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[myriadeclipse]

Hugo Inbox

Home of Mockingbird and the voice in his head

Mockingbird

Please forgive me for missing your message. I'll be right with you.

The Other Me

He isn't that sorry.

Mockingbird

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[paraselenic]

[Whatever words Lycaon was currently typing stop cold in their tracks, as the feed falls into silence.

Hugo was absolutely right. It was his cowardice, unable to face what was in front of his eyes that led them to this. He was the one who let Hugo there in that room that day, and didn't dare look back. He'd only faced it when Hugo himself made the first move, stepping into the light and forcing him to move his hand.

He didn't date. He didn't trust. No one saw the true Lycaon beneath this facade of 'capable bartender'. His pleasantries, his control...those were all part of the mask. A way to keep himself at arms length instead of letting his heart get too close. Even now, he distanced himself from Molly's situation, handing it to Hugo to deal with under the excuse of 'they know each other better'. When in reality, he knew exactly Molly's reasons for running.

Hugo had been gracious enough to say it so blatantly to him, too.

After letting the air he was holding in slip through his teeth, he starts to type again.]

You truly dismantled me in a single moment.

[myriadeclipse]

[ The short answer was Hugo was panicking. He will go in and be the smooth, in control person he always was, but he was also running from the fear these situations set on his heart. His words and demeanor were unkind, but the work it took to admit these things was more than he would say. ]

I've seen looks like that on his face before.
I've done this. Where I go to look for him, and he's already gone.
I have sat in those empty rooms and reminded myself that I would see him again.
And not every situation would be like That Day.

It's fear that drives my hesitation.
Just the same as it drove me to point out that you are the one who would understand this.
I am merely the fool who keeps waiting.

[paraselenic]

[Lycaon lets those words sink in, letting his head tilt back to think before he responds. The reality of just what his actions led to was now playing out before his eyes. A reminder that he had just as many areas to improve as Hugo did.]

You're many things, Hugo. But a fool is not one of them.

We will handle this together. I won't let you lose this piece of your world, and as your partner, I want to share it with you. [It was the first time he'd put a word to what they had. A soft and hesitant one.]

That said, can I trust you to go to him first? I fear both of us may overwhelm him, and he will likely want to see you. [Molly was friendly with him, but he can't imagine he's the contact he needs. He knows that puts the risk of discovery on Hugo, but he's fairly confident the man hasn't left town yet.]

I will follow up after, I promise.

[myriadeclipse]

I will go.

[ No matter what he said here, he WAS going to go. He could sit and torment himself over this, but it didn't mean he wouldn't do it anyway. The conversation with Molly had already started and Hugo was already on the move. ]

I was going to go anyway.
You're lucky he's responding.
If it was silence, I was going to pluck your tail bald.

[ It was an empty threat. Lycaon, for everything he just said to him, was the grounding he needed to move forward. He deserved more than a tongue lashing. ]

I'm sorry for being harsh.
Thank you for pushing me anyway.

[paraselenic]

I had a feeling you would.

[Hugo's heart was bigger than he'd ever admit.]

First my ears, now my tail--do you mean to make a coat out of me? [Lycaon takes that threat in stride. Empty, petty threats like that were a good sign with him.] ...You will permit me to share it with Molly this once, yes?

[He knows the effect his tail has on the less-fur-inclined folk of the city. It might be quite effective in bringing their friend back from the brink.

But he pauses at that apology, smiling a little before he starts to type back.]

On the contrary, I am the one who should apologize. Your words were fair, and provided some much-needed clarity.
I am quite stubborn, after all.



I'm sorry. For making you act alone. [Both in the past and the present.]

[myriadeclipse]

It's your tail, Lycaon. I'm not going to dictate who you shake it at. I'm just going to lightly judge your tastes.

Regardless, yes, that's fine with me.

[ Knowing that Lycaon wasn't mad at what he said was good, although he doubted that he would have been. Lycaon was lenient with him. Sometimes too much so. The apology was something he would accept, though. ]

I am going to head there now.
It's not your responsibility, but if you can bring something for my sugar and iron when you come in the morning, I will be appreciative.

[paraselenic]

Hm. You struck me as the type who didn't want to share, that's all. I've seen how you gravitate towards it, so I can't discount you two fighting over it like children. [It's your tail that gravitates to him, Lycaon.]

[Lenient, maybe. Indulgent, absolutely. But what he had said was entirely accurate. He'd spent a lifetime casting doubt on Hugo, subconsciously or otherwise. It was about time he placed his trust in him bit by bit to make him a better person. (Wolf?)]

It would be my pleasure. I will wait a bit to check on him, and then I will do some shopping. I'll be rather indulgent in my choices, too--Bacon, Eggs, Pancakes, Fruit.

[myriadeclipse]

Why does everyone expect me to be jealous?

[ Probably because of how he pops up more often than not in places, Lycaon was already talking like he was stalking him. Which he wasn't. That would be weird. He was just nosy, and knowing things was his job. ]

You're going to spoil up.
I will see you in the morning, then.

[paraselenic]

Your need to be center stage, most likely.

[And not at all by how Lycaon tends to talk about him. Or how their friends from their past lives have already had a crisis hotline set up just for their antics unbeknownst to them.]

See you in the morning.