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."
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.
"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."
"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."
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."
"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."
"Independent and private," he says with a laugh in his voice. "No wonder you get along so well. Mm, a fitting punishment for you."
He means it as a joke, of course, but there's a part of him that wonders if the Admiral is trying to change each wardens as much as inmates with the choice of pairings.
The problem that Arthur always forgets with flirting is that he gets flirted back to. And somehow he never quite gets used to being called handsome, and his own cheeks burn. Not as badly as Sheehan's face, but a very distinct shade of pink regardless.
"Just because we can come back from the dead here, doesn't mean we should suffer it more than we have to," he replies, a half-flustered mumble.
And Arthur laughs, slightly breathless despite himself.
"That's true- I'm already being a horrible distraction to your work. I should probably take my leave before you're overwhelmed by the very thought, doctor."
"Really, I have no self control." He nudges him. "Now shoo, or I'll never get my work done. But - I wouldn't say no if you want to continue this discussion this evening."
He takes his hand back so he can rub his face down; it doesn't brush away the pink in his cheeks any more than it did for Sheehan, but with something to focus on besides the contact making his heart flutter he can breathe again and settle some of it back down.
"I'll leave my door unlocked for you, in that case," he hums, with a brief, wide smile, the kind that always leaves him looking a little younger, as he stands with his cane. At least the way out is easier than in. "Enjoy your work, doctor."
Said as a genuine, fond parting, as he closes the door behind him as he goes.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2024-01-19 03:23 am (UTC)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."
no subject
Date: 2024-01-19 03:34 am (UTC)"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.'"
no subject
Date: 2024-01-19 03:48 am (UTC)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."
no subject
Date: 2024-01-19 03:51 am (UTC)"I'm glad it's an improvement, at least."
no subject
Date: 2024-01-19 03:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-01-19 12:30 pm (UTC)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."
no subject
Date: 2024-01-19 01:53 pm (UTC)"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."
no subject
Date: 2024-01-19 02:05 pm (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-19 02:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-01-19 02:17 pm (UTC)He means it as a joke, of course, but there's a part of him that wonders if the Admiral is trying to change each wardens as much as inmates with the choice of pairings.
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Date: 2024-01-20 12:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-01-20 01:01 pm (UTC)"Yes, but that was because you are quite dashing and handsome...and you saved my ass."
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Date: 2024-01-21 04:38 am (UTC)"Just because we can come back from the dead here, doesn't mean we should suffer it more than we have to," he replies, a half-flustered mumble.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-21 04:43 am (UTC)"I know. And I appreciate you saving me from it anyway." And he takes his hand again. "But you can't help it if you look good holding a sword."
no subject
Date: 2024-01-21 05:08 am (UTC)And, on impulse more than active thought, he leans forward a little so he can lift Sheehan's hand to press a quiet kiss to his knuckles.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-21 05:16 am (UTC)Like a goddamn schoolboy.
"Now don't get carried away," he says. "Next you'll try and show too much skin, like your ankles, and then where will we be?"
no subject
Date: 2024-01-21 05:22 am (UTC)"That's true- I'm already being a horrible distraction to your work. I should probably take my leave before you're overwhelmed by the very thought, doctor."
no subject
Date: 2024-01-21 12:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-01-22 06:13 am (UTC)"I'll leave my door unlocked for you, in that case," he hums, with a brief, wide smile, the kind that always leaves him looking a little younger, as he stands with his cane. At least the way out is easier than in. "Enjoy your work, doctor."
Said as a genuine, fond parting, as he closes the door behind him as he goes.