[Jon squints, then rubs his eyes and blinks. What... what did he just see? Did Lestat's body stretch out just there? No, that's not part of his powers. Is it? This is Lestat. It's not Not!Lestat. He thinks. Not!Lestat wouldn't know about Claudia, would he?]
No, I... Yes? I accidentally set Ava on fire. I thought she was filled with worms. The Hive. I hurt her. I... I keep hurting her without meaning to. I need to stop. I don't want to hurt you, either. But I, um... I'm sorry.
[The Archivist reaches for Lestat this time. He'll clutch the vampire's hand between his own, tone earnest, pleading.]
I'm sorry, Lestat, I was scared. I'm sorry. I asked someone to kill her when I was in the People Zoo, during the inferno. The woman you told me about. The one who hurts Subs. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have. I shouldn't have done that. I don't want to kill people. I don't!
[Never mind that she'd come back to life like everyone else after. In the fever of his delirium, that part doesn't occur to Jon.]
[Should he tell? He shouldn't tell. Will Graham will be in trouble. Except Lestat can read his thoughts and why did he think that? Oh, god, he can't even try to lie to protect Will. Would he want to protect Will? He's frightening, too. Everyone is. And now he's upset Lestat.]
Please don't hurt him. You can hurt me. [Jon will heal. Will is just human.] I'm sorry. I was just scared. I'm so sorry. I didn't give him your name. I wouldn't do that. Just her. Just her, I promise.
I'm not! I'm not! Listen for her thoughts. She didn't stay dead.
[And then Lestat says he's pretty. And then Lestat says that he loves him. What? What? But... what? Did he do- what did he do to earn that? He's just hurt the other man. Why would he?
The information Lestat is looking for isn't hard to find, at least. Will Graham, someone else to scares the Archivist. Someone who had all but threatened him in the People Zoo when they'd met in the Inferno. A small, but viciously violent man who cares about justice. The Knowledge that she's alive again after that is there for him to find, as well, if he's being thorough. As far as Jon knows, that is true.
The woman might just be doing... slightly less mischief after the violence inflicted upon her.]
Now she's tainted. I feed on the wicked, you miserable fool. I don't care who I tell you about in your stupid statements but if you ever give my prey to someone else again there will be hell to pay.
[Turning, he goes to storm to the door.]
If you'll excuse me I have to go issue a complaint now.
Lestat... [He lifts a hand to the vampire, but he's already marching out. And Jon... doesn't want to pursue. Why had he told the vampire that? Why? He should warn Will. Will Lestat know about that? He said he's going to issue a complaint. What does that even mean?
The Archivist stays where he is, wracked with indecision as Lestat disappears. It's only a few minutes later that more of that conversation processes.] Oh, god... he loves me?
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No, I... Yes? I accidentally set Ava on fire. I thought she was filled with worms. The Hive. I hurt her. I... I keep hurting her without meaning to. I need to stop. I don't want to hurt you, either. But I, um... I'm sorry.
[The Archivist reaches for Lestat this time. He'll clutch the vampire's hand between his own, tone earnest, pleading.]
I'm sorry, Lestat, I was scared. I'm sorry. I asked someone to kill her when I was in the People Zoo, during the inferno. The woman you told me about. The one who hurts Subs. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have. I shouldn't have done that. I don't want to kill people. I don't!
[Never mind that she'd come back to life like everyone else after. In the fever of his delirium, that part doesn't occur to Jon.]
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[It's not a question. In fact, there's almost a touch of endearment to his tone. Right before he blinks when his hand is grabbed. And then Jon says...
That.
He snatches his hand back.]
Who did you tell?
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Please don't hurt him. You can hurt me. [Jon will heal. Will is just human.] I'm sorry. I was just scared. I'm so sorry. I didn't give him your name. I wouldn't do that. Just her. Just her, I promise.
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[His eyes narrow then and he slams his hand on the table as he stands. There's a rather audible cracking sound that says the table is damaged.]
Who?
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She's alive! She's alive again. I Know she is. It was- Please, it was me. This was my fault. I promise it won't happen again. Ever. Ever.
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[Lestat's eyes narrow further and he suddenly is on the other side of the table next to Jon. His hand is on the collar of his shirt.]
I will not harm you because I love you. But I will pry that name out of your pretty head now.
[It's the only warning he gives before his mind opens to dip into Jon's mind to find the name of the one he spoke to.]
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[And then Lestat says he's pretty. And then Lestat says that he loves him. What? What? But... what? Did he do- what did he do to earn that? He's just hurt the other man. Why would he?
The information Lestat is looking for isn't hard to find, at least. Will Graham, someone else to scares the Archivist. Someone who had all but threatened him in the People Zoo when they'd met in the Inferno. A small, but viciously violent man who cares about justice. The Knowledge that she's alive again after that is there for him to find, as well, if he's being thorough. As far as Jon knows, that is true.
The woman might just be doing... slightly less mischief after the violence inflicted upon her.]
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Now she's tainted. I feed on the wicked, you miserable fool. I don't care who I tell you about in your stupid statements but if you ever give my prey to someone else again there will be hell to pay.
[Turning, he goes to storm to the door.]
If you'll excuse me I have to go issue a complaint now.
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The Archivist stays where he is, wracked with indecision as Lestat disappears. It's only a few minutes later that more of that conversation processes.] Oh, god... he loves me?
[What the hell is he supposed to do with that?]