[The following note, written in a fine if somewhat cramped calligraphy, is delivered to Annabel Lee's home by post --]
Miss Annabel Lee,
By your leave I would request the opportunity to call upon you, at a time and place of your choosing. There are matters of a personal nature relevant to us both, concerning our mutual acquaintance River la Croix, which I would fain discuss with you as quickly as convenience allows. If this is agreeable to you, please respond to this note in kind.
What the fuck kind of name is Tarantulas? It makes for some awkwardness in her reply.
Friend Tarantulas,
Is it to be my understanding that multiple spiders desire to make my acquaintance and speak about relationship matters? If so, visit my shop during working hours. I promise not to chase you all out with a broom.
Every bloodbag in this town thinks they're a goddamned comedian, he swears to fuck. Tarantulas does not dignify her idle speculations with a reply, choosing instead to simply show up at Annabel Lee's shop at the designated time.
In his furry winter coat with its high collar, the only signs that he is something other than human is the thin layer of purple fur covering his face, and the six gem-like orbs set into his forehead above his two yellow eyes.
"Miss Annabel Lee?" he inquiries, in a low, hoarse voice. "Or would you prefer I addressed you as Miss Whitlock? I'm afraid I was operating under some confusion as to your family name, when I sent my note -- my name, for the record, is Tarantulas." There is a small but particular emphasis on the final syllable, which is not the plural form of 'tarantula.'
"I would, thank you." Tarantulas neatly hangs up his coat and checks his boots for any lingering snow before stepping off the mat -- he knocked the snow off before he came inside, but one can't be too careful when one is trying to impress one's...lover's lover? Ex-wife's lover? The ambiguity of his status in River's eyes sets his teeth on edge, but he's taking pains not to show it.
"I don't suppose River has already mentioned me to you?" It would make this significantly easier if he had, at least in the sense of providing him a cue to act upon.
“Not directly. Not by name. But I think I have sufficient context to be aware of who you are.” Annabel is holding herself so very straight and tight, her expression controlled. She puts the kettle on, and then turns the full force of her attention back onto Tarantulas. “Within a dream, you were the father of her child, were you not?”
Is that supposed to intimidate him, child? He has stared down far more fearsome faces than you.
"Among other things, yes." He smiles bitterly. "It's a very strange thing, is it not? To live an entire second life in the span of a single night?"
With his coat off, Annabel Lee can now see the eight spider legs that protrude, like extra arms, from his back. Two slits cut into the back of his shirt give them freedom of movement, but for now they stay curled close over his shoulder and around his mid-section -- a sign, perhaps, that he is not as composed as he tries to seem.
"Yes...I think I might actually remember you, Miss Annabel Lee. You were Mrs. Sims at the time, weren't you?" He cocks his head slightly. "An interesting choice in mates, to be sure." But that's pushing the tone of the conversation a little too far into the defensive, isn't it? He adds, more softly, "Were you happy with him?"
“I don’t know why that would be a question I owe you an answer to.”
Her defensiveness is strange; she finds herself wanting to keep Jon entirely out of this conversation. The talk she needs to have with him is off the table while she’s having this one with Tarantulas.
"Isn't it? Then please accept my apologies." She's annoying him; this entire conversation is annoying him. But he needs it to go well, so he sighs. And shows her a hint of his soft underbelly.
"This is...difficult for me. My first life lasted...a very long time. Much longer than whatever number you're thinking of, I guarantee you." He smirks briefly before continuing, "In all that time I only ever loved two people. Three if you count my child, but that is different." In ways that he trusts need no explanation. "My two lovers, different though they were in many ways, were alike in this: they only ever wished to use me and then cast me aside. The second was also the one who killed me."
"Until Amy," he says quietly, "I had no idea how it felt to have love returned in kind."
"I was also killed by someone who I loved." It's complicated. She doesn't remember everything. But it did happen. "I don't understand why you're telling me this, though."
"Because Amy loved me," he says tightly (it takes considerable effort not to snap at her). "And River is Amy. The details were changed, but the person remains the same. Otherwise why would she mourn our daughter so? But," he continues painfully, folding his arms so Annabel Lee won't see him clench his fists, "She also loves you, and Erik. She asked me to speak with you and ask your permission to court her." He forces himself to stop and take a death breath, although his throat and chest feel as though they are being squeezed in a vise. "This is not easy for me, as I said. Yet it is a simple enough request, for the chance to be close to her."
"Oh yes," Tarantulas confirms, his lips tightly pursed. "She was very clear and insistent on this point. If there is to be any relationship between us, it will not proceed without your and Erik's approval."
Her distress brings him no pleasure; just the opposite, honestly. He finds it very counterproductive to his goals. So he adds, "For whatever it might be worth...in the dream, Amy and I had just recently added another woman to our marriage. Someone she had known since childhood and loved dearly. But we still discussed the matter for several months before finally agreeing that wedding her would do our own relationship would no harm. Perhaps River learned something from the experience?"
“It’s part of who River is. If I reject her need to love multiple people, I would be rejecting her. That was made clear to me from the start, and I’ve accepted it. There is no world where I can keep her to myself and I’ve known that for a while now.”
None of which is a direct answer to the question asked.
“I’m sorry. If you feel you need my permission, you have it. Or at least, I’m not withholding it. I just…don’t see that I have a role in the decisions you and River make regarding one another.”
It's the answer he wanted, but Tarantulas wonders if River would be half so pleased. Still, he can be gracious in his victory. "Then you have my thanks," he says, and formally bows (my, he's dredging up a lot of ancient manners today) "If ever there is some way I can repay your generosity, I hope you will not hesitate to ask."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
Second week of February -- Weep at the thought of sunshine
Date: 2024-02-07 04:58 am (UTC)Miss Annabel Lee,
By your leave I would request the opportunity to call upon you, at a time and place of your choosing. There are matters of a personal nature relevant to us both, concerning our mutual acquaintance River la Croix, which I would fain discuss with you as quickly as convenience allows. If this is agreeable to you, please respond to this note in kind.
In sincerity and hope,
Tarantulas
The Silk Road
no subject
Date: 2024-02-07 05:03 am (UTC)Friend Tarantulas,
Is it to be my understanding that multiple spiders desire to make my acquaintance and speak about relationship matters? If so, visit my shop during working hours. I promise not to chase you all out with a broom.
Annabel Lee Whitlock
Whitlock Needleworks
no subject
Date: 2024-02-07 05:27 am (UTC)In his furry winter coat with its high collar, the only signs that he is something other than human is the thin layer of purple fur covering his face, and the six gem-like orbs set into his forehead above his two yellow eyes.
"Miss Annabel Lee?" he inquiries, in a low, hoarse voice. "Or would you prefer I addressed you as Miss Whitlock? I'm afraid I was operating under some confusion as to your family name, when I sent my note -- my name, for the record, is Tarantulas." There is a small but particular emphasis on the final syllable, which is not the plural form of 'tarantula.'
no subject
Date: 2024-02-07 05:32 am (UTC)Even in the state of famine they’re in, she can furnish a decent pot of tea for a guest.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-07 05:50 am (UTC)"I don't suppose River has already mentioned me to you?" It would make this significantly easier if he had, at least in the sense of providing him a cue to act upon.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-07 05:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-02-07 06:10 am (UTC)"Among other things, yes." He smiles bitterly. "It's a very strange thing, is it not? To live an entire second life in the span of a single night?"
With his coat off, Annabel Lee can now see the eight spider legs that protrude, like extra arms, from his back. Two slits cut into the back of his shirt give them freedom of movement, but for now they stay curled close over his shoulder and around his mid-section -- a sign, perhaps, that he is not as composed as he tries to seem.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-07 06:14 am (UTC)More than talked…
no subject
Date: 2024-02-07 06:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-02-07 06:40 am (UTC)Her defensiveness is strange; she finds herself wanting to keep Jon entirely out of this conversation. The talk she needs to have with him is off the table while she’s having this one with Tarantulas.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-08 02:24 am (UTC)"This is...difficult for me. My first life lasted...a very long time. Much longer than whatever number you're thinking of, I guarantee you." He smirks briefly before continuing, "In all that time I only ever loved two people. Three if you count my child, but that is different." In ways that he trusts need no explanation. "My two lovers, different though they were in many ways, were alike in this: they only ever wished to use me and then cast me aside. The second was also the one who killed me."
"Until Amy," he says quietly, "I had no idea how it felt to have love returned in kind."
no subject
Date: 2024-02-08 03:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-02-08 06:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-02-08 06:38 am (UTC)“She wanted you to ask me? Usually, she just tells me she’s fallen for another. It’s not really something I have a say in. I didn’t with Erik.”
This is the most awkward situation she has ever been in, perhaps.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-08 07:13 am (UTC)Her distress brings him no pleasure; just the opposite, honestly. He finds it very counterproductive to his goals. So he adds, "For whatever it might be worth...in the dream, Amy and I had just recently added another woman to our marriage. Someone she had known since childhood and loved dearly. But we still discussed the matter for several months before finally agreeing that wedding her would do our own relationship would no harm. Perhaps River learned something from the experience?"
no subject
Date: 2024-02-08 07:19 am (UTC)And she feels like an obstacle, right now, and that’s uncomfortable as fuck.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-08 07:37 am (UTC)He watches her carefully. "Do you not wish to share River with anyone else?"
no subject
Date: 2024-02-08 07:44 am (UTC)None of which is a direct answer to the question asked.
“I’m sorry. If you feel you need my permission, you have it. Or at least, I’m not withholding it. I just…don’t see that I have a role in the decisions you and River make regarding one another.”
no subject
Date: 2024-02-08 06:51 pm (UTC)