It's funny, because if you had described it to me before, I wouldn't have assumed that I'd enjoy it. I did, though. Not all parts of it, of course... I'm not cut out for an office job either!
But I enjoyed being able to stay home and take care of a spouse. I've never gotten to do that before. It was strangely fulfilling.
A dare? Alright... [ Of course he could make it themed to the resort, but his mind doesn't automatically jump there yet. ] Give me your best impression of someone here. Doesn't have to be a guest either. I'll even give you bonus points if I recognize them.
[ His answering hum follows the tune of an “is that so?” - interested and a little speculative. ]
That’s a good one! This isn’t really my forte, but I’ll give it my best shot.
[ He conspicuously clears his throat, and, when he next speaks, he affects a detached and regal tone - and a posh accent reminiscent of a country Bigby could likely name, but Phainon couldn’t if it weren’t for all the reading he’s been doing here. ]
As the intentions of the individual be as shining thread, together the wishes of the many can, in the right hands, be interwoven into a grand tapestry.
[ …Only a few here would recognize Aglaea, but the imitation isn’t half bad! ]
Just so! But I've put you at a disadvantage. Lady Goldweaver is not a guest at the resort.
[ Given that she's been teacher, mentor, leader, and... kind of a motherly figure if you squint, he isn't conflicted about her absence from these gilded halls in the slightest.
She deserves her rest, but not her fate. ]
She was a stalwart and shrewd leader where I'm from, and not a day passes without a thought of her valuable guidance.
[ There's no use in thinking about the past. Wolves don't get their wishes granted. Yet, even in knowing that, he's replayed that night in his head more times than he'd readily admit. The fact that Thancred's even asking though—
He must've been thinking about it all this time too. Still, Bigby hesitates, uncertain what part of that night the other man is referring to. ]
you took care of me. don't beat yourself up over it just because i couldn't get the hang of it.
but maybe there was one thing. when you were holding me up. i don't know. i wouldn't change what happened that night.
it was a good time. i just think too much sometimes.
[Oh, Thancred thinks with a pang of sharp, sour regret as the message returns and his eyes skim over it like man in a desert who thinks he's just sighted his oasis. Oh, he thinks it was his fault, somehow. Not a cold shoulder at all, so much as just a man frozen in uncertainty.
It gnaws at him. Chafes beneath his skin. He knows that feeling too well to be comfortable with seeing it worn by anyone else.]
taking care of you was more important to me than anything i could have wanted for myself
that's why i didn't... it wasn't you it wasn't anything you did or didn't do
i didn't want your only choices to be me or a painful fall
[ No, he accidentally sent that too soon. He can't find the right words, if they even exist. Thancred manages to get at that part of his heart that's still tender and wanting even after years of hardening. Caring for others is easy; it's when they reciprocate that he finds himself with more emotions than he knows what to do with. ]
so that's why. most people aren't that kind. you know that right?
[ A statement, not a judgement. He knows what it means to be selfish, and he knows how hard it is to reign it back. Being worthy of that restraint only endears him to this man even more. ]
i don't know if those were really the only two choices. but if they were then i would've picked you every time and not just to keep myself off the ice.
you strike me as a man who's been on the wrong end of more than his share of unkindness. i'd never want to be yet another contributor to that.
[Like recognizes like, after all. Even if they're far from identical in their finer points, their coping mechanisms, there's more than enough common ground for him to clock it. They're similar the way he's always felt that he and Estinien are similar, next to the rest of the Scions. Some might call it pessimism; he and Bigby both would be likelier to call it survival. A realistic perspective of the world in which they reside.]
i think...
listen, biggs i heard what you said, what you meant, when you said you still trust me i believe you
so i'm going to choose truth for myself, now, for my turn and you ask me anything you want
i swear i'll tell it to you. no games. no nonsense. i'll make good on that faith you've put in me, i promise.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
APR 2026 WELCOME
—DATE
oh. right.
threw me off not spelling it out.
[ No, of course he knew that. The 1000-year-old-out-of-practice wolf knew that. ]
i don't do collars by the way.
[ So he thinks. ]
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but you do ties. i see. i'll just use one of your ties then.
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because i actually wear ties.
but you don't really have to be the s or however you put it. i kind of put you on the spot.
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makes sense. i think.
but you're not into anything else? outside your partner?
—MARUKI
figured you'd understand doc. even if i was the odd man out it worked for me.
probably knew i wouldn't survive the usual 9 to 5.
did you enjoy it? having a small town life for once?
sorry. we can save that for later.
or make it a truth if you want.
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It's funny, because if you had described it to me before, I wouldn't have assumed that I'd enjoy it. I did, though. Not all parts of it, of course... I'm not cut out for an office job either!
But I enjoyed being able to stay home and take care of a spouse. I've never gotten to do that before. It was strangely fulfilling.
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right. the whole marriage thing.
never thought about it much before but you're right.
it was weird until it wasn't. then it felt natural somehow.
didn't exactly enjoy the divorce part of it though.
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You got divorced!?
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1/2
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tees us da heck UP
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hehe wrapt!!
—PHAINON
Guess I'm no ordinary man.
[ He grins, even if Phainon can't see it. ]
A dare? Alright... [ Of course he could make it themed to the resort, but his mind doesn't automatically jump there yet. ] Give me your best impression of someone here. Doesn't have to be a guest either. I'll even give you bonus points if I recognize them.
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That’s a good one! This isn’t really my forte, but I’ll give it my best shot.
[ He conspicuously clears his throat, and, when he next speaks, he affects a detached and regal tone - and a posh accent reminiscent of a country Bigby could likely name, but Phainon couldn’t if it weren’t for all the reading he’s been doing here. ]
As the intentions of the individual be as shining thread, together the wishes of the many can, in the right hands, be interwoven into a grand tapestry.
[ …Only a few here would recognize Aglaea, but the imitation isn’t half bad! ]
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[ Definitely not anyone he knows, but it does paint a decent picture in his mind. ]
Can't say I've run into whoever that is. Bit of a regal type?
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[ Given that she's been teacher, mentor, leader, and... kind of a motherly figure if you squint, he isn't conflicted about her absence from these gilded halls in the slightest.
She deserves her rest, but not her fate. ]
She was a stalwart and shrewd leader where I'm from, and not a day passes without a thought of her valuable guidance.
--Well! Your turn again. Truth or dare?
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... Let's go dare this time.
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—DOUMAN
[ Sex is sex!! What more is there!! ]
i guess top. i've been doing that more around here.
[ Wonder why. ]
people really like asking that. both seem fine.
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I'll choose truth to start too. That sounds fair, doesn't it?
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[ Why is this so difficult. ]
anything you've always wanted to try but haven't?
in bed obviously.
or wherever else you like.
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That being said, it's been a while since I had two people at once.
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i mean the whole trying everything not the
well i guess it'd be nice if you're into it. i'm sure there's plenty of people who'd help with that.
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—THANCRED
[ Oh. That's definitely not going easy. ]
what i wish?
[ There's no use in thinking about the past. Wolves don't get their wishes granted. Yet, even in knowing that, he's replayed that night in his head more times than he'd readily admit. The fact that Thancred's even asking though—
He must've been thinking about it all this time too. Still, Bigby hesitates, uncertain what part of that night the other man is referring to. ]
you took care of me. don't beat yourself up over it just because i couldn't get the hang of it.
but maybe there was one thing. when you were holding me up.
i don't know. i wouldn't change what happened that night.
it was a good time. i just think too much sometimes.
[ So many choices. So many what-ifs. ]
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It gnaws at him. Chafes beneath his skin. He knows that feeling too well to be comfortable with seeing it worn by anyone else.]
taking care of you was more important to me than anything i could have wanted for myself
that's why i didn't...
it wasn't you
it wasn't anything you did or didn't do
i didn't want your only choices to be me or a painful fall
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[ No, he accidentally sent that too soon. He can't find the right words, if they even exist. Thancred manages to get at that part of his heart that's still tender and wanting even after years of hardening. Caring for others is easy; it's when they reciprocate that he finds himself with more emotions than he knows what to do with. ]
so that's why.
most people aren't that kind. you know that right?
[ A statement, not a judgement. He knows what it means to be selfish, and he knows how hard it is to reign it back. Being worthy of that restraint only endears him to this man even more. ]
i don't know if those were really the only two choices.
but if they were then i would've picked you every time and not just to keep myself off the ice.
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i'd never want to be yet another contributor to that.
[Like recognizes like, after all. Even if they're far from identical in their finer points, their coping mechanisms, there's more than enough common ground for him to clock it. They're similar the way he's always felt that he and Estinien are similar, next to the rest of the Scions. Some might call it pessimism; he and Bigby both would be likelier to call it survival. A realistic perspective of the world in which they reside.]
i think...
listen, biggs
i heard what you said, what you meant, when you said you still trust me
i believe you
so i'm going to choose truth for myself, now, for my turn
and you ask me anything you want
i swear i'll tell it to you. no games. no nonsense.
i'll make good on that faith you've put in me, i promise.
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