for corkscrewed: back from the trip

[epistemological]

[ continued from the events detailed here ]

[ They're back. And of course, it's back to the Institute. With the jetlag and the time changes, it's kind of a blur when they get there.

Regardless, Jon had gone right up to Elias's office and there'd been a Discussion that had happened there, one which had been conducted very quietly and very much with the door closed. Jon had come back, looking satisfied but anyone actually watching would note that his hand remained clenched tight into a fist along his side for a few hours afterwards at certain intervals.

Jon 'shares' the news with everyone as to what that might have been about by walking in from said meeting, making his way over to Martin's desk, leaning over, pressing a kiss into his hair, reminding him to be careful with his arm, and slipping into his office. Which is, possibly the worst way to do such a thing but when has Jon ever worried about doing things the worst possible way don't answer that.

This led to some shouting outside of the office but Jon has work to do and Martin knows where he is if he needs anything. He's handled the worst of it; as he'd told him before, Martin would be the one responsible for handling the, er, the rest.]

Comments

[corkscrewed]

[ martin doesn't get nervous until a few hours before they land. it's terrifying, thinking of what they're doing, what they're headed back to, trying to figure out how, exactly, they're going to reveal it to all of the other assistants -

and then jon spills the beans by kissing him on the head, and martin is equal parts amused and frustrated. ]

Yeah, Jon. 'Course.

[ spoken as the archivist disappears into his office, and he can already feel every set of eyes there on him.

it'll be nearly an hour and a half before he's heading into jon's office with tea, holding the cup carefully with his good arm, and the look he's giving jon is sour. ]

Basira says that there's probably paperwork we should feel out.

[ >[ ]

But she doesn't think it actually matters.

[epistemological]

[ He's been integrating his notes from the trip into his notes here in the office, crossreferencing a few of the documents from the initial stassh with some of the files and notes that they've found here in the Institute and from a number of statements that they've read through. He does look up when Martin walks in, frowning at the sour look a little before taking the tea from him carefully.]

Very good, Martin. And, er, what 'paperwork' was Basira referring to?

[corkscrewed]

For people dating their subordinates.

[ martin takes a heavy seat in front of him. he's keeping his voice down, though, since he has left the door hanging wide open. ]

This is a nightmare. Me and Tim, we've- we've barely talked since he ran off, and I thought he was about to toss me out a window.

[epistemological]

[ That has him looking up, frowning, and letting out a snort. ]

It's probably right next to the paperwork that involves signing over your soul to a dark god.

[ Oh, Elias had had a few things to say on the subject, but they were much more about how he'd made it 'harder' to do what was necessary. Jon had made it very clear that he wasn't about to do much of anything if Martin wasn't left alone and while there was still some snide comments here and there between the two of them, the matter had largely ended there.

But the matter of Tim is something else. He sighs, just a little, and scrubs at his face with one hand. The last thing Martin says, though, that gets him upset again.]

He didn't threaten you, did he?

[corkscrewed]

What? No. No!

[ martin seems honestly a little startled by the question, and he shakes his head at that. ]

No, I was just saying - he was pretty upset. How did it go with, um- Elias? He didn't try to, um, ban us?

[epistemological]

What was he upset about? [ He can’t help a snort. ] it’s not as if he can’t find his own date. Or two, honestly. I think he averages two.

[ Jon just shakes his head then, both on the topic of Tim and in regards to any attempt by Elias to “cancel” their relationship. ]

Elias expressed his concerns. I told him he could deal with it or get a new Archivist. He chose to deal with it.

[corkscrewed]

I think just 'cos it's, you know. You.

[ martin shuts his eyes and nods slightly, reaching up to rub the back of his neck. this is, well- ]

I knew it'd be awkward, but this is sort of next level. I mean- it's okay, it'll be fine, I'm not worried about that. Tea okay? D'you- need anything else?

[epistemological]

Because I exist, right, very mature. You know he’s actually a couple of years older than me? [ and those words are pointedly shouted out the door before he turns back to Martin.] Well.

Not much to be done about that, for better or worse. I’m assuming Melanie told you you could do better as well.

[He’d heard that song before. ]

But no actual, meaningful objections?

[ He’s a bit used to all of them being angry at him so the whole thing just sounds like more of the same. Even Basira’s complaint seems more of an attempt to make sure protocol was being followed than anything seriously upsetting. So he addresses the tea. ]

Tea looks like tea. I don’t think I have much need for anything else quite yet unless there was something you needed?

[corkscrewed]

Just that it's - stupid. Dangerous. That we've got better things to be focusing on right now? Which I guess is right, but at the same time...

[ martin trails off and shrugs his good shoulder, before he reaches up to scrub his face with his hand. ]

But it's no one's business but mine. Ours.

[ his voice is small, but tight. stubborn. there will be no changing his mind, and that much is clear on his face as he stands back up. ]

And- okay, then. Just let me know if you need anything. I'll get back to work.

[epistemological]

[ He listens to the objections, nodding along as Martin mentions them. Yes, of course it is, of course they have more important things to focus on, but it isn't as if he's the one spending time on it. They're the one losing their minds over two grown adults choosing to spend what small amount of free time they have together in a romantic context. For goodness sake...]

I'm glad you have your head on about the whole thing. I'll see you for, er, dinner? I think?

[ He looks down at his notes again and starts mostly muttering but it is still directed at Martin.]

I don't believe I've brought you by that kebab place just around the corner if that sounds suitable?

[corkscrewed]

Oh, uh- really?

[ martin's hand drops at that and he watches jon, the frustration draining away. he isn't sure why, but, well- part of him had sort of just assumed that they would return and things would go back to the way that they had been before. just, maybe, with his own emotions laid a little more bare this time.

he smiles. ]

Yeah. That would be lovely, actually. Just let me know when you've finished up this evening.

[ none of them really keep traditional hours. ]

[epistemological]

[ Jon's eyes flicker up a little before he looks down again to continue writing. His tone is solid enough, on topic, but his focus is on the page he's working on for the most part.]

You know I don't remember to be hungry. Come back when you'd like dinner.

[corkscrewed]

Right, 'course.

[ martin smiles at him, his ruffled feathers adequately soothed as he heads out of the office. he's going to be dealing with some scornful looks for a while, overhearing a lot of gossip, but- oh, well. ]

See you shortly.

[ and he'll actually get back to work. ]

[epistemological]

[ He'll sip at the tea, mostly because it's warm enough and near his hand, but then he's absorbed in the notes he's working on.

He doesn't so much see or hear Tim leave the office again so much as he knows it happened; apparently Tim had just been there to greet him with scorn and, from all accounts, give Martin a hard time before he flounced off again. The girls, however, do pop in to ask him a question or two, much to his irritation.

He answers them, Basira without much difficulty, Melanie in between rolling his eyes nearly out of his head, and once he's gotten them out again he does a bit of business down in the tunnels before returning to his desk chair to finish up. He figures Martin will be in in a few minutes or so.]

[corkscrewed]

[ martin spends a lot of the afternoon fielding questions from basira and melanie, who aren't entirely interested so much as that this is the most mundane gossip that has happened to this office in a long while, and sometimes it's nice to pry into something weirdly normal for once. the rest of the time he spends following up on some of the notes they'd received on the trip, pops out for a brief interview nearby with someone who'd left a statement about three years ago that turns out to be a complete dead end.

and then jon is right: martin is there, right when he expects him to be. ]

Think you'll be at a stopping point soon?

[ he isn't wearing his coat, but he is holding it. ]

[epistemological]

[ He rubs at his eyes for a moment before looking up at Martin. ]

That would require accomplishing anything.

[ There is a churlish look past Martin through the door.]

Besides delineating the difference between asexual and aromantic to certain co-workers.

[ But he takes in the coat and he takes in Martin and he considers the reality that blood sugar does affect cognitive processes and with the overwhelming evidence not on his side, he grumbles as he comes to his feet.]

I suppose now is as good a time as any.

[corkscrewed]

[ something about that- he stares. ]

They know you're, um- that you don't--?

[ that would explain at least one of melanie's lines of questioning. ]

[epistemological]

[ He blinks just a little before frowning and reaching over for his coat. ]

She knew. Well, misunderstood a bit, but she was aware. I assume she's known for a while. She's friends with Georgie, after all. And I hardly keep it much of a secret.

[ He slips his arm into his coat, dipping around to get the other in as well. In between, he glances at Martin, mostly at him staring.]

In most workplaces, it's not really necessary to mention. [ It would be inappropriate with one's assistants if anyone involved had the ability to quit, have normal lives, or otherwise function like a regular person.] But this is not 'most' workplaces, after all.

[corkscrewed]

Right. Well - that makes sense.

[ martin won't admit the embarrassing part where it flusters him slightly, that one of the other assistants knew more about jon than he did - it's stupid, and juvenile, and possessive in a way that he can't allow himself to be. he shakes it off and focuses on the present and immediate future: namely, dinner. ]

Guess it is kind of difficult to have any semblance of a private life around here.

[epistemological]

Right.

[ He shrugs his coat the rest of the way on and straightens the whole thing out, pulling over his scarf to wrap it around and tuck it in. He looks Martin up and down for a moment before glancing at the other man. He reaches over to pull up a dark green scarf and holds it out. ]

[corkscrewed]

[ martin blinks when jon offers him the scarf, reaching out to tentatively take it. and then he smiles while he wraps it around his neck, because it's been a long time since anyone has looked after him when heading out into the cold.

which is why, even with the door slightly ajar, he's going to cross the distance between them to lean in and kiss jon softly. just briefly, but because he can. ]

[epistemological]

[ He doesn't stiffen or pull away. He lets Martin press the kiss and he doesn't stop himself from smiling a little about it before he reaches up and tucks the scarf a little more carefully to keep out the wind and the chill.

And he reaches out a hand for Martin's.]

[corkscrewed]

We're still in the office.

[ martin is grinning slightly, though, twining his fingers with jon's. there's no hesitation in it; he's comfortable, content now. ]

C'mon. I'm starving.

[epistemological]

We're in my office, and if people are rude enough to peer in, they'll see the scandalousness of a man adjusting another man's scarf.

Given the general tenor of things, I think they'll survive.

[ Jon will lead the way out and make his way towards the exit with a nod towards the ladies and an internal mental sigh at Tim before he takes the side exit out to skip them past some of the worst of the chill and closer to the restaurant. ]

[corkscrewed]

I was just saying...

[ martin tries not to look embarrassed when basira lifts her hand and sort of awkwardly waves them goodbye. his fingers flex a little against jon's as they step outside, and the way martin crowds him now is more for warmth than anything else against the brisk wind. ]

I just didn't think you were much for PDA, is all.