corkscrewed | IC Inbox

[ molly's tail goes wild and she jumps to her feet, scurrying off and out of the room. ]

Oh, she likes you, she'll be--

[ --back, right then, bringing a toy and dropping it at jon's feet. merry christmas, jon. love, molly.

martin is cracking up slightly. ]

Do you want me to put tea on? And did you say something about a Christmas gift?

[jon just watches this, baffled, staring at the toy.] ... Thank you?

Martin, what does she want me to do? Throw it? Why is she giving me this? [save him from this adorable dog, apparently. right, tea and stuff]

Oh, yes, a spot of tea would be nice. And yes, here. [he holds out the bag. inside is a neatly wrapped gift in plain red wrapping paper. boring but meticulously wrapped? jon in a nutshell.]

[ martin removes the gift from the bag, giving it an amused little look, before he goes to gently place it beneath the little christmas tree in the corner of his sitting room. don't be fooled: he's actually stoked beyond belief that jon got him a gift??? he's just trying so hard to play it cool. ]

Either it's a present or she wants you to play fetch. You should give it a toss either way.

[ he heads into the kitchen to start heating water, calling from it- ]

Sorry, I haven't- quite picked up your gift yet.

Well... fine. [he picks up the toy, staring at the dog intently before sort of just. weakly tossing it across the room.

he did it, he played with a dog. amazing.]

What? Oh, you don't have to get me anything. [he's surprised martin would despite the fact he just got martin something.] I just noticed something that made you come to mind, it seemed appropriate. I haven't done Christmas in... maybe five or six years now? Apparently they ask if you want your gift wrapped now? A ridiculous amount for something so simple.

[ molly bounds after the toy, immediately bringing it back to jon and dropping it obediently at his feet. beau, meanwhile, is crowding martin's feet, unwilling to get too far from him. ]

You saw something that reminded you of me? [ AWH no he is stupidly flattered by that. ] I have to get you something now.

I just said you didn't. [he huffs, but throws the toy again. he's getting used to this dog, slowly.] Molly reminds me of you.

[is that. an insult or a compliment?? who knows] How have you been? No old injuries opening or powers going insane?

[ and molly, who is completely overjoyed, scrambles after the toy to bring it back again. ]

I'm not blonde and I don't play fetch. [ martin's tone is buoyant, though. ] And my power have been going a little, well- insane, yes, but no wounds. Lucky there. God, I didn't even think to check up on you, did I? I'm sorry, have you been alright?

[jon exhales, trying and failing not to smile very faintly at this sweet dog. he even pats her head before throwing the toy again. a miracle.]

You realize you technically 'fetch' interviews, information and files, don't you? [are you calling martin a dog....] What, how? You have that... plant growth, yes? Tell me what's been happening.

[and he rolls his eyes] Please, I've been fine. Nearly burned to death in that fire in October, and walked into what looked like a crimescene before proving the man's innocence by accidentally going into the absolutely baffling and private relationship he has with some friend of his with my own ability, but fine otherwise. [what.]

Yeah, but I do that for a paycheck, not for- headpats and validation. Not that there's anything wrong with headpats and validation. [ he seems to be addressing the dogs when he says that much, before he slowly pokes his head out from the kitchen again. ]

-- you nearly burned to death? Oh my god, I'm the worst friend on the planet, how did I miss that?

I fail to see the problem here. These dogs are paid with affection and boarding, you with money. It's the same principle. [definitely calling martin a dog.]

[he waves a hand] I didn't, so it's fine. It was during that... Swear In? That nonsense they wanted all the imPorts to go to. Frankly I don't know why I bothered.

If Tim or Sasha ever show up I'm telling them you called all of us dogs. [ is this a threat? it sounds vaguely like one. that last part still has him slightly distressed, though. ] And still, I'm sorry I didn't know. Have you been alright? Your own powers and all that?

Tim might as well be. [jon HUFFS but then-] ... do not tell Sasha that though. [he knows to fear sasha, ok]

It's fine, Martin, if I had needed anything I promise I would have told you as much. You're the only damn person I trust here anyway. [some he liked well enough but it took a while for jon to trust people] They're... annoying. Set off easier, there's more emotion behind them. Not as bad as some at least.

You trust me? [ martin seems to realize a split second after he says it that it sounds pretty silly, and he shakes it off, hastily adding- ] Well, um, I mean, yeah. Do let me know if there's anything I can do. It's- you know, it's kind of strange? Not going in to work every day to see you and Tim and Sasha. Not that I really had to "go" anywhere, living in that side room and all.

[ he considers that last part, then nods. ] I trapped myself in my apartment for about a day and a half... pretty embarrassing, you know? It's why I adopted Molly and Beau, I think. Good to have company. [ martin why didn't you caLL SOMEONE ]

Yes, you are literally the only person I'm remotely familiar with. [and he isn't season 2 yet. he walks further in, looking down at the ruined cushion with distaste. clean your house, martin???] Agreed, I feel rather- well, it doesn't matter. This will be quite the statement to make when we get back, assuming we get back and assuming we remember anything.

You what? [martin] For god's sake Martin, did you lose your communicator as well?

You know it's the kind of statement that no one else is going to believe, right? [ beau JUST destroyed that cushion ok he hasn't had time to clean it up... but he brings jon a cup of tea, gesturing for him to sit in a chair that still seems in tact. ] And what? No! It just seemed silly to call for help. I had plenty of food, and it wasn't like I was, you know, under siege this time... people had bigger things to worry about.

Yes, Martin, I am well aware of that. The most evidence we'd have is each other's words, which could easily be dismissed as some shared delusion- I am not discounting that as a possibility either, mind you. [he takes the tea and sits down, though not before looking the chair over for what, jon? a trap?? dog drool, probably.

enjoy the withering look he throws you, martin] That is the most daft reasoning I've heard in a while, and I work with idiots. Honestly Martin, what if some old injury had opened up while you were trapped? Or some other ridiculous thing happened? Do not pull something like that again, at least text me about it.

[ martin is mostly just privately pleased that jon, well- cares, and so he's smiling a little when he takes a seat on the half of the couch that hasn't been destroyed. he takes a sip of his tea and pointedly remarks- ]

You didn't tell me when you almost caught on fire. You can't really berate me for not raising alarm bells when my plants got a little- overzealous, but- yeah, yeah. Alright.

The situation was already taken care of and I wasn't in danger of being immolated, it's hardly the same. [he huffs but has some of that tea, considering it for a moment before nodding. approved, good tea, you did it, martin.] Good. We apparently 'come back to life' here but I would very much rather not test this theory.

[the deepest of sighs] What a mess. I never thought I'd be eager to get back to worms.

You're eager to get back to worms? Because I'm not. [ and psh jon, whatever, martin's worked at the institute long enough to know how you like your tea thank you very much!! ] I'm more than happy to stay here with my - dogs and weird plants for as long as I'm allowed, thank you very much.

I'm eager to get home and back to work that isn't trivial nonsense. [he could do without the worms. good thing they'd definitely have no problems there, huh!!! huh!!] And to solve the problem of the worms- somehow. Someway.

[because that's been working so well, huh.] I suppose it's reasonable this is something of a vacation for you.

How is it not a vacation for you, too? Or are you just physically incapable of taking vacations?

[ molly, meanwhile, seems to be trying to settle her chin in jon's lap. ]

I wasn't stuck in the Archives. [even though he spent more time there than at home and wasn't sleeping well because of the worm cold war?? he glances to molly, making a face at possible drool on his pants but... fine. he pats her, tentatively. that's what dogs wanted, right? right.]

... fine, I'll admit it's nice to be away from the threat of Prentiss. Still this- I don't know. I feel ill at ease here. Culture shock, I suppose.

Yeah, but still, it's nice to get away from work occasionally, isn't it? [ martin visibly softens when jon allows molly's head to remain in his lap. ]

You should try to get out more. Make more friends. Do you need help making friends?

Don't drool. [he warns as if the dog can understand him. then he looks to martin] So people always say. I'd rather be working, thank you. With better conditions than we currently have, of course, but still.

[ugH friends] I don't need help making friends, Martin, I'm not a maladjusted gradeschooler. I've had more than enough socializing here already, half of the population are ridiculous terrors.

Only half? Sounds like they've been making a good impression, then.

[ martin sips at his tea, then sort of peers curiously at jon. ]

What's it... like, by the way? When your power, um - activates? I don't think I've ever actually seen it.

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