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Yeah, I know. I already sent them messages, I'm just sort of waiting to hear back, I guess.

[ he looks up at him again, hesitant now, before- ]

Just ask, Jon. I - if I didn't want you to know things, I shouldn't've told you that I knew them at all. It's gonna drive you mad, isn't it.

[jon isn't sure whether to be grateful or ruffled that martin realized as much so easily. he ends up sighing and placing his empty cup to the side.]

Of course it is, you come here looking like hell, telling me Leitner was living underneath us this entire time. You know how I feel about the supernatural, most of the work we do is shifting through utter nonsense but Leitner- he and his library are dangerous. It-

[he pauses then finally gives in.] Just tell me if Sasha and Tim are alright. Elias too, I suppose.

Tim's depressed and cranky, Sasha's dead, and Elias is - Elias is creepy.

[ martin can't pinpoint why, but it's easier to talk when jon prompts him. the words just come out without much thought, and it's nice. reminds him of reading the statements, but in a way that doesn't feel nearly as intrusive.

it feels like jon pulls things out of him, instead of gripping something inside of him. ]

[well. well.

jon stares a beat, that look of someone who registered what was said but doesn't quite believe he heard it right. his eyes widen when he verifies that yes, that is what martin said, and he-

he doesn't really know what to do at first. enjoy that brief, stunned silence before jon speaks again, voice a little weak with shock] Sasha is- that's impossible, it's Sasha. I won't say she always makes the best decisions when she's getting protective but she's-

[suddenly it becomes all too easy to imagine how she'd die, doing something foolishly brave because sasha was just like that. she had no problem following that strange man just on the chance of saving them. he realizes his hands are shaking slightly and he clenches his fingers into a fist to stop it. the rush of anger is much easier to deal with.] How?

Yeah, I, um- I didn't want to believe it, either. We thought- we assumed she was missing, just for a time, and - it had to do with the Others. The Not-Them?

[ martin sits up, but he's staring at his hands as he talks now, even as one of the dogs shifts to flop its head into his lap. ]

It had to do with- a table, or something, I don't know, I wasn't really- I'm still not entirely sure what the details were, but she got - taken over when Jane Prentiss attacked the Institute. Everything was in shambles, and no one even noticed-- we had an interloper for about a year.

[if jon was in a less shocked state of mind he'd likely snap at martin to make more sense- others? not-them? but he wasn't less shocked, and martin didn't look any better than he felt- far worse, really.

something strikes him though, and he pales] A table- the table from statement 0070107? The one you and Elias wanted destroyed? It didn't-

[welp, now he was wondering if ignoring martin and elias' suggestions somehow led to sasha's death. good times for everyone.] Oh lord.

[ this insanity has barely been happening for any amount of time at all, but it feels foreign and impossible to him that jon wouldn't know what he's referring to. ]

It, um- it got destroyed somehow. And that's when... yeah. Um.

[ martin shrugs, still not looking jon in the face. ]

Sorry, I told you that- it wouldn't be good for you to know.

[he sits back, dazed and digesting the information. if it was someone else it would be easier for denial to kick in but martin- no, out of anyone he knew martin couldn't throw this sort of thing around. after a long minute he blinks as if to start up again, reaching to pull off his glasses and rub his face.]

Martin... if I had done what you said would it have saved her? [he asks quietly before swallowing and continuing stronger.] No, no I... I asked. You have nothing to be sorry for.

What? No- no, that's not- that wouldn't have saved her, Jon. I don't think so, at least. Probably would've gotten someone killed sooner, honestly.

[ he rubs his face, ignoring the cooling tea on the table. ]

Prentiss is gone. I've said that already, right? She's gone, we don't have to worry about her anymore.

[ he's trying so hard to provide jon with an upside here. ]

[he doesn't look sure how to take that, but ultimately nods. martin was a terrible liar, at least he thought so, and he assumed martin at least believed what he said.

he's quiet a few moments more, absentmindedly petting one of the dogs when it seems to sense his distress and plop it's head in his lap as if that fixed things.] What about Tim? Is he alright?

Tim's alive. He's sort of, um.

[ martin struggles for a moment for the word, obviously uncertain, before he supplies: ]

He's been in a mood for a while. But he'll be alright, I think. There are some, um- some new people working there now, too. In Research, with us.

Oh, I... suppose we would need to- with Sasha. [jon's still clearly trying to digest that, swallowing down the sudden lump in his throat to focus on tim and these new people.]

Understandable, I mean it sounds... a lot has happened. Tim's never been one to take change particularly well. [he exhales] Who are the new workers? Anyone I know?

Melanie King? I think she's given you her statement already?

[ martin presses his hand to his face, sinking a little back against the couch. ]

She used to be with Ghost Hunt UK. And then, um- Basira Hussain too, now, but I don't think you know her yet.

No, I can't say I know any Basira Hussains but- Melanie King?

[at least he's distracted by this, sounding incredulous] Are you certain? Is this the same Melanie King who spent a good few minutes mocking the Institute at every turn?

One and the same.

[ martin sounds a little exasperated. ]

She really needed a job.

Lord, there had to be a better candidate to replace- [and he makes himself sad, lips thinning. he closes his eyes, exhaling, before opening them again to regard martin.]

It doesn't matter. It ah... I'm sorry, for what it's worth. [he's trying to be comforting. Badly.]

It was fine. I was handling it fine. Just-

[ martin glances up at him, pointedly- ]

You don't have to protect us, okay? I know it's - I know this isn't going to mean anything to you now, and you're not gonna remember this, but - you don't have to protect us. That's not your job. We're already neck-deep in everything, whether or not you're there.

[jon blinks, clearly startled at that] I ah-

[it was frustrating, not really seeing the full conversation. his lips thin and he thinks of spiders- of one spider in particular, of a bully who died when maybe it could have been different. he thinks about sasha.]

You're right, I don't know what you mean and you should know I can't just agree not to try and protect my subordinates when I can. Especially after Sasha. It-

[he frowns, then exhales slowly] I know I'm... dismissive of statements, skeptical, but that doesn't mean I don't know there are truly awful things out there. They're rare, of course, but they exist- Leitner and his ilk, for example. And I don't... [he shifts, slightly awkward] I may also be dismissive of you and the others but I will not let you be picked off if I can help it.

[ martin glances over at him, a little surprised at this answer. ]

Dismissive of- oh, no, that's not - that's not what I'm saying, Jon. You're not- oh my god, I completely forgot how much has changed over the past year. This is- this is actually sort of brutal.

[ but it looks like some of the tension is easing from his face, at least. this is so, so close to actually being funny. ]

[again he's left clueless, and good old season one jon answers that by being a grumpy shit of course. did you miss this, martin]

For god's sake- what are you saying then? You're being so vague it's like talking to Elias about budget renewals.

[ha. ha.]

[ yes, he did. he missed this a lot, actually. ]

I just meant- I know you believe in this stuff. And I know you're trying to keep us safe. That's all.

Oh. [well, alright. that made sense, things sound like they got... supernatural. rather hard to remain so intensely skeptical to everyone during that.

the other bit, keeping them safe, makes him uncomfortable.] Martin, what exactly do you think I'm trying to keep you safe from?

[ martin glances at him, a little surprised by the question, before he finally shrugs. ]

I dunno. Sort of wish you'd tell us.

I see... [he sighs, rubbing his temple] In all honesty Martin I always assumed Leitner was the greatest evil out there. Suppose he's out of the question now.

Just go ahead and give that title to Elias, okay? And- and also the police. Did you know the police can be terrible?? [ because it was NEWS TO HIM ]

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