agoodyarn | for corkscrewed: of all the ridiculous nonsense...

for corkscrewed: of all the ridiculous nonsense...

[ 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?

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[ Jon's finishing his cigarette when Martin comes in, stamping it out in the ashtray before looking over with a wry, fragile sort of smile. He lifts his phone.]

You could have texted.

[ His eyes go to the cast, and he checks Martin's eyes to see how foggy they are from the painkillers.]

Should have. You shouldn't be wandering about.

[ He's up and moving to take Martin's good arm almost immediately after.]

The rest can keep till we're back in the room.

Didn't want to text. I wanted to see you.

[ his eyes are definitely a little glassy, and it's apparently he moved down the hall a little too quickly, but he's stable and steady on his feet. ]

We can stay out here. You can have another cigarette. I- I'll have one.

[ lmao. ]

[ Those words are so simple, but... dammit if they don't strike right between his ribs. 'I wanted to see you'. Jon's reasonably certain that Martin will never know that those words, so effective in stripping him down earlier, are just as deadly when aimed in his direction. Jon wasn't exactly used to being the face anyone was happy to see either.
Certainly not in the last year or so.

But the last thing he says is so outrightly preposterous that Jon can't help a snort and it helps move him forward, tugging him back towards the room.]

I don't need another cigarette, you certainly don't, and-

[ Some of the energy slips out of him.]

Thank you. For, er, for listening to it. I couldn't... quite make myself tell it all again.

I could smoke a cigarette. I mean- I don't think I want to, but I could.

[ but martin simply yields when jon starts pulling him away, back toward the room, and when the energy slips he's there to grab softly at the other man's wrist. his fingers press softly into the soft of it, as if he's trying to be encouraging. ]

I'm glad that you shared it with me. I... had no idea, honestly.

[ Jon waits until they're in the room, until the door is closed behind them. Then he lets out a breath he'd been quietly holding as he toes off his shoes. He glances over at Martin once that's done.]

None of us have been particularly forthcoming, it seems.

[ He can't help but think of Tim, what Tim had been keeping from them, the fate of his brother and his reasons for joining the Institute. But it's not angry or snippish. Just... factual.]

But I thought it might... explain. Certain things.

It does. Couple of things, at least.

[ he watches jon, before he moves to do the same himself, seated on the edge of the bed with his good hand in his lap. he flexes his fingers, watches the way the skin stretches, before offering- ]

I think you know everything, at this point. Everything there is to know, at least. But if you want- if you want to ask things, Jon, um- anything. I don't want to have any secrets from you.

[ Jon doesn't have much more to say. Instead, he sits beside Martin, on his good side so the bad arm has plenty of room. He does reach out for Martin's hand, moves to entwine their fingers.]

No questions. Not from me. At least, not at the moment.

[ The wry smile is, at least, warm.]

I'd... I'm not sure I can manage 'no' secrets. But if you have questions-

[ martin smiles softly when jon takes his hand, and that seems to be enough to settle him. ]

Sure. I can think of questions.

[ he is watching their joined hands instead of jon's face, though. ]

Do you like ice cream? I can't picture you eating it.

Chocolate.

[ He will find that that is actually a trend. He's got something of a love for the stuff, the darker the better. ]

Plain chocolate. Too many- too much nonsense ruins the texture. No whipped cream. With a high quotient of cocoa. No fudge.

Okay. Noted.

[ martin was told that he could ask, so he will. about incredibly mundane things, sure, but - he had been given permission. ]

Do you like spicy food?

As long as the spice is a part of proper flavor. Heat for the sake of heat is pure sadism and a waste of good food.

[ If Martin's going to ask the questions, he's going to answer them. Truthfully and as well as he can.]

[ martin makes a throaty, thoughtful sound, then closes his eyes. it's taking him a moment to work up toward this last question. ]

Can I come with you on your next trip?

[ Jon's eyes close. ]

The next trip is to the wax museum.

[ A breath out.]

But the one after that, yes.

[ his fingers tighten. ]

I- I could help. At the museum.

[ EUGH. ]

[ His aren't the only fingers that tighten.]

Please, Martin.

[ I love you enough for this at least.]

Just - I won't -

[ he doesn't want to go. ]

I just want you to know that - if you need me, or think I could be- of any help at all. I'll do it. That's all.

I would do best... best with you- should you remain in the Archives.

[ He swallows and finally looks up to meet Martin's eyes.]

You listened to the tape, Martin. It wasn't just recreational, for goodness sake.

What? I know. I mean -

[ martin looks up at him, tired but stubborn. ]

Nothing I heard on the tape makes me want to stop doing everything I can to help you.

[ He closes his eyes and considers how to do this gently.

He can't think of a way to do it, which on reflection is almost certainly his own fault. His own failing, anyway. He should be able to talk this out, to explain it in the specific context of this moment. He shouldn't have had to rely on a weeks-old recording to convey what he needed, and badly at that.

...also with his ex-girlfriend's voice on it, making it clear that he'd been staying with her, a fact he wasn't sure that Martin had been aware of at the time. He'd been honest about them still having a friendship, of course, but on second thought maybe he should have been more careful on that point.]

To make myself clear, Martin...

If I am concerned for your well-being, I will be... less able to focus on the concern at hand.

I- [ and he doesn't look comfortable as he speaks but-] I promise to you that I will- I will come back. I will. I will do whatever is necessary.

But I would- I need for you to remain back at the Archives.

Yeah. Um- yeah. I can do that. I'll be wherever you need me to be, Jon.

[ martin knows that was what jon was communicating, but still - there was that need to tell him that he would be there, at the museum, if that's where jon needed him to be. privately, shamefully, he's relieved - even glad - that it's not.

he swallows a little thickly and nods. ]

But... good. We'll go get dinner. We can all celebrate together.

[ in an ideal, ideal world. but it's something to aim for. ]

[ That is some relief. But he lets out a huff of breath and pecks a kiss to Martin's temple.]

For now, however, let's get your shoes off again and settle down again for the, er, for the evening.

God, I don't want to deal with that plane ride tomorrow. Nine hours, Jon.

[ as if jon isn't somehow aware. it's possible that martin is only complaining about this because it's by far the safest thing he has to complain about right now, and he toes off his own shoes as he climbs awkwardly back into the bed.

he takes a breath, and then a little quietly- ]

Can I ask- kind of a weird question? About work?

[ Jon, on the other hand, scrunches his nose and rolls his eyes a little because really, Martin, you can sleep if it's such a hassle. Or read for goodness sake. His internal rambling is paused by the breath in and then by the quiet question.]

...go ahead.

So you had, um. Mr. Spider. [ he's shifting, trying to get comfortable as casually as he possibly can. ] And Tim, with his brother- with what happened to his brother. And Melanie came to the Institute to give a statement about what happened to her, and Basira and Daisy were part of Section 31...

[ martin trails off. ]

Was it just- bad luck for me? Did something happen and I just not notice?

[ Jon looks down at their hands, and then over at Martin and finally, he presses his lips together for a moment before-]

You do recall that near-two week span where you were held in your flat by flesh-eating worms, don't you?

for corkscrewed: of all the ridiculous nonsense...

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