for corkscrewed: of all the ridiculous nonsense...

[epistemological]

[ There are many things that Jon has come to expect when he is out and about in the world. One of them, of course, is being kidnapped. He's up to... two, maybe three times at this point? More than once and it's a pattern, as far as he's concerned. Being accosted by supernatural beings, certainly. Nearly killed, of course. Some sort of painful injury or mind-breaking experience, obvious.

The polite tap tap tap on his hotel room door revealing Martin Blackwood of all things?

He... he should not have to deal with this. This was- he-]

Are you insane?

Comments

[corkscrewed]

[ he feels himself smiling slightly as he puts just a little space between them - a few inches, barely - and tries to pretend the feel of jon's fingers in his hair don't give him goosebumps. ]

You okay? [ said in a soft, private voice. ]

[epistemological]

[ There's almost no space between them, and Jon's eyes are open as they look over at Martin's.]

Better than usual.

[ He's never okay. But this is... like he'd said: better than he usually is.]

[corkscrewed]

[ he reaches up to catch the side of jon's face, curling his fingers around his ear, but he doesn't actually move yet. he's savoring this. ]

We should probably get back to work, huh.

[ he'll just- close that distance to kiss him one last time. maybe twice. ]

[epistemological]

[ And maybe the third will be Jon, not hungry but a little desperate for it, drawing it out sweet and slow until pulling away, clearing his throat pointedly and dipping his head towards the other side of the car.]

We've, [ another throat clear, mostly for his own pride] er, we've probably got at least another twenty hours on the train, so I- [ he rubs at his own cheek which is, perhaps, just a little pink] I propose we get to work, keep on till about ten or so, then get to bed. I-I think we should be through most of the tub by then, and we can figure out what's worth keeping and what we can toss for the next leg of the journey.

[corkscrewed]

Sure, um. That sounds pretty good, actually.

[ he isn't so blind as to not notice the slight pink in jon's cheeks, and he ducks his head to mask a little grin at that. he can't help himself, honestly. ]

Don't forget to eat when you get hungry.

[ and he's going to dive back into work, because god he wants it to be finished, honestly. ]

[epistemological]

[ Jon doesn't so much answer as clear his throat again, as if he can also clear the great big lump in it that he has made of feelings and all that nonsense. It only lasts a moment though before he's diving back into his work, taking his notes, worrying at his pen with his teeth every so often in between taking notes.

The one thing he does do is manage to collect a sizeable sheaf of what amounts to Statements which are placed in a binder that he'd brought with him already in a certain spot. Most of the rest gets scanned onto his computer and put aside to be disposed of once they get off the train.

Eventually, he does reach over for one of the bags of crisps around nine o'clock. It's nibbled on, finished, and thrown out as he finishes up the last of the bin on his side and he lets out a long, low yawn before scratching at his hair.]

I believe... I might sleep.

[corkscrewed]

Mmm. Yeah?

[ martin doesn't quite glance up himself; he's very near the end of an enormously long, incredibly boring notebook. his back is stiff, his neck hurts, but he's so close to finishing it off that he can almost taste it - it's enough that he barely even registers what jon says. ]

I'll be done with the light shortly.

[epistemological]

Take your time. It's never much bothered me.

[ And it's only a small bunk they've got, one on either side, tucked up behind where his head had been. He doesn't take off much, not properly; all he takes off his is trousers, his fest, and his button-down, hanging them on a hook next door to the ladder, even leaving on the socks as he climbs up and tucks himself in. There's another bunk on the far side for Martin, but Jon does tuck himself as tight into the little cubby as he can go. It's a veritable invitation. ]

[corkscrewed]

[ he'll shake himself out of it and rub the back of his neck when he finishes, tucking his things away and glancing up at where jon has tucked himself into the bunk. there's a moment of hesitation there as he tugs his shirt off overhead, laying it with his things and then flipping the cabin light off. ]

Jon?

[ whispered. yeah, it seems like an invitation, but there really isn't much room, is there? and then he thinks of jon chastising him for not taking initiative, and instead of waiting for an answer, he just climbs up there. they can get cozy. it's fine. ]

[epistemological]

[ Jon relaxes once Martin makes his way in; of the many fears he has, claustrophobia isn't actually one of them. It's a little disturbing, really, when he has to read through a Statement for someone who does, like wearing shoes that don't quite fit.

So when Martin cozy's up, he lets his head tuck up against his shoulder as his eyes start slipping closed.]

Untrained, not incompetant.

[ ...suffice to say he's gad to see you, Martin?]

[corkscrewed]

[ martin, on the other hand, is quite claustrophobic. always had been, even before spending two weeks locked in his small flat with jane prentiss on the other side of his door. it's very much situational, whoever; this doesn't bother him so much. maybe if it were more than just jon and him here. maybe if it were darker, without light streaking in from the window every so often.

but right here, right now? it feels cozy instead of cramped.


he does snort a little at the remark, though, even as he wraps an arm around jon, shifts to fit against him. ]

You need to work on your compliments.

[epistemological]

[ Thankfully, Martin is on the outside so he can at least flee if necessary. Jon will be a lump in a few minutes.]

That works better when you don't laugh first.

[corkscrewed]

[ martin rolls his eyes, but shifts enough so that he can lazily kiss jon's head, the side of his temple. slow, affectionate, things he's always wanted to do and couldn't. ]

Go to sleep.

[epistemological]

[ He almost says something teasing, like 'you love me' but it seems too intimate a moment, too soft for him to ruin with something like that. Instead, he lets his eyes drift close as Martin kisses his hair, and allows his body to sink against the other man as he begins to fall asleep.

This night isn't as peaceful, the nightmares returning as always. But thankfully, he's never been one to stir even during the worst of them, and Jon's gotten used to them after all this time. Now, it's mostly just sad.

He does tense up from time to time. But that's all. ]

[corkscrewed]

[ martin will awaken several times in the night, just because - well, the bunk is incredibly small, and he's somehow still a little chilly, even with jon tucked against him like that. it's extra early when he decides to get up for good, and he does so with another lingering kiss against the side of jon's head before he clumsily drags himself down.

he's still stiff from the night before, doubly so from trying to not disturb jon where he slept. at the very least, he can have mediocre coffee waiting on the other man when he wakes up. ]

[epistemological]

[ Jon will make his way down from the bunk, not so much drowsy as outright fuzzy, and settle beside Martin. The other man will get a quick kiss to the cheek before he reaches out a hand for the coffee.]

Thank you, Martin.

[ He's going to try and sip at his coffee and settle beside Martin for a bit as he lets his mind clear, considers how he's going to dispose of the items in the tub that are unnecessary, and largely just get about his day.

What comes out of his mouth after a few minutes, however, is-]

You do realize this whole enterprise is one of mutual consideration.

[corkscrewed]

[ martin is absolutely unused to things like good morning kisses on the cheek by jon, and he can't help the pleased little half grin on his face when it's delivered. he's happy to sit there in silence, though, until jon's remark - ]

Huh?

[ he is still a little sleepy himself. ]

How do you mean?

[ as in, he's not sure what enterprise you're talking about, jon. ]

[epistemological]

[ He looks Martin up and down and frowns, just a little.]

You slept awful.

[ There is, much as he's nudged Jon more than a few times, a nudge given to him in return.]

If you were uncomfortable, you could have gone to the other bunk for more room. You are bigger.

[ Jon, for all of his, well, personality was actually a rather compact individual. Decidedly average.]

[corkscrewed]

Is that what mutual consideration means? Kicking me out of the bed?

[ he'll just turn back to his coffee, but he does nudge jon in return- just because jon is close enough to do so. ]

Slept fine.

[epistemological]

Only if you bring the biscuits to bed.

[ The phrase comes out quick, pat, an old joke before he levels a look at Martin. He does have eyes after all, Martin. And the somewhat unfortunate side effect of having Jon actually paying attention to you now is that Jon is paying attention to you now.

For better or worse, you are another set of questions he wants to figure out, to get to know and understand. Thankfully, he also likes you rather a lot so it does come with that as well.]

[corkscrewed]

Really? I always eat biscuits in bed.

[ he grins a little crookedly at him, before he shrugs and looks a little embarrassed. ]

It's not going to impact my work, Jon. I'm awake enough.

[epistemological]

I don’t recall mentioning my concern for your work, Martin.

[ He leans in and presses a soft kiss to Martin’s temple. Then he takes a longer sip of the coffee, some of his disdain for the liquid showing on his face.]

Christ, I hate coffee.

[And another, longer sip. ]

[corkscrewed]

Well - that's sort of what I'm used to. No offense.

[ martin's shoulders shake a little bit with amusement, but he's clearly fond of that little kiss to his temple. ]

I could try to find some tea for you, if you'd like.

[epistemological]

And I'm correcting you.

[ He looks down at his coffee, frowns at it again, and finishes the cup with one last gulp.]

This will serve for the moment. I'll get some tea once we're back home.

[ He takes a moment, sucking in a deep breath before he leans against Martin for a moment, clearly soaking in the touch before drawing away and heading towards his bags.]

Once we're done with matters here, we can head back the day after. The flights directly into London from this city primarily leave in the morning, unfortunately.

[corkscrewed]

[ martin will try to reach over, to wrap his arm around jon just as long as he's leaning against him, and he can't help the little half-sound of disappointment and heading toward his own bag as well. ]

An early flight probably isn't a bad thing. Probably be easier to adjust to jetlag that way. Re-adjust, I guess. God, I barely know what day it is.