Jonathan Sims (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
epistemological) wrote2019-01-10 08:24 pm
epistemological) wrote2019-01-10 08:24 pm
TLV Inbox
"Of course it's bloody recording..."
[text | audio | video | action | prose | etc.]
"Of course it's bloody recording..."
[text | audio | video | action | prose | etc.]
[ he knows jon isn't a huge fan of texting, but - well, he feels a little awkward approaching him otherwise. ]
Hi, Jon. This is Martin. I tried to bring you lunch, but you were napping and someone already beat me to it.
Sorry I went quiet for a bit.
Hi, Jon. This is Martin. I tried to bring you lunch, but you were napping and someone already beat me to it.
Sorry I went quiet for a bit.
Yes, it seems you've got others helping you these days.
And I can't say I'm surprised. It's...
A lot.
[ He considers what he wants to say before pushing on.]
I wouldn't have loaded it all onto you except I've been trying to
I've been trying to be more open about things.
And I didn't
You shouldn't have heard about Sasha from someone offhand.
Or Elias.
That was the thinking, anyway.
And I can't say I'm surprised. It's...
A lot.
[ He considers what he wants to say before pushing on.]
I wouldn't have loaded it all onto you except I've been trying to
I've been trying to be more open about things.
And I didn't
You shouldn't have heard about Sasha from someone offhand.
Or Elias.
That was the thinking, anyway.
[Rhys's voice is like, clearly ascending towards a yell when he begins this message:]
You followed my inmate around the library, graphically describing shit that he did while he was under the control of--
[Fortunately he's cut off half way through by his inmate's voice, a little further off:]
Rhys! What do you think you're doing?
[And then Rhys again, closer and now obviously angry, before the message cuts off:]
No, dude, not okay. I'm not playing vague run--
[And the message cuts off.]
You followed my inmate around the library, graphically describing shit that he did while he was under the control of--
[Fortunately he's cut off half way through by his inmate's voice, a little further off:]
Rhys! What do you think you're doing?
[And then Rhys again, closer and now obviously angry, before the message cuts off:]
No, dude, not okay. I'm not playing vague run--
[And the message cuts off.]
[ Jon's just going to scrub at his face for a moment before breathing in deeply and breathing out.]
I'll wait till you're done.
I'll wait till you're done.
The bus jerks to an uncomfortable stop, as though someone's driving erratically, although it's simply materialised as usual. Iris flies out of its door borne on a cloud of hurt and outrage so concentrated that bits of it coalesce into a virulent green liquid that dissolves holes in the floor where it lands.
She stands in the middle of it, tears on her cheeks and teeth bared in useless anger, but her voice comes out shaky and small.
"Jon..?"
She stands in the middle of it, tears on her cheeks and teeth bared in useless anger, but her voice comes out shaky and small.
"Jon..?"
Jon's never been one to- well, one of the few adaptive skills he's always has is the ability to accept and digest the truth, regardless of how ugly or painful it might be.
His grandmother didn't like him.
He and Georgie weren't meant to be like that.
The villain he'd built up for most of his life was just a foolish old man.
Tim would never forgive him.
And now, that Ford was- that Ford was so far in he couldn't even begin to see the light of truth or sense or any of it. So when he sees Iris's face, when he sees the tear tracks and the acid and the rest of it, he knows why. And he hurts for her.
But they have work to do.
"We need to get into Bill's room. And Ford's. As soon as possible."
His grandmother didn't like him.
He and Georgie weren't meant to be like that.
The villain he'd built up for most of his life was just a foolish old man.
Tim would never forgive him.
And now, that Ford was- that Ford was so far in he couldn't even begin to see the light of truth or sense or any of it. So when he sees Iris's face, when he sees the tear tracks and the acid and the rest of it, he knows why. And he hurts for her.
But they have work to do.
"We need to get into Bill's room. And Ford's. As soon as possible."
Jon?
[ martin's tone is strangly cautious, at least compared to how he usually is, here. ]
Could you let me know when you have a minute? Um. We need to talk.
[ martin's tone is strangly cautious, at least compared to how he usually is, here. ]
Could you let me know when you have a minute? Um. We need to talk.
[ ...given how things are going went with Rhys, Jon's more than a little cautious of that kind of ominous pronouncement. ]
I'm at my flat. Shift doesn't start till a little later. Is there- [ there's a deep breath in] Should I be concerned?
I'm at my flat. Shift doesn't start till a little later. Is there- [ there's a deep breath in] Should I be concerned?
Martin is half asleep as they watch this movie, the top of his head just barely grazing the side of Jon's leg. He's hitched up in that same weird, lying-down-legs-over-the-arms-of-the-couch posture.
Abruptly, he looks up at him and asks: "What'd you wish for, anyway? To quit the Institute?"
Abruptly, he looks up at him and asks: "What'd you wish for, anyway? To quit the Institute?"
Jon had been utterly relaxed, melted a little into the couch by a warmth that started in his chest and had slowly dripped down into the rest of him, from the bones on out to his muscles and out. He'd been considering how or if he could brush his hand lightly through Martin's hair, if he'd like that, if it was too soon, before the abrupt movement shakes him out of it and he's working to process around the question he's been asked, seemingly out of nowhere.
He can't help looking a little put out, mostly because he is. Of all the things-
"For the freedom and restoration of the Archival staff. All of the assistants, including some who were... who had passed before I was there."
He can't help looking a little put out, mostly because he is. Of all the things-
"For the freedom and restoration of the Archival staff. All of the assistants, including some who were... who had passed before I was there."
...is that strictly safe?
The hallways don't seem wide enough by half.
The hallways don't seem wide enough by half.
You think it's safe to take Winnie out?
As long as you avoid the SEWERS, yes.
Also I could use her out of the flat; I need to do some cleaning and restocking there as well and I'd rather not drop anything on her.
[ Someone may like getting between his feet.]
Also I could use her out of the flat; I need to do some cleaning and restocking there as well and I'd rather not drop anything on her.
[ Someone may like getting between his feet.]
Litter is cleaned and I've done the dishes and scrubbed the bathroom. Going to take Winnie for a walk, do you need me to pick anything up for you while I'm out?
[ THERE HAS BEEN NONSTOP HELICOPTER PARENTING ]
[ THERE HAS BEEN NONSTOP HELICOPTER PARENTING ]
[ He'd cleaned the litter and done the dishes and scrubbed the bathroom after Jon had tried to do all of those things, which is why he's just a little frustrated as he answers.]
I promise I will be fine for the next 20 minutes.
I promise I will be fine for the next 20 minutes.
Yes. Are you intending to pick up where Lark leaves off?
Jon, love?
It's all over now.
Thank you for your help, I know it can't be easy to think straight when...you know.
[When the crisis under discussion involves your least favourite kind of book on your least favourite topic.]
It's all over now.
Thank you for your help, I know it can't be easy to think straight when...you know.
[When the crisis under discussion involves your least favourite kind of book on your least favourite topic.]
I didn't do anything. It was-
I'm... just glad everything came out all right.
Did- did anyone get hurt?
I'm... just glad everything came out all right.
Did- did anyone get hurt?
It'll be what serves as one early, early morning on the Barge when Martin, who has been asleep now for a few weeks, will roll over and sleepily snake his arms around Jon, snuffling his face fondly in his hair. He grunts quietly, only partially awake, and unhappy about the stiffness in his own joints.
Must've been a good sleep.
Must've been a good sleep.
Edited 2019-06-18 02:02 (UTC)
Jon is awake almost instantly; he doesn't sleep well enough to sleep deeply, which was a problem until the kitten and the puppy started to settle down. He assumes it's them at first, shifting around. But no, no, it's- those are Martin's arms, Martin's arms, curling around him and his heart feels like it's going to thump straight through his chest.
"M-martin?"
"M-martin?"
As far as inmates go, so far Elizabeth has been easy to deal with. One tough conversation after the breach, and that's been that, more or less. She works her shifts in the kitchen at dinnertime, enjoying Credence's company and tolerating everyone else's. She works out, and she talks to people, and she reads.
She reads. Which is-- a problem. Because, even though they aren't Leitners, there is a whole series of books that talk about the Soviet Union. About the things that happen, in only a few years, in a universe that otherwise sounds remarkably like hers. Things that she has fought for, killed for, died for.
Clear as anything, the pages spell it out for her: perestroika, glasnost, words that had meaning before but were changed into something ugly. And they all say the same thing: you're fighting for a lost cause. Everything you believe in will disappear. And it upsets her, but more than that it makes her angry.
Jedao finds her at her worst, and the firing range helps. But the thoughts don't just leave her mind after getting out the worst. She remembers being that girl, during the breach, focused on one cause and one cause only. She remembers Gregory, and the way she'd met him. And she thinks of Philip, fighting with her; she thinks of Paige, and her own efforts to recruit her daughter for the cause. She needs to talk. She needs to tell someone at least something, something to give her her cause back. Her purpose. Her will. She needs to reaffirm herself, even if she can't bring herself to want to tell him everything.
She knocks on Jon's office door, right before he usually leaves for the night. At least this time she isn't sick with paranoia or anger, which is already a step up from the other times.
She reads. Which is-- a problem. Because, even though they aren't Leitners, there is a whole series of books that talk about the Soviet Union. About the things that happen, in only a few years, in a universe that otherwise sounds remarkably like hers. Things that she has fought for, killed for, died for.
Clear as anything, the pages spell it out for her: perestroika, glasnost, words that had meaning before but were changed into something ugly. And they all say the same thing: you're fighting for a lost cause. Everything you believe in will disappear. And it upsets her, but more than that it makes her angry.
Jedao finds her at her worst, and the firing range helps. But the thoughts don't just leave her mind after getting out the worst. She remembers being that girl, during the breach, focused on one cause and one cause only. She remembers Gregory, and the way she'd met him. And she thinks of Philip, fighting with her; she thinks of Paige, and her own efforts to recruit her daughter for the cause. She needs to talk. She needs to tell someone at least something, something to give her her cause back. Her purpose. Her will. She needs to reaffirm herself, even if she can't bring herself to want to tell him everything.
She knocks on Jon's office door, right before he usually leaves for the night. At least this time she isn't sick with paranoia or anger, which is already a step up from the other times.
Jon looks... better than he had. When they'd first talked, he'd only just arrived back. He'd been dealing with his time back at home, and he hadn't adjusted back to the barge. There were other adjustments that he'd had to make, and it's been... difficult, to say the least. But having Martin there, having Winifred and Sasha, having Lark and Iris and Hilda and Rhys and even Hux, all the rest.
Having Elizabeth, and his responsibility to her.
It's helped. As has the fact that he doesn't dream on the Barge, not since the break out attempt. The systems here keep his subconscious mind from reaching out to the people back in his world, his victims by any other name.
He won't pretend they're anything else, whether he knew what he was doing or not at the time.
So when she gets to the door and he opens it, he looks better than he had, even if he's at his office instead of back in his rooms. It's the end of his shift, thankfully, so if they need to go somewhere, it won't be much of a concern.
"Elizabeth."
He isn't looking, or he's not trying to. But he is what he is, and he's always been observant when he knows what he's looking for.
"...tea?"
Having Elizabeth, and his responsibility to her.
It's helped. As has the fact that he doesn't dream on the Barge, not since the break out attempt. The systems here keep his subconscious mind from reaching out to the people back in his world, his victims by any other name.
He won't pretend they're anything else, whether he knew what he was doing or not at the time.
So when she gets to the door and he opens it, he looks better than he had, even if he's at his office instead of back in his rooms. It's the end of his shift, thankfully, so if they need to go somewhere, it won't be much of a concern.
"Elizabeth."
He isn't looking, or he's not trying to. But he is what he is, and he's always been observant when he knows what he's looking for.
"...tea?"
Jon? It's Ford.
...
What the heck did you say to him, you knucklehead?!
...
What the heck did you say to him, you knucklehead?!
[ Bloody hell.
He's had eight months between then and now and he still has a damn good idea of what this is about.]
I can assume what you're talking about, Ford, but I'll have a better idea of what you're asking about if you explain a little more.
[ It is still BILL, after all.]
He's had eight months between then and now and he still has a damn good idea of what this is about.]
I can assume what you're talking about, Ford, but I'll have a better idea of what you're asking about if you explain a little more.
[ It is still BILL, after all.]
How long have you had it? Has it caused you or anyone else any harm?
Once we've headed out on 'vacation' or now?
I'm not that desperate to make friends, you know.
[ and that's it! ]
[ and that's it! ]
[ Jon will get this about half an hour after it was left, since he'd been working on something in his office. His response will be a text.]
???
???
Martin is nowhere to be seen one moment and then hunched over the table the very next, standing right by where Jon is sitting. Very slowly and deliberately he tips over his mug of tea, before letting out a whoop of victory.
"Ha," he says, very much to himself, "take that. Bet my tea tastes better anyway."
"Ha," he says, very much to himself, "take that. Bet my tea tastes better anyway."
Edited 2019-10-17 23:32 (UTC)
Jon, who has had quite enough of this ghost-and-spider nonsense for the last day or so, is more than a little relieved to see Martin reappear. When he watches Martin, looking for all the world like the effort was Herculean, tip over his mug of tea and spill it all over the kitchen table-
"...I suppose it is made with 'love'," comes the response, only a little sarcastic as the liquid starts inching towards the edge of the table. Goddammit.
"...I suppose it is made with 'love'," comes the response, only a little sarcastic as the liquid starts inching towards the edge of the table. Goddammit.
Don't freak out, because I'm like, 65% sure he was joking, but I might have just accidentally sent that Beetlejuice guy to murder you.
I was trying to explain something about relationships, and I was just saying-- as an example, sometimes Jane does this, and John does that, and his takeaway was to murder all the Johns on board.
But I think he was joking? I don't know, he stopped replying!
I was trying to explain something about relationships, and I was just saying-- as an example, sometimes Jane does this, and John does that, and his takeaway was to murder all the Johns on board.
But I think he was joking? I don't know, he stopped replying!
...honestly, he might try to kill me regardless. Given his sense of humor... that probably makes it even funnier.
Murder. I mean.
[ Ugggggh. ]
Don't worry about it. It's fine. I'm not really... murder...able. These days.
Murder. I mean.
[ Ugggggh. ]
Don't worry about it. It's fine. I'm not really... murder...able. These days.
[text ; MAGNUS S4 FINALE SPOILERS] - forward dated to 11/30
corkscrewed
2019-11-24 03:12 am (UTC)(link)
Jon?
Find me when you can? I'm home. We've got a lot to talk about.
Find me when you can? I'm home. We've got a lot to talk about.
I’m in my office. What do you mean you’re home?
It's a... colloquialism for books that were believed to be in the library of Jurgen Leitner at one point. They come from my world.
It's a full 24 hours before he actually wakes up, and it's with a jolt and a groan.
"Oh my god," he complains, "my head is killing me."
"Oh my god," he complains, "my head is killing me."
A twenty four hours where Jon has stayed up every minute of it and stared at the first page of a book he's been meaning to read for ages.
A book he puts down on the bed table as Martin wakes up.
"I would imagine so," he says primly, "given you were missing it not a day ago."
A book he puts down on the bed table as Martin wakes up.
"I would imagine so," he says primly, "given you were missing it not a day ago."
I am awake. And somewhat confused.
But...
Are you all right?
But...
Are you all right?
Jon? Beetlejuice didn't - he didn't actually burn down the library, did he? There'd be- I would have heard something, right?
[ Uggggggh. ]
No, no, he didn't so much as char a page.
[ He's rubbing at his temple. ]
Nearly set himself on fire, but nothing in the library, no.
No, no, he didn't so much as char a page.
[ He's rubbing at his temple. ]
Nearly set himself on fire, but nothing in the library, no.
HEY, UHH, ARCHIVIST! PAL. BUDDY.
WHERE DID YOU PUT THOSE BOOKS THAT TRY TO KILL PEOPLE?
[Bill's voice is even higher-pitched than usual. This is a fun stress that he got assigned to handle! Bill doesn't know if he's immune to those books either! Do you know what he didn't want to do today? Dig.]
WHERE DID YOU PUT THOSE BOOKS THAT TRY TO KILL PEOPLE?
[Bill's voice is even higher-pitched than usual. This is a fun stress that he got assigned to handle! Bill doesn't know if he's immune to those books either! Do you know what he didn't want to do today? Dig.]
Edited 2020-05-20 04:15 (UTC)
Most of them are gone. Destroyed. Why do you a-
Oh.
Why are you asking?
Oh.
Why are you asking?
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