Tweak

InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Dates on occasional dates"

Friar Tuck Everlasting (friartuck) wrote in nevermore_logs,
@ 2023-02-04 21:24:00

Entry tags:

asterion, erato, friar tuck, robin hood, will scarlet

WHO: Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet, Erato, Asterion, Robin Hood.
WHEN: Saturday evening
WHERE: Parsonage
WHAT: Forming plans
WARNINGS: I dunno

Asterion had let Tuck know that he was coming over while Tuck had been about to make some delicious steak for dinner. He immediately thought better of that once he knew, and stowed the steaks in the fridge for after church the next day, and ordered Chinese delivery instead - no beef. Then he called to make sure their fearless leader was on his way over as well.

"Should I provide beer?" Tuck asked Will, as he scuttled about. They entertained guests all the time, but Asterion had so few friends, Tuck wanted to make it nice for him even if they were going to talk about terrible things. "Do you think he drinks beer? Or...whiskey? Am I over thinking this?!"

(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)

rouge_rogue
2023-02-05 11:42 am UTC (link)

"Sure, you got it," Will said politely, trying to subtly flex his hand as he got it back. The man sure had some grip! "And for the lady?"

"Something light for me," Erato said, and glanced up at Asterion. "Actually, I'll have water too." She gave Will a polite smile, and he nodded.

"No problem," he replied, and went to fetch two fresh glasses from the carafe of cold water in the fridge. Erato nudged Asterion lightly to steer him towards the sofa, because it would have the most room for him, and encourage him gently not to just stand in the doorway looking in.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

asterius
2023-02-05 11:47 am UTC (link)

Asterion was so glad Erato was here. He let her encourage him over to the sofa and he dropped into it, glad she settled by his side.

"Nice to meet you," Robin said, actively fighting against using Notts, lest it confuse the hell out of Asterion. "The Friar here tells me we're here to bring down a fighting ring. Is that so?"

Asterion nodded, glancing down at his hands. "I found out where it is. But I can't help. I have...what was it called Erato?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

passionburning
2023-02-05 12:07 pm UTC (link)

"Trauma, darling," Erato said softly, just as Will came back with two cold glasses, which he had dressed up a little with a couple of mint leaves from the pot in the kitchen, and some ice cubes. He set them down, and Erato nodded her thanks. Speaking for herself, she'd rather steer clear of alcohol tonight anyway.

Will leaned against the side of the armchair, picking up his own beer but not drinking yet. "We all know what that feels like," he said sympathetically, folding an arm across his chest. Erato didn't want to baby Asterion in front of everyone, so she picked up her glass and took a sip.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

friartuck
2023-02-06 09:09 am UTC (link)

Tuck was careful to school his expression to understanding but not pity. "Ooof, we do," Tuck nodded. "Asterion, I assure you no one here would ever force you to be more involved than you are comfortable with. Has- Has talking about this brought some stuff up for you? I'm so sorry if it has."

Asterion shook his head firmly, "I want to stop it. Just- I can't go there myself." He looked determined and Tuck kind of wanted to hug him just a little. "I can help organise. Just can't go there." He glanced at Erato, clearly seeking something like confirmation he was saying the right thing.

"Of course," Tuck said, trying to reassure the both of them. "Oh, Asterion, no one would ever make you go there. You shouldn't have to face them again unless you choose to."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

passionburning
2023-02-06 10:27 am UTC (link)

Erato gave Asterion a small nod of encouragement. She wanted him to speak for himself in this, but she would step in if he needed her to.

"Yeah, honestly mate, we've got this covered. Just give us what you've got and we'll take it from there." Will glanced around to see if anyone was going to take notes, and then pulled out his phone. "Say your piece and I'll record it, if that's okay with you. Just so we don't miss anything later."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

friartuck
2023-02-06 10:34 am UTC (link)

Asterion nodded at Will, "yes, that's fine. I have a map." He pulled it out of his pocket, where the approximate location of the fighting ring was. "Guy said the entrance was between these two blocks," Asterion explained, handing it over. The location was on the outskirts of the city, far enough out that an underground fighting ring could be well hidden. "He couldn't say exactly."

"It's close enough," Tuck said, craning his neck to glance at the map. "It's incredible, thank you, Asterion."

"Thing is," Asterion spoke up, "the guy wouldn't say what it was like inside. Maybe had trauma too."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

passionburning
2023-02-06 11:04 am UTC (link)

Will nodded. He kind of figured that all those who didn't come out dead, came out traumatised. "He give you any ideas of recruitment?" he asked, leaning forward to look at the map. "Do we have an easy way in?"

Erato placed her hand on Asterion's arm and gave it a little squeeze. She felt proud of him opening up like this, and coming to accept that everybody had limitations, and she wanted him to know and be encouraged.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	friartuck 2023-02-06 11:18 am UTC (link)
	"A way in?" Asterion asked, a little perplexed. "The door, or-" Tuck wasn't entirely sure what Will meant either. "We could find the door easily enough, but we don't know how many people we'll need to take with us to- We don't even know the layout of the place. We could be walking int a trap without that." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

rouge_rogue
2023-02-06 11:29 am UTC (link)

Will looked at Tuck and Asterion for a moment, and then glanced at Robin, wondering why they were both being so literal. Surely Rob saw what the game plan here was?

"No, we're not- obviously we're not storming the gates," he said. "We are only us, remember? This is a stealth mission. An inside job." He looked at them a few seconds to see if they were getting it, especially Tuck. Will had assumed Tuck had thought about this. "We need more information if we're gonna pull the guts out of this thing. I'm going in."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

friartuck
2023-02-06 11:36 am UTC (link)

Tuck glanced back and forth between all of them, trying to figure out what they meant. Until his eyes fell on Robin, who absolutely understood what the game plan was here. His expression was ever-so-slightly grim, and Tuck felt his stomach clench in horror. "W- Wait, no-"

"Friar, someone has to go in," Robin said, trying to be gentle about it. "To get the layout. The schedule. How many guards. How many people. All of that. They can pray the information to Michael or Francis-"

"Why Will!" Tuck stood up then, feeling quite bad about causing a scene in front of Asterion and Erato. But honestly, why Will. "You- You can't- Please-" All of a sudden Tuck's blood was rushing in his ears and he felt panicked. Oh god, anything could happen to him!

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

rouge_rogue
2023-02-06 11:47 am UTC (link)

"Because I can fight. I mean, I know you can too, but not tryna be- you don't really... look the part. Sorry." Will was glad Robin got it, so he had some backup on stopping Tuck from exploding. "How long did it take for Asterion to get even this much detail? Nobody talks, Tuck. Nobody wants to face that shit again, and have it come after them after barely scraping their way out. The only option is to go and get it ourselves. You gotta trust me. I can do this."

Erato put a hand over her mouth, watching Tuck with her eyes round. Oh the emotion of it! She felt such heart pangs just looking at him.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

friartuck
2023-02-06 12:00 pm UTC (link)

Did Will really think this was about him not looking the part? He didn't give a shit about that. Nor would he had volunteered to be the one to go in. He knew he would lose his nerve the second he heard a cell door close behind him.

How the fuck didn't Will think that was going to happen for him. Tuck cast a wild look around at the group and then he stood and said, "please excuse us, just for a minute. I need to talk to my partner." He sort of half-hauled Will up off the sofa, proving that he was absolutely stronger than he looked.

The second they moved into the bedroom, Tuck closed the door behind him and spun around on Will. "Look me in the eyes and tell me you won't lose yourself to a cage again," he demanded. His heart was pounding as he said it, frantic, terrified. If Will lost himself again, how long would it take before he found his way back to them all?

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

rouge_rogue
2023-02-06 12:20 pm UTC (link)

Will grunted as Tuck hauled him up, and sighed as the door was shut behind him. He took a few steps and leaned against the end of the bed, hands in his pockets. Tuck's concern was legitimate, and came from a place of love, but Will still felt kinda defensive.

"I'm not the guy who was freaking out over a locked door anymore," he said. "I've been doing the therapy, right? And this is bigger than me. This is the greater good. I've gotta do it." Tuck surely saw that that trumped any personal struggles for people like them. "You heard Asterion, nobody would give him hardly anything and he was there. I've been thinking about it for weeks, and I can't see any better way. I'm not gonna lose myself." His tone softened as he spoke, and held out his hands to hold Tuck's. "I'm not even gonna be in there for that long. Right?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

friartuck
2023-02-06 12:25 pm UTC (link)

Tuck listened to every word Will said, and it all made sense, but he hated it. Dread felt like it was twisting in his belly, pulling the world inward. "Will," he breathed, leaning his forehead against the man he loved, clinging to his hands, "of course. Of course not that long. But I can't- Will, they only feed you if you win. And you-" Tuck swallowed roughly, "I know you're going to let someone else win if they need it, and what about you?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

rouge_rogue
2023-02-06 12:41 pm UTC (link)

Will smiled dryly, leaning back against Tuck. "You win some, you lose some." Yeah, he absolutely hated feeling hungry. That was probably going to be the worst. He had to show he was a fighter worth keeping around, but he wasn't looking forward to having to beat someone for a meal. "I'm gonna get the info we need as quickly as I'm able. And I won't be thrown to the wolves, right? I got you all as backup. You'll pull me out if things get dire. The biggest major, far as I can tell, is that we are just dealing with humans. No inflated gods to complicate things. We can deal with people."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

friartuck
2023-02-06 12:45 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, Will," Tuck said sadly. He pulled Will into his arms and wrapped them around him tightly. "I trust you," he whispered. Because of course he did. And he wasn't going to tell Will not to do this. There were people suffering and this was clearly the quickest way to put an end to it. But god he was going to worry about the man he loved so much. "Of course we'll pull you out if we have to. I'm- I'm so proud of you." It was a better thing to say than, 'I am terrified for you'. And Will likely already knew that anyway.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

rouge_rogue
2023-02-06 12:58 pm UTC (link)

Will didn't answer immediately, just hugged Tuck back. He knew what Tuck was feeling, because he'd be feeling the same if the roles were reversed.

After a minute, he stood up, gently disengaging from Tuck. "Come on," he said, nodding his head towards the door. "Rob's making small talk with Beauty and the Beast out there. Better show them we are back on board before poor Asterion thinks we're pulling out after all his hard work."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

friartuck
2023-02-08 09:47 am UTC (link)

There was so much more Tuck had to say, but Will was right. It could wait until they were alone. He nodded, shoving his feelings down as he look Will's hand. A show of solidarity was probably important here. Tuck was on board, he had just had a moment.

They headed back out into the lounge, and Tuck smiled a little warily. "Sorry about that. We're on the same page now."

Robin, who had been regaling Erato and Asterion with stories of the wood, gave Tuck a supportive grin. "We aint leavin Will there one second longer than he has to be, Friar. Nephew goes down into the ring, lets Michael or Francis know the details, and we respond accordingly." Then he added, "and Asterion, you're welcome to be as involved or not involved as you like."

"I can help plan," Asterion said, even though planning was not his forte. "Or. Anything not actually going in."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

rouge_rogue
2023-02-08 10:23 am UTC (link)

"You got it, big guy," Will said. He was turning the plan over in his head more now it was finally on the table, internally debating over the best coping strategies and what he should do to prepare. He'd have to up his workouts anyway. Use that as a way of centering himself. "Just gotta get myself recruited. Any tips?"

Erato looked at Asterion then, since he hadn't told her exactly how he'd ended up in there in the first place.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

asterius
2023-02-08 10:30 am UTC (link)

Oh, they were all looking at him. Great. He had to do the talking thing, and it had never been his strong suit.

"I- They came after me," Asterion said, with a groan. "Drugged me," he explained, and Tuck's hand tightened in Will's grip. That was how the Sheriff had gotten both of them too. "Think they take people who work security at seedy bars. Must have known I didn't have anyone to come looking." None of that was going to help Will though.

"Some volunteer. There are recruiters. If you survive the money they give you will set you up. Desperate people will take it. I will text my contact to see where they recruit these days."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

rouge_rogue
2023-02-08 11:00 am UTC (link)

Will scrubbed his hand across his chin. It'd take a bit of effort, making him look desperate, because he was pretty well-fed these days. He'd have to stop shaving, and maybe... ugh, get a haircut. He pulled a face at the thought. "My backstory is gonna have to be pretty watertight. How'm I gonna come across as needy like this? Can't just show up and start picking fights." This, after all, was the heavy-fisted noble's son who showed up in Sherwood Forest looking for his uncle, dressed very well in bright red.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

asterius
2023-02-08 11:04 am UTC (link)

"Don't they all talk about the-" Asterion waved his hands around a bit, trying to remember the word. He heard them discussing it at Diogenes. What was it again? "Infection? Money?"

"Inflation?" Tuck supplied, and Asterion nodded.

"Yes. Inflation. Don't think it takes much to be desperate these days. You look like a fighter. Strong. They'll take you. They'll take anyone."

"He's got a point," Robin said, nodding.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

rouge_rogue
2023-02-08 11:33 am UTC (link)

"Just gotta get noticed." Will looked at Tuck. "Don't worry. I'm not gonna be canon fodder. Gonna have to get the leave from work though. I'm sure Patrick will understand." He retrieved his beer and took a swig, ruminating on a backstory. Wall Street dickhead gone bust? Someone coming to the city and spending the last of his money on the bus fare? Just how much of his background would be tested?

"Think I can blend in to the crowd at the soup kitchen or am I gonna stick out like a sore thumb?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

friartuck
2023-02-08 11:37 am UTC (link)

"Well," Tuck looked thoughtful for a moment, "you could wear my clothes." Tuck's wardrobe mostly consisted of well-loved pieces and a lot of it was falling apart. It was comfy and stretched out and a lot of it was shapeless. It would definitely work. Will probably couldn't wear his trousers, considering how scrawny Tuck was, but the shirts would work. "We'd fit you in."

"Wall Street dickheads go bust all the time," Robin shrugged. "Could get you a backstory from Ben if you think they'd look into it."

"Probably won't," Asterion shook his head. "They make so much money off the fights. Don't think they care."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

rouge_rogue
2023-02-08 12:04 pm UTC (link)

"They're confident, then. Too confident." Will narrowed his eyes dramatically. "But I dunno about wearing your clothes, Tuck. I might just flex right out of them." He was trying to cheer Tuck up a little bit with the mental image, and Erato covered her mouth with her hand so they wouldn't see her amused smile. She did like to see loving concern between couples. It brought more of the old her out, the gushy and romantic creature who wore more chiffon and less cotton.

She leaned in to Asterion, and spoke quietly for his ears only. "You're doing so well, honey."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

friartuck, 2023-02-08 12:08 pm UTC

rouge_rogue, 2023-02-09 10:08 am UTC

friartuck, 2023-02-09 10:15 am UTC

rouge_rogue, 2023-02-09 10:34 am UTC

asterius, 2023-02-09 10:41 am UTC

rouge_rogue, 2023-02-09 10:55 am UTC

friartuck, 2023-02-09 11:00 am UTC

rouge_rogue, 2023-02-09 11:11 am UTC

friartuck, 2023-02-09 11:16 am UTC

rouge_rogue, 2023-02-09 11:35 am UTC

friartuck, 2023-02-09 11:38 am UTC

rouge_rogue, 2023-02-09 12:09 pm UTC

asterius, 2023-02-10 11:26 am UTC

rouge_rogue, 2023-02-11 10:39 am UTC

friartuck, 2023-02-11 12:17 pm UTC

rouge_rogue, 2023-02-12 10:06 am UTC

friartuck, 2023-02-12 10:13 am UTC

rouge_rogue, 2023-02-12 10:36 am UTC

friartuck, 2023-02-12 10:46 am UTC

(Read comments) -