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[corkscrewed]

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[corkscrewed]

--monster? Jon, I - I don't know what you've been going through exactly, but- take a breath.

[ HE REALLY IS WORRIED NOW. ]

You're just doing your job, same as everyone else.

[epistemological]

[ He hadn't actually meant to bring that up. He's... he's tired, hasn't eaten well (does he ever?), hasn't slept well (for at least two years now), and now he has a bit of scotch in him.

But now that the whole thing's- now that he's said something, he's either got to prove it or Martin's going to think he's losing his mind.

Honestly, the time he came from is deeply inconvenient for so many reasons.

Jon, sighing, throws the strange buzzing power under his tongue and the words will make the tape recorder in his pocket fuzz if he ever plays it back.]

Martin, what is something relatively harmless that you, nevertheless, would not choose to tell me otherwise?

[corkscrewed]

[ it's not intentional, but martin is answering before he even realizes he's opening his mouth. ]

I'm quite fond of the gray in your hair. I think it makes you look distinguished.

[ O h. WELL. he's fucking mortified. ]

[epistemological]

[ He blinks at that, one hand lifting up to his temple for a moment before he ruffles it a little and gives Martin a tight smile.

Then he takes a long sip.]

That's... very kind of you, Martin.

Care for that drink now?

[corkscrewed]

[ yes, he is absolutely reaching for it, embarrassed beyond words. ] I - why did I tell you that? Sorry.

[epistemological]

Do you usually apologize for complimenting people?

[ No buzz here. He's just pointing that out. But the glass is free for Martin to take.]

I told you, Martin. It's been... it's been a very eventful few months.

[corkscrewed]

Well, it was - sort of a strange compliment. And-

[ he pauses to take a long pull from his drink, grimacing as he swallows a mouthful of alcohol. ]

You can make people, you can ask them things?

[epistemological]

Is it really strange to like a bit of grey? I mean- I didn't think it looked that bad.

[ A swallow before-]

Yes. Yes, I can.

[corkscrewed]

It doesn't look bad! That's just - not something I'd tell you.

[ ugh. one last sip of the drink, just to try to catch up with jon. he... doesn't seem to understand the full implications here. ]

You think it has something to do with working at the Institute?

[epistemological]

[ He closes his eyes, slow and very very tired.]

It's because I'm the Archivist, Martin.

Elias- Elias has his own abilities. And, I'm sure, some sort of- overblown, pompous title. Perhaps the 'Watcher', given- given some of what I've heard.

[ But wait. He caught that. He definitely caught that. ]

Why wouldn't you tell me?

[corkscrewed]

Well- what about the rest of us? Do we get some sort of cool superpower, too? We are assistant archivists. Well- I guess just archival staff, huh.

[ he's.


just going to ignore the question. ]

[epistemological]

[ He squints a little at Martin. ]

You get to not turn into a monster?

[ He has just enough restraint not to say something about how the assistants are used as cannon-fodder. How they're trapped. ]

[corkscrewed]

[ martin's face pinches here, because if jon is having this reaction, it's clear that he's still missing something. ]

How does being an X-Man make you a monster? [ he hesitates, then adds quickly: ] Not to make light of the situation.

[epistemological]

[ He waves a finger at Martin. ]

Caaareful with that. Apparently, there are actual mutants here.

[ He takes a solid, fortifying sip. ]

And part of it's the statements. Reading them, recording them. I- I actually need them these days. Like... food. Or water.

[corkscrewed]

Do you have them here?

[ and that's what he's immediately jumping to, vigilant despite the hand on his glass. ]

Do you have enough to stay- fed?

[epistemological]

[ Jon will take the opportunity to point over towards a familiar looking box of files sitting in a corner of his room.]

Vetted all of them with my laptop before I brought them. And I've stored a few in the library and the infirmary, just in case.

[ He pats his pocket as well. ]

And one on me. After the island, it doesn't hurt to be careful.

[corkscrewed]

Won't be caught without one, at least. That's good.

[ martin's face is starting to get just the slightest bit warm. ]

I still wouldn't call you a monster.

[epistemological]

Which is... probably more comforting than you realize.

[ He probably should have explained more. Probably should have said something more helpful to that. But instead, at the moment, he'd just like to- to soak that in.]

...all of that isn't what I asked you over for.

[corkscrewed]

It's not?

[ that worry is creeping back onto his face. ]

Honestly, I might- need a while before you drop more bombs on me, Jon

[epistemological]

[ He blinks at that.]

I wasn't-

[ His head drops a little.]

I just wanted a bit of company. And I-

Would you rather leave? I don't- I'm not trying to- I just-

[ He just lets it hang as it is for a moment before finally clarifying ]

You don't have to stay if you don't want to.

[corkscrewed]

[ oh.

martin's expression softens immediately, and- of course he'll spend time with jon. it's just not what he's expecting. ]

Have you had any inmates?

[epistemological]

[ He wobbles a hand. ]

I've been given one, temporarily. We...

Most of our interaction hasn't gone well at all.

[corkscrewed]

What are they like? I'm honestly a little afraid of having one myself.

[epistemological]

She's a shapeshifting ninja.

She nearly crushed my windpipe and sold me to Beast men as a captive.

[ That's a sip.]

Her tricks don't work on me. So it's a bit of a standstill.

[corkscrewed]

Oh, my god, is your throat--?

[ martin flusters. ]

They won't give me someone like THAT, do you think?