John will be serving up an omelette, some lightly buttered toast, and a cup of black coffee as Arthur walks through the door. He'll start in on his own omelette as Arthur sits down.

"Do you want the 'you' news or the 'Astarion' news first?"

He nods, firm.

"We had a very good talk and I realized a few very important things. I'm sure he's going to bitch about it, but I finally know how to get working."

The love he has for this man has no bounds. You can tell by how he doesn't make a face at Arthur for talking with his mouth full.

"Part of it was finding out his privacy requirements, which are... higher. Much higher than Natalie's."

He glances over at Arthur, glad to see him eating. Regardless.

"He doesn't want me discussing anything, other than... well, he said I was welcome to comment on what a fucking asshole he's being. So. That."

He nods and gets to working on his own food. Nudge nudge nudge that omelette, don't let any of it brown, gentle working gentle working; it's like a game with a delicious prize for the high score.

"He's not ready for... working yet, but at least we're on the way."

He glances at Arthur with a huff.

"This is obviously a completely unrelated question but why do people not know how to use their own fucking language? 'I would not like to do... this thing. I am fine with this thing'. Words mean things!"

"Yeah, don't think it's that one since h-- they're just fine telling me how they feel about me and when they're pissed off about it." Beat. "Some of the people I talk to. Sometimes. I thought of that."

He can see that smile, Arthur. You're getting a grumpy look before he turns to finish up his own breakfast.

"Anyway," he says, "I think I need to keep an eye on him. For Reasons, at least for the next few weeks."

Vaaaaaague. Keeping it vague. He definitely doesn't think Astarion's going to act out because he feels more about the guy who left than he would ever tell to John.

He'll take the time to cook his breakfast and let Arthur eat some more before he breathes out to address the other topic.

...also question himself as to why he brings these things up over food when 90% of the time, Arthur loses his appetite the second he gets to it? The problems with living in hope.

All the same-

"The 'you' news is... I went to talk to Lark." A glance over at Arthur but not too direct. He's giving him space. "He wants to apologize. And tell you he was wrong about you 'deserving' that kind of treatment."

And it is very clear from John's face and the general tension in him that 1. he is well aware of how skeptical Arthur is going to be about both of those facts and 2. there was Work Done to get there, but he did it.

Every once in a while, late at night, when he's alone and nothing seems to be scratching the itch of something to do, John considers what it might be like to not have every attempt he makes to help someone a war on two fronts. Then he acknowledges it for the fiction it is and moves on.

It's a good thing this isn't ruining his appetite.

"I told him you'd tell him to shove it up his ass. And that you'd probably do it with a lot more words and much more viciously." He looks back at Arthur. "But if he's going to be a fucking warden here, short of going back in time and not doing it, he should. Even if you do do that."

He's so surprised. Look. This is his surprised face.

"This isn't his chance to be a responsible warden, Arthur. This is his chance to do the only decent thing he could do for you when he was supposed to help you. He owes you this." He sets his expression. "And like fuck was I letting him walk away after what he did without owning up to it to your face."

John doesn't look away. He meets Arthur's eyes, which always makes him just a little bit happy all by itself.

"I reminded him that he's a fucking warden. And that his job is to help inmates. All inmates." He sips on his juice. "That he doesn't get to decide who's worthy of help here."

He's going to be putting them into a room together. He wants to give Arthur a fair shot to say what he needs to say and hear what he needs to hear, but he's not putting blood in the air. Lark had agreed to talk to him. That earns him that much.

"It doesn't." He doesn't think his talk with Lark meant that much to him, or he won't assume so. "But he agreed to pull his head far enough out of his ass to do this. So maybe he can learn to be better too."

"And I'll cover your exit," he says firmly, because like hell is he going to let anyone hurt Arthur when he's around to do something about it.

"This is for you."

The last words are soft, and his expression says that even he's surprised by how soft they are.

That idea gets a very firm head shake. No. Absolutely not.

"I made it very clear to him that this is him doing what he should for you. You're under no obligation." He shakes his head again. "You're not even under an obligation to agree. If all you want is to know that he told me that, it's done."

He takes a bite of his omelette.

"But I thought you might like a chance to say your piece too. With backup."

He shakes his head.

"I was planning on using one of the empty cabins," he admits, "but I wasn't making arrangements until I talked to you. No one's space: everyone can get to the door."