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NOTE: Set After The Left Hand Directs
L: we got a problem
L: need to talk asap
A: My place or somewhere else?
L: your place
A: I'll be waiting
L: be there soon
Lux:
It's not long after leaving the Winter Hollow, and answering Asbolus' texts, that Lux arrives at his apartment building.
One thing becomes immediately clear when Bo sees them: Lux is an Oath-Breaker.
The Bright One looks quietly miserable, but is holding themself together alright. For now. They don't offer any pleasantries, just gesture for him to lead the way inside.
Asbolus:
As Lux approached the concern that was already present on Asbolus' face was joined by a narrowing of the eyes, mingling with the natural response that came with the sensation of a broken oath. He nodded and led them inside, waiting until they were in the hollow and the door closed behind them before he spoke. "What happened?"
Lux:
The narrowing of eyes made them flinch and look away, pausing a second to wait to see if Asbolus would even let them inside. When he does, Lux follows in, arms crossing around their chest tightly once the Hollow door is closed. "I'm a fucking idiot, that's what," Lux mumbles.
"Broke a Sealing to Mearcstapa."
Asbolus:
He remained standing as well, watching them quietly as they answered. "What was the promise?"
Lux:
"That I wouldn't lie to him again," they say softly, then scowl, fists clenching. "I know, it was a stupid fucking promise."
Lux starts to pace through the room, back and forth in front of the couch. "Did you listen to Radio Free Fae? They sent a threat. About the iron dream-catcher. Everyone knows now. I got pulled into a group text with people talking about it, Mearcstapa was in it, and I fucking panicked and lied about information I knew, because fucking Marjorie doesn't want anyone to know about Robin, and it fucking broke the Sealing."
Asbolus:
"I heard. Take it that was the second message?" He leaned against the wall, letting Lux pace without getting in their way. "...ah. I see."
Lux:
"Yeah. Did you decipher it?"
Asbolus:
"I haven't yet, no."
Lux:
"It said The right to dream is the right to die. The right to dream is the right to a prison. The right to dream is the right to bleed." Lux doesn't stop pacing, but glances up at him as they do.
Asbolus:
The words brought a deep frown to the Darkling's face, quietly repeating them to himself to cement them in his mind. "The right to dream is also not something for someone else to take."
Lux:
"That's not all of it," Lux mutters. "I got the information back. Got a list of shell companies that are moving money to make this happen. And I got a list of all the building sites, and--fuck, Bo. If you plot them all on a map it makes a fucking dream-catcher." Lux shakes their head. "There's been work accidents and injuries at all the sites. Like--a crazy amount." They run a hand over their head. "And Mearcstapa noticed--fuck if I know how, maybe he googlemapped or something--that all the buildings have the same weird bars over the windows and balconies. He thinks they might be made of iron. It's an iron dream-catcher that takes up almost the whole fucking city. And Wren thinks that it's already working. That maybe the workers are getting hurt because they're not dreaming, so not sleeping right."
Asbolus:
"Was the construction company that I mentioned before brought up in that list, out of curiosity?" He nodded as they continued, his arms crossing in front of him. "Bloody hell...do we know how many more points on the catcher need to be completed to finish it?"
Lux:
Lux shakes their head. "No. Not that I saw on my list. Seems like it's two different issues." They go back to pacing. "There are 3 projects complete and 4 still in progress of being built."
They grimace. "The others went to Lumi. She's put Wren in charge of organizing a strike for the workers, to try to slow development. And Sturm in charge of everything else involving this. She, understandably, doesn't trust me. So--if you want to help look into things, you should hook up with them. I know Sturm is planning on trying to check out and destroy the iron bars, assuming Mearcstapa is correct."
"Though... we really need to focus on Robin," Lux continues, head shaking quickly. "Marjorie is putting this on my fucking shoulders, to find evidence--and I can't do that without you, Bo."
Asbolus:
"Alright. I'll get a hold of her later." He gave another slow nod. "Agreed, and the sooner we do it the better."
He paused, looking them over with a "don't BS me" note in his gaze. "How are you holding up?"
Lux:
"Yeah. We need to. Soon. I know it's risky and we didn't want to risk pointing fingers until we knew, but..." Lux trails off, then looks over at him. "I can't tell you how I know, but I'm more assured now that it's Robin. Or--worse--Marjorie trying very hard to frame Robin. But... I know it's someone in this Freehold, Bo."
Asbolus:
"Right. Timeline has sped up, and all we can do is move with it." He gave them a quiet look, however. "You didn't answer my question, though."
Lux:
"Of course I'm not fucking okay!" Lux snaps, flashing a scowl at him, their lights flashing green briefly. "Do I look okay!?"
Asbolus:
There was nary a flinch at the sudden outburst, that stiff upper lip the British were so well known for in full force. "I never said you were, I asked how you were holding up. I'd be more concerned if you were okay, or if you tried to blow smoke up my ass."
Lux:
"I'm--I'm fucking not holding up!" Lux yells, their lights pulsing and vibrating. "I fucked up. I finally was--I was trying so hard to be honest with him and now he won't trust me. No one will trust me." Their eyes close tightly, shoulders shuddering. "I guess it's just... what I fucking deserve. At least now everyone will know how fucking disgusting I am."
Asbolus:
Asbolus moved off of the wall as Lux closed their eyes, pausing briefly before wrapping his arms around them in a light hug. "You are not disgusting, Lux, and you do not deserve this. Everyone makes mistakes, and trust can be regained. If he understands why you kept that secret and work to make up for it, that mark will fade."
Lux:
Lux falls into Asbolus' arms with a sob, burying their face into his shoulder. "How? It was such a stupid simple promise. If I can't keep that then how can he ever trust me again?"
Asbolus:
"He was an Arrow before he was a Mirror, and he should understand the weight of a secret asked to be kept by a crown." His arm moved to rub their back, doing his best to give some measure of comfort. "The best thing you can do is try; no one will fault you for that."
Lux:
The Bright One cries into Asbolus' shoulder, their tears coming with a mixture of misery and anger, hands lifting to clutch tightly at his shirt. It takes a long while for them to quiet down, and once they do they seem less wired up by their emotions--more just... tired.
They sniff, eyes squeezed tightly closed. "You believe me, right?" they finally manage to murmur. "That it was just... a stupid mistake?"
Asbolus:
"I do." He nodded, resting his head against their's. "You care too much about him to do so maliciously."
Lux:
"I love him," Lux whispers, then lets out a soft miserable sound into his shoulder. "I'm so fucking stupid, ugh..."
Asbolus:
"You are not. Like I said, everyone makes mistakes. You can get this bit of red out of your ledger, trust me."
Lux:
"It's not... going to be easy though, is it?" Lux asks weakly. "Or quick."
Asbolus:
"Probably not, no. But then again, anything worth fighting for takes effort."
Lux:
"...Everyone is going to look at me different," Lux says in a quieter voice, but with genuine fear at the thought. Because of course that's a fear for the vain as fuck Bright One.
Asbolus:
"For a time, yes. Once this all comes out into the light, though, I believe they'll understand. And those closest to you should before that, as much as that mark may make them think otherwise."
Lux:
Lux slips into a deep brood at the thought, their lights pale and gloomy. Their fingers grip tighter at his shirt against for a moment, before they force themself to let go and step back, wiping at their eyes. "I'm sorry. I keep doing this to you..."
Asbolus:
"No need to apologize." He gave them a small smile at that, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and offering it to them. "That's what friends are for, right?"
Lux:
They take it, using it to rub at their eyes and nose. "I guess. Feels pretty one sided," they murmur, sulking. "You're always so calm..."
Asbolus:
"You've seen me mostly on my good days. If a bad one comes up, you'd be the first person I'd call."
Lux:
"Promise?" Lux asks hopefully, though they wince immediately after, knowing how meaningless promises mean at the moment for them.
Asbolus:
He smiled a touch at that, giving a small nod. "Promise."
Lux:
Lux watches him for a moment, then rubs at their arm slowly. "Can I stay here?"
Asbolus:
"Of course."
Lux:
They let out a grateful breath, then leans forward to flump their head against his chest again.
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