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[corkscrewed]

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[corkscrewed]

I mean-

[ martin flounders slightly here, if only because this is the most he's ever talked about it with anyone. he shrugs one shoulder, vaguely dismissive. ]

Jon's- he's my- [ how is he this tongue-tied after only two drinks? ] Sure, I wish sometimes that - you know - but it's not a dealbreaker. Not by a longshot.

[statementfuckingends]

If you like, if we happen to dock somewhere a bit modern, I could help you find something to... [He gives a kind of bemused pouting shrug.] Deal with that, privately. I'm not even gonna suggest someone, I can't imagine you two would have eyes for anyone else.

[Which is a crying shame. It's not like he's crushing on Martin but there'd always been a tiny glimmer of hope in the unknown.]

[corkscrewed]

I don't need aids, I'm - more than happy with, um, my current- solutions are fine, it's just the whole-- you know. You know? Oh my god.

[ he's slipping out of the booth to go grab something a little harder than cider now, but he keeps his voice very low even though it's just the two of them there. ]

There's just sort of a- a connection you- get, from that kind of thing. That's all.

[statementfuckingends]

Think I saw some Gullivers' if you're after something a bit stronger.

[Not at all a slight hint-hint. And he'll make a cursory glance of the room just in case, purely out of paranoia.]

I hear what you're saying, though. You can be as romantic and soul-searchy as you like but being physical is very much its own sort of brand of... thing. And it wouldn't make you a bad person if you were unsatisfied by that, specifically.

why do i only get notifs 80% of the time

[corkscrewed]

No, no, I know. [ he is, indeed, searching for the gulliver's, and will begin to pour himself some when he locates the bottle. ] It's not like I'm-

[ he takes a breath, tries to un-fluster. ]

It's like I've got- a slice of cake, and it's great, and I wish maybe sometimes I had some ice cream to go with it? But most of the time I don't notice what I'm missing. Back at home I mostly just didn't even have time to-- think about that kind of thing. No one's having sex in the middle of an apocalypse.

DW has been notoriously messy on them recently

[statementfuckingends]

[Tim is actually twelve and narrowly avoids choking on his beer. Instead he thumps it on the table a bit too heavily.]

Pour me one too. Payment for forcing me to think about you and Jon and ice cream.

[corkscrewed]

[ martin just squints at him then, holding up the bottle dubiously. ]

Shouldn't you be on painkillers? I don't think you're supposed to mix these.

[ huff!!! ]

[statementfuckingends]

Alcohol is a painkiller. Therefore it's fine.

[He holds up his empty bottle demonstratively.]

Besides, I'm already two down. Can't really claim you're looking out for my health at this point.

[corkscrewed]

Just make sure you've got something for the hangover.

[ he will start making a drink for tim, though. ]

So- you're really alright with it? With me and Jon. I was... worried.

[statementfuckingends]

Oh, like you're the first scandalous office romance in the Institute.

[There's a glib humour in his tone there, but he's pushing himself around to drape himself over the booth and look at Martin properly.]

I'm genuinely curious why you think I wouldn't. Besides the whole, like. [He waves his empty bottle around blithely.] "Ohhh, our boss is a spooky telepath who doesn't respect us or trust us, fuck that guy" thing.

[corkscrewed]

[ martin shrugs at that, suddenly unsure if he should even address that. he's enjoying the time with tim, even if the circumstances are - well, foul. ]

I just remember your opinion of Jon being... really bad. That's all.

[statementfuckingends]

I mean it's not really all that improved yet, I'll give it that much.

[It's not like he's forgiven Jon yet. Doesn't plan on it, really, even if forcing a confession out of him cleared the air a bit.]

But if you've forgiven him, then at that point it's not really my business, is it?

[corkscrewed]

Honestly, Tim, I was just as angry at you as I ever was him. [ martin is maybe made more candid by the drinks, but he's not backpedaling this time as he slides a glass to tim's side of the table and slips back into his own seat. ] Which is to say - I don't know. Everything was fucked up.

[statementfuckingends]

You're not very good at hating people, are you Martin.

[Tim is exactly as candid as ever. He's buzzed, not tipsy; mostly it's taking the worst of the edge off the pain, which is nice.]

[corkscrewed]

[ it's martin's turn to snort slightly into his drink. ] As if. I'm barely even good at liking them. I've been here over two years and I can count the number of friends I've got on one hand.

[statementfuckingends]

That's because the Institute's a hole. [There's bite to it, but there's something almost good-natured to it.] You were too bloody good for it and we all knew it. You and Sasha both.

[--ah. He's ruined his own buzz. He just grimaces gently for a moment, before he takes his new drink in hand.]

[corkscrewed]

Nah. I'm talking about the Barge. Lots of good people here, honestly, I'm just-

[ damaged goods, he thinks sometimes, but he's not inebriated enough to blurt that much out. ]

--we've got some tapes, you know. If you want to listen to her voice.

[statementfuckingends]

[Tim just stares into his drink for a few seconds, before he gulps a mouthful, alcohol content be damned. The tapes offer goes ignored.]

Hate to say it, Martin, but the general concept of 'putting yourself out there' applies to making friends as well, not just dating. You can't spend every day alternating between the laundry and Jon's office.

[corkscrewed]

[ he won't push the offer, but he will try to match the drinks with a wince. ]

I'm working on it. Made it to the lounge, didn't I?

[statementfuckingends]

With me. [It's certainly disparaging, but it's not pointed at Martin.] And I have offered you the chance to have some fun, so I've got you coming and going there.

[corkscrewed]

This is your idea of fun? You injured and me all depressed and mopey? [ also not serious; he's just desperate for any kind of levity here. ]

[statementfuckingends]

I will get you to understand innuendo yet. [But hey, it gets a genuine grin on his face.] But come on, this, here and now? 's'just another day in the office, really.

[corkscrewed]

I understand innuendo, I just always think it's weird when you use it at me.

[ he grins at him, tired but similarly earnest. ]

[statementfuckingends]

[He looks playfully offended. Which mostly just means marginally less tired, but it's still an improvement.]

Are you questioning my taste, Blackwood? [He's definitely grinning behind that sip.] Because disregarding your taste in archival bosses for five seconds, you're a real catch.

[corkscrewed]

[ martin huffs slightly, shoulders setting back, just because he knows that tim isn't teasing him maliciously here. ]

It's weird to think about. I never had time for relationships. I don't know how you managed it.