corkscrewed | IC Inbox

I'm not doing anything today. What is it?

[ it doesn't even occur to him that jon may have gotten him a gift. ]

It's a surprise, Martin. Haven't you ever gotten a gift during the holidays before?

Then I'll be coming over. Try to be decent.

You got me a gift?

And you're coming over to my place? Right now?

Yes, and yes I am, unless you need time to prepare or are too busy asking me pointless questions.

What? Why would I need to prepare?

[ pointless questions, martin... ]

Come on over, I'm home.

I'll see you soon, then.

[what a jerk??

he heads over, wondering if he should bring something else. food? what did people do when they visited friends? or gave gifts? was he supposed to make martin wait for christmas?

lord, he was stir crazy.

when he reaches the door he knocks primly, stepping back with a bag on his arm.]

One moment! [ jon will hear martin moving on the other side of the door, followed by a soft shushing sound, plus what sounds awfully a lot like him murmuring to something (or someone.) and then he will open the door, just enough to sort of poke his head out of it. ]

Hey there, boss. Good to see you.

[ could he possibly be shadier. ]

[he couldn't. jon's brow raises.] Martin. Who were you talking to?

[and then after a beat] And I'm not your boss now, you realize.

What? No one. I wasn't talking to anyone. [ martin clears his throat and shifts so he's blocking a little more of the apartment. ] And yeah, yeah. Did you say you got me a gift? [ he mostly sounds incredulous about this. ]

Yes you were. I heard you. [imagine if this was season 2 jon. what a magical moment this would be.] And now you're trying to block my view, questioning me and not letting a guest in.

What did you do? Are you in trouble?

I'm not in trouble! Why would I be in trouble? [ his voice actually gets a little squeaky here, and then he clears his throat. ] Look- I'm happy to let you in, as long as you promise not to... judge.

... so you did do something. [he shakes his head, already judgemental] Fine. I'll keep my opinions of whatever you've done to myself.

[liar]

[ he rolls his eyes, before sighing and standing back - opening the door for jon. there is a pair of enormous dogs sitting nearby behind him, staring expectantly at jon. one of his couch cushions is in about a thousand pieces on the floor. ]

[he walks in, immediately glancing to the destroyed cushion. then the dogs.

he stares at the dogs. the dogs probably stare back.

eventually jon turns to look at martin, saying nothing. the judgment is thick in his gaze.]

You promised you wouldn't judge.

[ one of the dogs is just going to curiously approach jon and sort of. circle him. ]

I said I'd keep my opinions to myself. [he never said he wouldn't stare with intense, intense judgment.

he glances at the dog, watching him circle with the look of someone who has no idea how to deal with dogs.] What is it doing? What does it want?

Molly's just-- meeting you. [ molly, who is apparently an enormous golden retriever, sort of sniffs at jon's shoe, before she plants herself right at his feet, staring expectantly up at him. her tail thumps behind her. ] Beau's a little more shy. [ beau apparently being the border collie sitting just a little behind martin. ]

... I see.

[he stares at molly before hesitantly giving her a pat. he did it. he pet a dog. amazing.] There, good dog, I suppose.

[ 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?

text;

text;

text;

text;

text;

text; -> action;

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject