laytondressing | (no subject)

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[As the... well. He still doesn't know what he is to Monocle, especially the one here, what with the man being from earlier in the timeline than he is. Well, either way. With him being whatever he is to the potential ruler of this place, he figures that if he has to deal with this, he might has every right to do it in public. Maybe someone will realise the connection between himself and Monocle, and it'll tarnish the reputation he has beyond any tarnishing that so much as meeting him does anyway.

He's freaked himself out, anyway, and since Monocle's not in his room, Clive doesn't really want to sit there on his own until the other gets back. Especially because he'd rather Monocle potentially have an explanation of what happened and a look at his room at separate points, all things considered.

Which is why there's a bloodied Clive curled up on a sofa in the lobby, picking idly at his fingernails. There's an awful lot of blood there, and it's clearly not all his. He does look a little pale and shaky beneath his feigned indifference though, so at least some of it is probably from him. The way he keeps coursing his fingers through his hair and staining it red is probably some indication of the fact that he's not quite so calm as he'd like observers to actually believe, too.]

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[His antics, it would appear, have not gone unnoticed by Monocle. The other man walked down the corridor, seeming only vaguely irritated by the bloody heap that was Clive.

He stopped as he drew level with the boy, looking down.]

Would you care to explain what has happened in my room?

One of the maids... interrupted me. While I wasn't thinking clearly.

We've had talks, Clive. Talks about how your actions, by extension, represent me. You know fine well that this is a very delicate time for me and you running around slaughtering maids does not look good for my cause.

I didn't mean to do it. You can always pull the whole "Clive is a deeply troubled man and I do my best to take care of him" card, like you do normally.

...Did I really say that to you? It does sound very much like something I would say.

[Obliviously from a little further back in the timeline. 8D]

You said it to your cabinet. I was drunk and I got bored.

[He picks absently at the blood beneath his nails again, then glances at it and shudders violently.]

You do come across as the sort of man who would run into a cabinet drunk.

[Watches him.]

...You should be washed.

...I'm fine.

[He's not sure he can get his head around washing himself right now, and it would ruin his... surprise, to let Monocle do it.]

You look disgusting. No one who represents me is allowed to look like that.

I don't represent you.

You live under my roof and are known to associate with me. You represent me whether you want to or not.

I'm a troubled man and you do your best to take care of me. There. The worse I am, the better you look for putting up with me.

That may be, if you run around my office drunk or deface public property, but killing someone is quite a different matter. Because if you kill someone then it implies that I don't have control over you.

You don't.

Which is rather what the problem was today.

Go on.

I needed someone to... keep control of me. And to make sure that nobody could walk in while I was out of it.

I would have done so, if you had clarified your need beforehand.

Didn't realise. You--

God. Normally you're there enough that I wouldn't have the chance without you.

Are you saying that you want me to be around you constantly?

Ugh, no. Just... I don't know, okay?

You're confused and irrational. With that in mind it's a wonder you stood against me as long as you did.

You're the one who did most of this to me.

I'd say that it worked then, seeing as you're no longer in the right frame of mind enough to be a threat to me.

Oh? I killed a maid, what makes you think you'd be safe?

Could you kill me, Clive?