IC INBOX for The Last Voyages

[magician_king]

You know what to do.

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[magician_king]

"What's going on?"

He has- a fair bit of an idea of what's going on.

[biocomposer]

"Strictly between ourselves?"

A faint grimace.

"I agreed to an open relationship without being fully cognisant of whom I might be opening it to."

[magician_king]

"Oh no. BJ is really very sweet. Exuberant- not your type, I totally get, but Rhys's heart is probably safe with him? If that's any consolation."

[biocomposer]

Oh, look, an authentic grimace.

"I wasn't aware this was quite such common knowledge."

[magician_king]

"I was his first temp after demotion. We got into some of the details."

He says, placatingly.

"It was important I work out if he was going to go on a vengeance kick."

[biocomposer]

"...I see."

He exhales slowly.

"It's fine. I'm just trying to...get over myself, I suppose."

[magician_king]

"Are you happy being non-monogamous?"

Wonders Quentin, because that part of the story sounds very different to how Rhys tells it.

[biocomposer]

"I'm content to give Rhys what he needs," Elijah says, conscious that it's not exactly an answer, but still doing the mental arithmetic to come up with something better.

[magician_king]

"Have you explicitly discussed what those needs are, or are you intuiting what you perceive them to be?"

Hitching his knees to his chest, folding his arms around them.

[biocomposer]

"How explicit does it need to be? We discussed the possibility of sleeping with other people, and now that's happening."

Shift ladder. More lightbulbs.

[magician_king]

"Much more explicit than that. Does he need attention? Affirmation? Specifically other people or just more time with people than you have to offer?"

For one thing.

[biocomposer]

"We aren't serious enough for this to merit that level of specificity," Elijah says. "We'd never formally agreed we'd be exclusive."

[magician_king]

"Normally, I would interpret the kinds of pangs you're describing as the belated realization that you are beginning to feel more seriously about him and are regretting not taking the step of asking for exclusivity."

Says Quentin, aware that Elijah is never led anywhere he isn't already going, and would protest if this were not the case.

"But of course in exchange for doing so you would probably need to make a personal commitment to listen to those needs first and be working to fulfill them. Rhys- likes to be liked, and needs to be needed. Non-monogamy is a good way for him to get access to that effusiveness from other people."

[biocomposer]

"I agree. So this is an arrangement which works and that I have no reason to disrupt."

The first remark is simply discounted. His feelings are immaterial since his needs are less...

Just less. Than Rhys'.

[magician_king]

"Except that it's making you unhappy."

He says, and plucks at the knee of his pants.

"Is it just BJ? Or would it be anyone he engaged with? I consider myself in a wardening role with him first and foremost, but he and I have kissed and gotten carried away under the mistletoe over the years."

[biocomposer]

"That's the Barge," he says dismissively. "It's not making me unhappy. Any adjustment period is a little uncomfortable."

It's at least sixty per cent BJ.

[magician_king]

"Then what I would recommend is to find a way to insulate yourself from the parts that bother you, and reaffirm the things that feel threatened by the new dynamic."

Thinking this over.

"Insulating yourself from Beetlejuice shouldn't be hard. He just wants reactions and you never have any."

[biocomposer]

"I don't feel threatened," Elijah says flatly. "Even if Rhys feels that monogamy is his preference and his usual partner is the problem, I'll adjust."

Lightbulbs shouldn't be consuming this much of his attention. When has talking about himself ever been a good idea, honestly.

[magician_king]

"That would be hard to hear, and to live with."

He agrees, thinking it over;

"On the other hand, I think it says a lot that Rhys trusts you enough to explain his needs, and to find a creative solution- rather than losing you over one minor concern of compatibility or burying his own needs?"

[biocomposer]

"Where does trust come into it? Expressing one's needs is simply self-interest."

Please help this idiot.

[magician_king]

"No it isn't. It's an expression of vulnerability. If you articulate a need the other person has the chance to tell you it's inappropriate, or refuse to meet it."

This, he's learned over the years.

"They'll see into you, and that gives them power over you. It can be very humiliating."

[biocomposer]

"Rhys knows I wouldn't..."

Ah. That's trust.

"Hm. Regardless, I have no complaints about the arrangement as it stands. It's simply the transition period that's...slightly uncomfortable."

Eventually this will feel fine. Right?

[magician_king]

"Then maybe you can practice returning the favour by expressing that discomfort?"

He urges, watching him work.

"He'd want to know."

[biocomposer]

"No, he wouldn't. He'd overreact and feel embarrassed that he asked for this in the first place."

This is stated more as fact than conjecture.

[magician_king]

"Okay. What about expressing it positively, then- finding the thing you like, and you feel is being threatened, and want more of- and going to him and asking for it. A lot of non-monogamous couples make agreements about a space that's just for them- or agree on a portion of their weekly calendar reserved for one another. Asked for, explicitly because 'you're important to me, I like that you're seeing other people, but I don't want to lose track of one another first and foremost.'"