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From:

lestercraft

"Excellent. Be there soon, then."

And it's on the same floor as his office, anyway, so he's there in a little over five minutes, tapping his way carefully in with his cane until it clatters into the back of a couch and he hesitates. "Ah- doctor?"

From:

heyboss

Sheehan's already on his way. "You couldn't wait two more seconds?" he laughs, reaching over to gently place a hand on his arm. "Impatient, hm? Come on, it's this way." He keeps steady pressure against Arthur's arm to guide him to the right door, giving him a soft commentary about the desk to the right, the doorway straight ahead, the couch just there.

From:

lestercraft

It's only because it's Sheehan that he doesn't even bristle at being physically guided, but the descriptions soothe it further.

"Well, maybe I simply enjoy your company, doctor," he comments wryly as he takes his seat. "But, er- well, that too, but- no, I've just had a bizarre afternoon."

From:

heyboss

Sheehan also doesn't like doing it, but the office is a goddamn minefield of furniture, so when Arthur is safely in Sheehan's office, he does let him go. Maybe he gives his arm an affectionate and apologetic squeeze though.

He bustles around the room, letting Arthur sit while he puts away a few papers. "Well, you being here certainly makes the day a little better. But - tell me about your afternoon."

From:

lestercraft

"Well, it- it started a few days ago, actually, when John asked me about, er."

Immediately he feels colour enter his cheeks, and he feels ridiculous for it. "What the exact nature of our relationship is, I suppose. Which was- fine, he certainly had the right to a bit of clarity there." He draws his hand down his face as he takes a breath. "But earlier today, Mandrake did the same."

From:

heyboss

Sheehan notes the color on his cheeks and smiles, ducking his head a bit. He almost says something about it, but then the mention of Mandrake -

And he had come here. All of a sudden. For no reason, seemingly.

"Ah. And - how did he take that?" he asks slowly.

From:

lestercraft

"Well, I had to explain to him the definition of romantic relationships, but. Well, it's a difficult thing for me to get a read on, for him. How he reacts to new information. Especially something that could- I-I suppose turn my attention or affection away from him, something that could threaten to shift my priorities." He lifts his hand in a vague wave. "It wouldn't, of course, I've already assured him as much, but. I was mostly surprised to learn he even knew we were seeing each other, let alone practically demand the, the details of it."

From:

heyboss

"How did he find out?" he wonders. Even now, in the safety of his office, he doesn't touch Arthur more than necessary. There's a very firm line that he won't cross. They're in Public.

"And what details did you give him?"

He has no idea what details there would be to give.

From:

lestercraft

"I rather suspect he was stalking me," he says, with no real charge to the term, as if he was discussing a bad habit rather than a criminal action. "He's certainly got a history of it, but - honestly I'm not sure he would have come to the conclusion of, er- of a relationship without John's input. The pair of them have taken to gossiping about me behind my back."

He reclines into the chair with a sigh, leaning on his elbow. "I told both of them we're dating, though- I'll admit John helped me find the right word, and they're both aware that you're still with Una, and that I'm fine with it. Mandrake even seems to approve of her, so I don't doubt he'll give her any grief over it."

From:

heyboss

"Do I need to warn Una that he might go talk to her, too?" he wonders, reaching up and sliding his fingers through his hair. He eventually gives up on the papers and collapses onto the couch beside him.

"Dating is the term I've been thinking, too," he tells him. "Since it's not something we've - discussed at any great length."

From:

lestercraft

"Frankly I hadn't been sure what to call it. It's all a little... o-outside my experience, I'll admit." And he knows Sheehan knows about Bella, but since he's not sure how he feels about bringing her up just yet- "Una should be fine. Mandrake seems to think highly enough of her that she shouldn't have any reason to be concerned."

He hooks an ankle over the other, fidgety as he relives the flustering conversation. "I was actually more concerned he'd come and find some way to harass you about it."

From:

heyboss

He considers not saying anything and, in fact, hadn't planned on doing so until this very moment. But it seems relevant now.

"Ah, don't worry," he tells him. "He already did, though I wouldn't call it harassment."

From:

lestercraft

Arthur's head tilts a little with the surprised frown. A part of him admittedly wondered if he would do it at all - at no point did he think it would be on the same day.

"Oh, um." Well, that complicated things. Just because he knows Sheehan's stance on confidentiality with his patients. "I-I know this is a tall ask, but- what did he say, exactly?"

From:

heyboss

Sheehan's quiet for a moment, thinking over how best to word it. He's not sure that Mandrake came to him for the reasons that he thought, but that's no reason to give up what he said in full.

"Nothing that tipped me off that he was here because of what was said to you. He - told me about his past."

From:

lestercraft

And Arthur frowns, enough that it's practically a flinch with how whip-fast the confusion rockets across his face and makes him sit upright a little more.

"Really?" Arthur had to fight tooth and nail just to discuss it, and now Nathaniel's simply telling people? "What about?"

From:

heyboss

Sheehan makes a soft noise, then sighs. "Tell me why you need to know," he says gently, very gently. He wants to tell Arthur about it, wants it to help, but he needs a reason for it, or this is simply gossip.

From:

lestercraft

He can't say it's not a fair request, but it's still irksome to have to go through the formalities of it. He supposed this was why they didn't really talk about work much.

He still sighs, though. More of a huff. "Even on the best of days, Mandrake is an exceptionally private person, and to my knowledge he's only ever spoken of his past to- I can't imagine it's more than perhaps three or four people, one of the likeliest candidates having already graduated and left. If he's volunteering that, unfortunately I can't dismiss the theory that he's doing it to- either manipulate you in some way, or to serve a point that- literally anyone else besides me would lack the context to understand it."

From:

heyboss

The huff makes him sigh and he reaches for his cigarettes before he realizes that he left them in his cabin.

"Thank you, Arthur." And he says his name deliberately. "I - I can't go around breaking the trust that people inherently have here without some reason for it. He told me about the man he was apprenticed to. The woman, too. How they died in a fire because of a jealous politician. He told me how the man had seen him summon - something." The word djinni is too far removed from his vocabulary for him to recall offhand. "He knew he was powerful and offered him a position. Mandrake turned him down. He killed him and - " He pauses and there's a resignation, a sort of semi-understanding.

"He learned a lesson. He learned 'to act first.'"

From:

lestercraft

"Ah..." But- funnily enough, as he leans back in the chair again, talking about Lovelace, using the man as the crux of the story to prove what would happen if someone crossed the people he cared about...

Well, he's just glad Sheehan can read between the lines himself.

"Right, well." he huffs, more of a release of tension than anything else. "I have to admit that's actually a massive improvement from him, on practically all fronts."

From:

heyboss

"Well, he isn't the first one with that message about you. You're a well-loved man, detective," he says with a huff of a laugh.

"I'm glad it's an improvement, at least."

From:

lestercraft

"The fact that he's warning you that if you hurt me he'll give you hell to pay is- well, from anyone else it's hardly ideal-" which is still a massive understatement "-but it's Mandrake acknowledging intent to harm without waiting five months to surprise you with it the moment he gets the opportunity."

From:

heyboss

"Well, between him and John, I think you're as safe as you'll ever been. At least from me."

He places a hand over Arthur's, just
for a moment.

"I'm glad he's made progress. You've been good for him, it seems."

From:

lestercraft

The touch makes him smile, brief and warm, but it's the words that make his stomach twist in a strangely pleasant way.

"It's- strange, in a way, the times when I realise he has made significant strides towards... I guess maturing, in a way. Learning to try and acknowledge the nuance in situations, to ask when there's something he doesn't understand without fear that I'll punish him for it." He gives a soft chuckle. "He actually argues with me, now. I couldn't be more proud."

From:

heyboss

"Now that's a feat on its own," he laughs. "I don't know him from before, of course. I can't compare. But you can. And you seem - very proud of him."

He pours a glass of water for both of them - like he did Mandrake, he recalls with a smile - and sets Arthur's in the table near him.

From:

lestercraft

"It's not something I get to talk about much, really," he admits, taking the glass with a wider smile. "John's only seen about a third of his development, maybe, in the, er- fourteen months we've been paired, now. Dr Hilbert has been a surprisingly genuine influence on him as well, but I had to learn about that through Captain Crozier, when he asked if it was alright for them to continue studying together."