. Like he hoped they’d say yes but expected them to say no.

“I- just thinking about how you haven’t slept in your room for so long that you might rather wanna stay in mine…?“

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John at this point is not only resting his hand right on the cheek, but any "evil" laughter has devolved into... schoolboy giggling. He finally relents with a squeeze* We are in front of another door, like all the others in the Waylay.

"He's finally stopped laughing, so I assume he's stopped. But...It'd be the first time you've ever pushed me... but I think I'll fall easily. Any bed is better than a hospital bed. Yes, please." *If anything else, his back just aches from the infirmary bed.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“John, you’re just as much of a rascal as Arthur is aren’t ya?”

Parker scooped Arthur up into a bridal carry with ease, opening the door with little effort and using his foot to close it behind him.

It looked almost exactly like any other of the rooms, though the placement of the bed had shifted to have the foot of it facing towards the door rather than the side be facing it, kinda like the old couch back in their office when they were both alive.

His smile was positively lively and almost giddy at Arthur accepting the offer as he gently set the man down on the cushy mattress. His hands beside Arthur, leaning his weight onto the bed.

“These are a lot better than any motel I’ve stayed at. That’s for sure.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

The room is just like ours, but the foot of the bed is towards the door. The dresser hasn't been moved to the new spot the bed left vacant.

"Like the office? Are you that nostalgic? And trust me, you'd have a lot to aay about the places I've stayed at before getting here. Be glad you never heard of Addison"

*Arthur fiddles with Parkers collar, popping off each button slowly. John is busying himself with the cuff of Parkers shirt, rolling it up so he can knead the soft flesh of the wrist*

That's the least sexy thing you've ever said, Arthur.

"Oh hush up!"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Hey, it was a damn nice office.”

He defended himself, clearly not offended in the slightest at the remark, especially not from Arthur.

“Oh don’t tell me unless you want me to go down there personally and give em hell for bad service.”

He chuckled as his hands traveled across Arthur’s chest gently, just feeling him in his arms again; Holding him again. It was almost blissful.

“What’d ol’ John say this time? What, that complaining bout old hotel rooms ain’t the kinda bedroom talk he expected from us two?”

He smiled warmly, helping Arthur unbutton Parker’s own shirt, knowing how difficult it was to unbutton the damn things even with being able to see.

“Hell- remember that time we argued about the best cheap coffee and if it was worth the time just tryin’ to figure out a coffee maker in the office at all?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I remember the way your face lit up when I got you a coffee pot for christmas that year! Then you banned me because I can't make coffee."

Arthur what did you do?

"It doesn't matter what I did!"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“That’s cuz you burnt every batch you tried to make cuz you made it like tea.”

He kissed Arthur’s cheek, smiling softly as he started messing with the buttons on the others shirt, opening up the collar just a bit.

“Let me know if I should stop, alright? Don’t wanna make you two uncomfortable.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*Arthurs hand leaves Parker's collar to tug his open a bit, over his heart is what look like a gunshot wound, then there is what appears to be a line further down his neck before John grabs Arthurs wrist*

Arthur, are you sure you want to show this all to Parker? We can't take it back. He's looking at us with a heat in his eyes...

*Arthur kisses the top of Johns knuckles so reassure him* "I want him to see everything."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Parker’s eyes trail over the scars, an unreadable look in his eyes as he notes each one and his hand gently trail over each one by one.

“Damn Art… you got busy out there didn’t ya? Got some nasty injuries here…”

He chuckled a bit, though it was muted slightly.

“Holy shit… how did some o’ these not kill ya immediately?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John's hand drifts to the one he sewed up, but the one on Arthur's mind is the bullet over his heart* "I never said they didn't. I just... had some people insistant on bringing me back."

Parker is taking in each one, trying to read the story of each dark mark on your skin... He looks pained, seeing them there.

"Parker." *Arthur rests his hand over the other man's* "Are you...uncomfortable?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

The bar is lively, some patrons are drinking at the bar, others are eating, talking or some other activity at the surrounding tables. The stage is empty for now, its thick red curtains hanging heavily. It's nice being around more people.

"It really is. We... really haven't made much of an effort to meet anyone else here." *Arthur starts to pick his way around the crowds, letting John point anyone out to him*

There is someone pouring over a book of wedding ideas and-

"John?" *Arthur asks, stopping in the middle of the room*

Parker...

*Thankfully Arthur is already dead, because he can't breathe.*

- @mistletoe-and-music-notes

-🍻

Parker was at one of the poker tables; not actually playing but more so teaching some of the other patrons how the game worked and as soon as they had a handle on the ropes he let em have at it.

Then he noticed Arthur and he stopped in his tracks, doing a double take before his expression shifted to one of surprise.

“Art that you?”

He called over as he picked up the pace of his walk to see Arthur more clearly.

He looked… different. Not quite the same as he remembered. His eyes more sunken and look a bit more wild lol he’d seem something he couldn’t unsee, but otherwise… it was Parker. No doubt about it. Which Parker it was though was an entirely different question.

“The hell you doin’ here?”

The relieved, lopsided smile that spread across his face was so… genuine and heartfelt they could practically hear it in his tone.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John's hand twitches, unsure of what to even do.* It's Parker. I... can't be a good judge of how well he looks... but he's happy to see you. It's as real as can be. It's him. *He only has the memory of Parkers corpse in a closet*

*Arthur doesn't answer the question yet. He doesn't care if this is his Parker or not. Does it even hold weight here? Arthur instead wraps his arms around Parkers body, holding him tight while a weight melts off of his frame. How he missed that voice.*

"We- I died, Parker. Just like you. It's... I had given up hope that you might have ended up here."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Parker’s arms wrapped around Arthur in one of his giant smothering bear hugs.

“I know… I know Artie. It’s okay, we’re both here now though. That’s all that matters now.”

He shifted his weight to better support Arthur.

“If we weren’t both dead right now I’d strangle you to death for being a fucking dumbass.”

He squeezed Arthur a little tighter, making no move to strangle him. He had a habit of threatening to do things and then doing nothing to enact those things. Specifically in regard to Arthur.

“I thought I’d never see ya’ again.”

He held Arthur a bit tighter. They could feel his back popping from the force of the hug.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Fuck!" *The volume of the expletive is proportional to the pop his spine made, Arthur's ears even ring from it.*

Jesus Christ!

"Parker I... I wish I could see you. I know after everything I look different..." *He finally pulls away*

"Parker, what do you remember?"

Arthur where are you going with this? *John's voice is wary and guarded inside Arthurs head. Charlie is one thing, because John never killed Charlie.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Oh shit- sorry Art-“

He loosens his hug, taking a step back to better look at Arthur and check him over.

“God Damn- y’ look like y’ went 4 rounds in a boxin’ ring and got the snot kicked outta ya’. How the hell did that happen?”

He didn’t seem to be kidding, grimacing as he noted all the scars he didn’t recognize.

“Well- I remember the book, you mentioning the weird voice in your head, you collapsing and dropping it, you goin’ blind and leanin’ on me and that weird voice to describe shit, me thinking you were pullin’ my leg half the time until y’ up n’ ditched me-“

He was saying details that he shouldn’t know if he’d died. He… he didn’t die like he should’ve remembered.

“I was worried sick about ya for months. Some- whatever it fuckin’ was had to show up wearing your face and tell me you’d died for me to find out what happened.”

He took a breath, reaching for a pack of smokes like he always did when he got stressed.

“Assumin’ that’s not what you remember. Ain’t it? Don’t think either of us that lucky to find the needle in the haystack of whatever shit we got ourselves into.”

Lo and behind he’d lit up a cigarette to try and calm his nerves down.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

He didn't... I didn't kill him? *John's voice sounds so guilty and so hopeful at the same time...*

"Parker- you... You know about John? Parker, your body was on the floor of our office when me and John woke up. We both died, but I was uh... it's complicated." *Arthur sighs. He knew it would be too good to hope this was his Parker. But it was still there. This one still smells the same. Arthur sure it's even the same brand.* "Me and John went on the run, trying to follow any lead that would tell us what he was, or how to separate us. It's... jesus fuck I don't know where to begin."

*It's easy to see the ordeal Arthur has been through. His neck features a long slice bow the adams apple, his nose was clearly broken at least twice, and a hand sized scar cradles his right eye, nearly stretching to a torn ear. Grey hair has become sprinkled through out his auburn hair, and he's somehow thinner than when they first met.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Oh so that’s what y’ calling em!”

There was a sort of bitterness to Parker’s tone when talking about John, though nowhere near as bitter as it probably would’ve been if John had killed him.

“Yeah I know of em. You mentioned a voice in y’ head that didn’t go ‘way.”

He sighed. He had a feeling this wasn’t the Arthur he knew, but… close enough. He was close enough to the man he knew and loved that it was good enough for him to accept.

“I got no clue why your me got killed there and I didn’t but I do know you’re a damn idiot.”

he didn’t want to comment on the changes in appearance any more than he already had, but damn did he think the scars looked good on Arthur.

“The scars look good on ya’. Make y’ look like the kinda type not to fuck with.”

He hummed for a minute, thinking for a bit.

“Did’j ‘least hide the body decently?”

The humor in his tone made it apparent he was joking.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John holds out his left hand, trying to connect, to learn about the man Arthur loved so much* His smile is light. Despite the circumstances, I think he is happy to see us.

"John choose the name, actually, but..." *All color drains from Arthurs face at the last statement, Parkers stiff body is in his hands as he frantically shoves his best friend in a closet.*

*so many nights spent laughing, drinking, loving, sleeping on the same overstuffed secondhand couch. And Arthur never turned around to look at what he did*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He noticed the reaction almost immediately with a grimace, knowing that expression well.

“Sorry, sorry, bad joke- I… didn’t mean t’ press.”

He knew not to press Art when he got like that. He looked down at the offered hand with uncertainty.

“… why y’ offerin’ me y’ hand…?”

When his eyes returned to Arthur’s face there was something almost like suspicion in his eyes. Apprehension was probably the proper word for it.

“… is John doing that?”

His tone shifted with how he spoke about John, the warmth he had for Arthur missing, like he was gritting his teeth that he had to share Arthur with some… well, parasite that took his best friends eyes. And apparently, one of his arms as well.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Huh-" *Arthur feels his left arm, finding it raised* "That would be him."

It's polite, right? And If he already knows about me... then it should be like Charlie?

*"Like Charlie" Arthur's heart gives a flutter at the concept, or Parker back into his life, along side John. Honestly the idea of introducing Parker and Charlie is appealing as well... for reasons Arthur shouldn't speak out in the middle of the bar.*

"He wants to get to know you. I think uou'll like him if you can give him a chance?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Who?”

He frowns slightly, but he doesn’t pry further than that. He sighs, taking Arthu- John’s, hand.

“S’pose if I gave you a chance I can give him one too. Good to meet y’ John.”

His handshake was firm, the skin leathery and rough but not unpleasantly so. There were more than a few old scars dotting them that Arthur had probably heard the stories to at least once or twice.

His grip tightened a bit.

“John, if you give Art any trouble, I’ll give ya double that.”

His menacing expression the accompanied the threat was clearly meant for John and John alone. It disappeared pretty quickly, his other hand that wasn’t wrapped around John’s hand patting his arm.

“Glad we got that settled! I hope me can get along bud.”

His expression returned to the smile it was before.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John doesn't comment on Parkers grip, or the clear hostility in his face. He needs to bridge this gap for Arthurs sake.* Then I suppose we can't tell Parker much, huh? *The chuckle is somewhat false, but he won't tell Arthur.*

"You don't have to drag John out of a bar every night! You two will get along better that you think."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Guess that’s true. Though it wasn’t that hard t’ do though, y’ were light as a feather and it looks like y’ still are.”

He elbowed Arthur playfully, smiling warmly as he always did. It didn’t change much of how he felt about John, but if Arthur liked him… he’d give the guy a chance to earn his trust.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I started a diet." *Arthur elbows back, settling back into the easy friendship him and Parker always had. It felt so... normal.*

You still aren't back to your weight from when we first met...

"You now what, John is complaining about my poor habits, why don't we have something to eat, talk over food?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He laughed wholeheartedly.

“I’m starting to like John already!”

He gently guided the pair to a table, letting John figure out the rest after leaving the two by the chair across from him. He didn’t want to make John feel useless now, did he?

“I already ate a bit ago but feel free t’ dig int’ whatever. I’m good with just talkin’ while y’ eat.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

There's a chair to your- yes there- Parker sits across from us. If it wasn't two friends catching up I'm sure some would think this was a date.

*Arthurs ears burn at Johns commentary, grinding his heel into the left toe of his shoe. Not hard, but enough to get the point across* "I'll be honest an appetite hasn't been the easiest to find since getting here. Eating is more of a habit than a nessecity now."

Ow- Arthur the fuck?! And you need to eat!

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah I think I get that now. It’s hard t’ think ‘bout eating when you’re constantly worried ‘bout somethin’.”

He smiled easily, not pushing the matter too hard. He could tell by the way Arthur jumped slightly that something was said that he didn’t expect.

“What’d John say?”

He looked amused.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Oh, just that I needed to eat" *John pinches Arthur sharply on the back of the hand, causing him to curse and wave the pain out* "Bastard!"

What's wrong with what I said?

"Because-" *Well... he can't exactly find the words for his reasoning. John doesn't know Parker and him's history. About the fact that they never spoke about the things they did while drunk, that it was agreed that the polite thing to do was treat those moments as different men all together.* "Because it's just not nessacary."

Not nessacary. Really. Why are you being so cagey about this of all things? What is it about Parker?

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“What, did he suggest we’re…”

He struggles to find the word until he decides to just gestures vaguely before doing a sort of gesture that looked like he was limply trying to swat a fly.

“I- I don’t know if he’s gunna be able to figure out how t’ describe that-“

He felt somewhat stupid for using a visual gesture to try and communicate with his best friend who’s blind.

“I mean- only after a few drinks but he ain’t wrong.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

He's put his hand up and is letting it fall at the wrist in a sort of half-hearted "Hello"

*Oh jesus christ these two are going to be the death of him!* "Y- Both of you! Incorrigble!"

*It's not prudishness that stokes Arthur's embarrassment, similarly it isn't the fear that came from when he was alive in Arkham. In the Waylay it's quite obvious the same rules do not apply, he'd almost assume this place was meant to be a refuge for homosexuals if he wasn't dead. No, this is born from his need to stay private. He always kept certain things from Parker. His failed marrige, most details about Faroe... how long he had let his liver pickle in grief. Even his parents deaths, just that they died. That fact alone resulted in Parker pulling Arthur into every family celebration he could justify.*

*Even now Arthur has no desire to burden Parker with these emotions. The ones he held close to his chest and only let out when he was too drunk to second guess.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He had to stop himself from bursting out laughing, because he’d been right, and of course he found that rather funny.

“Hey if it makes y’ feel better I don’t mind at all. I’m glad I got to be your partner one way or another.”

He didn’t even seem bothered in the slightest, though for just a moment he seemed a bit hurt. Like some scrap of hope just got snuffed out.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...One way or another, huh?"

Arthur the look in his eyes is forlorn, avoiding us like we are the reason why.

"Was that... how close you and your Arthur were? That you could talk about it?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah- well… a lil’ more than just talking about it, I’ll admit. Took em to a few bars I knew where people would let it fly and kept shit hush hush ‘bout it.”

His face was tinting red just remembering it.

“Mainly cuz one night it sorta became somethin’ we couldn’t keep avoidin’ mentioning and had to sit down and talk ‘bout it ‘stead of never mentioning it.”

He seems… happy, thinking about the memory.

“Assumin’ you and him didn’t talk ‘bout it much, did ya?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*his hearing fizzles out for a moment before he comes back, shaking off the second of dizziness to respond* "We uh... we agreed that what happened when we were drunk was seperate from who we were sober. It was safer that way, for both of us, and his family."

And now that you're here? Now that you have Parker blushing?

"He is?"

To the ears, Arthur. I've definitely started to see why you found him so charming.

"I-I'm sure you aren't keen on me just... coming onto you."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I know but it can only happen so many times before y’ gotta address the elephant in the room. Though, family’s not really an issue now.”

He paused, looking somewhat stunned.

“I- I wouldn’t mind at all actually- I- fuck it- please do.”

his face turning even more red than it was before, looking off to the side like he expected something to interrupt the moment. Nothing interrupted.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Arthur. A day will come when we meet a man who neither wants to fuck you or fight you... but it seems that today is not that day.

So what now?

*...Arthur did not think this far ahead. Shit. Arthurs hand reaches across the table with a much softer smile, palm up for Parker to take* "Well then... John asks 'what now', and I want to know the answer too."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Parker takes it happily, smiling like he’d just won the jackpot of all time.

“Hey if I had a ring on me I’d offer it t’ ya but uh- yeah I don’t got any. Best I can offer y’ right now is this.”

He stands up from the table, not once letting Arthur’s hand go as he steps around to stand beside him, letting the man adjust to the proximity before pushing his lips to Arthur’s in a firm kiss.

As soon as he had to pull back for air, his other hand was taking John’s and pressing a kiss into his palm before looking them in the eyes.

“You two’ve clearly been through the wringer more than enough. I wanna give you somethin’ nice. You deserve it.”

This was the first time he’d flirted with Arthur sober and oh was it a whole new experience.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*Arthur utterly melts in Parkers arms, kissing him back like a man starved for years. His hand travels to the nape of Parkers neck, thin pianist fingers threading their way through his hair.*

Oh Arthur... *Johns arm snakes behind Parkers waist to pull him that much closer... until they finally break. When Parker kisses Johns hand though? He can't say a coherent thing from the shock* Arthur he- He-!

"Now what did you do to make John so flustered?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I kissed his hand. Did he think i wasn’t gunna make him feel included?”

He teased, continuing to pepper John’s hand with kisses, traveling down the arm a few times before his eyes trail back up to look at Arthur’s eyes.

“How’s he feel about that?”

He leans in a bit closer till they can practically feel his breath on Arthur’s neck. His own hand was still against Arthur’s, holding his where it was in Parker’s hair.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*The connection between John and Arthur is warm and fuzzy, the sort of tipsy one drink will bring on. But this is a better buzz than Arthur could ever know.*

I- I thought he was only here for you.

"John thought that this was going to be a... one sided affair. But I had a feeling you'd warm up to him." *Arthur cranes his neck to give Parker better access above his collared shirt. though what he does with the space is all hia own*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I wouldn’t want him t’ feel left out. Plus I wanna make the both of ya feel special. Wouldn’t make much sense to favor just you, Art. You don’t get to hog all the attention now darling.”

He pressed a quick peck to Arthur’s neck before his arms wrapped around the man’s waist and pulled him up to stand.

“Much as we can get away with here I think a bit of privacy would do us some good. What d’ya two think?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Oh god yes. I wasn't sure how much longer I could be polite."

*Johns hand taps twice against Parkers arm, a 'yes' that him and Arthur developed a long time ago for when Arthur couldn't speak*

*Or when John is rewiring his brain over the idea that not only did Parker not hate him for killing him, or taking over part of Arthur... But wants to treat John with the same affection? Arthur idolized this man, and he's starting to see why* "Please?"

"John is a bit more polite about it, he said 'please'"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Well how can I say no to that?”

He smiles as he helps lead the pair out of the dining area, though he doesn’t have the best grip on where they should be going.

“Where to then? I don’t got the best grasp on this place n’ you’ve been here longer than I have probably.”

He chuckles, finding the fact that John’s saying pleas to be rather adorable. He was starting to get why Arthur likes John so much.

“So uh- whatcha think? Where to?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...well, I don't know either. It's been about six weeks since we slept in our own room and-"

They might have already tidied it up and given it to someone else.

"-John aays it might have been given to another patron." *If you looked closely at the right side of his neck, someone could see a wound fresher than the rest peeking above his collar.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I’m sure they haven’t cleared it out yet. You’re still here aren’t ya? Could even go ask if you’re really worried.”

He took note of the other injury but didn’t comment. Not yet at least.

“if you wanna head to my room that works too. Probably not as nice though.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I wouldn't know the difference anyways! How about yours?" *Means Arthur can steal one of Parkers shirts in the morning. And... well he has a plan forming*

*John is just describing Parkers face, the walk down the hall, but his hand... is sliding to rest on Parkers tail bone.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah. I think that sounds good.”

His smile grew a bit, feeling John’s hand trail down his back like he wouldn’t notice.

He turned his head to look the two in the face, tilting his head just to silently say ‘really John?’ With the sort of coy look that wasn’t actually that serious. He just winked at John slyly.

“That and I actually know where mine is. I had a feelin’ you’d prefer mine. You’re gunna steal my cloths again aren’t you?”

He chuckled, not seeming bothered.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Maybe. Though... not for long hopefully." *Arthurs voice dips low and sweet, for Parker and John's ears only.*

*Inside, John chuckles evilly as the land continues to travel*

"What on earth are you doing?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Don’t worry bout it; you can keep em for as long as you like. I know you like the feel of em, though don’t know why you keep insisting they specifically be mine and not just the same kind I wear.”

He kisses Arthur softly on the cheek as a way of reassuring him in place of a smile.

“Oh- John’s grabbing my ass. That’s what he’s doing. Got a whole handful.”

He says it like it’s an amusing factoid.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...He's gotten very handsy."

*John starts laughing even louder in Arthurs head, but the only effect besides making Arthur feel warm and fuzzy inside, is trying to roll their eyes. Which doesn't work.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I can tell. His hand is on my ass.”

Parker slowed to a halt,

“We’re at my room now. I mean- it could be our room if that sounds alright with you- sharing a space like old times…? If that’s alright with you of course- would’t wanna push you on that-”

He started stumbling over his words trying to get them all out, looking at Arthur and John with a sort of worried expression. Like he hoped they’d say yes but expected them to say no.

“I- just thinking about how you haven’t slept in your room for so long that you might rather wanna stay in mine…?“

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John at this point is not only resting his hand right on the cheek, but any "evil" laughter has devolved into... schoolboy giggling. He finally relents with a squeeze* We are in front of another door, like all the others in the Waylay.

"He's finally stopped laughing, so I assume he's stopped. But...It'd be the first time you've ever pushed me... but I think I'll fall easily. Any bed is better than a hospital bed. Yes, please." *If anything else, his back just aches from the infirmary bed.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“John, you’re just as much of a rascal as Arthur is aren’t ya?”

Parker scooped Arthur up into a bridal carry with ease, opening the door with little effort and using his foot to close it behind him.

It looked almost exactly like any other of the rooms, though the placement of the bed had shifted to have the foot of it facing towards the door rather than the side be facing it, kinda like the old couch back in their office when they were both alive.

His smile was positively lively and almost giddy at Arthur accepting the offer as he gently set the man down on the cushy mattress. His hands beside Arthur, leaning his weight onto the bed.

“These are a lot better than any motel I’ve stayed at. That’s for sure.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

The room is just like ours, but the foot of the bed is towards the door. The dresser hasn't been moved to the new spot the bed left vacant.

"Like the office? Are you that nostalgic? And trust me, you'd have a lot to aay about the places I've stayed at before getting here. Be glad you never heard of Addison"

*Arthur fiddles with Parkers collar, popping off each button slowly. John is busying himself with the cuff of Parkers shirt, rolling it up so he can knead the soft flesh of the wrist*

That's the least sexy thing you've ever said, Arthur.

"Oh hush up!"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Hey, it was a damn nice office.”

He defended himself, clearly not offended in the slightest at the remark, especially not from Arthur.

“Oh don’t tell me unless you want me to go down there personally and give em hell for bad service.”

He chuckled as his hands traveled across Arthur’s chest gently, just feeling him in his arms again; Holding him again. It was almost blissful.

“What’d ol’ John say this time? What, that complaining bout old hotel rooms ain’t the kinda bedroom talk he expected from us two?”

He smiled warmly, helping Arthur unbutton Parker’s own shirt, knowing how difficult it was to unbutton the damn things even with being able to see.

“Hell- remember that time we argued about the best cheap coffee and if it was worth the time just tryin’ to figure out a coffee maker in the office at all?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I remember the way your face lit up when I got you a coffee pot for christmas that year! Then you banned me because I can't make coffee."

Arthur what did you do?

"It doesn't matter what I did!"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“That’s cuz you burnt every batch you tried to make cuz you made it like tea.”

He kissed Arthur’s cheek, smiling softly as he started messing with the buttons on the others shirt, opening up the collar just a bit.

“Let me know if I should stop, alright? Don’t wanna make you two uncomfortable.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*Arthurs hand leaves Parker's collar to tug his open a bit, over his heart is what look like a gunshot wound, then there is what appears to be a line further down his neck before John grabs Arthurs wrist*

Arthur, are you sure you want to show this all to Parker? We can't take it back. He's looking at us with a heat in his eyes...

*Arthur kisses the top of Johns knuckles so reassure him* "I want him to see everything."

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

On one of the few quiet days that Arthur and John were wandering around the Waylay at night; Down one of the many long hallways was a pair of lights, hovering just at Arthur’s eye level, looking at them.

The outline of a just barely visible silhouette standing there, frozen as lights flickered out and it waited in darkness. It didn’t seem to care about the dark.

🪉 @yorick-the-vanguard

Arthur stop! *John's shout pulls Arthur up short, muscles primed to run in the opposite direction from whatever danger John sees* There's something at the end of the hall- two bright lights and... I think a man in a tail coat? The ceiling lights are flickering and it's hard to make the figure out.

*In moments like these, Arthur is reminded of his lost gun, and how badly he misses it or even a knife.* "Alright..."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

The lights flickered back on again, and with the light returning to the hallway, it illuminated the figure.

Eyes no longer shining now in the bright light, and much, much closer. The proximity made the world spin slightly. If its pose wasn’t different it would be like looking in a mirror- the… man? Had the same face as Arthur, down to the same look in his eyes and the scars scattered across the visible parts of his frame.

It was about… twenty-five-ish feet away. Close enough that they could see the dark stains creeping around the back of his head and shoulders that looked far too much like dried blood.

It just… kept staring, and something in its expression looked hungry. Like it wanted to tear Arthur to shreds.

It made no further attempts to get closer to the pair, despite how it clearly seemed like it wanted too. It wasn’t human, obviously, despite what it looked like, but at the same time… it wasn’t… not, human.

It was like a human fractal.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Jesus fucking christ Arthur... it's YOU.

"W-what? John? You aren't seeing- John how?!" *Arthur starts to back in fear at the concept, having a not so great experience with the last Arthur he met.*

It's you! It's your hair, your scars! He looks to have more of them, even. I think... jesus I think there is blood flowing from the back of his head over his shoulders.

"W-what's he doing?"

He's staring at you.

"I'm starting to feel a little too much like prey, John. tell me when to run."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Its expression shifted to curious, then amused, then… fond, almost, like it was reminiscing.

“I always forget how silly we could be.”

Oh he even sounded like Arthur, and muffled behind all the- noise, The being seemed to generate, there was… there was also another John lodged into whatever it was that was in front of them.

The being seemed like he was talking to himself or some unseen audience, and John could hear the sort of chatter going on in the being somewhat. It was like it was taking note on how each little voice wanted to proceed before it did anything again.

“There’s no need for either of you to panic. I’m won’t kill you. Well, you’re already dead, but you know what I mean.”

It shrugged.

“I have no desire to give the manager any trouble and given he went to all the lengths to pull you here I wouldn’t think harming you would be a good idea.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Arthur... something is deeply wrong. It's like looking at a stained glass windows. Shards welded together to create one being. He is not human, and he is powerful.

...Is that... *Johns voice grows softer hearing his own cadence in the cacophony that "Arthur" produces*

"No. No I don't think it would be a good idea, Arthur. I've actually started to have a pleasant time here, and I'd rather it not end now. Promises to keep and all that, sure you understand." *Be faster, smarter, wittier. Like how he beat the gug, or escaped the mansion, or took down the Butcher. But this isn't like any god or man he's faces before. This is him.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

It grimaced at being called that, but hearing John call him powerful made him look rather happy.

“I haven’t gone by that name in a long time. It makes me feel… wrong. Alto. Call me Alto. Please.”

They smile pleasantly, trying to not seem too threatening to his other self.

“I’m sure you have. The waylay is a very nice place and the manager is quite the accommodating host.”

He spoke of the being rather fondly.

“I should warn you getting too close to me wouldn’t end well for either of us.”

Given the nature of how its soul is constructed… it’s easy to figure out what would happen should he get too near.

[twelve-starry-eyes]

He certainly didn't like being called Arthur... but he's also... preening. Can he hear me?

"Can you hear John? My John?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yes I can hear him. And I’m rather pleased by the compliment. Usually I’m not called powerful so it’s nice to hear now and then.”

It made sense. He was… godlike. Though, he wasn’t exactly technically among the great old ones even if he did seem to match them in power. A good descriptor would be a sort of ‘bastard god’ or knock off.

Made out of a near infinite amount of human souls stitched together.

“I can hear pretty much everything actually. It’s how I navigate usually given my eyes are practically just decorative rather than functional.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

The lights I saw were stars that hang just over his eyes, swaying with his head movements. I... am I in there, at all?

*Arthur takes a full step back, to be safe.* "You could say the same about my eyes, though I guess a better term is that I'm permanently leasing them."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Hung, John. Past tense.”

He teased light heartedly.

“But yes. There is a version of you in here with the rest of us. Your eyes are just yellow and glow like a light shining at an animal in a forest. Mine just actually glow like headlights.”

As if on cue a glimmer shone from the pair of eyes on his face, twinkling like diamonds almost.

Alto didn’t take a step forward. In fact he actually leaned back.

“Technically I don’t actually lease these eyes. I have others.”

He says that like it’s normal.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

It's you alright. He has your condescension.

"Later John? Please? Not when he can hear you?" *The words fight past Arthur's grit teeth*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

It chuckles warmly.

“It’s alright, I only mind about as much as you do, which is I don’t mind at all.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"You know how he can be." *Arthur is slowly sauntering into a false sense of security around Alto, it's night and day compared to the other Arthur they met.*

The fuck is that supposed to mean?!

"You know what it means."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Hard headed and passive aggressive with quite the poetic streak? We all know what Arthur means, don’t play dumb John.”

He smirked a bit, the chatter mostly turning into amused laughter and snickering of some shape or form depending on which piece John was listening to.

“It means we cared enough to take note on the details about you.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I was going to say bitchy."

Details?

"What do you think you know about us?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Well, I know everything about nearly every world where you made a different choice. Suffice to say I’m… effectively; every other version of you wrapped into one. I’m about as dead as dead gets.”

He rocks back and forth on the balls of his feet, an old habit Arthur had broken a long time ago.

“I know what every other version of you did, but I don’t know exactly what your deal is, but I know basically what it is from process of elimination.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Like the folder from the hotel?

"Oh? Then enlighten me. Tell me what we suffered through, what we lost, what Kayne did to us."

Arthur, if he is you, then he's going to have the same temper!

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Calm down John, I’d be more than happy to give you two the statistics on our near infinite lives that we’ve lived.”

He clears his throat like he’s about to pull out a power point presentation, as he starts giving the run down like an announcer at one of the many clubs they’d both been to and occasionally worked at.

“For cause of death; Kayne makes up over 97%, 0.7% being caused by John and or The King in Yellow, and the last 1.3% being non paranormal causes! 0.3 of which being our own fault. The last once percent is the other versions of Kayne that occasionally got us before he did.”

He’d pulled up a pie chart, which was… almost entirely Red, helpfully labeled as Kayne, with two tiny slivers, one being yellow for the smaller, and the other larger tiny slice being marked purple.

“As for life expectancy, 0.02% died before reaching adulthood, 1.43% died before the age of twenty-two, 15.58% died before thirty, 27.56% died twenty-eight, 47.87% were dead by thirty, 62.71% were dead by thirty-five, 71.03% were dead by forty, 89.43% were dead by fifty, and 99.82% were dead before retirement age. Shortest life was a month and two days, longest life was 78 years, 3 months, and 17 days. You got about the average.”

The presentation disappears in favor of being able to talk with his hands’ moving them around rather wildly.

“Our most common path in life was much like the one you took, though there are about twenty percent of us actually getting to properly persue music as a career without issue, and about thirty percent being miscellaneous or odd random offshoots that don’t much matter.”

He fidgets with his earrings, looking off to the side a bit awkwardly. It’s almost odd to see all of Arthur’s little habits on another persons body rather than their own.

“Is there anything specific you’d like to know beyond that?”

This didn’t seem like the kind of topic he wanted to dwell on for too long but didn’t want to say it aloud.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Really now? Well I'm glad to know most of you can understand how badly Kaynes fucked us over. Would you like to add some more data for those statistics?"

Arthur this is a bad idea!

"I was the pianist for a theater in Boston, I was employed until... I was employed, and then I opened that book. I lived about... eight months after that? thirty five. I was almost thirty five when Kayne decided to turn my brain into a grenade on stage! Any other information, so you can accurately tell our life story?!"

What the fuck Arthur?! Do you have any self preservation left?

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Its smile turned more… sharp, taking a few steps closer to Arthur and John.

“Our life, English.”

He bites out the nickname. The light in its eyes flaring rather suddenly as they lean closer.

“I wouldn’t have told you if you weren’t Arthur Lester. The fact that you’re still kicking at all is a fucking miracle.”

It looks almost bitter.

“You should be glad you aren’t in fucking pieces like the rest of us.”

Its voice started to… fray, the chatter in its soul bubbling to the surface and making its words reverberate somewhat oddly.

“But thank you for sharing, that helps narrow things down onto which thread of choices you are that’s still missing.”

Its form seemed to… warp, becoming almost glassy as its limbs elongated slightly and its face warped into an altered version of Arthur. Its ears longer, face tinted lavender instead of red- its lips an odd shade of purple.

“You should listen to John before I actually start listening to the little voice in the back of my head that’s neither John nor myself telling me to tear you in half.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Arthur, his features are growing more alien and menacing, we need to drop this and RUN

"Still kicking?! We went through hell to survive. we lost a so much! And then KAYNE PLUCKS US OUT OF OUR WORLD FOR HIS SICK LITTLE CHRISTMAS PAGENT"

"the payment? our our friends puppeted on stage in yy So fuck off with your damned analytics

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Do you have any idea what it’s like to have your soul split apart into tiny fucking pieces and have them left to rot in a facility of a cathedral made out of your own corpses? And when you finally get back to some semblance of consciousness, all you know is that someone hated you enough to build it? Hated you enough to place every piece by hand, and kill every single one used to make it?”

His appearance warped further, turning into some glassy amalgamation of shards in the vague shape of a person.

“Do you know how painful it is, to have someone you trust, someone you let reside in your own head and share a body with and come to care for and love, be the one to tear you apart with nothing but gleeful loathing? Do you have any idea how much that hurts? And to know that it happened over, and over, and over, and over again, knowing exactly what happened each time because you experienced each and every death first hand?”

The waylay itself warped ever so slightly as his voice raised, like watercolor paper being painted on. The tone was cold, calculated and utterly malignant.

“I have to find a way to process everything otherwise I’ll fucking collapse in on myself! I don’t have the fucking energy anymore to let it keep weighing on me, so I try to make it useful in some way. Don’t you dare tell me you two haven’t also quietly kept score of all the close calls.”

The closer it got the more Arthur could feel the… gravity, of it. How it sort of… pulled him, like a magnet, but not in any way he’d ever felt before.

“You can’t tell us that what you’ve experienced is worse than every other version of you combined, because we’ve seen it all, and you have no idea how creative he can be when he’s actually trying to torture you. If he wanted to do so, he would’ve broken your bones one by one every time you fumbled and told you to keep going until there was nothing left. You have no idea how malicious he could get when you’ve only died once.”

It was barely a few feet away, they could both hear the clinking of shards against each other as it loomed over them, far taller than it had been just moments ago.

“How about I show you?”

There was a wall forming behind them out of the same cold icy material that supposedly made up the form of the being in front of them that had once been himself.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*His own worst enemy was always himself, every doubt, fear, and flaw were projected ten times over in his own mind before John moved in. Even now, John has talked Arthur off of that ledge more times than they could count. In the dreamlands, John cried out in horror as he choked on his own blood. In the mansion when he was knocked out by Uncle, and almost bled out from being unable to tend his own would, desperate for a respite. in the caverns, impaled through and his biggest concern was taking John with him.*

*The second Kayne left the stage, their bag in hand... that he considered if a noose and fall from the catwalks would be enough to snap his neck to keep them both from being tortured by Kayne.*

*But they survived. They pushed and push and god did they push, because they had to. Because John somehow found a part of Arthur that wanted to survive, and made it into a burning pyre.*

*And while this Arthur is slow to violence... that doesn't mean he is harmless.*

*The fist goes flying into Alto's face while John shouts in fear* ARTHUR NO!

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Its hand shot up to catch the punch before it could make contact with what had once been his face.

As soon as it made contact a burning sensation burst ran down Arthur’s entire arm, like his very soul was being melted. He didn’t have proper control over his body anymore. It felt distant even when right there.

He could hear the cacophony of others- like his own thoughts were going but he had no control over them- like it was his own mind but he didn’t have much control at all, like he was being grafted onto another.

“Look what you’ve done now…”

The words rung both inside and out of Arthur’s head like in the mines, how he could sense others without being anywhere near them.

“That’s rather disappointing. I was going to leave you be till you fizzled out.”

The melting sensation continued, slowly spreading throughout his entire being. The thread entwining pieces of Alto’s soul together started to take root in Arthur, pulling away pieces one by one. Slowly.

It was an agonizing process as it slowly picked away at Arthur’s mind and soul. It was even starting to detangle Johns from Arthur as it sifted through Arthur’s memories and experiences, his life and losses.

The room had changed without either of them noticing, the lights too bright from it to get any detail from anything else. What they did know was… they weren’t in the hallway anymore.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*His parents, their corpses hang from the rafters. The first notes on a piano ever played birthing a passion. A woman who seemed different than everyone else in an entirely new country. A baby girl, reaching out for him. A toddler lying in the bottom of an overflowing tub. A man who refused to let a drunk be. a book. a god who was more human than anyone else.*

*Men fight in a cavern. Beasts fight in a wasteland. A man opens a book. A woman greets a body. A god fights for a fragment. A man fights for himself.*

*Arthur could feel it all slip away as he screamed in pain. Every minute of every memory was ripped from him like tissue paper*

*John knows what this melding is. A basterdization of his own conjoining with his "better half". The twisting, nauseating feeling of losing oneself in an ocean. Insignificant.*

*but they cling to eachother. Even as pieces of themselves pull and tear at their very cores. How could they lose eachother when their souls are braided into one rope?*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He just wanted to make his point clear by letting it start to burn before he pulled away. Except he couldn’t why couldn’t he-… Shit.

He frantically tried to pry his hand off of Arthur even with it barely budging. If he had a face to show he was panicking, it would be written all over it.

Suddenly the roots working their way in were being yanked back out, even as they tried to stick-

It hurt. Fuck, it hurt so much. Not as much as the last time this happened but it still burned as he struggled to undo what was happening.

He pulled so hard something… something broke. He didn’t know what but he toon the opportunity to rip his arm away despite the utter agony that engulfed his being as he struggled to remain upright.

He was shaking from the effort.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*Arthur is in so much pain, his entire body has been spliced and reconstructed, the pieces put together just ever so wrong. It's all so hazy, so agonizing, that as he runs his legs give out from under him, barely any strength to drag himself away.*

*Not even John can do anything. He's silent. Arthur can still feel him, but they're both frayed, minds torn open and poorly stitched shut. His hand flexes once in an attempt to get them to safety, just like when Arthur was bleeding from his gut after Kellin. But he can't do anything.*

*Numbness takes control of their body and minds, the floorboards drinking the steady trickle of blood that comes from their eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

But it does not kill them. Not in the waylay. Not with the god right next to them intent on fixing whatever damage it just caused the pair.

It can’t do much but make sure Arthur’s body is sure to recover. It doesn’t have the energy for anything else as it slowly slinks away to some dark corner It can take a nap in. And nap it does.

The damage to Alto wasn’t small either. He felt like he was on fire still, everything to hot with to much energy and yet not enough to let it out. The Waylay was just about the only safe place he could rest.

Just… five minutes wouldn’t hurt.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John's hand feebly scrapes across the floor, nails tearing as he tries to drag Arthur away, weak and unable to keep their eyes open.*

*Darkness pulls him under, losing consciousness alongside Arthur.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

By the time Arthur and John regained consciousness, Alto was long gone, the only thing left being a small pool of its blood on the ground.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...j...John?" *Arthur can barely lift his head, he's been on the floor long enough that the blood from his face has dried and glued him to the ground. His head is quiet, too quiet. His own thoughts are near slient and John isn't responding. His mind itself feels fractured and stretched, even worse than when John read from the book in Miskatonic.*

"John please... where are you?" *He slides against the wall, struggling to pull himself upright. Under his shirt he feels more blood, and it dried on his cheek too... did every scar start bleeding too? No wonder he feels so weak.*

...

...

Arthur...

"John! oh thank fuck... I thought... I thought I'd lost you!" *Arthur curls around Johns hand, sobbing into it out of relief and fear*

What... what happened? Where did Alto go and- Jesus fuck you're covered in blood!

"I don't know- I don't give a damn. We can figure it all out later for all I care!" *They've come too far, lost too much, and found something new in the waylay... and to Arthur it would have all been meaningless without John.*

...Later then.

[yorick-the-vanguard]

The bar is lively, some patrons are drinking at the bar, others are eating, talking or some other activity at the surrounding tables. The stage is empty for now, its thick red curtains hanging heavily. It's nice being around more people.

"It really is. We... really haven't made much of an effort to meet anyone else here." *Arthur starts to pick his way around the crowds, letting John point anyone out to him*

There is someone pouring over a book of wedding ideas and-

"John?" *Arthur asks, stopping in the middle of the room*

Parker...

*Thankfully Arthur is already dead, because he can't breathe.*

- @mistletoe-and-music-notes

-🍻

Parker was at one of the poker tables; not actually playing but more so teaching some of the other patrons how the game worked and as soon as they had a handle on the ropes he let em have at it.

Then he noticed Arthur and he stopped in his tracks, doing a double take before his expression shifted to one of surprise.

“Art that you?”

He called over as he picked up the pace of his walk to see Arthur more clearly.

He looked… different. Not quite the same as he remembered. His eyes more sunken and look a bit more wild lol he’d seem something he couldn’t unsee, but otherwise… it was Parker. No doubt about it. Which Parker it was though was an entirely different question.

“The hell you doin’ here?”

The relieved, lopsided smile that spread across his face was so… genuine and heartfelt they could practically hear it in his tone.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John's hand twitches, unsure of what to even do.* It's Parker. I... can't be a good judge of how well he looks... but he's happy to see you. It's as real as can be. It's him. *He only has the memory of Parkers corpse in a closet*

*Arthur doesn't answer the question yet. He doesn't care if this is his Parker or not. Does it even hold weight here? Arthur instead wraps his arms around Parkers body, holding him tight while a weight melts off of his frame. How he missed that voice.*

"We- I died, Parker. Just like you. It's... I had given up hope that you might have ended up here."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Parker’s arms wrapped around Arthur in one of his giant smothering bear hugs.

“I know… I know Artie. It’s okay, we’re both here now though. That’s all that matters now.”

He shifted his weight to better support Arthur.

“If we weren’t both dead right now I’d strangle you to death for being a fucking dumbass.”

He squeezed Arthur a little tighter, making no move to strangle him. He had a habit of threatening to do things and then doing nothing to enact those things. Specifically in regard to Arthur.

“I thought I’d never see ya’ again.”

He held Arthur a bit tighter. They could feel his back popping from the force of the hug.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Fuck!" *The volume of the expletive is proportional to the pop his spine made, Arthur's ears even ring from it.*

Jesus Christ!

"Parker I... I wish I could see you. I know after everything I look different..." *He finally pulls away*

"Parker, what do you remember?"

Arthur where are you going with this? *John's voice is wary and guarded inside Arthurs head. Charlie is one thing, because John never killed Charlie.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Oh shit- sorry Art-“

He loosens his hug, taking a step back to better look at Arthur and check him over.

“God Damn- y’ look like y’ went 4 rounds in a boxin’ ring and got the snot kicked outta ya’. How the hell did that happen?”

He didn’t seem to be kidding, grimacing as he noted all the scars he didn’t recognize.

“Well- I remember the book, you mentioning the weird voice in your head, you collapsing and dropping it, you goin’ blind and leanin’ on me and that weird voice to describe shit, me thinking you were pullin’ my leg half the time until y’ up n’ ditched me-“

He was saying details that he shouldn’t know if he’d died. He… he didn’t die like he should’ve remembered.

“I was worried sick about ya for months. Some- whatever it fuckin’ was had to show up wearing your face and tell me you’d died for me to find out what happened.”

He took a breath, reaching for a pack of smokes like he always did when he got stressed.

“Assumin’ that’s not what you remember. Ain’t it? Don’t think either of us that lucky to find the needle in the haystack of whatever shit we got ourselves into.”

Lo and behind he’d lit up a cigarette to try and calm his nerves down.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

He didn't... I didn't kill him? *John's voice sounds so guilty and so hopeful at the same time...*

"Parker- you... You know about John? Parker, your body was on the floor of our office when me and John woke up. We both died, but I was uh... it's complicated." *Arthur sighs. He knew it would be too good to hope this was his Parker. But it was still there. This one still smells the same. Arthur sure it's even the same brand.* "Me and John went on the run, trying to follow any lead that would tell us what he was, or how to separate us. It's... jesus fuck I don't know where to begin."

*It's easy to see the ordeal Arthur has been through. His neck features a long slice bow the adams apple, his nose was clearly broken at least twice, and a hand sized scar cradles his right eye, nearly stretching to a torn ear. Grey hair has become sprinkled through out his auburn hair, and he's somehow thinner than when they first met.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Oh so that’s what y’ calling em!”

There was a sort of bitterness to Parker’s tone when talking about John, though nowhere near as bitter as it probably would’ve been if John had killed him.

“Yeah I know of em. You mentioned a voice in y’ head that didn’t go ‘way.”

He sighed. He had a feeling this wasn’t the Arthur he knew, but… close enough. He was close enough to the man he knew and loved that it was good enough for him to accept.

“I got no clue why your me got killed there and I didn’t but I do know you’re a damn idiot.”

he didn’t want to comment on the changes in appearance any more than he already had, but damn did he think the scars looked good on Arthur.

“The scars look good on ya’. Make y’ look like the kinda type not to fuck with.”

He hummed for a minute, thinking for a bit.

“Did’j ‘least hide the body decently?”

The humor in his tone made it apparent he was joking.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John holds out his left hand, trying to connect, to learn about the man Arthur loved so much* His smile is light. Despite the circumstances, I think he is happy to see us.

"John choose the name, actually, but..." *All color drains from Arthurs face at the last statement, Parkers stiff body is in his hands as he frantically shoves his best friend in a closet.*

*so many nights spent laughing, drinking, loving, sleeping on the same overstuffed secondhand couch. And Arthur never turned around to look at what he did*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He noticed the reaction almost immediately with a grimace, knowing that expression well.

“Sorry, sorry, bad joke- I… didn’t mean t’ press.”

He knew not to press Art when he got like that. He looked down at the offered hand with uncertainty.

“… why y’ offerin’ me y’ hand…?”

When his eyes returned to Arthur’s face there was something almost like suspicion in his eyes. Apprehension was probably the proper word for it.

“… is John doing that?”

His tone shifted with how he spoke about John, the warmth he had for Arthur missing, like he was gritting his teeth that he had to share Arthur with some… well, parasite that took his best friends eyes. And apparently, one of his arms as well.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Huh-" *Arthur feels his left arm, finding it raised* "That would be him."

It's polite, right? And If he already knows about me... then it should be like Charlie?

*"Like Charlie" Arthur's heart gives a flutter at the concept, or Parker back into his life, along side John. Honestly the idea of introducing Parker and Charlie is appealing as well... for reasons Arthur shouldn't speak out in the middle of the bar.*

"He wants to get to know you. I think uou'll like him if you can give him a chance?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Who?”

He frowns slightly, but he doesn’t pry further than that. He sighs, taking Arthu- John’s, hand.

“S’pose if I gave you a chance I can give him one too. Good to meet y’ John.”

His handshake was firm, the skin leathery and rough but not unpleasantly so. There were more than a few old scars dotting them that Arthur had probably heard the stories to at least once or twice.

His grip tightened a bit.

“John, if you give Art any trouble, I’ll give ya double that.”

His menacing expression the accompanied the threat was clearly meant for John and John alone. It disappeared pretty quickly, his other hand that wasn’t wrapped around John’s hand patting his arm.

“Glad we got that settled! I hope me can get along bud.”

His expression returned to the smile it was before.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John doesn't comment on Parkers grip, or the clear hostility in his face. He needs to bridge this gap for Arthurs sake.* Then I suppose we can't tell Parker much, huh? *The chuckle is somewhat false, but he won't tell Arthur.*

"You don't have to drag John out of a bar every night! You two will get along better that you think."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Guess that’s true. Though it wasn’t that hard t’ do though, y’ were light as a feather and it looks like y’ still are.”

He elbowed Arthur playfully, smiling warmly as he always did. It didn’t change much of how he felt about John, but if Arthur liked him… he’d give the guy a chance to earn his trust.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I started a diet." *Arthur elbows back, settling back into the easy friendship him and Parker always had. It felt so... normal.*

You still aren't back to your weight from when we first met...

"You now what, John is complaining about my poor habits, why don't we have something to eat, talk over food?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He laughed wholeheartedly.

“I’m starting to like John already!”

He gently guided the pair to a table, letting John figure out the rest after leaving the two by the chair across from him. He didn’t want to make John feel useless now, did he?

“I already ate a bit ago but feel free t’ dig int’ whatever. I’m good with just talkin’ while y’ eat.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

There's a chair to your- yes there- Parker sits across from us. If it wasn't two friends catching up I'm sure some would think this was a date.

*Arthurs ears burn at Johns commentary, grinding his heel into the left toe of his shoe. Not hard, but enough to get the point across* "I'll be honest an appetite hasn't been the easiest to find since getting here. Eating is more of a habit than a nessecity now."

Ow- Arthur the fuck?! And you need to eat!

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah I think I get that now. It’s hard t’ think ‘bout eating when you’re constantly worried ‘bout somethin’.”

He smiled easily, not pushing the matter too hard. He could tell by the way Arthur jumped slightly that something was said that he didn’t expect.

“What’d John say?”

He looked amused.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Oh, just that I needed to eat" *John pinches Arthur sharply on the back of the hand, causing him to curse and wave the pain out* "Bastard!"

What's wrong with what I said?

"Because-" *Well... he can't exactly find the words for his reasoning. John doesn't know Parker and him's history. About the fact that they never spoke about the things they did while drunk, that it was agreed that the polite thing to do was treat those moments as different men all together.* "Because it's just not nessacary."

Not nessacary. Really. Why are you being so cagey about this of all things? What is it about Parker?

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“What, did he suggest we’re…”

He struggles to find the word until he decides to just gestures vaguely before doing a sort of gesture that looked like he was limply trying to swat a fly.

“I- I don’t know if he’s gunna be able to figure out how t’ describe that-“

He felt somewhat stupid for using a visual gesture to try and communicate with his best friend who’s blind.

“I mean- only after a few drinks but he ain’t wrong.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

He's put his hand up and is letting it fall at the wrist in a sort of half-hearted "Hello"

*Oh jesus christ these two are going to be the death of him!* "Y- Both of you! Incorrigble!"

*It's not prudishness that stokes Arthur's embarrassment, similarly it isn't the fear that came from when he was alive in Arkham. In the Waylay it's quite obvious the same rules do not apply, he'd almost assume this place was meant to be a refuge for homosexuals if he wasn't dead. No, this is born from his need to stay private. He always kept certain things from Parker. His failed marrige, most details about Faroe... how long he had let his liver pickle in grief. Even his parents deaths, just that they died. That fact alone resulted in Parker pulling Arthur into every family celebration he could justify.*

*Even now Arthur has no desire to burden Parker with these emotions. The ones he held close to his chest and only let out when he was too drunk to second guess.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He had to stop himself from bursting out laughing, because he’d been right, and of course he found that rather funny.

“Hey if it makes y’ feel better I don’t mind at all. I’m glad I got to be your partner one way or another.”

He didn’t even seem bothered in the slightest, though for just a moment he seemed a bit hurt. Like some scrap of hope just got snuffed out.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...One way or another, huh?"

Arthur the look in his eyes is forlorn, avoiding us like we are the reason why.

"Was that... how close you and your Arthur were? That you could talk about it?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah- well… a lil’ more than just talking about it, I’ll admit. Took em to a few bars I knew where people would let it fly and kept shit hush hush ‘bout it.”

His face was tinting red just remembering it.

“Mainly cuz one night it sorta became somethin’ we couldn’t keep avoidin’ mentioning and had to sit down and talk ‘bout it ‘stead of never mentioning it.”

He seems… happy, thinking about the memory.

“Assumin’ you and him didn’t talk ‘bout it much, did ya?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*his hearing fizzles out for a moment before he comes back, shaking off the second of dizziness to respond* "We uh... we agreed that what happened when we were drunk was seperate from who we were sober. It was safer that way, for both of us, and his family."

And now that you're here? Now that you have Parker blushing?

"He is?"

To the ears, Arthur. I've definitely started to see why you found him so charming.

"I-I'm sure you aren't keen on me just... coming onto you."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I know but it can only happen so many times before y’ gotta address the elephant in the room. Though, family’s not really an issue now.”

He paused, looking somewhat stunned.

“I- I wouldn’t mind at all actually- I- fuck it- please do.”

his face turning even more red than it was before, looking off to the side like he expected something to interrupt the moment. Nothing interrupted.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Arthur. A day will come when we meet a man who neither wants to fuck you or fight you... but it seems that today is not that day.

So what now?

*...Arthur did not think this far ahead. Shit. Arthurs hand reaches across the table with a much softer smile, palm up for Parker to take* "Well then... John asks 'what now', and I want to know the answer too."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Parker takes it happily, smiling like he’d just won the jackpot of all time.

“Hey if I had a ring on me I’d offer it t’ ya but uh- yeah I don’t got any. Best I can offer y’ right now is this.”

He stands up from the table, not once letting Arthur’s hand go as he steps around to stand beside him, letting the man adjust to the proximity before pushing his lips to Arthur’s in a firm kiss.

As soon as he had to pull back for air, his other hand was taking John’s and pressing a kiss into his palm before looking them in the eyes.

“You two’ve clearly been through the wringer more than enough. I wanna give you somethin’ nice. You deserve it.”

This was the first time he’d flirted with Arthur sober and oh was it a whole new experience.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*Arthur utterly melts in Parkers arms, kissing him back like a man starved for years. His hand travels to the nape of Parkers neck, thin pianist fingers threading their way through his hair.*

Oh Arthur... *Johns arm snakes behind Parkers waist to pull him that much closer... until they finally break. When Parker kisses Johns hand though? He can't say a coherent thing from the shock* Arthur he- He-!

"Now what did you do to make John so flustered?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I kissed his hand. Did he think i wasn’t gunna make him feel included?”

He teased, continuing to pepper John’s hand with kisses, traveling down the arm a few times before his eyes trail back up to look at Arthur’s eyes.

“How’s he feel about that?”

He leans in a bit closer till they can practically feel his breath on Arthur’s neck. His own hand was still against Arthur’s, holding his where it was in Parker’s hair.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*The connection between John and Arthur is warm and fuzzy, the sort of tipsy one drink will bring on. But this is a better buzz than Arthur could ever know.*

I- I thought he was only here for you.

"John thought that this was going to be a... one sided affair. But I had a feeling you'd warm up to him." *Arthur cranes his neck to give Parker better access above his collared shirt. though what he does with the space is all hia own*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I wouldn’t want him t’ feel left out. Plus I wanna make the both of ya feel special. Wouldn’t make much sense to favor just you, Art. You don’t get to hog all the attention now darling.”

He pressed a quick peck to Arthur’s neck before his arms wrapped around the man’s waist and pulled him up to stand.

“Much as we can get away with here I think a bit of privacy would do us some good. What d’ya two think?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Oh god yes. I wasn't sure how much longer I could be polite."

*Johns hand taps twice against Parkers arm, a 'yes' that him and Arthur developed a long time ago for when Arthur couldn't speak*

*Or when John is rewiring his brain over the idea that not only did Parker not hate him for killing him, or taking over part of Arthur... But wants to treat John with the same affection? Arthur idolized this man, and he's starting to see why* "Please?"

"John is a bit more polite about it, he said 'please'"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Well how can I say no to that?”

He smiles as he helps lead the pair out of the dining area, though he doesn’t have the best grip on where they should be going.

“Where to then? I don’t got the best grasp on this place n’ you’ve been here longer than I have probably.”

He chuckles, finding the fact that John’s saying pleas to be rather adorable. He was starting to get why Arthur likes John so much.

“So uh- whatcha think? Where to?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...well, I don't know either. It's been about six weeks since we slept in our own room and-"

They might have already tidied it up and given it to someone else.

"-John aays it might have been given to another patron." *If you looked closely at the right side of his neck, someone could see a wound fresher than the rest peeking above his collar.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I’m sure they haven’t cleared it out yet. You’re still here aren’t ya? Could even go ask if you’re really worried.”

He took note of the other injury but didn’t comment. Not yet at least.

“if you wanna head to my room that works too. Probably not as nice though.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I wouldn't know the difference anyways! How about yours?" *Means Arthur can steal one of Parkers shirts in the morning. And... well he has a plan forming*

*John is just describing Parkers face, the walk down the hall, but his hand... is sliding to rest on Parkers tail bone.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah. I think that sounds good.”

His smile grew a bit, feeling John’s hand trail down his back like he wouldn’t notice.

He turned his head to look the two in the face, tilting his head just to silently say ‘really John?’ With the sort of coy look that wasn’t actually that serious. He just winked at John slyly.

“That and I actually know where mine is. I had a feelin’ you’d prefer mine. You’re gunna steal my cloths again aren’t you?”

He chuckled, not seeming bothered.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Maybe. Though... not for long hopefully." *Arthurs voice dips low and sweet, for Parker and John's ears only.*

*Inside, John chuckles evilly as the land continues to travel*

"What on earth are you doing?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Don’t worry bout it; you can keep em for as long as you like. I know you like the feel of em, though don’t know why you keep insisting they specifically be mine and not just the same kind I wear.”

He kisses Arthur softly on the cheek as a way of reassuring him in place of a smile.

“Oh- John’s grabbing my ass. That’s what he’s doing. Got a whole handful.”

He says it like it’s an amusing factoid.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...He's gotten very handsy."

*John starts laughing even louder in Arthurs head, but the only effect besides making Arthur feel warm and fuzzy inside, is trying to roll their eyes. Which doesn't work.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I can tell. His hand is on my ass.”

Parker slowed to a halt,

“We’re at my room now. I mean- it could be our room if that sounds alright with you- sharing a space like old times…? If that’s alright with you of course- would’t wanna push you on that-”

He started stumbling over his words trying to get them all out, looking at Arthur and John with a sort of worried expression. Like he hoped they’d say yes but expected them to say no.

“I- just thinking about how you haven’t slept in your room for so long that you might rather wanna stay in mine…?“

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John at this point is not only resting his hand right on the cheek, but any "evil" laughter has devolved into... schoolboy giggling. He finally relents with a squeeze* We are in front of another door, like all the others in the Waylay.

"He's finally stopped laughing, so I assume he's stopped. But...It'd be the first time you've ever pushed me... but I think I'll fall easily. Any bed is better than a hospital bed. Yes, please." *If anything else, his back just aches from the infirmary bed.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“John, you’re just as much of a rascal as Arthur is aren’t ya?”

Parker scooped Arthur up into a bridal carry with ease, opening the door with little effort and using his foot to close it behind him.

It looked almost exactly like any other of the rooms, though the placement of the bed had shifted to have the foot of it facing towards the door rather than the side be facing it, kinda like the old couch back in their office when they were both alive.

His smile was positively lively and almost giddy at Arthur accepting the offer as he gently set the man down on the cushy mattress. His hands beside Arthur, leaning his weight onto the bed.

“These are a lot better than any motel I’ve stayed at. That’s for sure.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

The room is just like ours, but the foot of the bed is towards the door. The dresser hasn't been moved to the new spot the bed left vacant.

"Like the office? Are you that nostalgic? And trust me, you'd have a lot to aay about the places I've stayed at before getting here. Be glad you never heard of Addison"

*Arthur fiddles with Parkers collar, popping off each button slowly. John is busying himself with the cuff of Parkers shirt, rolling it up so he can knead the soft flesh of the wrist*

That's the least sexy thing you've ever said, Arthur.

"Oh hush up!"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Hey, it was a damn nice office.”

He defended himself, clearly not offended in the slightest at the remark, especially not from Arthur.

“Oh don’t tell me unless you want me to go down there personally and give em hell for bad service.”

He chuckled as his hands traveled across Arthur’s chest gently, just feeling him in his arms again; Holding him again. It was almost blissful.

“What’d ol’ John say this time? What, that complaining bout old hotel rooms ain’t the kinda bedroom talk he expected from us two?”

He smiled warmly, helping Arthur unbutton Parker’s own shirt, knowing how difficult it was to unbutton the damn things even with being able to see.

“Hell- remember that time we argued about the best cheap coffee and if it was worth the time just tryin’ to figure out a coffee maker in the office at all?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I remember the way your face lit up when I got you a coffee pot for christmas that year! Then you banned me because I can't make coffee."

Arthur what did you do?

"It doesn't matter what I did!"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

The bar is lively, some patrons are drinking at the bar, others are eating, talking or some other activity at the surrounding tables. The stage is empty for now, its thick red curtains hanging heavily. It's nice being around more people.

"It really is. We... really haven't made much of an effort to meet anyone else here." *Arthur starts to pick his way around the crowds, letting John point anyone out to him*

There is someone pouring over a book of wedding ideas and-

"John?" *Arthur asks, stopping in the middle of the room*

Parker...

*Thankfully Arthur is already dead, because he can't breathe.*

- @mistletoe-and-music-notes

-🍻

Parker was at one of the poker tables; not actually playing but more so teaching some of the other patrons how the game worked and as soon as they had a handle on the ropes he let em have at it.

Then he noticed Arthur and he stopped in his tracks, doing a double take before his expression shifted to one of surprise.

“Art that you?”

He called over as he picked up the pace of his walk to see Arthur more clearly.

He looked… different. Not quite the same as he remembered. His eyes more sunken and look a bit more wild lol he’d seem something he couldn’t unsee, but otherwise… it was Parker. No doubt about it. Which Parker it was though was an entirely different question.

“The hell you doin’ here?”

The relieved, lopsided smile that spread across his face was so… genuine and heartfelt they could practically hear it in his tone.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John's hand twitches, unsure of what to even do.* It's Parker. I... can't be a good judge of how well he looks... but he's happy to see you. It's as real as can be. It's him. *He only has the memory of Parkers corpse in a closet*

*Arthur doesn't answer the question yet. He doesn't care if this is his Parker or not. Does it even hold weight here? Arthur instead wraps his arms around Parkers body, holding him tight while a weight melts off of his frame. How he missed that voice.*

"We- I died, Parker. Just like you. It's... I had given up hope that you might have ended up here."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Parker’s arms wrapped around Arthur in one of his giant smothering bear hugs.

“I know… I know Artie. It’s okay, we’re both here now though. That’s all that matters now.”

He shifted his weight to better support Arthur.

“If we weren’t both dead right now I’d strangle you to death for being a fucking dumbass.”

He squeezed Arthur a little tighter, making no move to strangle him. He had a habit of threatening to do things and then doing nothing to enact those things. Specifically in regard to Arthur.

“I thought I’d never see ya’ again.”

He held Arthur a bit tighter. They could feel his back popping from the force of the hug.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Fuck!" *The volume of the expletive is proportional to the pop his spine made, Arthur's ears even ring from it.*

Jesus Christ!

"Parker I... I wish I could see you. I know after everything I look different..." *He finally pulls away*

"Parker, what do you remember?"

Arthur where are you going with this? *John's voice is wary and guarded inside Arthurs head. Charlie is one thing, because John never killed Charlie.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Oh shit- sorry Art-“

He loosens his hug, taking a step back to better look at Arthur and check him over.

“God Damn- y’ look like y’ went 4 rounds in a boxin’ ring and got the snot kicked outta ya’. How the hell did that happen?”

He didn’t seem to be kidding, grimacing as he noted all the scars he didn’t recognize.

“Well- I remember the book, you mentioning the weird voice in your head, you collapsing and dropping it, you goin’ blind and leanin’ on me and that weird voice to describe shit, me thinking you were pullin’ my leg half the time until y’ up n’ ditched me-“

He was saying details that he shouldn’t know if he’d died. He… he didn’t die like he should’ve remembered.

“I was worried sick about ya for months. Some- whatever it fuckin’ was had to show up wearing your face and tell me you’d died for me to find out what happened.”

He took a breath, reaching for a pack of smokes like he always did when he got stressed.

“Assumin’ that’s not what you remember. Ain’t it? Don’t think either of us that lucky to find the needle in the haystack of whatever shit we got ourselves into.”

Lo and behind he’d lit up a cigarette to try and calm his nerves down.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

He didn't... I didn't kill him? *John's voice sounds so guilty and so hopeful at the same time...*

"Parker- you... You know about John? Parker, your body was on the floor of our office when me and John woke up. We both died, but I was uh... it's complicated." *Arthur sighs. He knew it would be too good to hope this was his Parker. But it was still there. This one still smells the same. Arthur sure it's even the same brand.* "Me and John went on the run, trying to follow any lead that would tell us what he was, or how to separate us. It's... jesus fuck I don't know where to begin."

*It's easy to see the ordeal Arthur has been through. His neck features a long slice bow the adams apple, his nose was clearly broken at least twice, and a hand sized scar cradles his right eye, nearly stretching to a torn ear. Grey hair has become sprinkled through out his auburn hair, and he's somehow thinner than when they first met.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Oh so that’s what y’ calling em!”

There was a sort of bitterness to Parker’s tone when talking about John, though nowhere near as bitter as it probably would’ve been if John had killed him.

“Yeah I know of em. You mentioned a voice in y’ head that didn’t go ‘way.”

He sighed. He had a feeling this wasn’t the Arthur he knew, but… close enough. He was close enough to the man he knew and loved that it was good enough for him to accept.

“I got no clue why your me got killed there and I didn’t but I do know you’re a damn idiot.”

he didn’t want to comment on the changes in appearance any more than he already had, but damn did he think the scars looked good on Arthur.

“The scars look good on ya’. Make y’ look like the kinda type not to fuck with.”

He hummed for a minute, thinking for a bit.

“Did’j ‘least hide the body decently?”

The humor in his tone made it apparent he was joking.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John holds out his left hand, trying to connect, to learn about the man Arthur loved so much* His smile is light. Despite the circumstances, I think he is happy to see us.

"John choose the name, actually, but..." *All color drains from Arthurs face at the last statement, Parkers stiff body is in his hands as he frantically shoves his best friend in a closet.*

*so many nights spent laughing, drinking, loving, sleeping on the same overstuffed secondhand couch. And Arthur never turned around to look at what he did*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He noticed the reaction almost immediately with a grimace, knowing that expression well.

“Sorry, sorry, bad joke- I… didn’t mean t’ press.”

He knew not to press Art when he got like that. He looked down at the offered hand with uncertainty.

“… why y’ offerin’ me y’ hand…?”

When his eyes returned to Arthur’s face there was something almost like suspicion in his eyes. Apprehension was probably the proper word for it.

“… is John doing that?”

His tone shifted with how he spoke about John, the warmth he had for Arthur missing, like he was gritting his teeth that he had to share Arthur with some… well, parasite that took his best friends eyes. And apparently, one of his arms as well.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Huh-" *Arthur feels his left arm, finding it raised* "That would be him."

It's polite, right? And If he already knows about me... then it should be like Charlie?

*"Like Charlie" Arthur's heart gives a flutter at the concept, or Parker back into his life, along side John. Honestly the idea of introducing Parker and Charlie is appealing as well... for reasons Arthur shouldn't speak out in the middle of the bar.*

"He wants to get to know you. I think uou'll like him if you can give him a chance?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Who?”

He frowns slightly, but he doesn’t pry further than that. He sighs, taking Arthu- John’s, hand.

“S’pose if I gave you a chance I can give him one too. Good to meet y’ John.”

His handshake was firm, the skin leathery and rough but not unpleasantly so. There were more than a few old scars dotting them that Arthur had probably heard the stories to at least once or twice.

His grip tightened a bit.

“John, if you give Art any trouble, I’ll give ya double that.”

His menacing expression the accompanied the threat was clearly meant for John and John alone. It disappeared pretty quickly, his other hand that wasn’t wrapped around John’s hand patting his arm.

“Glad we got that settled! I hope me can get along bud.”

His expression returned to the smile it was before.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John doesn't comment on Parkers grip, or the clear hostility in his face. He needs to bridge this gap for Arthurs sake.* Then I suppose we can't tell Parker much, huh? *The chuckle is somewhat false, but he won't tell Arthur.*

"You don't have to drag John out of a bar every night! You two will get along better that you think."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Guess that’s true. Though it wasn’t that hard t’ do though, y’ were light as a feather and it looks like y’ still are.”

He elbowed Arthur playfully, smiling warmly as he always did. It didn’t change much of how he felt about John, but if Arthur liked him… he’d give the guy a chance to earn his trust.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I started a diet." *Arthur elbows back, settling back into the easy friendship him and Parker always had. It felt so... normal.*

You still aren't back to your weight from when we first met...

"You now what, John is complaining about my poor habits, why don't we have something to eat, talk over food?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He laughed wholeheartedly.

“I’m starting to like John already!”

He gently guided the pair to a table, letting John figure out the rest after leaving the two by the chair across from him. He didn’t want to make John feel useless now, did he?

“I already ate a bit ago but feel free t’ dig int’ whatever. I’m good with just talkin’ while y’ eat.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

There's a chair to your- yes there- Parker sits across from us. If it wasn't two friends catching up I'm sure some would think this was a date.

*Arthurs ears burn at Johns commentary, grinding his heel into the left toe of his shoe. Not hard, but enough to get the point across* "I'll be honest an appetite hasn't been the easiest to find since getting here. Eating is more of a habit than a nessecity now."

Ow- Arthur the fuck?! And you need to eat!

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah I think I get that now. It’s hard t’ think ‘bout eating when you’re constantly worried ‘bout somethin’.”

He smiled easily, not pushing the matter too hard. He could tell by the way Arthur jumped slightly that something was said that he didn’t expect.

“What’d John say?”

He looked amused.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Oh, just that I needed to eat" *John pinches Arthur sharply on the back of the hand, causing him to curse and wave the pain out* "Bastard!"

What's wrong with what I said?

"Because-" *Well... he can't exactly find the words for his reasoning. John doesn't know Parker and him's history. About the fact that they never spoke about the things they did while drunk, that it was agreed that the polite thing to do was treat those moments as different men all together.* "Because it's just not nessacary."

Not nessacary. Really. Why are you being so cagey about this of all things? What is it about Parker?

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“What, did he suggest we’re…”

He struggles to find the word until he decides to just gestures vaguely before doing a sort of gesture that looked like he was limply trying to swat a fly.

“I- I don’t know if he’s gunna be able to figure out how t’ describe that-“

He felt somewhat stupid for using a visual gesture to try and communicate with his best friend who’s blind.

“I mean- only after a few drinks but he ain’t wrong.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

He's put his hand up and is letting it fall at the wrist in a sort of half-hearted "Hello"

*Oh jesus christ these two are going to be the death of him!* "Y- Both of you! Incorrigble!"

*It's not prudishness that stokes Arthur's embarrassment, similarly it isn't the fear that came from when he was alive in Arkham. In the Waylay it's quite obvious the same rules do not apply, he'd almost assume this place was meant to be a refuge for homosexuals if he wasn't dead. No, this is born from his need to stay private. He always kept certain things from Parker. His failed marrige, most details about Faroe... how long he had let his liver pickle in grief. Even his parents deaths, just that they died. That fact alone resulted in Parker pulling Arthur into every family celebration he could justify.*

*Even now Arthur has no desire to burden Parker with these emotions. The ones he held close to his chest and only let out when he was too drunk to second guess.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He had to stop himself from bursting out laughing, because he’d been right, and of course he found that rather funny.

“Hey if it makes y’ feel better I don’t mind at all. I’m glad I got to be your partner one way or another.”

He didn’t even seem bothered in the slightest, though for just a moment he seemed a bit hurt. Like some scrap of hope just got snuffed out.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...One way or another, huh?"

Arthur the look in his eyes is forlorn, avoiding us like we are the reason why.

"Was that... how close you and your Arthur were? That you could talk about it?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah- well… a lil’ more than just talking about it, I’ll admit. Took em to a few bars I knew where people would let it fly and kept shit hush hush ‘bout it.”

His face was tinting red just remembering it.

“Mainly cuz one night it sorta became somethin’ we couldn’t keep avoidin’ mentioning and had to sit down and talk ‘bout it ‘stead of never mentioning it.”

He seems… happy, thinking about the memory.

“Assumin’ you and him didn’t talk ‘bout it much, did ya?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*his hearing fizzles out for a moment before he comes back, shaking off the second of dizziness to respond* "We uh... we agreed that what happened when we were drunk was seperate from who we were sober. It was safer that way, for both of us, and his family."

And now that you're here? Now that you have Parker blushing?

"He is?"

To the ears, Arthur. I've definitely started to see why you found him so charming.

"I-I'm sure you aren't keen on me just... coming onto you."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I know but it can only happen so many times before y’ gotta address the elephant in the room. Though, family’s not really an issue now.”

He paused, looking somewhat stunned.

“I- I wouldn’t mind at all actually- I- fuck it- please do.”

his face turning even more red than it was before, looking off to the side like he expected something to interrupt the moment. Nothing interrupted.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Arthur. A day will come when we meet a man who neither wants to fuck you or fight you... but it seems that today is not that day.

So what now?

*...Arthur did not think this far ahead. Shit. Arthurs hand reaches across the table with a much softer smile, palm up for Parker to take* "Well then... John asks 'what now', and I want to know the answer too."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Parker takes it happily, smiling like he’d just won the jackpot of all time.

“Hey if I had a ring on me I’d offer it t’ ya but uh- yeah I don’t got any. Best I can offer y’ right now is this.”

He stands up from the table, not once letting Arthur’s hand go as he steps around to stand beside him, letting the man adjust to the proximity before pushing his lips to Arthur’s in a firm kiss.

As soon as he had to pull back for air, his other hand was taking John’s and pressing a kiss into his palm before looking them in the eyes.

“You two’ve clearly been through the wringer more than enough. I wanna give you somethin’ nice. You deserve it.”

This was the first time he’d flirted with Arthur sober and oh was it a whole new experience.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*Arthur utterly melts in Parkers arms, kissing him back like a man starved for years. His hand travels to the nape of Parkers neck, thin pianist fingers threading their way through his hair.*

Oh Arthur... *Johns arm snakes behind Parkers waist to pull him that much closer... until they finally break. When Parker kisses Johns hand though? He can't say a coherent thing from the shock* Arthur he- He-!

"Now what did you do to make John so flustered?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I kissed his hand. Did he think i wasn’t gunna make him feel included?”

He teased, continuing to pepper John’s hand with kisses, traveling down the arm a few times before his eyes trail back up to look at Arthur’s eyes.

“How’s he feel about that?”

He leans in a bit closer till they can practically feel his breath on Arthur’s neck. His own hand was still against Arthur’s, holding his where it was in Parker’s hair.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*The connection between John and Arthur is warm and fuzzy, the sort of tipsy one drink will bring on. But this is a better buzz than Arthur could ever know.*

I- I thought he was only here for you.

"John thought that this was going to be a... one sided affair. But I had a feeling you'd warm up to him." *Arthur cranes his neck to give Parker better access above his collared shirt. though what he does with the space is all hia own*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I wouldn’t want him t’ feel left out. Plus I wanna make the both of ya feel special. Wouldn’t make much sense to favor just you, Art. You don’t get to hog all the attention now darling.”

He pressed a quick peck to Arthur’s neck before his arms wrapped around the man’s waist and pulled him up to stand.

“Much as we can get away with here I think a bit of privacy would do us some good. What d’ya two think?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Oh god yes. I wasn't sure how much longer I could be polite."

*Johns hand taps twice against Parkers arm, a 'yes' that him and Arthur developed a long time ago for when Arthur couldn't speak*

*Or when John is rewiring his brain over the idea that not only did Parker not hate him for killing him, or taking over part of Arthur... But wants to treat John with the same affection? Arthur idolized this man, and he's starting to see why* "Please?"

"John is a bit more polite about it, he said 'please'"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Well how can I say no to that?”

He smiles as he helps lead the pair out of the dining area, though he doesn’t have the best grip on where they should be going.

“Where to then? I don’t got the best grasp on this place n’ you’ve been here longer than I have probably.”

He chuckles, finding the fact that John’s saying pleas to be rather adorable. He was starting to get why Arthur likes John so much.

“So uh- whatcha think? Where to?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...well, I don't know either. It's been about six weeks since we slept in our own room and-"

They might have already tidied it up and given it to someone else.

"-John aays it might have been given to another patron." *If you looked closely at the right side of his neck, someone could see a wound fresher than the rest peeking above his collar.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I’m sure they haven’t cleared it out yet. You’re still here aren’t ya? Could even go ask if you’re really worried.”

He took note of the other injury but didn’t comment. Not yet at least.

“if you wanna head to my room that works too. Probably not as nice though.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I wouldn't know the difference anyways! How about yours?" *Means Arthur can steal one of Parkers shirts in the morning. And... well he has a plan forming*

*John is just describing Parkers face, the walk down the hall, but his hand... is sliding to rest on Parkers tail bone.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah. I think that sounds good.”

His smile grew a bit, feeling John’s hand trail down his back like he wouldn’t notice.

He turned his head to look the two in the face, tilting his head just to silently say ‘really John?’ With the sort of coy look that wasn’t actually that serious. He just winked at John slyly.

“That and I actually know where mine is. I had a feelin’ you’d prefer mine. You’re gunna steal my cloths again aren’t you?”

He chuckled, not seeming bothered.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Maybe. Though... not for long hopefully." *Arthurs voice dips low and sweet, for Parker and John's ears only.*

*Inside, John chuckles evilly as the land continues to travel*

"What on earth are you doing?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Don’t worry bout it; you can keep em for as long as you like. I know you like the feel of em, though don’t know why you keep insisting they specifically be mine and not just the same kind I wear.”

He kisses Arthur softly on the cheek as a way of reassuring him in place of a smile.

“Oh- John’s grabbing my ass. That’s what he’s doing. Got a whole handful.”

He says it like it’s an amusing factoid.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...He's gotten very handsy."

*John starts laughing even louder in Arthurs head, but the only effect besides making Arthur feel warm and fuzzy inside, is trying to roll their eyes. Which doesn't work.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I can tell. His hand is on my ass.”

Parker slowed to a halt,

“We’re at my room now. I mean- it could be our room if that sounds alright with you- sharing a space like old times…? If that’s alright with you of course- would’t wanna push you on that-”

He started stumbling over his words trying to get them all out, looking at Arthur and John with a sort of worried expression. Like he hoped they’d say yes but expected them to say no.

“I- just thinking about how you haven’t slept in your room for so long that you might rather wanna stay in mine…?“

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John at this point is not only resting his hand right on the cheek, but any "evil" laughter has devolved into... schoolboy giggling. He finally relents with a squeeze* We are in front of another door, like all the others in the Waylay.

"He's finally stopped laughing, so I assume he's stopped. But...It'd be the first time you've ever pushed me... but I think I'll fall easily. Any bed is better than a hospital bed. Yes, please." *If anything else, his back just aches from the infirmary bed.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“John, you’re just as much of a rascal as Arthur is aren’t ya?”

Parker scooped Arthur up into a bridal carry with ease, opening the door with little effort and using his foot to close it behind him.

It looked almost exactly like any other of the rooms, though the placement of the bed had shifted to have the foot of it facing towards the door rather than the side be facing it, kinda like the old couch back in their office when they were both alive.

His smile was positively lively and almost giddy at Arthur accepting the offer as he gently set the man down on the cushy mattress. His hands beside Arthur, leaning his weight onto the bed.

“These are a lot better than any motel I’ve stayed at. That’s for sure.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

The room is just like ours, but the foot of the bed is towards the door. The dresser hasn't been moved to the new spot the bed left vacant.

"Like the office? Are you that nostalgic? And trust me, you'd have a lot to aay about the places I've stayed at before getting here. Be glad you never heard of Addison"

*Arthur fiddles with Parkers collar, popping off each button slowly. John is busying himself with the cuff of Parkers shirt, rolling it up so he can knead the soft flesh of the wrist*

That's the least sexy thing you've ever said, Arthur.

"Oh hush up!"

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

On one of the few quiet days that Arthur and John were wandering around the Waylay at night; Down one of the many long hallways was a pair of lights, hovering just at Arthur’s eye level, looking at them.

The outline of a just barely visible silhouette standing there, frozen as lights flickered out and it waited in darkness. It didn’t seem to care about the dark.

🪉 @yorick-the-vanguard

Arthur stop! *John's shout pulls Arthur up short, muscles primed to run in the opposite direction from whatever danger John sees* There's something at the end of the hall- two bright lights and... I think a man in a tail coat? The ceiling lights are flickering and it's hard to make the figure out.

*In moments like these, Arthur is reminded of his lost gun, and how badly he misses it or even a knife.* "Alright..."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

The lights flickered back on again, and with the light returning to the hallway, it illuminated the figure.

Eyes no longer shining now in the bright light, and much, much closer. The proximity made the world spin slightly. If its pose wasn’t different it would be like looking in a mirror- the… man? Had the same face as Arthur, down to the same look in his eyes and the scars scattered across the visible parts of his frame.

It was about… twenty-five-ish feet away. Close enough that they could see the dark stains creeping around the back of his head and shoulders that looked far too much like dried blood.

It just… kept staring, and something in its expression looked hungry. Like it wanted to tear Arthur to shreds.

It made no further attempts to get closer to the pair, despite how it clearly seemed like it wanted too. It wasn’t human, obviously, despite what it looked like, but at the same time… it wasn’t… not, human.

It was like a human fractal.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Jesus fucking christ Arthur... it's YOU.

"W-what? John? You aren't seeing- John how?!" *Arthur starts to back in fear at the concept, having a not so great experience with the last Arthur he met.*

It's you! It's your hair, your scars! He looks to have more of them, even. I think... jesus I think there is blood flowing from the back of his head over his shoulders.

"W-what's he doing?"

He's staring at you.

"I'm starting to feel a little too much like prey, John. tell me when to run."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Its expression shifted to curious, then amused, then… fond, almost, like it was reminiscing.

“I always forget how silly we could be.”

Oh he even sounded like Arthur, and muffled behind all the- noise, The being seemed to generate, there was… there was also another John lodged into whatever it was that was in front of them.

The being seemed like he was talking to himself or some unseen audience, and John could hear the sort of chatter going on in the being somewhat. It was like it was taking note on how each little voice wanted to proceed before it did anything again.

“There’s no need for either of you to panic. I’m won’t kill you. Well, you’re already dead, but you know what I mean.”

It shrugged.

“I have no desire to give the manager any trouble and given he went to all the lengths to pull you here I wouldn’t think harming you would be a good idea.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Arthur... something is deeply wrong. It's like looking at a stained glass windows. Shards welded together to create one being. He is not human, and he is powerful.

...Is that... *Johns voice grows softer hearing his own cadence in the cacophony that "Arthur" produces*

"No. No I don't think it would be a good idea, Arthur. I've actually started to have a pleasant time here, and I'd rather it not end now. Promises to keep and all that, sure you understand." *Be faster, smarter, wittier. Like how he beat the gug, or escaped the mansion, or took down the Butcher. But this isn't like any god or man he's faces before. This is him.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

It grimaced at being called that, but hearing John call him powerful made him look rather happy.

“I haven’t gone by that name in a long time. It makes me feel… wrong. Alto. Call me Alto. Please.”

They smile pleasantly, trying to not seem too threatening to his other self.

“I’m sure you have. The waylay is a very nice place and the manager is quite the accommodating host.”

He spoke of the being rather fondly.

“I should warn you getting too close to me wouldn’t end well for either of us.”

Given the nature of how its soul is constructed… it’s easy to figure out what would happen should he get too near.

[twelve-starry-eyes]

He certainly didn't like being called Arthur... but he's also... preening. Can he hear me?

"Can you hear John? My John?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yes I can hear him. And I’m rather pleased by the compliment. Usually I’m not called powerful so it’s nice to hear now and then.”

It made sense. He was… godlike. Though, he wasn’t exactly technically among the great old ones even if he did seem to match them in power. A good descriptor would be a sort of ‘bastard god’ or knock off.

Made out of a near infinite amount of human souls stitched together.

“I can hear pretty much everything actually. It’s how I navigate usually given my eyes are practically just decorative rather than functional.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

The lights I saw were stars that hang just over his eyes, swaying with his head movements. I... am I in there, at all?

*Arthur takes a full step back, to be safe.* "You could say the same about my eyes, though I guess a better term is that I'm permanently leasing them."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Hung, John. Past tense.”

He teased light heartedly.

“But yes. There is a version of you in here with the rest of us. Your eyes are just yellow and glow like a light shining at an animal in a forest. Mine just actually glow like headlights.”

As if on cue a glimmer shone from the pair of eyes on his face, twinkling like diamonds almost.

Alto didn’t take a step forward. In fact he actually leaned back.

“Technically I don’t actually lease these eyes. I have others.”

He says that like it’s normal.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

It's you alright. He has your condescension.

"Later John? Please? Not when he can hear you?" *The words fight past Arthur's grit teeth*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

It chuckles warmly.

“It’s alright, I only mind about as much as you do, which is I don’t mind at all.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"You know how he can be." *Arthur is slowly sauntering into a false sense of security around Alto, it's night and day compared to the other Arthur they met.*

The fuck is that supposed to mean?!

"You know what it means."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Hard headed and passive aggressive with quite the poetic streak? We all know what Arthur means, don’t play dumb John.”

He smirked a bit, the chatter mostly turning into amused laughter and snickering of some shape or form depending on which piece John was listening to.

“It means we cared enough to take note on the details about you.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I was going to say bitchy."

Details?

"What do you think you know about us?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Well, I know everything about nearly every world where you made a different choice. Suffice to say I’m… effectively; every other version of you wrapped into one. I’m about as dead as dead gets.”

He rocks back and forth on the balls of his feet, an old habit Arthur had broken a long time ago.

“I know what every other version of you did, but I don’t know exactly what your deal is, but I know basically what it is from process of elimination.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Like the folder from the hotel?

"Oh? Then enlighten me. Tell me what we suffered through, what we lost, what Kayne did to us."

Arthur, if he is you, then he's going to have the same temper!

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Calm down John, I’d be more than happy to give you two the statistics on our near infinite lives that we’ve lived.”

He clears his throat like he’s about to pull out a power point presentation, as he starts giving the run down like an announcer at one of the many clubs they’d both been to and occasionally worked at.

“For cause of death; Kayne makes up over 97%, 0.7% being caused by John and or The King in Yellow, and the last 1.3% being non paranormal causes! 0.3 of which being our own fault. The last once percent is the other versions of Kayne that occasionally got us before he did.”

He’d pulled up a pie chart, which was… almost entirely Red, helpfully labeled as Kayne, with two tiny slivers, one being yellow for the smaller, and the other larger tiny slice being marked purple.

“As for life expectancy, 0.02% died before reaching adulthood, 1.43% died before the age of twenty-two, 15.58% died before thirty, 27.56% died twenty-eight, 47.87% were dead by thirty, 62.71% were dead by thirty-five, 71.03% were dead by forty, 89.43% were dead by fifty, and 99.82% were dead before retirement age. Shortest life was a month and two days, longest life was 78 years, 3 months, and 17 days. You got about the average.”

The presentation disappears in favor of being able to talk with his hands’ moving them around rather wildly.

“Our most common path in life was much like the one you took, though there are about twenty percent of us actually getting to properly persue music as a career without issue, and about thirty percent being miscellaneous or odd random offshoots that don’t much matter.”

He fidgets with his earrings, looking off to the side a bit awkwardly. It’s almost odd to see all of Arthur’s little habits on another persons body rather than their own.

“Is there anything specific you’d like to know beyond that?”

This didn’t seem like the kind of topic he wanted to dwell on for too long but didn’t want to say it aloud.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Really now? Well I'm glad to know most of you can understand how badly Kaynes fucked us over. Would you like to add some more data for those statistics?"

Arthur this is a bad idea!

"I was the pianist for a theater in Boston, I was employed until... I was employed, and then I opened that book. I lived about... eight months after that? thirty five. I was almost thirty five when Kayne decided to turn my brain into a grenade on stage! Any other information, so you can accurately tell our life story?!"

What the fuck Arthur?! Do you have any self preservation left?

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Its smile turned more… sharp, taking a few steps closer to Arthur and John.

“Our life, English.”

He bites out the nickname. The light in its eyes flaring rather suddenly as they lean closer.

“I wouldn’t have told you if you weren’t Arthur Lester. The fact that you’re still kicking at all is a fucking miracle.”

It looks almost bitter.

“You should be glad you aren’t in fucking pieces like the rest of us.”

Its voice started to… fray, the chatter in its soul bubbling to the surface and making its words reverberate somewhat oddly.

“But thank you for sharing, that helps narrow things down onto which thread of choices you are that’s still missing.”

Its form seemed to… warp, becoming almost glassy as its limbs elongated slightly and its face warped into an altered version of Arthur. Its ears longer, face tinted lavender instead of red- its lips an odd shade of purple.

“You should listen to John before I actually start listening to the little voice in the back of my head that’s neither John nor myself telling me to tear you in half.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Arthur, his features are growing more alien and menacing, we need to drop this and RUN

"Still kicking?! We went through hell to survive. we lost a so much! And then KAYNE PLUCKS US OUT OF OUR WORLD FOR HIS SICK LITTLE CHRISTMAS PAGENT"

"the payment? our our friends puppeted on stage in yy So fuck off with your damned analytics

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Do you have any idea what it’s like to have your soul split apart into tiny fucking pieces and have them left to rot in a facility of a cathedral made out of your own corpses? And when you finally get back to some semblance of consciousness, all you know is that someone hated you enough to build it? Hated you enough to place every piece by hand, and kill every single one used to make it?”

His appearance warped further, turning into some glassy amalgamation of shards in the vague shape of a person.

“Do you know how painful it is, to have someone you trust, someone you let reside in your own head and share a body with and come to care for and love, be the one to tear you apart with nothing but gleeful loathing? Do you have any idea how much that hurts? And to know that it happened over, and over, and over, and over again, knowing exactly what happened each time because you experienced each and every death first hand?”

The waylay itself warped ever so slightly as his voice raised, like watercolor paper being painted on. The tone was cold, calculated and utterly malignant.

“I have to find a way to process everything otherwise I’ll fucking collapse in on myself! I don’t have the fucking energy anymore to let it keep weighing on me, so I try to make it useful in some way. Don’t you dare tell me you two haven’t also quietly kept score of all the close calls.”

The closer it got the more Arthur could feel the… gravity, of it. How it sort of… pulled him, like a magnet, but not in any way he’d ever felt before.

“You can’t tell us that what you’ve experienced is worse than every other version of you combined, because we’ve seen it all, and you have no idea how creative he can be when he’s actually trying to torture you. If he wanted to do so, he would’ve broken your bones one by one every time you fumbled and told you to keep going until there was nothing left. You have no idea how malicious he could get when you’ve only died once.”

It was barely a few feet away, they could both hear the clinking of shards against each other as it loomed over them, far taller than it had been just moments ago.

“How about I show you?”

There was a wall forming behind them out of the same cold icy material that supposedly made up the form of the being in front of them that had once been himself.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*His own worst enemy was always himself, every doubt, fear, and flaw were projected ten times over in his own mind before John moved in. Even now, John has talked Arthur off of that ledge more times than they could count. In the dreamlands, John cried out in horror as he choked on his own blood. In the mansion when he was knocked out by Uncle, and almost bled out from being unable to tend his own would, desperate for a respite. in the caverns, impaled through and his biggest concern was taking John with him.*

*The second Kayne left the stage, their bag in hand... that he considered if a noose and fall from the catwalks would be enough to snap his neck to keep them both from being tortured by Kayne.*

*But they survived. They pushed and push and god did they push, because they had to. Because John somehow found a part of Arthur that wanted to survive, and made it into a burning pyre.*

*And while this Arthur is slow to violence... that doesn't mean he is harmless.*

*The fist goes flying into Alto's face while John shouts in fear* ARTHUR NO!

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Its hand shot up to catch the punch before it could make contact with what had once been his face.

As soon as it made contact a burning sensation burst ran down Arthur’s entire arm, like his very soul was being melted. He didn’t have proper control over his body anymore. It felt distant even when right there.

He could hear the cacophony of others- like his own thoughts were going but he had no control over them- like it was his own mind but he didn’t have much control at all, like he was being grafted onto another.

“Look what you’ve done now…”

The words rung both inside and out of Arthur’s head like in the mines, how he could sense others without being anywhere near them.

“That’s rather disappointing. I was going to leave you be till you fizzled out.”

The melting sensation continued, slowly spreading throughout his entire being. The thread entwining pieces of Alto’s soul together started to take root in Arthur, pulling away pieces one by one. Slowly.

It was an agonizing process as it slowly picked away at Arthur’s mind and soul. It was even starting to detangle Johns from Arthur as it sifted through Arthur’s memories and experiences, his life and losses.

The room had changed without either of them noticing, the lights too bright from it to get any detail from anything else. What they did know was… they weren’t in the hallway anymore.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*His parents, their corpses hang from the rafters. The first notes on a piano ever played birthing a passion. A woman who seemed different than everyone else in an entirely new country. A baby girl, reaching out for him. A toddler lying in the bottom of an overflowing tub. A man who refused to let a drunk be. a book. a god who was more human than anyone else.*

*Men fight in a cavern. Beasts fight in a wasteland. A man opens a book. A woman greets a body. A god fights for a fragment. A man fights for himself.*

*Arthur could feel it all slip away as he screamed in pain. Every minute of every memory was ripped from him like tissue paper*

*John knows what this melding is. A basterdization of his own conjoining with his "better half". The twisting, nauseating feeling of losing oneself in an ocean. Insignificant.*

*but they cling to eachother. Even as pieces of themselves pull and tear at their very cores. How could they lose eachother when their souls are braided into one rope?*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He just wanted to make his point clear by letting it start to burn before he pulled away. Except he couldn’t why couldn’t he-… Shit.

He frantically tried to pry his hand off of Arthur even with it barely budging. If he had a face to show he was panicking, it would be written all over it.

Suddenly the roots working their way in were being yanked back out, even as they tried to stick-

It hurt. Fuck, it hurt so much. Not as much as the last time this happened but it still burned as he struggled to undo what was happening.

He pulled so hard something… something broke. He didn’t know what but he toon the opportunity to rip his arm away despite the utter agony that engulfed his being as he struggled to remain upright.

He was shaking from the effort.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*Arthur is in so much pain, his entire body has been spliced and reconstructed, the pieces put together just ever so wrong. It's all so hazy, so agonizing, that as he runs his legs give out from under him, barely any strength to drag himself away.*

*Not even John can do anything. He's silent. Arthur can still feel him, but they're both frayed, minds torn open and poorly stitched shut. His hand flexes once in an attempt to get them to safety, just like when Arthur was bleeding from his gut after Kellin. But he can't do anything.*

*Numbness takes control of their body and minds, the floorboards drinking the steady trickle of blood that comes from their eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

But it does not kill them. Not in the waylay. Not with the god right next to them intent on fixing whatever damage it just caused the pair.

It can’t do much but make sure Arthur’s body is sure to recover. It doesn’t have the energy for anything else as it slowly slinks away to some dark corner It can take a nap in. And nap it does.

The damage to Alto wasn’t small either. He felt like he was on fire still, everything to hot with to much energy and yet not enough to let it out. The Waylay was just about the only safe place he could rest.

Just… five minutes wouldn’t hurt.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John's hand feebly scrapes across the floor, nails tearing as he tries to drag Arthur away, weak and unable to keep their eyes open.*

*Darkness pulls him under, losing consciousness alongside Arthur.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

The bar is lively, some patrons are drinking at the bar, others are eating, talking or some other activity at the surrounding tables. The stage is empty for now, its thick red curtains hanging heavily. It's nice being around more people.

"It really is. We... really haven't made much of an effort to meet anyone else here." *Arthur starts to pick his way around the crowds, letting John point anyone out to him*

There is someone pouring over a book of wedding ideas and-

"John?" *Arthur asks, stopping in the middle of the room*

Parker...

*Thankfully Arthur is already dead, because he can't breathe.*

- @mistletoe-and-music-notes

-🍻

Parker was at one of the poker tables; not actually playing but more so teaching some of the other patrons how the game worked and as soon as they had a handle on the ropes he let em have at it.

Then he noticed Arthur and he stopped in his tracks, doing a double take before his expression shifted to one of surprise.

“Art that you?”

He called over as he picked up the pace of his walk to see Arthur more clearly.

He looked… different. Not quite the same as he remembered. His eyes more sunken and look a bit more wild lol he’d seem something he couldn’t unsee, but otherwise… it was Parker. No doubt about it. Which Parker it was though was an entirely different question.

“The hell you doin’ here?”

The relieved, lopsided smile that spread across his face was so… genuine and heartfelt they could practically hear it in his tone.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John's hand twitches, unsure of what to even do.* It's Parker. I... can't be a good judge of how well he looks... but he's happy to see you. It's as real as can be. It's him. *He only has the memory of Parkers corpse in a closet*

*Arthur doesn't answer the question yet. He doesn't care if this is his Parker or not. Does it even hold weight here? Arthur instead wraps his arms around Parkers body, holding him tight while a weight melts off of his frame. How he missed that voice.*

"We- I died, Parker. Just like you. It's... I had given up hope that you might have ended up here."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Parker’s arms wrapped around Arthur in one of his giant smothering bear hugs.

“I know… I know Artie. It’s okay, we’re both here now though. That’s all that matters now.”

He shifted his weight to better support Arthur.

“If we weren’t both dead right now I’d strangle you to death for being a fucking dumbass.”

He squeezed Arthur a little tighter, making no move to strangle him. He had a habit of threatening to do things and then doing nothing to enact those things. Specifically in regard to Arthur.

“I thought I’d never see ya’ again.”

He held Arthur a bit tighter. They could feel his back popping from the force of the hug.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Fuck!" *The volume of the expletive is proportional to the pop his spine made, Arthur's ears even ring from it.*

Jesus Christ!

"Parker I... I wish I could see you. I know after everything I look different..." *He finally pulls away*

"Parker, what do you remember?"

Arthur where are you going with this? *John's voice is wary and guarded inside Arthurs head. Charlie is one thing, because John never killed Charlie.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Oh shit- sorry Art-“

He loosens his hug, taking a step back to better look at Arthur and check him over.

“God Damn- y’ look like y’ went 4 rounds in a boxin’ ring and got the snot kicked outta ya’. How the hell did that happen?”

He didn’t seem to be kidding, grimacing as he noted all the scars he didn’t recognize.

“Well- I remember the book, you mentioning the weird voice in your head, you collapsing and dropping it, you goin’ blind and leanin’ on me and that weird voice to describe shit, me thinking you were pullin’ my leg half the time until y’ up n’ ditched me-“

He was saying details that he shouldn’t know if he’d died. He… he didn’t die like he should’ve remembered.

“I was worried sick about ya for months. Some- whatever it fuckin’ was had to show up wearing your face and tell me you’d died for me to find out what happened.”

He took a breath, reaching for a pack of smokes like he always did when he got stressed.

“Assumin’ that’s not what you remember. Ain’t it? Don’t think either of us that lucky to find the needle in the haystack of whatever shit we got ourselves into.”

Lo and behind he’d lit up a cigarette to try and calm his nerves down.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

He didn't... I didn't kill him? *John's voice sounds so guilty and so hopeful at the same time...*

"Parker- you... You know about John? Parker, your body was on the floor of our office when me and John woke up. We both died, but I was uh... it's complicated." *Arthur sighs. He knew it would be too good to hope this was his Parker. But it was still there. This one still smells the same. Arthur sure it's even the same brand.* "Me and John went on the run, trying to follow any lead that would tell us what he was, or how to separate us. It's... jesus fuck I don't know where to begin."

*It's easy to see the ordeal Arthur has been through. His neck features a long slice bow the adams apple, his nose was clearly broken at least twice, and a hand sized scar cradles his right eye, nearly stretching to a torn ear. Grey hair has become sprinkled through out his auburn hair, and he's somehow thinner than when they first met.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Oh so that’s what y’ calling em!”

There was a sort of bitterness to Parker’s tone when talking about John, though nowhere near as bitter as it probably would’ve been if John had killed him.

“Yeah I know of em. You mentioned a voice in y’ head that didn’t go ‘way.”

He sighed. He had a feeling this wasn’t the Arthur he knew, but… close enough. He was close enough to the man he knew and loved that it was good enough for him to accept.

“I got no clue why your me got killed there and I didn’t but I do know you’re a damn idiot.”

he didn’t want to comment on the changes in appearance any more than he already had, but damn did he think the scars looked good on Arthur.

“The scars look good on ya’. Make y’ look like the kinda type not to fuck with.”

He hummed for a minute, thinking for a bit.

“Did’j ‘least hide the body decently?”

The humor in his tone made it apparent he was joking.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John holds out his left hand, trying to connect, to learn about the man Arthur loved so much* His smile is light. Despite the circumstances, I think he is happy to see us.

"John choose the name, actually, but..." *All color drains from Arthurs face at the last statement, Parkers stiff body is in his hands as he frantically shoves his best friend in a closet.*

*so many nights spent laughing, drinking, loving, sleeping on the same overstuffed secondhand couch. And Arthur never turned around to look at what he did*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He noticed the reaction almost immediately with a grimace, knowing that expression well.

“Sorry, sorry, bad joke- I… didn’t mean t’ press.”

He knew not to press Art when he got like that. He looked down at the offered hand with uncertainty.

“… why y’ offerin’ me y’ hand…?”

When his eyes returned to Arthur’s face there was something almost like suspicion in his eyes. Apprehension was probably the proper word for it.

“… is John doing that?”

His tone shifted with how he spoke about John, the warmth he had for Arthur missing, like he was gritting his teeth that he had to share Arthur with some… well, parasite that took his best friends eyes. And apparently, one of his arms as well.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Huh-" *Arthur feels his left arm, finding it raised* "That would be him."

It's polite, right? And If he already knows about me... then it should be like Charlie?

*"Like Charlie" Arthur's heart gives a flutter at the concept, or Parker back into his life, along side John. Honestly the idea of introducing Parker and Charlie is appealing as well... for reasons Arthur shouldn't speak out in the middle of the bar.*

"He wants to get to know you. I think uou'll like him if you can give him a chance?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Who?”

He frowns slightly, but he doesn’t pry further than that. He sighs, taking Arthu- John’s, hand.

“S’pose if I gave you a chance I can give him one too. Good to meet y’ John.”

His handshake was firm, the skin leathery and rough but not unpleasantly so. There were more than a few old scars dotting them that Arthur had probably heard the stories to at least once or twice.

His grip tightened a bit.

“John, if you give Art any trouble, I’ll give ya double that.”

His menacing expression the accompanied the threat was clearly meant for John and John alone. It disappeared pretty quickly, his other hand that wasn’t wrapped around John’s hand patting his arm.

“Glad we got that settled! I hope me can get along bud.”

His expression returned to the smile it was before.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John doesn't comment on Parkers grip, or the clear hostility in his face. He needs to bridge this gap for Arthurs sake.* Then I suppose we can't tell Parker much, huh? *The chuckle is somewhat false, but he won't tell Arthur.*

"You don't have to drag John out of a bar every night! You two will get along better that you think."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Guess that’s true. Though it wasn’t that hard t’ do though, y’ were light as a feather and it looks like y’ still are.”

He elbowed Arthur playfully, smiling warmly as he always did. It didn’t change much of how he felt about John, but if Arthur liked him… he’d give the guy a chance to earn his trust.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I started a diet." *Arthur elbows back, settling back into the easy friendship him and Parker always had. It felt so... normal.*

You still aren't back to your weight from when we first met...

"You now what, John is complaining about my poor habits, why don't we have something to eat, talk over food?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He laughed wholeheartedly.

“I’m starting to like John already!”

He gently guided the pair to a table, letting John figure out the rest after leaving the two by the chair across from him. He didn’t want to make John feel useless now, did he?

“I already ate a bit ago but feel free t’ dig int’ whatever. I’m good with just talkin’ while y’ eat.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

There's a chair to your- yes there- Parker sits across from us. If it wasn't two friends catching up I'm sure some would think this was a date.

*Arthurs ears burn at Johns commentary, grinding his heel into the left toe of his shoe. Not hard, but enough to get the point across* "I'll be honest an appetite hasn't been the easiest to find since getting here. Eating is more of a habit than a nessecity now."

Ow- Arthur the fuck?! And you need to eat!

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah I think I get that now. It’s hard t’ think ‘bout eating when you’re constantly worried ‘bout somethin’.”

He smiled easily, not pushing the matter too hard. He could tell by the way Arthur jumped slightly that something was said that he didn’t expect.

“What’d John say?”

He looked amused.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Oh, just that I needed to eat" *John pinches Arthur sharply on the back of the hand, causing him to curse and wave the pain out* "Bastard!"

What's wrong with what I said?

"Because-" *Well... he can't exactly find the words for his reasoning. John doesn't know Parker and him's history. About the fact that they never spoke about the things they did while drunk, that it was agreed that the polite thing to do was treat those moments as different men all together.* "Because it's just not nessacary."

Not nessacary. Really. Why are you being so cagey about this of all things? What is it about Parker?

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“What, did he suggest we’re…”

He struggles to find the word until he decides to just gestures vaguely before doing a sort of gesture that looked like he was limply trying to swat a fly.

“I- I don’t know if he’s gunna be able to figure out how t’ describe that-“

He felt somewhat stupid for using a visual gesture to try and communicate with his best friend who’s blind.

“I mean- only after a few drinks but he ain’t wrong.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

He's put his hand up and is letting it fall at the wrist in a sort of half-hearted "Hello"

*Oh jesus christ these two are going to be the death of him!* "Y- Both of you! Incorrigble!"

*It's not prudishness that stokes Arthur's embarrassment, similarly it isn't the fear that came from when he was alive in Arkham. In the Waylay it's quite obvious the same rules do not apply, he'd almost assume this place was meant to be a refuge for homosexuals if he wasn't dead. No, this is born from his need to stay private. He always kept certain things from Parker. His failed marrige, most details about Faroe... how long he had let his liver pickle in grief. Even his parents deaths, just that they died. That fact alone resulted in Parker pulling Arthur into every family celebration he could justify.*

*Even now Arthur has no desire to burden Parker with these emotions. The ones he held close to his chest and only let out when he was too drunk to second guess.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He had to stop himself from bursting out laughing, because he’d been right, and of course he found that rather funny.

“Hey if it makes y’ feel better I don’t mind at all. I’m glad I got to be your partner one way or another.”

He didn’t even seem bothered in the slightest, though for just a moment he seemed a bit hurt. Like some scrap of hope just got snuffed out.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...One way or another, huh?"

Arthur the look in his eyes is forlorn, avoiding us like we are the reason why.

"Was that... how close you and your Arthur were? That you could talk about it?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah- well… a lil’ more than just talking about it, I’ll admit. Took em to a few bars I knew where people would let it fly and kept shit hush hush ‘bout it.”

His face was tinting red just remembering it.

“Mainly cuz one night it sorta became somethin’ we couldn’t keep avoidin’ mentioning and had to sit down and talk ‘bout it ‘stead of never mentioning it.”

He seems… happy, thinking about the memory.

“Assumin’ you and him didn’t talk ‘bout it much, did ya?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*his hearing fizzles out for a moment before he comes back, shaking off the second of dizziness to respond* "We uh... we agreed that what happened when we were drunk was seperate from who we were sober. It was safer that way, for both of us, and his family."

And now that you're here? Now that you have Parker blushing?

"He is?"

To the ears, Arthur. I've definitely started to see why you found him so charming.

"I-I'm sure you aren't keen on me just... coming onto you."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I know but it can only happen so many times before y’ gotta address the elephant in the room. Though, family’s not really an issue now.”

He paused, looking somewhat stunned.

“I- I wouldn’t mind at all actually- I- fuck it- please do.”

his face turning even more red than it was before, looking off to the side like he expected something to interrupt the moment. Nothing interrupted.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Arthur. A day will come when we meet a man who neither wants to fuck you or fight you... but it seems that today is not that day.

So what now?

*...Arthur did not think this far ahead. Shit. Arthurs hand reaches across the table with a much softer smile, palm up for Parker to take* "Well then... John asks 'what now', and I want to know the answer too."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Parker takes it happily, smiling like he’d just won the jackpot of all time.

“Hey if I had a ring on me I’d offer it t’ ya but uh- yeah I don’t got any. Best I can offer y’ right now is this.”

He stands up from the table, not once letting Arthur’s hand go as he steps around to stand beside him, letting the man adjust to the proximity before pushing his lips to Arthur’s in a firm kiss.

As soon as he had to pull back for air, his other hand was taking John’s and pressing a kiss into his palm before looking them in the eyes.

“You two’ve clearly been through the wringer more than enough. I wanna give you somethin’ nice. You deserve it.”

This was the first time he’d flirted with Arthur sober and oh was it a whole new experience.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*Arthur utterly melts in Parkers arms, kissing him back like a man starved for years. His hand travels to the nape of Parkers neck, thin pianist fingers threading their way through his hair.*

Oh Arthur... *Johns arm snakes behind Parkers waist to pull him that much closer... until they finally break. When Parker kisses Johns hand though? He can't say a coherent thing from the shock* Arthur he- He-!

"Now what did you do to make John so flustered?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I kissed his hand. Did he think i wasn’t gunna make him feel included?”

He teased, continuing to pepper John’s hand with kisses, traveling down the arm a few times before his eyes trail back up to look at Arthur’s eyes.

“How’s he feel about that?”

He leans in a bit closer till they can practically feel his breath on Arthur’s neck. His own hand was still against Arthur’s, holding his where it was in Parker’s hair.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*The connection between John and Arthur is warm and fuzzy, the sort of tipsy one drink will bring on. But this is a better buzz than Arthur could ever know.*

I- I thought he was only here for you.

"John thought that this was going to be a... one sided affair. But I had a feeling you'd warm up to him." *Arthur cranes his neck to give Parker better access above his collared shirt. though what he does with the space is all hia own*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I wouldn’t want him t’ feel left out. Plus I wanna make the both of ya feel special. Wouldn’t make much sense to favor just you, Art. You don’t get to hog all the attention now darling.”

He pressed a quick peck to Arthur’s neck before his arms wrapped around the man’s waist and pulled him up to stand.

“Much as we can get away with here I think a bit of privacy would do us some good. What d’ya two think?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Oh god yes. I wasn't sure how much longer I could be polite."

*Johns hand taps twice against Parkers arm, a 'yes' that him and Arthur developed a long time ago for when Arthur couldn't speak*

*Or when John is rewiring his brain over the idea that not only did Parker not hate him for killing him, or taking over part of Arthur... But wants to treat John with the same affection? Arthur idolized this man, and he's starting to see why* "Please?"

"John is a bit more polite about it, he said 'please'"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Well how can I say no to that?”

He smiles as he helps lead the pair out of the dining area, though he doesn’t have the best grip on where they should be going.

“Where to then? I don’t got the best grasp on this place n’ you’ve been here longer than I have probably.”

He chuckles, finding the fact that John’s saying pleas to be rather adorable. He was starting to get why Arthur likes John so much.

“So uh- whatcha think? Where to?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...well, I don't know either. It's been about six weeks since we slept in our own room and-"

They might have already tidied it up and given it to someone else.

"-John aays it might have been given to another patron." *If you looked closely at the right side of his neck, someone could see a wound fresher than the rest peeking above his collar.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I’m sure they haven’t cleared it out yet. You’re still here aren’t ya? Could even go ask if you’re really worried.”

He took note of the other injury but didn’t comment. Not yet at least.

“if you wanna head to my room that works too. Probably not as nice though.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I wouldn't know the difference anyways! How about yours?" *Means Arthur can steal one of Parkers shirts in the morning. And... well he has a plan forming*

*John is just describing Parkers face, the walk down the hall, but his hand... is sliding to rest on Parkers tail bone.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah. I think that sounds good.”

His smile grew a bit, feeling John’s hand trail down his back like he wouldn’t notice.

He turned his head to look the two in the face, tilting his head just to silently say ‘really John?’ With the sort of coy look that wasn’t actually that serious. He just winked at John slyly.

“That and I actually know where mine is. I had a feelin’ you’d prefer mine. You’re gunna steal my cloths again aren’t you?”

He chuckled, not seeming bothered.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Maybe. Though... not for long hopefully." *Arthurs voice dips low and sweet, for Parker and John's ears only.*

*Inside, John chuckles evilly as the land continues to travel*

"What on earth are you doing?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Don’t worry bout it; you can keep em for as long as you like. I know you like the feel of em, though don’t know why you keep insisting they specifically be mine and not just the same kind I wear.”

He kisses Arthur softly on the cheek as a way of reassuring him in place of a smile.

“Oh- John’s grabbing my ass. That’s what he’s doing. Got a whole handful.”

He says it like it’s an amusing factoid.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...He's gotten very handsy."

*John starts laughing even louder in Arthurs head, but the only effect besides making Arthur feel warm and fuzzy inside, is trying to roll their eyes. Which doesn't work.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I can tell. His hand is on my ass.”

Parker slowed to a halt,

“We’re at my room now. I mean- it could be our room if that sounds alright with you- sharing a space like old times…? If that’s alright with you of course- would’t wanna push you on that-”

He started stumbling over his words trying to get them all out, looking at Arthur and John with a sort of worried expression. Like he hoped they’d say yes but expected them to say no.

“I- just thinking about how you haven’t slept in your room for so long that you might rather wanna stay in mine…?“

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John at this point is not only resting his hand right on the cheek, but any "evil" laughter has devolved into... schoolboy giggling. He finally relents with a squeeze* We are in front of another door, like all the others in the Waylay.

"He's finally stopped laughing, so I assume he's stopped. But...It'd be the first time you've ever pushed me... but I think I'll fall easily. Any bed is better than a hospital bed. Yes, please." *If anything else, his back just aches from the infirmary bed.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

The bar is lively, some patrons are drinking at the bar, others are eating, talking or some other activity at the surrounding tables. The stage is empty for now, its thick red curtains hanging heavily. It's nice being around more people.

"It really is. We... really haven't made much of an effort to meet anyone else here." *Arthur starts to pick his way around the crowds, letting John point anyone out to him*

There is someone pouring over a book of wedding ideas and-

"John?" *Arthur asks, stopping in the middle of the room*

Parker...

*Thankfully Arthur is already dead, because he can't breathe.*

- @mistletoe-and-music-notes

-🍻

Parker was at one of the poker tables; not actually playing but more so teaching some of the other patrons how the game worked and as soon as they had a handle on the ropes he let em have at it.

Then he noticed Arthur and he stopped in his tracks, doing a double take before his expression shifted to one of surprise.

“Art that you?”

He called over as he picked up the pace of his walk to see Arthur more clearly.

He looked… different. Not quite the same as he remembered. His eyes more sunken and look a bit more wild lol he’d seem something he couldn’t unsee, but otherwise… it was Parker. No doubt about it. Which Parker it was though was an entirely different question.

“The hell you doin’ here?”

The relieved, lopsided smile that spread across his face was so… genuine and heartfelt they could practically hear it in his tone.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John's hand twitches, unsure of what to even do.* It's Parker. I... can't be a good judge of how well he looks... but he's happy to see you. It's as real as can be. It's him. *He only has the memory of Parkers corpse in a closet*

*Arthur doesn't answer the question yet. He doesn't care if this is his Parker or not. Does it even hold weight here? Arthur instead wraps his arms around Parkers body, holding him tight while a weight melts off of his frame. How he missed that voice.*

"We- I died, Parker. Just like you. It's... I had given up hope that you might have ended up here."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Parker’s arms wrapped around Arthur in one of his giant smothering bear hugs.

“I know… I know Artie. It’s okay, we’re both here now though. That’s all that matters now.”

He shifted his weight to better support Arthur.

“If we weren’t both dead right now I’d strangle you to death for being a fucking dumbass.”

He squeezed Arthur a little tighter, making no move to strangle him. He had a habit of threatening to do things and then doing nothing to enact those things. Specifically in regard to Arthur.

“I thought I’d never see ya’ again.”

He held Arthur a bit tighter. They could feel his back popping from the force of the hug.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Fuck!" *The volume of the expletive is proportional to the pop his spine made, Arthur's ears even ring from it.*

Jesus Christ!

"Parker I... I wish I could see you. I know after everything I look different..." *He finally pulls away*

"Parker, what do you remember?"

Arthur where are you going with this? *John's voice is wary and guarded inside Arthurs head. Charlie is one thing, because John never killed Charlie.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Oh shit- sorry Art-“

He loosens his hug, taking a step back to better look at Arthur and check him over.

“God Damn- y’ look like y’ went 4 rounds in a boxin’ ring and got the snot kicked outta ya’. How the hell did that happen?”

He didn’t seem to be kidding, grimacing as he noted all the scars he didn’t recognize.

“Well- I remember the book, you mentioning the weird voice in your head, you collapsing and dropping it, you goin’ blind and leanin’ on me and that weird voice to describe shit, me thinking you were pullin’ my leg half the time until y’ up n’ ditched me-“

He was saying details that he shouldn’t know if he’d died. He… he didn’t die like he should’ve remembered.

“I was worried sick about ya for months. Some- whatever it fuckin’ was had to show up wearing your face and tell me you’d died for me to find out what happened.”

He took a breath, reaching for a pack of smokes like he always did when he got stressed.

“Assumin’ that’s not what you remember. Ain’t it? Don’t think either of us that lucky to find the needle in the haystack of whatever shit we got ourselves into.”

Lo and behind he’d lit up a cigarette to try and calm his nerves down.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

He didn't... I didn't kill him? *John's voice sounds so guilty and so hopeful at the same time...*

"Parker- you... You know about John? Parker, your body was on the floor of our office when me and John woke up. We both died, but I was uh... it's complicated." *Arthur sighs. He knew it would be too good to hope this was his Parker. But it was still there. This one still smells the same. Arthur sure it's even the same brand.* "Me and John went on the run, trying to follow any lead that would tell us what he was, or how to separate us. It's... jesus fuck I don't know where to begin."

*It's easy to see the ordeal Arthur has been through. His neck features a long slice bow the adams apple, his nose was clearly broken at least twice, and a hand sized scar cradles his right eye, nearly stretching to a torn ear. Grey hair has become sprinkled through out his auburn hair, and he's somehow thinner than when they first met.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Oh so that’s what y’ calling em!”

There was a sort of bitterness to Parker’s tone when talking about John, though nowhere near as bitter as it probably would’ve been if John had killed him.

“Yeah I know of em. You mentioned a voice in y’ head that didn’t go ‘way.”

He sighed. He had a feeling this wasn’t the Arthur he knew, but… close enough. He was close enough to the man he knew and loved that it was good enough for him to accept.

“I got no clue why your me got killed there and I didn’t but I do know you’re a damn idiot.”

he didn’t want to comment on the changes in appearance any more than he already had, but damn did he think the scars looked good on Arthur.

“The scars look good on ya’. Make y’ look like the kinda type not to fuck with.”

He hummed for a minute, thinking for a bit.

“Did’j ‘least hide the body decently?”

The humor in his tone made it apparent he was joking.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John holds out his left hand, trying to connect, to learn about the man Arthur loved so much* His smile is light. Despite the circumstances, I think he is happy to see us.

"John choose the name, actually, but..." *All color drains from Arthurs face at the last statement, Parkers stiff body is in his hands as he frantically shoves his best friend in a closet.*

*so many nights spent laughing, drinking, loving, sleeping on the same overstuffed secondhand couch. And Arthur never turned around to look at what he did*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He noticed the reaction almost immediately with a grimace, knowing that expression well.

“Sorry, sorry, bad joke- I… didn’t mean t’ press.”

He knew not to press Art when he got like that. He looked down at the offered hand with uncertainty.

“… why y’ offerin’ me y’ hand…?”

When his eyes returned to Arthur’s face there was something almost like suspicion in his eyes. Apprehension was probably the proper word for it.

“… is John doing that?”

His tone shifted with how he spoke about John, the warmth he had for Arthur missing, like he was gritting his teeth that he had to share Arthur with some… well, parasite that took his best friends eyes. And apparently, one of his arms as well.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Huh-" *Arthur feels his left arm, finding it raised* "That would be him."

It's polite, right? And If he already knows about me... then it should be like Charlie?

*"Like Charlie" Arthur's heart gives a flutter at the concept, or Parker back into his life, along side John. Honestly the idea of introducing Parker and Charlie is appealing as well... for reasons Arthur shouldn't speak out in the middle of the bar.*

"He wants to get to know you. I think uou'll like him if you can give him a chance?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Who?”

He frowns slightly, but he doesn’t pry further than that. He sighs, taking Arthu- John’s, hand.

“S’pose if I gave you a chance I can give him one too. Good to meet y’ John.”

His handshake was firm, the skin leathery and rough but not unpleasantly so. There were more than a few old scars dotting them that Arthur had probably heard the stories to at least once or twice.

His grip tightened a bit.

“John, if you give Art any trouble, I’ll give ya double that.”

His menacing expression the accompanied the threat was clearly meant for John and John alone. It disappeared pretty quickly, his other hand that wasn’t wrapped around John’s hand patting his arm.

“Glad we got that settled! I hope me can get along bud.”

His expression returned to the smile it was before.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John doesn't comment on Parkers grip, or the clear hostility in his face. He needs to bridge this gap for Arthurs sake.* Then I suppose we can't tell Parker much, huh? *The chuckle is somewhat false, but he won't tell Arthur.*

"You don't have to drag John out of a bar every night! You two will get along better that you think."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Guess that’s true. Though it wasn’t that hard t’ do though, y’ were light as a feather and it looks like y’ still are.”

He elbowed Arthur playfully, smiling warmly as he always did. It didn’t change much of how he felt about John, but if Arthur liked him… he’d give the guy a chance to earn his trust.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I started a diet." *Arthur elbows back, settling back into the easy friendship him and Parker always had. It felt so... normal.*

You still aren't back to your weight from when we first met...

"You now what, John is complaining about my poor habits, why don't we have something to eat, talk over food?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He laughed wholeheartedly.

“I’m starting to like John already!”

He gently guided the pair to a table, letting John figure out the rest after leaving the two by the chair across from him. He didn’t want to make John feel useless now, did he?

“I already ate a bit ago but feel free t’ dig int’ whatever. I’m good with just talkin’ while y’ eat.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

There's a chair to your- yes there- Parker sits across from us. If it wasn't two friends catching up I'm sure some would think this was a date.

*Arthurs ears burn at Johns commentary, grinding his heel into the left toe of his shoe. Not hard, but enough to get the point across* "I'll be honest an appetite hasn't been the easiest to find since getting here. Eating is more of a habit than a nessecity now."

Ow- Arthur the fuck?! And you need to eat!

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah I think I get that now. It’s hard t’ think ‘bout eating when you’re constantly worried ‘bout somethin’.”

He smiled easily, not pushing the matter too hard. He could tell by the way Arthur jumped slightly that something was said that he didn’t expect.

“What’d John say?”

He looked amused.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Oh, just that I needed to eat" *John pinches Arthur sharply on the back of the hand, causing him to curse and wave the pain out* "Bastard!"

What's wrong with what I said?

"Because-" *Well... he can't exactly find the words for his reasoning. John doesn't know Parker and him's history. About the fact that they never spoke about the things they did while drunk, that it was agreed that the polite thing to do was treat those moments as different men all together.* "Because it's just not nessacary."

Not nessacary. Really. Why are you being so cagey about this of all things? What is it about Parker?

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“What, did he suggest we’re…”

He struggles to find the word until he decides to just gestures vaguely before doing a sort of gesture that looked like he was limply trying to swat a fly.

“I- I don’t know if he’s gunna be able to figure out how t’ describe that-“

He felt somewhat stupid for using a visual gesture to try and communicate with his best friend who’s blind.

“I mean- only after a few drinks but he ain’t wrong.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

He's put his hand up and is letting it fall at the wrist in a sort of half-hearted "Hello"

*Oh jesus christ these two are going to be the death of him!* "Y- Both of you! Incorrigble!"

*It's not prudishness that stokes Arthur's embarrassment, similarly it isn't the fear that came from when he was alive in Arkham. In the Waylay it's quite obvious the same rules do not apply, he'd almost assume this place was meant to be a refuge for homosexuals if he wasn't dead. No, this is born from his need to stay private. He always kept certain things from Parker. His failed marrige, most details about Faroe... how long he had let his liver pickle in grief. Even his parents deaths, just that they died. That fact alone resulted in Parker pulling Arthur into every family celebration he could justify.*

*Even now Arthur has no desire to burden Parker with these emotions. The ones he held close to his chest and only let out when he was too drunk to second guess.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He had to stop himself from bursting out laughing, because he’d been right, and of course he found that rather funny.

“Hey if it makes y’ feel better I don’t mind at all. I’m glad I got to be your partner one way or another.”

He didn’t even seem bothered in the slightest, though for just a moment he seemed a bit hurt. Like some scrap of hope just got snuffed out.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...One way or another, huh?"

Arthur the look in his eyes is forlorn, avoiding us like we are the reason why.

"Was that... how close you and your Arthur were? That you could talk about it?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah- well… a lil’ more than just talking about it, I’ll admit. Took em to a few bars I knew where people would let it fly and kept shit hush hush ‘bout it.”

His face was tinting red just remembering it.

“Mainly cuz one night it sorta became somethin’ we couldn’t keep avoidin’ mentioning and had to sit down and talk ‘bout it ‘stead of never mentioning it.”

He seems… happy, thinking about the memory.

“Assumin’ you and him didn’t talk ‘bout it much, did ya?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*his hearing fizzles out for a moment before he comes back, shaking off the second of dizziness to respond* "We uh... we agreed that what happened when we were drunk was seperate from who we were sober. It was safer that way, for both of us, and his family."

And now that you're here? Now that you have Parker blushing?

"He is?"

To the ears, Arthur. I've definitely started to see why you found him so charming.

"I-I'm sure you aren't keen on me just... coming onto you."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I know but it can only happen so many times before y’ gotta address the elephant in the room. Though, family’s not really an issue now.”

He paused, looking somewhat stunned.

“I- I wouldn’t mind at all actually- I- fuck it- please do.”

his face turning even more red than it was before, looking off to the side like he expected something to interrupt the moment. Nothing interrupted.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Arthur. A day will come when we meet a man who neither wants to fuck you or fight you... but it seems that today is not that day.

So what now?

*...Arthur did not think this far ahead. Shit. Arthurs hand reaches across the table with a much softer smile, palm up for Parker to take* "Well then... John asks 'what now', and I want to know the answer too."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Parker takes it happily, smiling like he’d just won the jackpot of all time.

“Hey if I had a ring on me I’d offer it t’ ya but uh- yeah I don’t got any. Best I can offer y’ right now is this.”

He stands up from the table, not once letting Arthur’s hand go as he steps around to stand beside him, letting the man adjust to the proximity before pushing his lips to Arthur’s in a firm kiss.

As soon as he had to pull back for air, his other hand was taking John’s and pressing a kiss into his palm before looking them in the eyes.

“You two’ve clearly been through the wringer more than enough. I wanna give you somethin’ nice. You deserve it.”

This was the first time he’d flirted with Arthur sober and oh was it a whole new experience.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*Arthur utterly melts in Parkers arms, kissing him back like a man starved for years. His hand travels to the nape of Parkers neck, thin pianist fingers threading their way through his hair.*

Oh Arthur... *Johns arm snakes behind Parkers waist to pull him that much closer... until they finally break. When Parker kisses Johns hand though? He can't say a coherent thing from the shock* Arthur he- He-!

"Now what did you do to make John so flustered?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I kissed his hand. Did he think i wasn’t gunna make him feel included?”

He teased, continuing to pepper John’s hand with kisses, traveling down the arm a few times before his eyes trail back up to look at Arthur’s eyes.

“How’s he feel about that?”

He leans in a bit closer till they can practically feel his breath on Arthur’s neck. His own hand was still against Arthur’s, holding his where it was in Parker’s hair.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*The connection between John and Arthur is warm and fuzzy, the sort of tipsy one drink will bring on. But this is a better buzz than Arthur could ever know.*

I- I thought he was only here for you.

"John thought that this was going to be a... one sided affair. But I had a feeling you'd warm up to him." *Arthur cranes his neck to give Parker better access above his collared shirt. though what he does with the space is all hia own*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I wouldn’t want him t’ feel left out. Plus I wanna make the both of ya feel special. Wouldn’t make much sense to favor just you, Art. You don’t get to hog all the attention now darling.”

He pressed a quick peck to Arthur’s neck before his arms wrapped around the man’s waist and pulled him up to stand.

“Much as we can get away with here I think a bit of privacy would do us some good. What d’ya two think?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Oh god yes. I wasn't sure how much longer I could be polite."

*Johns hand taps twice against Parkers arm, a 'yes' that him and Arthur developed a long time ago for when Arthur couldn't speak*

*Or when John is rewiring his brain over the idea that not only did Parker not hate him for killing him, or taking over part of Arthur... But wants to treat John with the same affection? Arthur idolized this man, and he's starting to see why* "Please?"

"John is a bit more polite about it, he said 'please'"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Well how can I say no to that?”

He smiles as he helps lead the pair out of the dining area, though he doesn’t have the best grip on where they should be going.

“Where to then? I don’t got the best grasp on this place n’ you’ve been here longer than I have probably.”

He chuckles, finding the fact that John’s saying pleas to be rather adorable. He was starting to get why Arthur likes John so much.

“So uh- whatcha think? Where to?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...well, I don't know either. It's been about six weeks since we slept in our own room and-"

They might have already tidied it up and given it to someone else.

"-John aays it might have been given to another patron." *If you looked closely at the right side of his neck, someone could see a wound fresher than the rest peeking above his collar.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I’m sure they haven’t cleared it out yet. You’re still here aren’t ya? Could even go ask if you’re really worried.”

He took note of the other injury but didn’t comment. Not yet at least.

“if you wanna head to my room that works too. Probably not as nice though.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I wouldn't know the difference anyways! How about yours?" *Means Arthur can steal one of Parkers shirts in the morning. And... well he has a plan forming*

*John is just describing Parkers face, the walk down the hall, but his hand... is sliding to rest on Parkers tail bone.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah. I think that sounds good.”

His smile grew a bit, feeling John’s hand trail down his back like he wouldn’t notice.

He turned his head to look the two in the face, tilting his head just to silently say ‘really John?’ With the sort of coy look that wasn’t actually that serious. He just winked at John slyly.

“That and I actually know where mine is. I had a feelin’ you’d prefer mine. You’re gunna steal my cloths again aren’t you?”

He chuckled, not seeming bothered.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Maybe. Though... not for long hopefully." *Arthurs voice dips low and sweet, for Parker and John's ears only.*

*Inside, John chuckles evilly as the land continues to travel*

"What on earth are you doing?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Don’t worry bout it; you can keep em for as long as you like. I know you like the feel of em, though don’t know why you keep insisting they specifically be mine and not just the same kind I wear.”

He kisses Arthur softly on the cheek as a way of reassuring him in place of a smile.

“Oh- John’s grabbing my ass. That’s what he’s doing. Got a whole handful.”

He says it like it’s an amusing factoid.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...He's gotten very handsy."

*John starts laughing even louder in Arthurs head, but the only effect besides making Arthur feel warm and fuzzy inside, is trying to roll their eyes. Which doesn't work.*

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

On one of the few quiet days that Arthur and John were wandering around the Waylay at night; Down one of the many long hallways was a pair of lights, hovering just at Arthur’s eye level, looking at them.

The outline of a just barely visible silhouette standing there, frozen as lights flickered out and it waited in darkness. It didn’t seem to care about the dark.

🪉 @yorick-the-vanguard

Arthur stop! *John's shout pulls Arthur up short, muscles primed to run in the opposite direction from whatever danger John sees* There's something at the end of the hall- two bright lights and... I think a man in a tail coat? The ceiling lights are flickering and it's hard to make the figure out.

*In moments like these, Arthur is reminded of his lost gun, and how badly he misses it or even a knife.* "Alright..."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

The lights flickered back on again, and with the light returning to the hallway, it illuminated the figure.

Eyes no longer shining now in the bright light, and much, much closer. The proximity made the world spin slightly. If its pose wasn’t different it would be like looking in a mirror- the… man? Had the same face as Arthur, down to the same look in his eyes and the scars scattered across the visible parts of his frame.

It was about… twenty-five-ish feet away. Close enough that they could see the dark stains creeping around the back of his head and shoulders that looked far too much like dried blood.

It just… kept staring, and something in its expression looked hungry. Like it wanted to tear Arthur to shreds.

It made no further attempts to get closer to the pair, despite how it clearly seemed like it wanted too. It wasn’t human, obviously, despite what it looked like, but at the same time… it wasn’t… not, human.

It was like a human fractal.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Jesus fucking christ Arthur... it's YOU.

"W-what? John? You aren't seeing- John how?!" *Arthur starts to back in fear at the concept, having a not so great experience with the last Arthur he met.*

It's you! It's your hair, your scars! He looks to have more of them, even. I think... jesus I think there is blood flowing from the back of his head over his shoulders.

"W-what's he doing?"

He's staring at you.

"I'm starting to feel a little too much like prey, John. tell me when to run."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Its expression shifted to curious, then amused, then… fond, almost, like it was reminiscing.

“I always forget how silly we could be.”

Oh he even sounded like Arthur, and muffled behind all the- noise, The being seemed to generate, there was… there was also another John lodged into whatever it was that was in front of them.

The being seemed like he was talking to himself or some unseen audience, and John could hear the sort of chatter going on in the being somewhat. It was like it was taking note on how each little voice wanted to proceed before it did anything again.

“There’s no need for either of you to panic. I’m won’t kill you. Well, you’re already dead, but you know what I mean.”

It shrugged.

“I have no desire to give the manager any trouble and given he went to all the lengths to pull you here I wouldn’t think harming you would be a good idea.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Arthur... something is deeply wrong. It's like looking at a stained glass windows. Shards welded together to create one being. He is not human, and he is powerful.

...Is that... *Johns voice grows softer hearing his own cadence in the cacophony that "Arthur" produces*

"No. No I don't think it would be a good idea, Arthur. I've actually started to have a pleasant time here, and I'd rather it not end now. Promises to keep and all that, sure you understand." *Be faster, smarter, wittier. Like how he beat the gug, or escaped the mansion, or took down the Butcher. But this isn't like any god or man he's faces before. This is him.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

It grimaced at being called that, but hearing John call him powerful made him look rather happy.

“I haven’t gone by that name in a long time. It makes me feel… wrong. Alto. Call me Alto. Please.”

They smile pleasantly, trying to not seem too threatening to his other self.

“I’m sure you have. The waylay is a very nice place and the manager is quite the accommodating host.”

He spoke of the being rather fondly.

“I should warn you getting too close to me wouldn’t end well for either of us.”

Given the nature of how its soul is constructed… it’s easy to figure out what would happen should he get too near.

[twelve-starry-eyes]

He certainly didn't like being called Arthur... but he's also... preening. Can he hear me?

"Can you hear John? My John?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yes I can hear him. And I’m rather pleased by the compliment. Usually I’m not called powerful so it’s nice to hear now and then.”

It made sense. He was… godlike. Though, he wasn’t exactly technically among the great old ones even if he did seem to match them in power. A good descriptor would be a sort of ‘bastard god’ or knock off.

Made out of a near infinite amount of human souls stitched together.

“I can hear pretty much everything actually. It’s how I navigate usually given my eyes are practically just decorative rather than functional.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

The lights I saw were stars that hang just over his eyes, swaying with his head movements. I... am I in there, at all?

*Arthur takes a full step back, to be safe.* "You could say the same about my eyes, though I guess a better term is that I'm permanently leasing them."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Hung, John. Past tense.”

He teased light heartedly.

“But yes. There is a version of you in here with the rest of us. Your eyes are just yellow and glow like a light shining at an animal in a forest. Mine just actually glow like headlights.”

As if on cue a glimmer shone from the pair of eyes on his face, twinkling like diamonds almost.

Alto didn’t take a step forward. In fact he actually leaned back.

“Technically I don’t actually lease these eyes. I have others.”

He says that like it’s normal.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

It's you alright. He has your condescension.

"Later John? Please? Not when he can hear you?" *The words fight past Arthur's grit teeth*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

It chuckles warmly.

“It’s alright, I only mind about as much as you do, which is I don’t mind at all.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"You know how he can be." *Arthur is slowly sauntering into a false sense of security around Alto, it's night and day compared to the other Arthur they met.*

The fuck is that supposed to mean?!

"You know what it means."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Hard headed and passive aggressive with quite the poetic streak? We all know what Arthur means, don’t play dumb John.”

He smirked a bit, the chatter mostly turning into amused laughter and snickering of some shape or form depending on which piece John was listening to.

“It means we cared enough to take note on the details about you.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I was going to say bitchy."

Details?

"What do you think you know about us?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Well, I know everything about nearly every world where you made a different choice. Suffice to say I’m… effectively; every other version of you wrapped into one. I’m about as dead as dead gets.”

He rocks back and forth on the balls of his feet, an old habit Arthur had broken a long time ago.

“I know what every other version of you did, but I don’t know exactly what your deal is, but I know basically what it is from process of elimination.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Like the folder from the hotel?

"Oh? Then enlighten me. Tell me what we suffered through, what we lost, what Kayne did to us."

Arthur, if he is you, then he's going to have the same temper!

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Calm down John, I’d be more than happy to give you two the statistics on our near infinite lives that we’ve lived.”

He clears his throat like he’s about to pull out a power point presentation, as he starts giving the run down like an announcer at one of the many clubs they’d both been to and occasionally worked at.

“For cause of death; Kayne makes up over 97%, 0.7% being caused by John and or The King in Yellow, and the last 1.3% being non paranormal causes! 0.3 of which being our own fault. The last once percent is the other versions of Kayne that occasionally got us before he did.”

He’d pulled up a pie chart, which was… almost entirely Red, helpfully labeled as Kayne, with two tiny slivers, one being yellow for the smaller, and the other larger tiny slice being marked purple.

“As for life expectancy, 0.02% died before reaching adulthood, 1.43% died before the age of twenty-two, 15.58% died before thirty, 27.56% died twenty-eight, 47.87% were dead by thirty, 62.71% were dead by thirty-five, 71.03% were dead by forty, 89.43% were dead by fifty, and 99.82% were dead before retirement age. Shortest life was a month and two days, longest life was 78 years, 3 months, and 17 days. You got about the average.”

The presentation disappears in favor of being able to talk with his hands’ moving them around rather wildly.

“Our most common path in life was much like the one you took, though there are about twenty percent of us actually getting to properly persue music as a career without issue, and about thirty percent being miscellaneous or odd random offshoots that don’t much matter.”

He fidgets with his earrings, looking off to the side a bit awkwardly. It’s almost odd to see all of Arthur’s little habits on another persons body rather than their own.

“Is there anything specific you’d like to know beyond that?”

This didn’t seem like the kind of topic he wanted to dwell on for too long but didn’t want to say it aloud.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Really now? Well I'm glad to know most of you can understand how badly Kaynes fucked us over. Would you like to add some more data for those statistics?"

Arthur this is a bad idea!

"I was the pianist for a theater in Boston, I was employed until... I was employed, and then I opened that book. I lived about... eight months after that? thirty five. I was almost thirty five when Kayne decided to turn my brain into a grenade on stage! Any other information, so you can accurately tell our life story?!"

What the fuck Arthur?! Do you have any self preservation left?

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Its smile turned more… sharp, taking a few steps closer to Arthur and John.

“Our life, English.”

He bites out the nickname. The light in its eyes flaring rather suddenly as they lean closer.

“I wouldn’t have told you if you weren’t Arthur Lester. The fact that you’re still kicking at all is a fucking miracle.”

It looks almost bitter.

“You should be glad you aren’t in fucking pieces like the rest of us.”

Its voice started to… fray, the chatter in its soul bubbling to the surface and making its words reverberate somewhat oddly.

“But thank you for sharing, that helps narrow things down onto which thread of choices you are that’s still missing.”

Its form seemed to… warp, becoming almost glassy as its limbs elongated slightly and its face warped into an altered version of Arthur. Its ears longer, face tinted lavender instead of red- its lips an odd shade of purple.

“You should listen to John before I actually start listening to the little voice in the back of my head that’s neither John nor myself telling me to tear you in half.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Arthur, his features are growing more alien and menacing, we need to drop this and RUN

"Still kicking?! We went through hell to survive. we lost a so much! And then KAYNE PLUCKS US OUT OF OUR WORLD FOR HIS SICK LITTLE CHRISTMAS PAGENT"

"the payment? our our friends puppeted on stage in yy So fuck off with your damned analytics

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Do you have any idea what it’s like to have your soul split apart into tiny fucking pieces and have them left to rot in a facility of a cathedral made out of your own corpses? And when you finally get back to some semblance of consciousness, all you know is that someone hated you enough to build it? Hated you enough to place every piece by hand, and kill every single one used to make it?”

His appearance warped further, turning into some glassy amalgamation of shards in the vague shape of a person.

“Do you know how painful it is, to have someone you trust, someone you let reside in your own head and share a body with and come to care for and love, be the one to tear you apart with nothing but gleeful loathing? Do you have any idea how much that hurts? And to know that it happened over, and over, and over, and over again, knowing exactly what happened each time because you experienced each and every death first hand?”

The waylay itself warped ever so slightly as his voice raised, like watercolor paper being painted on. The tone was cold, calculated and utterly malignant.

“I have to find a way to process everything otherwise I’ll fucking collapse in on myself! I don’t have the fucking energy anymore to let it keep weighing on me, so I try to make it useful in some way. Don’t you dare tell me you two haven’t also quietly kept score of all the close calls.”

The closer it got the more Arthur could feel the… gravity, of it. How it sort of… pulled him, like a magnet, but not in any way he’d ever felt before.

“You can’t tell us that what you’ve experienced is worse than every other version of you combined, because we’ve seen it all, and you have no idea how creative he can be when he’s actually trying to torture you. If he wanted to do so, he would’ve broken your bones one by one every time you fumbled and told you to keep going until there was nothing left. You have no idea how malicious he could get when you’ve only died once.”

It was barely a few feet away, they could both hear the clinking of shards against each other as it loomed over them, far taller than it had been just moments ago.

“How about I show you?”

There was a wall forming behind them out of the same cold icy material that supposedly made up the form of the being in front of them that had once been himself.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*His own worst enemy was always himself, every doubt, fear, and flaw were projected ten times over in his own mind before John moved in. Even now, John has talked Arthur off of that ledge more times than they could count. In the dreamlands, John cried out in horror as he choked on his own blood. In the mansion when he was knocked out by Uncle, and almost bled out from being unable to tend his own would, desperate for a respite. in the caverns, impaled through and his biggest concern was taking John with him.*

*The second Kayne left the stage, their bag in hand... that he considered if a noose and fall from the catwalks would be enough to snap his neck to keep them both from being tortured by Kayne.*

*But they survived. They pushed and push and god did they push, because they had to. Because John somehow found a part of Arthur that wanted to survive, and made it into a burning pyre.*

*And while this Arthur is slow to violence... that doesn't mean he is harmless.*

*The fist goes flying into Alto's face while John shouts in fear* ARTHUR NO!

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Its hand shot up to catch the punch before it could make contact with what had once been his face.

As soon as it made contact a burning sensation burst ran down Arthur’s entire arm, like his very soul was being melted. He didn’t have proper control over his body anymore. It felt distant even when right there.

He could hear the cacophony of others- like his own thoughts were going but he had no control over them- like it was his own mind but he didn’t have much control at all, like he was being grafted onto another.

“Look what you’ve done now…”

The words rung both inside and out of Arthur’s head like in the mines, how he could sense others without being anywhere near them.

“That’s rather disappointing. I was going to leave you be till you fizzled out.”

The melting sensation continued, slowly spreading throughout his entire being. The thread entwining pieces of Alto’s soul together started to take root in Arthur, pulling away pieces one by one. Slowly.

It was an agonizing process as it slowly picked away at Arthur’s mind and soul. It was even starting to detangle Johns from Arthur as it sifted through Arthur’s memories and experiences, his life and losses.

The room had changed without either of them noticing, the lights too bright from it to get any detail from anything else. What they did know was… they weren’t in the hallway anymore.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*His parents, their corpses hang from the rafters. The first notes on a piano ever played birthing a passion. A woman who seemed different than everyone else in an entirely new country. A baby girl, reaching out for him. A toddler lying in the bottom of an overflowing tub. A man who refused to let a drunk be. a book. a god who was more human than anyone else.*

*Men fight in a cavern. Beasts fight in a wasteland. A man opens a book. A woman greets a body. A god fights for a fragment. A man fights for himself.*

*Arthur could feel it all slip away as he screamed in pain. Every minute of every memory was ripped from him like tissue paper*

*John knows what this melding is. A basterdization of his own conjoining with his "better half". The twisting, nauseating feeling of losing oneself in an ocean. Insignificant.*

*but they cling to eachother. Even as pieces of themselves pull and tear at their very cores. How could they lose eachother when their souls are braided into one rope?*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He just wanted to make his point clear by letting it start to burn before he pulled away. Except he couldn’t why couldn’t he-… Shit.

He frantically tried to pry his hand off of Arthur even with it barely budging. If he had a face to show he was panicking, it would be written all over it.

Suddenly the roots working their way in were being yanked back out, even as they tried to stick-

It hurt. Fuck, it hurt so much. Not as much as the last time this happened but it still burned as he struggled to undo what was happening.

He pulled so hard something… something broke. He didn’t know what but he toon the opportunity to rip his arm away despite the utter agony that engulfed his being as he struggled to remain upright.

He was shaking from the effort.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*Arthur is in so much pain, his entire body has been spliced and reconstructed, the pieces put together just ever so wrong. It's all so hazy, so agonizing, that as he runs his legs give out from under him, barely any strength to drag himself away.*

*Not even John can do anything. He's silent. Arthur can still feel him, but they're both frayed, minds torn open and poorly stitched shut. His hand flexes once in an attempt to get them to safety, just like when Arthur was bleeding from his gut after Kellin. But he can't do anything.*

*Numbness takes control of their body and minds, the floorboards drinking the steady trickle of blood that comes from their eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

The bar is lively, some patrons are drinking at the bar, others are eating, talking or some other activity at the surrounding tables. The stage is empty for now, its thick red curtains hanging heavily. It's nice being around more people.

"It really is. We... really haven't made much of an effort to meet anyone else here." *Arthur starts to pick his way around the crowds, letting John point anyone out to him*

There is someone pouring over a book of wedding ideas and-

"John?" *Arthur asks, stopping in the middle of the room*

Parker...

*Thankfully Arthur is already dead, because he can't breathe.*

- @mistletoe-and-music-notes

-🍻

Parker was at one of the poker tables; not actually playing but more so teaching some of the other patrons how the game worked and as soon as they had a handle on the ropes he let em have at it.

Then he noticed Arthur and he stopped in his tracks, doing a double take before his expression shifted to one of surprise.

“Art that you?”

He called over as he picked up the pace of his walk to see Arthur more clearly.

He looked… different. Not quite the same as he remembered. His eyes more sunken and look a bit more wild lol he’d seem something he couldn’t unsee, but otherwise… it was Parker. No doubt about it. Which Parker it was though was an entirely different question.

“The hell you doin’ here?”

The relieved, lopsided smile that spread across his face was so… genuine and heartfelt they could practically hear it in his tone.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John's hand twitches, unsure of what to even do.* It's Parker. I... can't be a good judge of how well he looks... but he's happy to see you. It's as real as can be. It's him. *He only has the memory of Parkers corpse in a closet*

*Arthur doesn't answer the question yet. He doesn't care if this is his Parker or not. Does it even hold weight here? Arthur instead wraps his arms around Parkers body, holding him tight while a weight melts off of his frame. How he missed that voice.*

"We- I died, Parker. Just like you. It's... I had given up hope that you might have ended up here."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Parker’s arms wrapped around Arthur in one of his giant smothering bear hugs.

“I know… I know Artie. It’s okay, we’re both here now though. That’s all that matters now.”

He shifted his weight to better support Arthur.

“If we weren’t both dead right now I’d strangle you to death for being a fucking dumbass.”

He squeezed Arthur a little tighter, making no move to strangle him. He had a habit of threatening to do things and then doing nothing to enact those things. Specifically in regard to Arthur.

“I thought I’d never see ya’ again.”

He held Arthur a bit tighter. They could feel his back popping from the force of the hug.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Fuck!" *The volume of the expletive is proportional to the pop his spine made, Arthur's ears even ring from it.*

Jesus Christ!

"Parker I... I wish I could see you. I know after everything I look different..." *He finally pulls away*

"Parker, what do you remember?"

Arthur where are you going with this? *John's voice is wary and guarded inside Arthurs head. Charlie is one thing, because John never killed Charlie.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Oh shit- sorry Art-“

He loosens his hug, taking a step back to better look at Arthur and check him over.

“God Damn- y’ look like y’ went 4 rounds in a boxin’ ring and got the snot kicked outta ya’. How the hell did that happen?”

He didn’t seem to be kidding, grimacing as he noted all the scars he didn’t recognize.

“Well- I remember the book, you mentioning the weird voice in your head, you collapsing and dropping it, you goin’ blind and leanin’ on me and that weird voice to describe shit, me thinking you were pullin’ my leg half the time until y’ up n’ ditched me-“

He was saying details that he shouldn’t know if he’d died. He… he didn’t die like he should’ve remembered.

“I was worried sick about ya for months. Some- whatever it fuckin’ was had to show up wearing your face and tell me you’d died for me to find out what happened.”

He took a breath, reaching for a pack of smokes like he always did when he got stressed.

“Assumin’ that’s not what you remember. Ain’t it? Don’t think either of us that lucky to find the needle in the haystack of whatever shit we got ourselves into.”

Lo and behind he’d lit up a cigarette to try and calm his nerves down.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

He didn't... I didn't kill him? *John's voice sounds so guilty and so hopeful at the same time...*

"Parker- you... You know about John? Parker, your body was on the floor of our office when me and John woke up. We both died, but I was uh... it's complicated." *Arthur sighs. He knew it would be too good to hope this was his Parker. But it was still there. This one still smells the same. Arthur sure it's even the same brand.* "Me and John went on the run, trying to follow any lead that would tell us what he was, or how to separate us. It's... jesus fuck I don't know where to begin."

*It's easy to see the ordeal Arthur has been through. His neck features a long slice bow the adams apple, his nose was clearly broken at least twice, and a hand sized scar cradles his right eye, nearly stretching to a torn ear. Grey hair has become sprinkled through out his auburn hair, and he's somehow thinner than when they first met.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Oh so that’s what y’ calling em!”

There was a sort of bitterness to Parker’s tone when talking about John, though nowhere near as bitter as it probably would’ve been if John had killed him.

“Yeah I know of em. You mentioned a voice in y’ head that didn’t go ‘way.”

He sighed. He had a feeling this wasn’t the Arthur he knew, but… close enough. He was close enough to the man he knew and loved that it was good enough for him to accept.

“I got no clue why your me got killed there and I didn’t but I do know you’re a damn idiot.”

he didn’t want to comment on the changes in appearance any more than he already had, but damn did he think the scars looked good on Arthur.

“The scars look good on ya’. Make y’ look like the kinda type not to fuck with.”

He hummed for a minute, thinking for a bit.

“Did’j ‘least hide the body decently?”

The humor in his tone made it apparent he was joking.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John holds out his left hand, trying to connect, to learn about the man Arthur loved so much* His smile is light. Despite the circumstances, I think he is happy to see us.

"John choose the name, actually, but..." *All color drains from Arthurs face at the last statement, Parkers stiff body is in his hands as he frantically shoves his best friend in a closet.*

*so many nights spent laughing, drinking, loving, sleeping on the same overstuffed secondhand couch. And Arthur never turned around to look at what he did*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He noticed the reaction almost immediately with a grimace, knowing that expression well.

“Sorry, sorry, bad joke- I… didn’t mean t’ press.”

He knew not to press Art when he got like that. He looked down at the offered hand with uncertainty.

“… why y’ offerin’ me y’ hand…?”

When his eyes returned to Arthur’s face there was something almost like suspicion in his eyes. Apprehension was probably the proper word for it.

“… is John doing that?”

His tone shifted with how he spoke about John, the warmth he had for Arthur missing, like he was gritting his teeth that he had to share Arthur with some… well, parasite that took his best friends eyes. And apparently, one of his arms as well.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Huh-" *Arthur feels his left arm, finding it raised* "That would be him."

It's polite, right? And If he already knows about me... then it should be like Charlie?

*"Like Charlie" Arthur's heart gives a flutter at the concept, or Parker back into his life, along side John. Honestly the idea of introducing Parker and Charlie is appealing as well... for reasons Arthur shouldn't speak out in the middle of the bar.*

"He wants to get to know you. I think uou'll like him if you can give him a chance?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Who?”

He frowns slightly, but he doesn’t pry further than that. He sighs, taking Arthu- John’s, hand.

“S’pose if I gave you a chance I can give him one too. Good to meet y’ John.”

His handshake was firm, the skin leathery and rough but not unpleasantly so. There were more than a few old scars dotting them that Arthur had probably heard the stories to at least once or twice.

His grip tightened a bit.

“John, if you give Art any trouble, I’ll give ya double that.”

His menacing expression the accompanied the threat was clearly meant for John and John alone. It disappeared pretty quickly, his other hand that wasn’t wrapped around John’s hand patting his arm.

“Glad we got that settled! I hope me can get along bud.”

His expression returned to the smile it was before.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John doesn't comment on Parkers grip, or the clear hostility in his face. He needs to bridge this gap for Arthurs sake.* Then I suppose we can't tell Parker much, huh? *The chuckle is somewhat false, but he won't tell Arthur.*

"You don't have to drag John out of a bar every night! You two will get along better that you think."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Guess that’s true. Though it wasn’t that hard t’ do though, y’ were light as a feather and it looks like y’ still are.”

He elbowed Arthur playfully, smiling warmly as he always did. It didn’t change much of how he felt about John, but if Arthur liked him… he’d give the guy a chance to earn his trust.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I started a diet." *Arthur elbows back, settling back into the easy friendship him and Parker always had. It felt so... normal.*

You still aren't back to your weight from when we first met...

"You now what, John is complaining about my poor habits, why don't we have something to eat, talk over food?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He laughed wholeheartedly.

“I’m starting to like John already!”

He gently guided the pair to a table, letting John figure out the rest after leaving the two by the chair across from him. He didn’t want to make John feel useless now, did he?

“I already ate a bit ago but feel free t’ dig int’ whatever. I’m good with just talkin’ while y’ eat.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

There's a chair to your- yes there- Parker sits across from us. If it wasn't two friends catching up I'm sure some would think this was a date.

*Arthurs ears burn at Johns commentary, grinding his heel into the left toe of his shoe. Not hard, but enough to get the point across* "I'll be honest an appetite hasn't been the easiest to find since getting here. Eating is more of a habit than a nessecity now."

Ow- Arthur the fuck?! And you need to eat!

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah I think I get that now. It’s hard t’ think ‘bout eating when you’re constantly worried ‘bout somethin’.”

He smiled easily, not pushing the matter too hard. He could tell by the way Arthur jumped slightly that something was said that he didn’t expect.

“What’d John say?”

He looked amused.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Oh, just that I needed to eat" *John pinches Arthur sharply on the back of the hand, causing him to curse and wave the pain out* "Bastard!"

What's wrong with what I said?

"Because-" *Well... he can't exactly find the words for his reasoning. John doesn't know Parker and him's history. About the fact that they never spoke about the things they did while drunk, that it was agreed that the polite thing to do was treat those moments as different men all together.* "Because it's just not nessacary."

Not nessacary. Really. Why are you being so cagey about this of all things? What is it about Parker?

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“What, did he suggest we’re…”

He struggles to find the word until he decides to just gestures vaguely before doing a sort of gesture that looked like he was limply trying to swat a fly.

“I- I don’t know if he’s gunna be able to figure out how t’ describe that-“

He felt somewhat stupid for using a visual gesture to try and communicate with his best friend who’s blind.

“I mean- only after a few drinks but he ain’t wrong.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

He's put his hand up and is letting it fall at the wrist in a sort of half-hearted "Hello"

*Oh jesus christ these two are going to be the death of him!* "Y- Both of you! Incorrigble!"

*It's not prudishness that stokes Arthur's embarrassment, similarly it isn't the fear that came from when he was alive in Arkham. In the Waylay it's quite obvious the same rules do not apply, he'd almost assume this place was meant to be a refuge for homosexuals if he wasn't dead. No, this is born from his need to stay private. He always kept certain things from Parker. His failed marrige, most details about Faroe... how long he had let his liver pickle in grief. Even his parents deaths, just that they died. That fact alone resulted in Parker pulling Arthur into every family celebration he could justify.*

*Even now Arthur has no desire to burden Parker with these emotions. The ones he held close to his chest and only let out when he was too drunk to second guess.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He had to stop himself from bursting out laughing, because he’d been right, and of course he found that rather funny.

“Hey if it makes y’ feel better I don’t mind at all. I’m glad I got to be your partner one way or another.”

He didn’t even seem bothered in the slightest, though for just a moment he seemed a bit hurt. Like some scrap of hope just got snuffed out.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...One way or another, huh?"

Arthur the look in his eyes is forlorn, avoiding us like we are the reason why.

"Was that... how close you and your Arthur were? That you could talk about it?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah- well… a lil’ more than just talking about it, I’ll admit. Took em to a few bars I knew where people would let it fly and kept shit hush hush ‘bout it.”

His face was tinting red just remembering it.

“Mainly cuz one night it sorta became somethin’ we couldn’t keep avoidin’ mentioning and had to sit down and talk ‘bout it ‘stead of never mentioning it.”

He seems… happy, thinking about the memory.

“Assumin’ you and him didn’t talk ‘bout it much, did ya?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*his hearing fizzles out for a moment before he comes back, shaking off the second of dizziness to respond* "We uh... we agreed that what happened when we were drunk was seperate from who we were sober. It was safer that way, for both of us, and his family."

And now that you're here? Now that you have Parker blushing?

"He is?"

To the ears, Arthur. I've definitely started to see why you found him so charming.

"I-I'm sure you aren't keen on me just... coming onto you."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I know but it can only happen so many times before y’ gotta address the elephant in the room. Though, family’s not really an issue now.”

He paused, looking somewhat stunned.

“I- I wouldn’t mind at all actually- I- fuck it- please do.”

his face turning even more red than it was before, looking off to the side like he expected something to interrupt the moment. Nothing interrupted.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Arthur. A day will come when we meet a man who neither wants to fuck you or fight you... but it seems that today is not that day.

So what now?

*...Arthur did not think this far ahead. Shit. Arthurs hand reaches across the table with a much softer smile, palm up for Parker to take* "Well then... John asks 'what now', and I want to know the answer too."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Parker takes it happily, smiling like he’d just won the jackpot of all time.

“Hey if I had a ring on me I’d offer it t’ ya but uh- yeah I don’t got any. Best I can offer y’ right now is this.”

He stands up from the table, not once letting Arthur’s hand go as he steps around to stand beside him, letting the man adjust to the proximity before pushing his lips to Arthur’s in a firm kiss.

As soon as he had to pull back for air, his other hand was taking John’s and pressing a kiss into his palm before looking them in the eyes.

“You two’ve clearly been through the wringer more than enough. I wanna give you somethin’ nice. You deserve it.”

This was the first time he’d flirted with Arthur sober and oh was it a whole new experience.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*Arthur utterly melts in Parkers arms, kissing him back like a man starved for years. His hand travels to the nape of Parkers neck, thin pianist fingers threading their way through his hair.*

Oh Arthur... *Johns arm snakes behind Parkers waist to pull him that much closer... until they finally break. When Parker kisses Johns hand though? He can't say a coherent thing from the shock* Arthur he- He-!

"Now what did you do to make John so flustered?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I kissed his hand. Did he think i wasn’t gunna make him feel included?”

He teased, continuing to pepper John’s hand with kisses, traveling down the arm a few times before his eyes trail back up to look at Arthur’s eyes.

“How’s he feel about that?”

He leans in a bit closer till they can practically feel his breath on Arthur’s neck. His own hand was still against Arthur’s, holding his where it was in Parker’s hair.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*The connection between John and Arthur is warm and fuzzy, the sort of tipsy one drink will bring on. But this is a better buzz than Arthur could ever know.*

I- I thought he was only here for you.

"John thought that this was going to be a... one sided affair. But I had a feeling you'd warm up to him." *Arthur cranes his neck to give Parker better access above his collared shirt. though what he does with the space is all hia own*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I wouldn’t want him t’ feel left out. Plus I wanna make the both of ya feel special. Wouldn’t make much sense to favor just you, Art. You don’t get to hog all the attention now darling.”

He pressed a quick peck to Arthur’s neck before his arms wrapped around the man’s waist and pulled him up to stand.

“Much as we can get away with here I think a bit of privacy would do us some good. What d’ya two think?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Oh god yes. I wasn't sure how much longer I could be polite."

*Johns hand taps twice against Parkers arm, a 'yes' that him and Arthur developed a long time ago for when Arthur couldn't speak*

*Or when John is rewiring his brain over the idea that not only did Parker not hate him for killing him, or taking over part of Arthur... But wants to treat John with the same affection? Arthur idolized this man, and he's starting to see why* "Please?"

"John is a bit more polite about it, he said 'please'"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Well how can I say no to that?”

He smiles as he helps lead the pair out of the dining area, though he doesn’t have the best grip on where they should be going.

“Where to then? I don’t got the best grasp on this place n’ you’ve been here longer than I have probably.”

He chuckles, finding the fact that John’s saying pleas to be rather adorable. He was starting to get why Arthur likes John so much.

“So uh- whatcha think? Where to?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...well, I don't know either. It's been about six weeks since we slept in our own room and-"

They might have already tidied it up and given it to someone else.

"-John aays it might have been given to another patron." *If you looked closely at the right side of his neck, someone could see a wound fresher than the rest peeking above his collar.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I’m sure they haven’t cleared it out yet. You’re still here aren’t ya? Could even go ask if you’re really worried.”

He took note of the other injury but didn’t comment. Not yet at least.

“if you wanna head to my room that works too. Probably not as nice though.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I wouldn't know the difference anyways! How about yours?" *Means Arthur can steal one of Parkers shirts in the morning. And... well he has a plan forming*

*John is just describing Parkers face, the walk down the hall, but his hand... is sliding to rest on Parkers tail bone.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah. I think that sounds good.”

His smile grew a bit, feeling John’s hand trail down his back like he wouldn’t notice.

He turned his head to look the two in the face, tilting his head just to silently say ‘really John?’ With the sort of coy look that wasn’t actually that serious. He just winked at John slyly.

“That and I actually know where mine is. I had a feelin’ you’d prefer mine. You’re gunna steal my cloths again aren’t you?”

He chuckled, not seeming bothered.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Maybe. Though... not for long hopefully." *Arthurs voice dips low and sweet, for Parker and John's ears only.*

*Inside, John chuckles evilly as the land continues to travel*

"What on earth are you doing?"

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

On one of the few quiet days that Arthur and John were wandering around the Waylay at night; Down one of the many long hallways was a pair of lights, hovering just at Arthur’s eye level, looking at them.

The outline of a just barely visible silhouette standing there, frozen as lights flickered out and it waited in darkness. It didn’t seem to care about the dark.

🪉 @yorick-the-vanguard

Arthur stop! *John's shout pulls Arthur up short, muscles primed to run in the opposite direction from whatever danger John sees* There's something at the end of the hall- two bright lights and... I think a man in a tail coat? The ceiling lights are flickering and it's hard to make the figure out.

*In moments like these, Arthur is reminded of his lost gun, and how badly he misses it or even a knife.* "Alright..."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

The lights flickered back on again, and with the light returning to the hallway, it illuminated the figure.

Eyes no longer shining now in the bright light, and much, much closer. The proximity made the world spin slightly. If its pose wasn’t different it would be like looking in a mirror- the… man? Had the same face as Arthur, down to the same look in his eyes and the scars scattered across the visible parts of his frame.

It was about… twenty-five-ish feet away. Close enough that they could see the dark stains creeping around the back of his head and shoulders that looked far too much like dried blood.

It just… kept staring, and something in its expression looked hungry. Like it wanted to tear Arthur to shreds.

It made no further attempts to get closer to the pair, despite how it clearly seemed like it wanted too. It wasn’t human, obviously, despite what it looked like, but at the same time… it wasn’t… not, human.

It was like a human fractal.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Jesus fucking christ Arthur... it's YOU.

"W-what? John? You aren't seeing- John how?!" *Arthur starts to back in fear at the concept, having a not so great experience with the last Arthur he met.*

It's you! It's your hair, your scars! He looks to have more of them, even. I think... jesus I think there is blood flowing from the back of his head over his shoulders.

"W-what's he doing?"

He's staring at you.

"I'm starting to feel a little too much like prey, John. tell me when to run."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Its expression shifted to curious, then amused, then… fond, almost, like it was reminiscing.

“I always forget how silly we could be.”

Oh he even sounded like Arthur, and muffled behind all the- noise, The being seemed to generate, there was… there was also another John lodged into whatever it was that was in front of them.

The being seemed like he was talking to himself or some unseen audience, and John could hear the sort of chatter going on in the being somewhat. It was like it was taking note on how each little voice wanted to proceed before it did anything again.

“There’s no need for either of you to panic. I’m won’t kill you. Well, you’re already dead, but you know what I mean.”

It shrugged.

“I have no desire to give the manager any trouble and given he went to all the lengths to pull you here I wouldn’t think harming you would be a good idea.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Arthur... something is deeply wrong. It's like looking at a stained glass windows. Shards welded together to create one being. He is not human, and he is powerful.

...Is that... *Johns voice grows softer hearing his own cadence in the cacophony that "Arthur" produces*

"No. No I don't think it would be a good idea, Arthur. I've actually started to have a pleasant time here, and I'd rather it not end now. Promises to keep and all that, sure you understand." *Be faster, smarter, wittier. Like how he beat the gug, or escaped the mansion, or took down the Butcher. But this isn't like any god or man he's faces before. This is him.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

It grimaced at being called that, but hearing John call him powerful made him look rather happy.

“I haven’t gone by that name in a long time. It makes me feel… wrong. Alto. Call me Alto. Please.”

They smile pleasantly, trying to not seem too threatening to his other self.

“I’m sure you have. The waylay is a very nice place and the manager is quite the accommodating host.”

He spoke of the being rather fondly.

“I should warn you getting too close to me wouldn’t end well for either of us.”

Given the nature of how its soul is constructed… it’s easy to figure out what would happen should he get too near.

[twelve-starry-eyes]

He certainly didn't like being called Arthur... but he's also... preening. Can he hear me?

"Can you hear John? My John?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yes I can hear him. And I’m rather pleased by the compliment. Usually I’m not called powerful so it’s nice to hear now and then.”

It made sense. He was… godlike. Though, he wasn’t exactly technically among the great old ones even if he did seem to match them in power. A good descriptor would be a sort of ‘bastard god’ or knock off.

Made out of a near infinite amount of human souls stitched together.

“I can hear pretty much everything actually. It’s how I navigate usually given my eyes are practically just decorative rather than functional.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

The lights I saw were stars that hang just over his eyes, swaying with his head movements. I... am I in there, at all?

*Arthur takes a full step back, to be safe.* "You could say the same about my eyes, though I guess a better term is that I'm permanently leasing them."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Hung, John. Past tense.”

He teased light heartedly.

“But yes. There is a version of you in here with the rest of us. Your eyes are just yellow and glow like a light shining at an animal in a forest. Mine just actually glow like headlights.”

As if on cue a glimmer shone from the pair of eyes on his face, twinkling like diamonds almost.

Alto didn’t take a step forward. In fact he actually leaned back.

“Technically I don’t actually lease these eyes. I have others.”

He says that like it’s normal.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

It's you alright. He has your condescension.

"Later John? Please? Not when he can hear you?" *The words fight past Arthur's grit teeth*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

It chuckles warmly.

“It’s alright, I only mind about as much as you do, which is I don’t mind at all.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"You know how he can be." *Arthur is slowly sauntering into a false sense of security around Alto, it's night and day compared to the other Arthur they met.*

The fuck is that supposed to mean?!

"You know what it means."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Hard headed and passive aggressive with quite the poetic streak? We all know what Arthur means, don’t play dumb John.”

He smirked a bit, the chatter mostly turning into amused laughter and snickering of some shape or form depending on which piece John was listening to.

“It means we cared enough to take note on the details about you.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I was going to say bitchy."

Details?

"What do you think you know about us?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Well, I know everything about nearly every world where you made a different choice. Suffice to say I’m… effectively; every other version of you wrapped into one. I’m about as dead as dead gets.”

He rocks back and forth on the balls of his feet, an old habit Arthur had broken a long time ago.

“I know what every other version of you did, but I don’t know exactly what your deal is, but I know basically what it is from process of elimination.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Like the folder from the hotel?

"Oh? Then enlighten me. Tell me what we suffered through, what we lost, what Kayne did to us."

Arthur, if he is you, then he's going to have the same temper!

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Calm down John, I’d be more than happy to give you two the statistics on our near infinite lives that we’ve lived.”

He clears his throat like he’s about to pull out a power point presentation, as he starts giving the run down like an announcer at one of the many clubs they’d both been to and occasionally worked at.

“For cause of death; Kayne makes up over 97%, 0.7% being caused by John and or The King in Yellow, and the last 1.3% being non paranormal causes! 0.3 of which being our own fault. The last once percent is the other versions of Kayne that occasionally got us before he did.”

He’d pulled up a pie chart, which was… almost entirely Red, helpfully labeled as Kayne, with two tiny slivers, one being yellow for the smaller, and the other larger tiny slice being marked purple.

“As for life expectancy, 0.02% died before reaching adulthood, 1.43% died before the age of twenty-two, 15.58% died before thirty, 27.56% died twenty-eight, 47.87% were dead by thirty, 62.71% were dead by thirty-five, 71.03% were dead by forty, 89.43% were dead by fifty, and 99.82% were dead before retirement age. Shortest life was a month and two days, longest life was 78 years, 3 months, and 17 days. You got about the average.”

The presentation disappears in favor of being able to talk with his hands’ moving them around rather wildly.

“Our most common path in life was much like the one you took, though there are about twenty percent of us actually getting to properly persue music as a career without issue, and about thirty percent being miscellaneous or odd random offshoots that don’t much matter.”

He fidgets with his earrings, looking off to the side a bit awkwardly. It’s almost odd to see all of Arthur’s little habits on another persons body rather than their own.

“Is there anything specific you’d like to know beyond that?”

This didn’t seem like the kind of topic he wanted to dwell on for too long but didn’t want to say it aloud.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Really now? Well I'm glad to know most of you can understand how badly Kaynes fucked us over. Would you like to add some more data for those statistics?"

Arthur this is a bad idea!

"I was the pianist for a theater in Boston, I was employed until... I was employed, and then I opened that book. I lived about... eight months after that? thirty five. I was almost thirty five when Kayne decided to turn my brain into a grenade on stage! Any other information, so you can accurately tell our life story?!"

What the fuck Arthur?! Do you have any self preservation left?

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Its smile turned more… sharp, taking a few steps closer to Arthur and John.

“Our life, English.”

He bites out the nickname. The light in its eyes flaring rather suddenly as they lean closer.

“I wouldn’t have told you if you weren’t Arthur Lester. The fact that you’re still kicking at all is a fucking miracle.”

It looks almost bitter.

“You should be glad you aren’t in fucking pieces like the rest of us.”

Its voice started to… fray, the chatter in its soul bubbling to the surface and making its words reverberate somewhat oddly.

“But thank you for sharing, that helps narrow things down onto which thread of choices you are that’s still missing.”

Its form seemed to… warp, becoming almost glassy as its limbs elongated slightly and its face warped into an altered version of Arthur. Its ears longer, face tinted lavender instead of red- its lips an odd shade of purple.

“You should listen to John before I actually start listening to the little voice in the back of my head that’s neither John nor myself telling me to tear you in half.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Arthur, his features are growing more alien and menacing, we need to drop this and RUN

"Still kicking?! We went through hell to survive. we lost a so much! And then KAYNE PLUCKS US OUT OF OUR WORLD FOR HIS SICK LITTLE CHRISTMAS PAGENT"

"the payment? our our friends puppeted on stage in yy So fuck off with your damned analytics

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Do you have any idea what it’s like to have your soul split apart into tiny fucking pieces and have them left to rot in a facility of a cathedral made out of your own corpses? And when you finally get back to some semblance of consciousness, all you know is that someone hated you enough to build it? Hated you enough to place every piece by hand, and kill every single one used to make it?”

His appearance warped further, turning into some glassy amalgamation of shards in the vague shape of a person.

“Do you know how painful it is, to have someone you trust, someone you let reside in your own head and share a body with and come to care for and love, be the one to tear you apart with nothing but gleeful loathing? Do you have any idea how much that hurts? And to know that it happened over, and over, and over, and over again, knowing exactly what happened each time because you experienced each and every death first hand?”

The waylay itself warped ever so slightly as his voice raised, like watercolor paper being painted on. The tone was cold, calculated and utterly malignant.

“I have to find a way to process everything otherwise I’ll fucking collapse in on myself! I don’t have the fucking energy anymore to let it keep weighing on me, so I try to make it useful in some way. Don’t you dare tell me you two haven’t also quietly kept score of all the close calls.”

The closer it got the more Arthur could feel the… gravity, of it. How it sort of… pulled him, like a magnet, but not in any way he’d ever felt before.

“You can’t tell us that what you’ve experienced is worse than every other version of you combined, because we’ve seen it all, and you have no idea how creative he can be when he’s actually trying to torture you. If he wanted to do so, he would’ve broken your bones one by one every time you fumbled and told you to keep going until there was nothing left. You have no idea how malicious he could get when you’ve only died once.”

It was barely a few feet away, they could both hear the clinking of shards against each other as it loomed over them, far taller than it had been just moments ago.

“How about I show you?”

There was a wall forming behind them out of the same cold icy material that supposedly made up the form of the being in front of them that had once been himself.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*His own worst enemy was always himself, every doubt, fear, and flaw were projected ten times over in his own mind before John moved in. Even now, John has talked Arthur off of that ledge more times than they could count. In the dreamlands, John cried out in horror as he choked on his own blood. In the mansion when he was knocked out by Uncle, and almost bled out from being unable to tend his own would, desperate for a respite. in the caverns, impaled through and his biggest concern was taking John with him.*

*The second Kayne left the stage, their bag in hand... that he considered if a noose and fall from the catwalks would be enough to snap his neck to keep them both from being tortured by Kayne.*

*But they survived. They pushed and push and god did they push, because they had to. Because John somehow found a part of Arthur that wanted to survive, and made it into a burning pyre.*

*And while this Arthur is slow to violence... that doesn't mean he is harmless.*

*The fist goes flying into Alto's face while John shouts in fear* ARTHUR NO!

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Its hand shot up to catch the punch before it could make contact with what had once been his face.

As soon as it made contact a burning sensation burst ran down Arthur’s entire arm, like his very soul was being melted. He didn’t have proper control over his body anymore. It felt distant even when right there.

He could hear the cacophony of others- like his own thoughts were going but he had no control over them- like it was his own mind but he didn’t have much control at all, like he was being grafted onto another.

“Look what you’ve done now…”

The words rung both inside and out of Arthur’s head like in the mines, how he could sense others without being anywhere near them.

“That’s rather disappointing. I was going to leave you be till you fizzled out.”

The melting sensation continued, slowly spreading throughout his entire being. The thread entwining pieces of Alto’s soul together started to take root in Arthur, pulling away pieces one by one. Slowly.

It was an agonizing process as it slowly picked away at Arthur’s mind and soul. It was even starting to detangle Johns from Arthur as it sifted through Arthur’s memories and experiences, his life and losses.

The room had changed without either of them noticing, the lights too bright from it to get any detail from anything else. What they did know was… they weren’t in the hallway anymore.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*His parents, their corpses hang from the rafters. The first notes on a piano ever played birthing a passion. A woman who seemed different than everyone else in an entirely new country. A baby girl, reaching out for him. A toddler lying in the bottom of an overflowing tub. A man who refused to let a drunk be. a book. a god who was more human than anyone else.*

*Men fight in a cavern. Beasts fight in a wasteland. A man opens a book. A woman greets a body. A god fights for a fragment. A man fights for himself.*

*Arthur could feel it all slip away as he screamed in pain. Every minute of every memory was ripped from him like tissue paper*

*John knows what this melding is. A basterdization of his own conjoining with his "better half". The twisting, nauseating feeling of losing oneself in an ocean. Insignificant.*

*but they cling to eachother. Even as pieces of themselves pull and tear at their very cores. How could they lose eachother when their souls are braided into one rope?*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

The bar is lively, some patrons are drinking at the bar, others are eating, talking or some other activity at the surrounding tables. The stage is empty for now, its thick red curtains hanging heavily. It's nice being around more people.

"It really is. We... really haven't made much of an effort to meet anyone else here." *Arthur starts to pick his way around the crowds, letting John point anyone out to him*

There is someone pouring over a book of wedding ideas and-

"John?" *Arthur asks, stopping in the middle of the room*

Parker...

*Thankfully Arthur is already dead, because he can't breathe.*

- @mistletoe-and-music-notes

-🍻

Parker was at one of the poker tables; not actually playing but more so teaching some of the other patrons how the game worked and as soon as they had a handle on the ropes he let em have at it.

Then he noticed Arthur and he stopped in his tracks, doing a double take before his expression shifted to one of surprise.

“Art that you?”

He called over as he picked up the pace of his walk to see Arthur more clearly.

He looked… different. Not quite the same as he remembered. His eyes more sunken and look a bit more wild lol he’d seem something he couldn’t unsee, but otherwise… it was Parker. No doubt about it. Which Parker it was though was an entirely different question.

“The hell you doin’ here?”

The relieved, lopsided smile that spread across his face was so… genuine and heartfelt they could practically hear it in his tone.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John's hand twitches, unsure of what to even do.* It's Parker. I... can't be a good judge of how well he looks... but he's happy to see you. It's as real as can be. It's him. *He only has the memory of Parkers corpse in a closet*

*Arthur doesn't answer the question yet. He doesn't care if this is his Parker or not. Does it even hold weight here? Arthur instead wraps his arms around Parkers body, holding him tight while a weight melts off of his frame. How he missed that voice.*

"We- I died, Parker. Just like you. It's... I had given up hope that you might have ended up here."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Parker’s arms wrapped around Arthur in one of his giant smothering bear hugs.

“I know… I know Artie. It’s okay, we’re both here now though. That’s all that matters now.”

He shifted his weight to better support Arthur.

“If we weren’t both dead right now I’d strangle you to death for being a fucking dumbass.”

He squeezed Arthur a little tighter, making no move to strangle him. He had a habit of threatening to do things and then doing nothing to enact those things. Specifically in regard to Arthur.

“I thought I’d never see ya’ again.”

He held Arthur a bit tighter. They could feel his back popping from the force of the hug.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Fuck!" *The volume of the expletive is proportional to the pop his spine made, Arthur's ears even ring from it.*

Jesus Christ!

"Parker I... I wish I could see you. I know after everything I look different..." *He finally pulls away*

"Parker, what do you remember?"

Arthur where are you going with this? *John's voice is wary and guarded inside Arthurs head. Charlie is one thing, because John never killed Charlie.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Oh shit- sorry Art-“

He loosens his hug, taking a step back to better look at Arthur and check him over.

“God Damn- y’ look like y’ went 4 rounds in a boxin’ ring and got the snot kicked outta ya’. How the hell did that happen?”

He didn’t seem to be kidding, grimacing as he noted all the scars he didn’t recognize.

“Well- I remember the book, you mentioning the weird voice in your head, you collapsing and dropping it, you goin’ blind and leanin’ on me and that weird voice to describe shit, me thinking you were pullin’ my leg half the time until y’ up n’ ditched me-“

He was saying details that he shouldn’t know if he’d died. He… he didn’t die like he should’ve remembered.

“I was worried sick about ya for months. Some- whatever it fuckin’ was had to show up wearing your face and tell me you’d died for me to find out what happened.”

He took a breath, reaching for a pack of smokes like he always did when he got stressed.

“Assumin’ that’s not what you remember. Ain’t it? Don’t think either of us that lucky to find the needle in the haystack of whatever shit we got ourselves into.”

Lo and behind he’d lit up a cigarette to try and calm his nerves down.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

He didn't... I didn't kill him? *John's voice sounds so guilty and so hopeful at the same time...*

"Parker- you... You know about John? Parker, your body was on the floor of our office when me and John woke up. We both died, but I was uh... it's complicated." *Arthur sighs. He knew it would be too good to hope this was his Parker. But it was still there. This one still smells the same. Arthur sure it's even the same brand.* "Me and John went on the run, trying to follow any lead that would tell us what he was, or how to separate us. It's... jesus fuck I don't know where to begin."

*It's easy to see the ordeal Arthur has been through. His neck features a long slice bow the adams apple, his nose was clearly broken at least twice, and a hand sized scar cradles his right eye, nearly stretching to a torn ear. Grey hair has become sprinkled through out his auburn hair, and he's somehow thinner than when they first met.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Oh so that’s what y’ calling em!”

There was a sort of bitterness to Parker’s tone when talking about John, though nowhere near as bitter as it probably would’ve been if John had killed him.

“Yeah I know of em. You mentioned a voice in y’ head that didn’t go ‘way.”

He sighed. He had a feeling this wasn’t the Arthur he knew, but… close enough. He was close enough to the man he knew and loved that it was good enough for him to accept.

“I got no clue why your me got killed there and I didn’t but I do know you’re a damn idiot.”

he didn’t want to comment on the changes in appearance any more than he already had, but damn did he think the scars looked good on Arthur.

“The scars look good on ya’. Make y’ look like the kinda type not to fuck with.”

He hummed for a minute, thinking for a bit.

“Did’j ‘least hide the body decently?”

The humor in his tone made it apparent he was joking.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John holds out his left hand, trying to connect, to learn about the man Arthur loved so much* His smile is light. Despite the circumstances, I think he is happy to see us.

"John choose the name, actually, but..." *All color drains from Arthurs face at the last statement, Parkers stiff body is in his hands as he frantically shoves his best friend in a closet.*

*so many nights spent laughing, drinking, loving, sleeping on the same overstuffed secondhand couch. And Arthur never turned around to look at what he did*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He noticed the reaction almost immediately with a grimace, knowing that expression well.

“Sorry, sorry, bad joke- I… didn’t mean t’ press.”

He knew not to press Art when he got like that. He looked down at the offered hand with uncertainty.

“… why y’ offerin’ me y’ hand…?”

When his eyes returned to Arthur’s face there was something almost like suspicion in his eyes. Apprehension was probably the proper word for it.

“… is John doing that?”

His tone shifted with how he spoke about John, the warmth he had for Arthur missing, like he was gritting his teeth that he had to share Arthur with some… well, parasite that took his best friends eyes. And apparently, one of his arms as well.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Huh-" *Arthur feels his left arm, finding it raised* "That would be him."

It's polite, right? And If he already knows about me... then it should be like Charlie?

*"Like Charlie" Arthur's heart gives a flutter at the concept, or Parker back into his life, along side John. Honestly the idea of introducing Parker and Charlie is appealing as well... for reasons Arthur shouldn't speak out in the middle of the bar.*

"He wants to get to know you. I think uou'll like him if you can give him a chance?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Who?”

He frowns slightly, but he doesn’t pry further than that. He sighs, taking Arthu- John’s, hand.

“S’pose if I gave you a chance I can give him one too. Good to meet y’ John.”

His handshake was firm, the skin leathery and rough but not unpleasantly so. There were more than a few old scars dotting them that Arthur had probably heard the stories to at least once or twice.

His grip tightened a bit.

“John, if you give Art any trouble, I’ll give ya double that.”

His menacing expression the accompanied the threat was clearly meant for John and John alone. It disappeared pretty quickly, his other hand that wasn’t wrapped around John’s hand patting his arm.

“Glad we got that settled! I hope me can get along bud.”

His expression returned to the smile it was before.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John doesn't comment on Parkers grip, or the clear hostility in his face. He needs to bridge this gap for Arthurs sake.* Then I suppose we can't tell Parker much, huh? *The chuckle is somewhat false, but he won't tell Arthur.*

"You don't have to drag John out of a bar every night! You two will get along better that you think."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Guess that’s true. Though it wasn’t that hard t’ do though, y’ were light as a feather and it looks like y’ still are.”

He elbowed Arthur playfully, smiling warmly as he always did. It didn’t change much of how he felt about John, but if Arthur liked him… he’d give the guy a chance to earn his trust.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I started a diet." *Arthur elbows back, settling back into the easy friendship him and Parker always had. It felt so... normal.*

You still aren't back to your weight from when we first met...

"You now what, John is complaining about my poor habits, why don't we have something to eat, talk over food?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He laughed wholeheartedly.

“I’m starting to like John already!”

He gently guided the pair to a table, letting John figure out the rest after leaving the two by the chair across from him. He didn’t want to make John feel useless now, did he?

“I already ate a bit ago but feel free t’ dig int’ whatever. I’m good with just talkin’ while y’ eat.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

There's a chair to your- yes there- Parker sits across from us. If it wasn't two friends catching up I'm sure some would think this was a date.

*Arthurs ears burn at Johns commentary, grinding his heel into the left toe of his shoe. Not hard, but enough to get the point across* "I'll be honest an appetite hasn't been the easiest to find since getting here. Eating is more of a habit than a nessecity now."

Ow- Arthur the fuck?! And you need to eat!

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah I think I get that now. It’s hard t’ think ‘bout eating when you’re constantly worried ‘bout somethin’.”

He smiled easily, not pushing the matter too hard. He could tell by the way Arthur jumped slightly that something was said that he didn’t expect.

“What’d John say?”

He looked amused.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Oh, just that I needed to eat" *John pinches Arthur sharply on the back of the hand, causing him to curse and wave the pain out* "Bastard!"

What's wrong with what I said?

"Because-" *Well... he can't exactly find the words for his reasoning. John doesn't know Parker and him's history. About the fact that they never spoke about the things they did while drunk, that it was agreed that the polite thing to do was treat those moments as different men all together.* "Because it's just not nessacary."

Not nessacary. Really. Why are you being so cagey about this of all things? What is it about Parker?

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“What, did he suggest we’re…”

He struggles to find the word until he decides to just gestures vaguely before doing a sort of gesture that looked like he was limply trying to swat a fly.

“I- I don’t know if he’s gunna be able to figure out how t’ describe that-“

He felt somewhat stupid for using a visual gesture to try and communicate with his best friend who’s blind.

“I mean- only after a few drinks but he ain’t wrong.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

He's put his hand up and is letting it fall at the wrist in a sort of half-hearted "Hello"

*Oh jesus christ these two are going to be the death of him!* "Y- Both of you! Incorrigble!"

*It's not prudishness that stokes Arthur's embarrassment, similarly it isn't the fear that came from when he was alive in Arkham. In the Waylay it's quite obvious the same rules do not apply, he'd almost assume this place was meant to be a refuge for homosexuals if he wasn't dead. No, this is born from his need to stay private. He always kept certain things from Parker. His failed marrige, most details about Faroe... how long he had let his liver pickle in grief. Even his parents deaths, just that they died. That fact alone resulted in Parker pulling Arthur into every family celebration he could justify.*

*Even now Arthur has no desire to burden Parker with these emotions. The ones he held close to his chest and only let out when he was too drunk to second guess.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He had to stop himself from bursting out laughing, because he’d been right, and of course he found that rather funny.

“Hey if it makes y’ feel better I don’t mind at all. I’m glad I got to be your partner one way or another.”

He didn’t even seem bothered in the slightest, though for just a moment he seemed a bit hurt. Like some scrap of hope just got snuffed out.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...One way or another, huh?"

Arthur the look in his eyes is forlorn, avoiding us like we are the reason why.

"Was that... how close you and your Arthur were? That you could talk about it?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah- well… a lil’ more than just talking about it, I’ll admit. Took em to a few bars I knew where people would let it fly and kept shit hush hush ‘bout it.”

His face was tinting red just remembering it.

“Mainly cuz one night it sorta became somethin’ we couldn’t keep avoidin’ mentioning and had to sit down and talk ‘bout it ‘stead of never mentioning it.”

He seems… happy, thinking about the memory.

“Assumin’ you and him didn’t talk ‘bout it much, did ya?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*his hearing fizzles out for a moment before he comes back, shaking off the second of dizziness to respond* "We uh... we agreed that what happened when we were drunk was seperate from who we were sober. It was safer that way, for both of us, and his family."

And now that you're here? Now that you have Parker blushing?

"He is?"

To the ears, Arthur. I've definitely started to see why you found him so charming.

"I-I'm sure you aren't keen on me just... coming onto you."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I know but it can only happen so many times before y’ gotta address the elephant in the room. Though, family’s not really an issue now.”

He paused, looking somewhat stunned.

“I- I wouldn’t mind at all actually- I- fuck it- please do.”

his face turning even more red than it was before, looking off to the side like he expected something to interrupt the moment. Nothing interrupted.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Arthur. A day will come when we meet a man who neither wants to fuck you or fight you... but it seems that today is not that day.

So what now?

*...Arthur did not think this far ahead. Shit. Arthurs hand reaches across the table with a much softer smile, palm up for Parker to take* "Well then... John asks 'what now', and I want to know the answer too."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Parker takes it happily, smiling like he’d just won the jackpot of all time.

“Hey if I had a ring on me I’d offer it t’ ya but uh- yeah I don’t got any. Best I can offer y’ right now is this.”

He stands up from the table, not once letting Arthur’s hand go as he steps around to stand beside him, letting the man adjust to the proximity before pushing his lips to Arthur’s in a firm kiss.

As soon as he had to pull back for air, his other hand was taking John’s and pressing a kiss into his palm before looking them in the eyes.

“You two’ve clearly been through the wringer more than enough. I wanna give you somethin’ nice. You deserve it.”

This was the first time he’d flirted with Arthur sober and oh was it a whole new experience.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*Arthur utterly melts in Parkers arms, kissing him back like a man starved for years. His hand travels to the nape of Parkers neck, thin pianist fingers threading their way through his hair.*

Oh Arthur... *Johns arm snakes behind Parkers waist to pull him that much closer... until they finally break. When Parker kisses Johns hand though? He can't say a coherent thing from the shock* Arthur he- He-!

"Now what did you do to make John so flustered?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I kissed his hand. Did he think i wasn’t gunna make him feel included?”

He teased, continuing to pepper John’s hand with kisses, traveling down the arm a few times before his eyes trail back up to look at Arthur’s eyes.

“How’s he feel about that?”

He leans in a bit closer till they can practically feel his breath on Arthur’s neck. His own hand was still against Arthur’s, holding his where it was in Parker’s hair.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*The connection between John and Arthur is warm and fuzzy, the sort of tipsy one drink will bring on. But this is a better buzz than Arthur could ever know.*

I- I thought he was only here for you.

"John thought that this was going to be a... one sided affair. But I had a feeling you'd warm up to him." *Arthur cranes his neck to give Parker better access above his collared shirt. though what he does with the space is all hia own*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I wouldn’t want him t’ feel left out. Plus I wanna make the both of ya feel special. Wouldn’t make much sense to favor just you, Art. You don’t get to hog all the attention now darling.”

He pressed a quick peck to Arthur’s neck before his arms wrapped around the man’s waist and pulled him up to stand.

“Much as we can get away with here I think a bit of privacy would do us some good. What d’ya two think?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Oh god yes. I wasn't sure how much longer I could be polite."

*Johns hand taps twice against Parkers arm, a 'yes' that him and Arthur developed a long time ago for when Arthur couldn't speak*

*Or when John is rewiring his brain over the idea that not only did Parker not hate him for killing him, or taking over part of Arthur... But wants to treat John with the same affection? Arthur idolized this man, and he's starting to see why* "Please?"

"John is a bit more polite about it, he said 'please'"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Well how can I say no to that?”

He smiles as he helps lead the pair out of the dining area, though he doesn’t have the best grip on where they should be going.

“Where to then? I don’t got the best grasp on this place n’ you’ve been here longer than I have probably.”

He chuckles, finding the fact that John’s saying pleas to be rather adorable. He was starting to get why Arthur likes John so much.

“So uh- whatcha think? Where to?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...well, I don't know either. It's been about six weeks since we slept in our own room and-"

They might have already tidied it up and given it to someone else.

"-John aays it might have been given to another patron." *If you looked closely at the right side of his neck, someone could see a wound fresher than the rest peeking above his collar.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I’m sure they haven’t cleared it out yet. You’re still here aren’t ya? Could even go ask if you’re really worried.”

He took note of the other injury but didn’t comment. Not yet at least.

“if you wanna head to my room that works too. Probably not as nice though.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I wouldn't know the difference anyways! How about yours?" *Means Arthur can steal one of Parkers shirts in the morning. And... well he has a plan forming*

*John is just describing Parkers face, the walk down the hall, but his hand... is sliding to rest on Parkers tail bone.*

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

On one of the few quiet days that Arthur and John were wandering around the Waylay at night; Down one of the many long hallways was a pair of lights, hovering just at Arthur’s eye level, looking at them.

The outline of a just barely visible silhouette standing there, frozen as lights flickered out and it waited in darkness. It didn’t seem to care about the dark.

🪉 @yorick-the-vanguard

Arthur stop! *John's shout pulls Arthur up short, muscles primed to run in the opposite direction from whatever danger John sees* There's something at the end of the hall- two bright lights and... I think a man in a tail coat? The ceiling lights are flickering and it's hard to make the figure out.

*In moments like these, Arthur is reminded of his lost gun, and how badly he misses it or even a knife.* "Alright..."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

The lights flickered back on again, and with the light returning to the hallway, it illuminated the figure.

Eyes no longer shining now in the bright light, and much, much closer. The proximity made the world spin slightly. If its pose wasn’t different it would be like looking in a mirror- the… man? Had the same face as Arthur, down to the same look in his eyes and the scars scattered across the visible parts of his frame.

It was about… twenty-five-ish feet away. Close enough that they could see the dark stains creeping around the back of his head and shoulders that looked far too much like dried blood.

It just… kept staring, and something in its expression looked hungry. Like it wanted to tear Arthur to shreds.

It made no further attempts to get closer to the pair, despite how it clearly seemed like it wanted too. It wasn’t human, obviously, despite what it looked like, but at the same time… it wasn’t… not, human.

It was like a human fractal.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Jesus fucking christ Arthur... it's YOU.

"W-what? John? You aren't seeing- John how?!" *Arthur starts to back in fear at the concept, having a not so great experience with the last Arthur he met.*

It's you! It's your hair, your scars! He looks to have more of them, even. I think... jesus I think there is blood flowing from the back of his head over his shoulders.

"W-what's he doing?"

He's staring at you.

"I'm starting to feel a little too much like prey, John. tell me when to run."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Its expression shifted to curious, then amused, then… fond, almost, like it was reminiscing.

“I always forget how silly we could be.”

Oh he even sounded like Arthur, and muffled behind all the- noise, The being seemed to generate, there was… there was also another John lodged into whatever it was that was in front of them.

The being seemed like he was talking to himself or some unseen audience, and John could hear the sort of chatter going on in the being somewhat. It was like it was taking note on how each little voice wanted to proceed before it did anything again.

“There’s no need for either of you to panic. I’m won’t kill you. Well, you’re already dead, but you know what I mean.”

It shrugged.

“I have no desire to give the manager any trouble and given he went to all the lengths to pull you here I wouldn’t think harming you would be a good idea.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Arthur... something is deeply wrong. It's like looking at a stained glass windows. Shards welded together to create one being. He is not human, and he is powerful.

...Is that... *Johns voice grows softer hearing his own cadence in the cacophony that "Arthur" produces*

"No. No I don't think it would be a good idea, Arthur. I've actually started to have a pleasant time here, and I'd rather it not end now. Promises to keep and all that, sure you understand." *Be faster, smarter, wittier. Like how he beat the gug, or escaped the mansion, or took down the Butcher. But this isn't like any god or man he's faces before. This is him.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

It grimaced at being called that, but hearing John call him powerful made him look rather happy.

“I haven’t gone by that name in a long time. It makes me feel… wrong. Alto. Call me Alto. Please.”

They smile pleasantly, trying to not seem too threatening to his other self.

“I’m sure you have. The waylay is a very nice place and the manager is quite the accommodating host.”

He spoke of the being rather fondly.

“I should warn you getting too close to me wouldn’t end well for either of us.”

Given the nature of how its soul is constructed… it’s easy to figure out what would happen should he get too near.

[twelve-starry-eyes]

He certainly didn't like being called Arthur... but he's also... preening. Can he hear me?

"Can you hear John? My John?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yes I can hear him. And I’m rather pleased by the compliment. Usually I’m not called powerful so it’s nice to hear now and then.”

It made sense. He was… godlike. Though, he wasn’t exactly technically among the great old ones even if he did seem to match them in power. A good descriptor would be a sort of ‘bastard god’ or knock off.

Made out of a near infinite amount of human souls stitched together.

“I can hear pretty much everything actually. It’s how I navigate usually given my eyes are practically just decorative rather than functional.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

The lights I saw were stars that hang just over his eyes, swaying with his head movements. I... am I in there, at all?

*Arthur takes a full step back, to be safe.* "You could say the same about my eyes, though I guess a better term is that I'm permanently leasing them."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Hung, John. Past tense.”

He teased light heartedly.

“But yes. There is a version of you in here with the rest of us. Your eyes are just yellow and glow like a light shining at an animal in a forest. Mine just actually glow like headlights.”

As if on cue a glimmer shone from the pair of eyes on his face, twinkling like diamonds almost.

Alto didn’t take a step forward. In fact he actually leaned back.

“Technically I don’t actually lease these eyes. I have others.”

He says that like it’s normal.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

It's you alright. He has your condescension.

"Later John? Please? Not when he can hear you?" *The words fight past Arthur's grit teeth*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

It chuckles warmly.

“It’s alright, I only mind about as much as you do, which is I don’t mind at all.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"You know how he can be." *Arthur is slowly sauntering into a false sense of security around Alto, it's night and day compared to the other Arthur they met.*

The fuck is that supposed to mean?!

"You know what it means."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Hard headed and passive aggressive with quite the poetic streak? We all know what Arthur means, don’t play dumb John.”

He smirked a bit, the chatter mostly turning into amused laughter and snickering of some shape or form depending on which piece John was listening to.

“It means we cared enough to take note on the details about you.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I was going to say bitchy."

Details?

"What do you think you know about us?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Well, I know everything about nearly every world where you made a different choice. Suffice to say I’m… effectively; every other version of you wrapped into one. I’m about as dead as dead gets.”

He rocks back and forth on the balls of his feet, an old habit Arthur had broken a long time ago.

“I know what every other version of you did, but I don’t know exactly what your deal is, but I know basically what it is from process of elimination.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Like the folder from the hotel?

"Oh? Then enlighten me. Tell me what we suffered through, what we lost, what Kayne did to us."

Arthur, if he is you, then he's going to have the same temper!

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Calm down John, I’d be more than happy to give you two the statistics on our near infinite lives that we’ve lived.”

He clears his throat like he’s about to pull out a power point presentation, as he starts giving the run down like an announcer at one of the many clubs they’d both been to and occasionally worked at.

“For cause of death; Kayne makes up over 97%, 0.7% being caused by John and or The King in Yellow, and the last 1.3% being non paranormal causes! 0.3 of which being our own fault. The last once percent is the other versions of Kayne that occasionally got us before he did.”

He’d pulled up a pie chart, which was… almost entirely Red, helpfully labeled as Kayne, with two tiny slivers, one being yellow for the smaller, and the other larger tiny slice being marked purple.

“As for life expectancy, 0.02% died before reaching adulthood, 1.43% died before the age of twenty-two, 15.58% died before thirty, 27.56% died twenty-eight, 47.87% were dead by thirty, 62.71% were dead by thirty-five, 71.03% were dead by forty, 89.43% were dead by fifty, and 99.82% were dead before retirement age. Shortest life was a month and two days, longest life was 78 years, 3 months, and 17 days. You got about the average.”

The presentation disappears in favor of being able to talk with his hands’ moving them around rather wildly.

“Our most common path in life was much like the one you took, though there are about twenty percent of us actually getting to properly persue music as a career without issue, and about thirty percent being miscellaneous or odd random offshoots that don’t much matter.”

He fidgets with his earrings, looking off to the side a bit awkwardly. It’s almost odd to see all of Arthur’s little habits on another persons body rather than their own.

“Is there anything specific you’d like to know beyond that?”

This didn’t seem like the kind of topic he wanted to dwell on for too long but didn’t want to say it aloud.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Really now? Well I'm glad to know most of you can understand how badly Kaynes fucked us over. Would you like to add some more data for those statistics?"

Arthur this is a bad idea!

"I was the pianist for a theater in Boston, I was employed until... I was employed, and then I opened that book. I lived about... eight months after that? thirty five. I was almost thirty five when Kayne decided to turn my brain into a grenade on stage! Any other information, so you can accurately tell our life story?!"

What the fuck Arthur?! Do you have any self preservation left?

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Its smile turned more… sharp, taking a few steps closer to Arthur and John.

“Our life, English.”

He bites out the nickname. The light in its eyes flaring rather suddenly as they lean closer.

“I wouldn’t have told you if you weren’t Arthur Lester. The fact that you’re still kicking at all is a fucking miracle.”

It looks almost bitter.

“You should be glad you aren’t in fucking pieces like the rest of us.”

Its voice started to… fray, the chatter in its soul bubbling to the surface and making its words reverberate somewhat oddly.

“But thank you for sharing, that helps narrow things down onto which thread of choices you are that’s still missing.”

Its form seemed to… warp, becoming almost glassy as its limbs elongated slightly and its face warped into an altered version of Arthur. Its ears longer, face tinted lavender instead of red- its lips an odd shade of purple.

“You should listen to John before I actually start listening to the little voice in the back of my head that’s neither John nor myself telling me to tear you in half.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Arthur, his features are growing more alien and menacing, we need to drop this and RUN

"Still kicking?! We went through hell to survive. we lost a so much! And then KAYNE PLUCKS US OUT OF OUR WORLD FOR HIS SICK LITTLE CHRISTMAS PAGENT"

"the payment? our our friends puppeted on stage in yy So fuck off with your damned analytics

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Do you have any idea what it’s like to have your soul split apart into tiny fucking pieces and have them left to rot in a facility of a cathedral made out of your own corpses? And when you finally get back to some semblance of consciousness, all you know is that someone hated you enough to build it? Hated you enough to place every piece by hand, and kill every single one used to make it?”

His appearance warped further, turning into some glassy amalgamation of shards in the vague shape of a person.

“Do you know how painful it is, to have someone you trust, someone you let reside in your own head and share a body with and come to care for and love, be the one to tear you apart with nothing but gleeful loathing? Do you have any idea how much that hurts? And to know that it happened over, and over, and over, and over again, knowing exactly what happened each time because you experienced each and every death first hand?”

The waylay itself warped ever so slightly as his voice raised, like watercolor paper being painted on. The tone was cold, calculated and utterly malignant.

“I have to find a way to process everything otherwise I’ll fucking collapse in on myself! I don’t have the fucking energy anymore to let it keep weighing on me, so I try to make it useful in some way. Don’t you dare tell me you two haven’t also quietly kept score of all the close calls.”

The closer it got the more Arthur could feel the… gravity, of it. How it sort of… pulled him, like a magnet, but not in any way he’d ever felt before.

“You can’t tell us that what you’ve experienced is worse than every other version of you combined, because we’ve seen it all, and you have no idea how creative he can be when he’s actually trying to torture you. If he wanted to do so, he would’ve broken your bones one by one every time you fumbled and told you to keep going until there was nothing left. You have no idea how malicious he could get when you’ve only died once.”

It was barely a few feet away, they could both hear the clinking of shards against each other as it loomed over them, far taller than it had been just moments ago.

“How about I show you?”

There was a wall forming behind them out of the same cold icy material that supposedly made up the form of the being in front of them that had once been himself.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*His own worst enemy was always himself, every doubt, fear, and flaw were projected ten times over in his own mind before John moved in. Even now, John has talked Arthur off of that ledge more times than they could count. In the dreamlands, John cried out in horror as he choked on his own blood. In the mansion when he was knocked out by Uncle, and almost bled out from being unable to tend his own would, desperate for a respite. in the caverns, impaled through and his biggest concern was taking John with him.*

*The second Kayne left the stage, their bag in hand... that he considered if a noose and fall from the catwalks would be enough to snap his neck to keep them both from being tortured by Kayne.*

*But they survived. They pushed and push and god did they push, because they had to. Because John somehow found a part of Arthur that wanted to survive, and made it into a burning pyre.*

*And while this Arthur is slow to violence... that doesn't mean he is harmless.*

*The fist goes flying into Alto's face while John shouts in fear* ARTHUR NO!

[yorick-the-vanguard]

The bar is lively, some patrons are drinking at the bar, others are eating, talking or some other activity at the surrounding tables. The stage is empty for now, its thick red curtains hanging heavily. It's nice being around more people.

"It really is. We... really haven't made much of an effort to meet anyone else here." *Arthur starts to pick his way around the crowds, letting John point anyone out to him*

There is someone pouring over a book of wedding ideas and-

"John?" *Arthur asks, stopping in the middle of the room*

Parker...

*Thankfully Arthur is already dead, because he can't breathe.*

- @mistletoe-and-music-notes

-🍻

Parker was at one of the poker tables; not actually playing but more so teaching some of the other patrons how the game worked and as soon as they had a handle on the ropes he let em have at it.

Then he noticed Arthur and he stopped in his tracks, doing a double take before his expression shifted to one of surprise.

“Art that you?”

He called over as he picked up the pace of his walk to see Arthur more clearly.

He looked… different. Not quite the same as he remembered. His eyes more sunken and look a bit more wild lol he’d seem something he couldn’t unsee, but otherwise… it was Parker. No doubt about it. Which Parker it was though was an entirely different question.

“The hell you doin’ here?”

The relieved, lopsided smile that spread across his face was so… genuine and heartfelt they could practically hear it in his tone.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John's hand twitches, unsure of what to even do.* It's Parker. I... can't be a good judge of how well he looks... but he's happy to see you. It's as real as can be. It's him. *He only has the memory of Parkers corpse in a closet*

*Arthur doesn't answer the question yet. He doesn't care if this is his Parker or not. Does it even hold weight here? Arthur instead wraps his arms around Parkers body, holding him tight while a weight melts off of his frame. How he missed that voice.*

"We- I died, Parker. Just like you. It's... I had given up hope that you might have ended up here."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Parker’s arms wrapped around Arthur in one of his giant smothering bear hugs.

“I know… I know Artie. It’s okay, we’re both here now though. That’s all that matters now.”

He shifted his weight to better support Arthur.

“If we weren’t both dead right now I’d strangle you to death for being a fucking dumbass.”

He squeezed Arthur a little tighter, making no move to strangle him. He had a habit of threatening to do things and then doing nothing to enact those things. Specifically in regard to Arthur.

“I thought I’d never see ya’ again.”

He held Arthur a bit tighter. They could feel his back popping from the force of the hug.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Fuck!" *The volume of the expletive is proportional to the pop his spine made, Arthur's ears even ring from it.*

Jesus Christ!

"Parker I... I wish I could see you. I know after everything I look different..." *He finally pulls away*

"Parker, what do you remember?"

Arthur where are you going with this? *John's voice is wary and guarded inside Arthurs head. Charlie is one thing, because John never killed Charlie.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Oh shit- sorry Art-“

He loosens his hug, taking a step back to better look at Arthur and check him over.

“God Damn- y’ look like y’ went 4 rounds in a boxin’ ring and got the snot kicked outta ya’. How the hell did that happen?”

He didn’t seem to be kidding, grimacing as he noted all the scars he didn’t recognize.

“Well- I remember the book, you mentioning the weird voice in your head, you collapsing and dropping it, you goin’ blind and leanin’ on me and that weird voice to describe shit, me thinking you were pullin’ my leg half the time until y’ up n’ ditched me-“

He was saying details that he shouldn’t know if he’d died. He… he didn’t die like he should’ve remembered.

“I was worried sick about ya for months. Some- whatever it fuckin’ was had to show up wearing your face and tell me you’d died for me to find out what happened.”

He took a breath, reaching for a pack of smokes like he always did when he got stressed.

“Assumin’ that’s not what you remember. Ain’t it? Don’t think either of us that lucky to find the needle in the haystack of whatever shit we got ourselves into.”

Lo and behind he’d lit up a cigarette to try and calm his nerves down.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

He didn't... I didn't kill him? *John's voice sounds so guilty and so hopeful at the same time...*

"Parker- you... You know about John? Parker, your body was on the floor of our office when me and John woke up. We both died, but I was uh... it's complicated." *Arthur sighs. He knew it would be too good to hope this was his Parker. But it was still there. This one still smells the same. Arthur sure it's even the same brand.* "Me and John went on the run, trying to follow any lead that would tell us what he was, or how to separate us. It's... jesus fuck I don't know where to begin."

*It's easy to see the ordeal Arthur has been through. His neck features a long slice bow the adams apple, his nose was clearly broken at least twice, and a hand sized scar cradles his right eye, nearly stretching to a torn ear. Grey hair has become sprinkled through out his auburn hair, and he's somehow thinner than when they first met.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Oh so that’s what y’ calling em!”

There was a sort of bitterness to Parker’s tone when talking about John, though nowhere near as bitter as it probably would’ve been if John had killed him.

“Yeah I know of em. You mentioned a voice in y’ head that didn’t go ‘way.”

He sighed. He had a feeling this wasn’t the Arthur he knew, but… close enough. He was close enough to the man he knew and loved that it was good enough for him to accept.

“I got no clue why your me got killed there and I didn’t but I do know you’re a damn idiot.”

he didn’t want to comment on the changes in appearance any more than he already had, but damn did he think the scars looked good on Arthur.

“The scars look good on ya’. Make y’ look like the kinda type not to fuck with.”

He hummed for a minute, thinking for a bit.

“Did’j ‘least hide the body decently?”

The humor in his tone made it apparent he was joking.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John holds out his left hand, trying to connect, to learn about the man Arthur loved so much* His smile is light. Despite the circumstances, I think he is happy to see us.

"John choose the name, actually, but..." *All color drains from Arthurs face at the last statement, Parkers stiff body is in his hands as he frantically shoves his best friend in a closet.*

*so many nights spent laughing, drinking, loving, sleeping on the same overstuffed secondhand couch. And Arthur never turned around to look at what he did*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He noticed the reaction almost immediately with a grimace, knowing that expression well.

“Sorry, sorry, bad joke- I… didn’t mean t’ press.”

He knew not to press Art when he got like that. He looked down at the offered hand with uncertainty.

“… why y’ offerin’ me y’ hand…?”

When his eyes returned to Arthur’s face there was something almost like suspicion in his eyes. Apprehension was probably the proper word for it.

“… is John doing that?”

His tone shifted with how he spoke about John, the warmth he had for Arthur missing, like he was gritting his teeth that he had to share Arthur with some… well, parasite that took his best friends eyes. And apparently, one of his arms as well.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Huh-" *Arthur feels his left arm, finding it raised* "That would be him."

It's polite, right? And If he already knows about me... then it should be like Charlie?

*"Like Charlie" Arthur's heart gives a flutter at the concept, or Parker back into his life, along side John. Honestly the idea of introducing Parker and Charlie is appealing as well... for reasons Arthur shouldn't speak out in the middle of the bar.*

"He wants to get to know you. I think uou'll like him if you can give him a chance?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Who?”

He frowns slightly, but he doesn’t pry further than that. He sighs, taking Arthu- John’s, hand.

“S’pose if I gave you a chance I can give him one too. Good to meet y’ John.”

His handshake was firm, the skin leathery and rough but not unpleasantly so. There were more than a few old scars dotting them that Arthur had probably heard the stories to at least once or twice.

His grip tightened a bit.

“John, if you give Art any trouble, I’ll give ya double that.”

His menacing expression the accompanied the threat was clearly meant for John and John alone. It disappeared pretty quickly, his other hand that wasn’t wrapped around John’s hand patting his arm.

“Glad we got that settled! I hope me can get along bud.”

His expression returned to the smile it was before.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*John doesn't comment on Parkers grip, or the clear hostility in his face. He needs to bridge this gap for Arthurs sake.* Then I suppose we can't tell Parker much, huh? *The chuckle is somewhat false, but he won't tell Arthur.*

"You don't have to drag John out of a bar every night! You two will get along better that you think."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Guess that’s true. Though it wasn’t that hard t’ do though, y’ were light as a feather and it looks like y’ still are.”

He elbowed Arthur playfully, smiling warmly as he always did. It didn’t change much of how he felt about John, but if Arthur liked him… he’d give the guy a chance to earn his trust.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I started a diet." *Arthur elbows back, settling back into the easy friendship him and Parker always had. It felt so... normal.*

You still aren't back to your weight from when we first met...

"You now what, John is complaining about my poor habits, why don't we have something to eat, talk over food?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He laughed wholeheartedly.

“I’m starting to like John already!”

He gently guided the pair to a table, letting John figure out the rest after leaving the two by the chair across from him. He didn’t want to make John feel useless now, did he?

“I already ate a bit ago but feel free t’ dig int’ whatever. I’m good with just talkin’ while y’ eat.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

There's a chair to your- yes there- Parker sits across from us. If it wasn't two friends catching up I'm sure some would think this was a date.

*Arthurs ears burn at Johns commentary, grinding his heel into the left toe of his shoe. Not hard, but enough to get the point across* "I'll be honest an appetite hasn't been the easiest to find since getting here. Eating is more of a habit than a nessecity now."

Ow- Arthur the fuck?! And you need to eat!

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah I think I get that now. It’s hard t’ think ‘bout eating when you’re constantly worried ‘bout somethin’.”

He smiled easily, not pushing the matter too hard. He could tell by the way Arthur jumped slightly that something was said that he didn’t expect.

“What’d John say?”

He looked amused.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Oh, just that I needed to eat" *John pinches Arthur sharply on the back of the hand, causing him to curse and wave the pain out* "Bastard!"

What's wrong with what I said?

"Because-" *Well... he can't exactly find the words for his reasoning. John doesn't know Parker and him's history. About the fact that they never spoke about the things they did while drunk, that it was agreed that the polite thing to do was treat those moments as different men all together.* "Because it's just not nessacary."

Not nessacary. Really. Why are you being so cagey about this of all things? What is it about Parker?

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“What, did he suggest we’re…”

He struggles to find the word until he decides to just gestures vaguely before doing a sort of gesture that looked like he was limply trying to swat a fly.

“I- I don’t know if he’s gunna be able to figure out how t’ describe that-“

He felt somewhat stupid for using a visual gesture to try and communicate with his best friend who’s blind.

“I mean- only after a few drinks but he ain’t wrong.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

He's put his hand up and is letting it fall at the wrist in a sort of half-hearted "Hello"

*Oh jesus christ these two are going to be the death of him!* "Y- Both of you! Incorrigble!"

*It's not prudishness that stokes Arthur's embarrassment, similarly it isn't the fear that came from when he was alive in Arkham. In the Waylay it's quite obvious the same rules do not apply, he'd almost assume this place was meant to be a refuge for homosexuals if he wasn't dead. No, this is born from his need to stay private. He always kept certain things from Parker. His failed marrige, most details about Faroe... how long he had let his liver pickle in grief. Even his parents deaths, just that they died. That fact alone resulted in Parker pulling Arthur into every family celebration he could justify.*

*Even now Arthur has no desire to burden Parker with these emotions. The ones he held close to his chest and only let out when he was too drunk to second guess.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

He had to stop himself from bursting out laughing, because he’d been right, and of course he found that rather funny.

“Hey if it makes y’ feel better I don’t mind at all. I’m glad I got to be your partner one way or another.”

He didn’t even seem bothered in the slightest, though for just a moment he seemed a bit hurt. Like some scrap of hope just got snuffed out.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...One way or another, huh?"

Arthur the look in his eyes is forlorn, avoiding us like we are the reason why.

"Was that... how close you and your Arthur were? That you could talk about it?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yeah- well… a lil’ more than just talking about it, I’ll admit. Took em to a few bars I knew where people would let it fly and kept shit hush hush ‘bout it.”

His face was tinting red just remembering it.

“Mainly cuz one night it sorta became somethin’ we couldn’t keep avoidin’ mentioning and had to sit down and talk ‘bout it ‘stead of never mentioning it.”

He seems… happy, thinking about the memory.

“Assumin’ you and him didn’t talk ‘bout it much, did ya?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*his hearing fizzles out for a moment before he comes back, shaking off the second of dizziness to respond* "We uh... we agreed that what happened when we were drunk was seperate from who we were sober. It was safer that way, for both of us, and his family."

And now that you're here? Now that you have Parker blushing?

"He is?"

To the ears, Arthur. I've definitely started to see why you found him so charming.

"I-I'm sure you aren't keen on me just... coming onto you."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I know but it can only happen so many times before y’ gotta address the elephant in the room. Though, family’s not really an issue now.”

He paused, looking somewhat stunned.

“I- I wouldn’t mind at all actually- I- fuck it- please do.”

his face turning even more red than it was before, looking off to the side like he expected something to interrupt the moment. Nothing interrupted.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Arthur. A day will come when we meet a man who neither wants to fuck you or fight you... but it seems that today is not that day.

So what now?

*...Arthur did not think this far ahead. Shit. Arthurs hand reaches across the table with a much softer smile, palm up for Parker to take* "Well then... John asks 'what now', and I want to know the answer too."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Parker takes it happily, smiling like he’d just won the jackpot of all time.

“Hey if I had a ring on me I’d offer it t’ ya but uh- yeah I don’t got any. Best I can offer y’ right now is this.”

He stands up from the table, not once letting Arthur’s hand go as he steps around to stand beside him, letting the man adjust to the proximity before pushing his lips to Arthur’s in a firm kiss.

As soon as he had to pull back for air, his other hand was taking John’s and pressing a kiss into his palm before looking them in the eyes.

“You two’ve clearly been through the wringer more than enough. I wanna give you somethin’ nice. You deserve it.”

This was the first time he’d flirted with Arthur sober and oh was it a whole new experience.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*Arthur utterly melts in Parkers arms, kissing him back like a man starved for years. His hand travels to the nape of Parkers neck, thin pianist fingers threading their way through his hair.*

Oh Arthur... *Johns arm snakes behind Parkers waist to pull him that much closer... until they finally break. When Parker kisses Johns hand though? He can't say a coherent thing from the shock* Arthur he- He-!

"Now what did you do to make John so flustered?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I kissed his hand. Did he think i wasn’t gunna make him feel included?”

He teased, continuing to pepper John’s hand with kisses, traveling down the arm a few times before his eyes trail back up to look at Arthur’s eyes.

“How’s he feel about that?”

He leans in a bit closer till they can practically feel his breath on Arthur’s neck. His own hand was still against Arthur’s, holding his where it was in Parker’s hair.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

*The connection between John and Arthur is warm and fuzzy, the sort of tipsy one drink will bring on. But this is a better buzz than Arthur could ever know.*

I- I thought he was only here for you.

"John thought that this was going to be a... one sided affair. But I had a feeling you'd warm up to him." *Arthur cranes his neck to give Parker better access above his collared shirt. though what he does with the space is all hia own*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“I wouldn’t want him t’ feel left out. Plus I wanna make the both of ya feel special. Wouldn’t make much sense to favor just you, Art. You don’t get to hog all the attention now darling.”

He pressed a quick peck to Arthur’s neck before his arms wrapped around the man’s waist and pulled him up to stand.

“Much as we can get away with here I think a bit of privacy would do us some good. What d’ya two think?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Oh god yes. I wasn't sure how much longer I could be polite."

*Johns hand taps twice against Parkers arm, a 'yes' that him and Arthur developed a long time ago for when Arthur couldn't speak*

*Or when John is rewiring his brain over the idea that not only did Parker not hate him for killing him, or taking over part of Arthur... But wants to treat John with the same affection? Arthur idolized this man, and he's starting to see why* "Please?"

"John is a bit more polite about it, he said 'please'"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Well how can I say no to that?”

He smiles as he helps lead the pair out of the dining area, though he doesn’t have the best grip on where they should be going.

“Where to then? I don’t got the best grasp on this place n’ you’ve been here longer than I have probably.”

He chuckles, finding the fact that John’s saying pleas to be rather adorable. He was starting to get why Arthur likes John so much.

“So uh- whatcha think? Where to?”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"...well, I don't know either. It's been about six weeks since we slept in our own room and-"

They might have already tidied it up and given it to someone else.

"-John aays it might have been given to another patron." *If you looked closely at the right side of his neck, someone could see a wound fresher than the rest peeking above his collar.*

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

On one of the few quiet days that Arthur and John were wandering around the Waylay at night; Down one of the many long hallways was a pair of lights, hovering just at Arthur’s eye level, looking at them.

The outline of a just barely visible silhouette standing there, frozen as lights flickered out and it waited in darkness. It didn’t seem to care about the dark.

🪉 @yorick-the-vanguard

Arthur stop! *John's shout pulls Arthur up short, muscles primed to run in the opposite direction from whatever danger John sees* There's something at the end of the hall- two bright lights and... I think a man in a tail coat? The ceiling lights are flickering and it's hard to make the figure out.

*In moments like these, Arthur is reminded of his lost gun, and how badly he misses it or even a knife.* "Alright..."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

The lights flickered back on again, and with the light returning to the hallway, it illuminated the figure.

Eyes no longer shining now in the bright light, and much, much closer. The proximity made the world spin slightly. If its pose wasn’t different it would be like looking in a mirror- the… man? Had the same face as Arthur, down to the same look in his eyes and the scars scattered across the visible parts of his frame.

It was about… twenty-five-ish feet away. Close enough that they could see the dark stains creeping around the back of his head and shoulders that looked far too much like dried blood.

It just… kept staring, and something in its expression looked hungry. Like it wanted to tear Arthur to shreds.

It made no further attempts to get closer to the pair, despite how it clearly seemed like it wanted too. It wasn’t human, obviously, despite what it looked like, but at the same time… it wasn’t… not, human.

It was like a human fractal.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Jesus fucking christ Arthur... it's YOU.

"W-what? John? You aren't seeing- John how?!" *Arthur starts to back in fear at the concept, having a not so great experience with the last Arthur he met.*

It's you! It's your hair, your scars! He looks to have more of them, even. I think... jesus I think there is blood flowing from the back of his head over his shoulders.

"W-what's he doing?"

He's staring at you.

"I'm starting to feel a little too much like prey, John. tell me when to run."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Its expression shifted to curious, then amused, then… fond, almost, like it was reminiscing.

“I always forget how silly we could be.”

Oh he even sounded like Arthur, and muffled behind all the- noise, The being seemed to generate, there was… there was also another John lodged into whatever it was that was in front of them.

The being seemed like he was talking to himself or some unseen audience, and John could hear the sort of chatter going on in the being somewhat. It was like it was taking note on how each little voice wanted to proceed before it did anything again.

“There’s no need for either of you to panic. I’m won’t kill you. Well, you’re already dead, but you know what I mean.”

It shrugged.

“I have no desire to give the manager any trouble and given he went to all the lengths to pull you here I wouldn’t think harming you would be a good idea.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Arthur... something is deeply wrong. It's like looking at a stained glass windows. Shards welded together to create one being. He is not human, and he is powerful.

...Is that... *Johns voice grows softer hearing his own cadence in the cacophony that "Arthur" produces*

"No. No I don't think it would be a good idea, Arthur. I've actually started to have a pleasant time here, and I'd rather it not end now. Promises to keep and all that, sure you understand." *Be faster, smarter, wittier. Like how he beat the gug, or escaped the mansion, or took down the Butcher. But this isn't like any god or man he's faces before. This is him.*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

It grimaced at being called that, but hearing John call him powerful made him look rather happy.

“I haven’t gone by that name in a long time. It makes me feel… wrong. Alto. Call me Alto. Please.”

They smile pleasantly, trying to not seem too threatening to his other self.

“I’m sure you have. The waylay is a very nice place and the manager is quite the accommodating host.”

He spoke of the being rather fondly.

“I should warn you getting too close to me wouldn’t end well for either of us.”

Given the nature of how its soul is constructed… it’s easy to figure out what would happen should he get too near.

[twelve-starry-eyes]

He certainly didn't like being called Arthur... but he's also... preening. Can he hear me?

"Can you hear John? My John?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Yes I can hear him. And I’m rather pleased by the compliment. Usually I’m not called powerful so it’s nice to hear now and then.”

It made sense. He was… godlike. Though, he wasn’t exactly technically among the great old ones even if he did seem to match them in power. A good descriptor would be a sort of ‘bastard god’ or knock off.

Made out of a near infinite amount of human souls stitched together.

“I can hear pretty much everything actually. It’s how I navigate usually given my eyes are practically just decorative rather than functional.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

The lights I saw were stars that hang just over his eyes, swaying with his head movements. I... am I in there, at all?

*Arthur takes a full step back, to be safe.* "You could say the same about my eyes, though I guess a better term is that I'm permanently leasing them."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Hung, John. Past tense.”

He teased light heartedly.

“But yes. There is a version of you in here with the rest of us. Your eyes are just yellow and glow like a light shining at an animal in a forest. Mine just actually glow like headlights.”

As if on cue a glimmer shone from the pair of eyes on his face, twinkling like diamonds almost.

Alto didn’t take a step forward. In fact he actually leaned back.

“Technically I don’t actually lease these eyes. I have others.”

He says that like it’s normal.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

It's you alright. He has your condescension.

"Later John? Please? Not when he can hear you?" *The words fight past Arthur's grit teeth*

[yorick-the-vanguard]

It chuckles warmly.

“It’s alright, I only mind about as much as you do, which is I don’t mind at all.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"You know how he can be." *Arthur is slowly sauntering into a false sense of security around Alto, it's night and day compared to the other Arthur they met.*

The fuck is that supposed to mean?!

"You know what it means."

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Hard headed and passive aggressive with quite the poetic streak? We all know what Arthur means, don’t play dumb John.”

He smirked a bit, the chatter mostly turning into amused laughter and snickering of some shape or form depending on which piece John was listening to.

“It means we cared enough to take note on the details about you.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"I was going to say bitchy."

Details?

"What do you think you know about us?"

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Well, I know everything about nearly every world where you made a different choice. Suffice to say I’m… effectively; every other version of you wrapped into one. I’m about as dead as dead gets.”

He rocks back and forth on the balls of his feet, an old habit Arthur had broken a long time ago.

“I know what every other version of you did, but I don’t know exactly what your deal is, but I know basically what it is from process of elimination.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Like the folder from the hotel?

"Oh? Then enlighten me. Tell me what we suffered through, what we lost, what Kayne did to us."

Arthur, if he is you, then he's going to have the same temper!

[yorick-the-vanguard]

“Calm down John, I’d be more than happy to give you two the statistics on our near infinite lives that we’ve lived.”

He clears his throat like he’s about to pull out a power point presentation, as he starts giving the run down like an announcer at one of the many clubs they’d both been to and occasionally worked at.

“For cause of death; Kayne makes up over 97%, 0.7% being caused by John and or The King in Yellow, and the last 1.3% being non paranormal causes! 0.3 of which being our own fault. The last once percent is the other versions of Kayne that occasionally got us before he did.”

He’d pulled up a pie chart, which was… almost entirely Red, helpfully labeled as Kayne, with two tiny slivers, one being yellow for the smaller, and the other larger tiny slice being marked purple.

“As for life expectancy, 0.02% died before reaching adulthood, 1.43% died before the age of twenty-two, 15.58% died before thirty, 27.56% died twenty-eight, 47.87% were dead by thirty, 62.71% were dead by thirty-five, 71.03% were dead by forty, 89.43% were dead by fifty, and 99.82% were dead before retirement age. Shortest life was a month and two days, longest life was 78 years, 3 months, and 17 days. You got about the average.”

The presentation disappears in favor of being able to talk with his hands’ moving them around rather wildly.

“Our most common path in life was much like the one you took, though there are about twenty percent of us actually getting to properly persue music as a career without issue, and about thirty percent being miscellaneous or odd random offshoots that don’t much matter.”

He fidgets with his earrings, looking off to the side a bit awkwardly. It’s almost odd to see all of Arthur’s little habits on another persons body rather than their own.

“Is there anything specific you’d like to know beyond that?”

This didn’t seem like the kind of topic he wanted to dwell on for too long but didn’t want to say it aloud.

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

"Really now? Well I'm glad to know most of you can understand how badly Kaynes fucked us over. Would you like to add some more data for those statistics?"

Arthur this is a bad idea!

"I was the pianist for a theater in Boston, I was employed until... I was employed, and then I opened that book. I lived about... eight months after that? thirty five. I was almost thirty five when Kayne decided to turn my brain into a grenade on stage! Any other information, so you can accurately tell our life story?!"

What the fuck Arthur?! Do you have any self preservation left?

[yorick-the-vanguard]

Its smile turned more… sharp, taking a few steps closer to Arthur and John.

“Our life, English.”

He bites out the nickname. The light in its eyes flaring rather suddenly as they lean closer.

“I wouldn’t have told you if you weren’t Arthur Lester. The fact that you’re still kicking at all is a fucking miracle.”

It looks almost bitter.

“You should be glad you aren’t in fucking pieces like the rest of us.”

Its voice started to… fray, the chatter in its soul bubbling to the surface and making its words reverberate somewhat oddly.

“But thank you for sharing, that helps narrow things down onto which thread of choices you are that’s still missing.”

Its form seemed to… warp, becoming almost glassy as its limbs elongated slightly and its face warped into an altered version of Arthur. Its ears longer, face tinted lavender instead of red- its lips an odd shade of purple.

“You should listen to John before I actually start listening to the little voice in the back of my head that’s neither John nor myself telling me to tear you in half.”

[mistletoe-and-music-notes]

Arthur, his features are growing more alien and menacing, we need to drop this and RUN

"Still kicking?! We went through hell to survive. we lost a so much! And then KAYNE PLUCKS US OUT OF OUR WORLD FOR HIS SICK LITTLE CHRISTMAS PAGENT"

"the payment? our our friends puppeted on stage in yy So fuck off with your damned analytics