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What? You kept them?

[ he's- mildly staggered by that, but he shakes it off. ]

I'll come get them. Thank you. Is the last thing you remember from home still Prentiss?

Don't seem so surprised. If you returned and they were gone I had no interest in having to deal with the drama. Yes, I haven't returned home if that's what you mean. Get over here, it sounds like there's matters to discuss, hopefully ones that involve Prentiss having been taken care of.

[ he's already on his way. ish. ]

I don't actually remember where you live. It's been a little while for me. About eighteen months? Give or take.

Lord, really? I do hope you're not still living in the Archives at this point.[have the address right here, maurtia something something words]

I'll be there in a moment.

[ well, more like twenty minutes, since he wasn't actually anywhere close. he spends a moment before he knocks at the door rubbing at his eyes, smoothing down his hair, trying to make himself look slightly less worn-out than he feels. and then he raps his knuckles on the door, calling out- ]

Jon? It's me.

[needless to say the first thing martin hears is dogs.

there is a flutter of excited boofing and paws pattering, followed by jon's muffled 'calm down, how am I supposed to even open the door if- thank you' before the door opens. the dogs are obviously straining to come see martin, overjoyed, while jon tries to keep them back. he looks pretty much the same, which means completely different than what martin is now used to given he has no worm, burn or daisy scars in sight and looks like he might have slept this week.

his vague look of annoyance drops as he sees martin, lips going into a thin line.] Here I was hoping for good news. I suppose the fact you're alive is a start- come in.

[ martin is overjoyed to see his dogs - sincerely, he is, considering he'd been sure when he woke up here again that they'd be gone, and so he smiles earnestly as he steps inside. it's nice, honestly, and a little hilarious, watching jon wrangle them, but it just means that martin is in a hurry to toe his shoes off and move to the sofa, just so the both of them can jump up and burrow into his sides. he doesn't bother asking if they're allowed up or not.

really, it doesn't seem that consequential. ]

It's good to see you.

[ and god, he means it. it's - nice, and surreal, talking to a jon who hasn't lived through everything yet. it feels almost like cheating. ]

I should be the one saying that, given I haven't seen you in a month and you should have seen me. [jon squints at him a few moments before sighing and allowing the dogs to go on the sofa. he tried to keep them off for a day and gave up pretty quickly anyway. he hates dogs.

ignore the face there are definitely dog toys martin didn't buy and nice dog bowls near the kitchen. doesn't care at all.]

I'm making tea and then you're going to tell me why you look like you haven't slept in a year. Honestly, Martin, how are you supposed to do your job in a state like that? [laugh track.... he heads to the kitchen. he is trying very hard not to assume the worst here, and given martin didn't burst into tears upon seeing him he wants to believe he didn't die or something. he was more worried about tim and sasha, though sasha was capable enough to get herself out of trouble.

haha.]

It's not really my job I've been having trouble with.

[ this part is murmured, though it may possibly be audible enough for jon to pick out. he leans slightly into one of his dogs, waiting for jon to return with the tea before he exhales a low sigh and shrugs one shoulder. ]

There's not much worth telling.

[ he's lying. worse, he's lying poorly. ]

There's not much you really need to know.

[martin is very lucky jon decides not to return upon hearing that and press for information. he huffs to himself, hot water already on for tea he was going to make for himself and half the reason he didn't go back to pester martin. in a few moments he has the tea done and comes back out, tray in hand. he even has cookies (what do british nerds call them?? chips?? or something?? i don't remember now)

he sets the tray down on the coffee table before giving martin a Look.] You are a terrible liar, and I heard that first bit. What's going on, Martin?

[his tone goes a little more nervous, softer:] It's not Prentiss, is it?

Prentiss is dead. She had one last big hurrah, but we all made it out mostly okay.

[ martin doesn't know why he says that. he didn't mean to even divulge that much; he's always heard that bad things happen when people learn their own futures, and so he's stubbornly determined to withhold everything he can. for jon's sake, at least.

he reaches over to take some tea, mostly just to busy himself. ]

I just- I don't think it's a good idea for you to know, Jon. That's all. Can we just- drink tea and sit around like normal people for a bit?

Mostly? I... see. [jon really didn't know how to take that, on one hand the fact they all lived was nice, on the other the way martin explained it hardly made him feel better.

he frowns but takes a seat, patting one of the dogs so he could actually have some room to do so.] You can hardly expect me to accept that. Did you remember anything about this place when you returned? From what I understand that doesn't happen, so there's no actual chance of changing what's to come to begin with.

I didn't. It's actually - odd being back. Having those memories again? I have them, but it's like- there's no place in my mind to slot them into. Chronologically, I mean.

[ that question he answers easily, without resistance. ]

I suppose it would be strange. I've looked into it some and most seem to consider this place some sort of pocket dimension that only exists within it's own confines.

[he picks up his own cup of tea and swats a dog away from sniffing the BISCUITS] As fascinating a discussion as that is my point stands, there's no reason to worry about telling me. [he pauses a moment, as if he realizes something, then very, VERY begrudgingly says] I suppose you should have your tea first, maybe a nap. Seriously, Martin, you look terrible.

I'm fine, Jon, honestly. I'm just - [ and again, he doesn't really mean to tell him this, but he doesn't think too hard about it when he blurts it out. he's just tired. ] I just read a statement a couple of hours ago, and it took a lot out of me. I'll get some rest tonight.

[that gives jon pause, especially against the sudden concern that dredges in him. it's ridiculous, it's a statement, even if it was an emotionally draining one jon shouldn't feel like-

he ignores the feeling, scowls. focuses on something easier.] Where am I that I'm not the one doing statements? Especially if you're doing them in a state like this. Lord, I wasn't fired, was I?

[he sighs.] Look, stay here tonight. Moving the dogs back to wherever you're staying will be too big of a production anyway, and frankly I don't trust you not to burn down your place if you tried to make food in this state.

You weren't fired. You were just - you took a leave of absence for a while. After you- after we-

[ martin groans, shifting to bury his face in the scruff of one of his dog's fur. it's a slightly melodramatic gesture, but it's accompanied by the pure relief that is being away from all of that, at least for a little while. ]

You ended up having to lie low for a bit. There was- there was a body in your office, and some of the police thought it might have been you. But it wasn't.

Edited 2018-03-03 20:37 (UTC)

[any relief Jon felt over still having a job was quickly squashed by that revelation. he just stares for a beat, tea most certainly growing cold as he just held it uselessly]

A body? Good lord, who?

Leitner.

[ muffled against the dog's fur. ]

He was living in the tunnels.

Leitner? Jurgen Leitner?

[ok, there was so much to unpack from this conversation jon's head was spinning. he makes a note of 'tunnels,' because what does that mean, but right now leitner is most defintely his focus.]

It- I- he's dead? [he feels weird about that, there's definitely something like relief there which just makes him nervous because he couldn't have killed the man, right? he wouldn't kill someone, even a monster like leitner, but-] You said I didn't kill him- you're sure? It wasn't some... some ridiculous self defense or- and what do you mean tunnels?

Oh, god, right, you weren't- you don't know about- there are tunnels, under the Institute. It's- they're not important, but you didn't kill him, I promise. You couldn't have. Jon, I- I really don't think it's a good idea to tell you everything, I don't think it'll do anything but just - really, really upset you, because it's not like there's anything you can do about it from here. But if you really want...

[ because has he ever been able to deny his boss anything? ]

I would hardly call secret tunnels under our work unimportant- is that how the damn worms keep getting in? I swear, how could Elias not know about this? The Institute has been around for decades, for god's sake.

[jon registers martin again past all his own bafflement and overthinking. he makes a face, torn between not wanting to strain martin in the state he's in and the incessant need to know. he settles on picking up his tea cup and breathing out his nose.]

If you think I find the news of Leitner's death anything other than well deserved you're mistaken. Regardless I... fine. I'll drop it for now, and only for now. Drink your tea.

Pretty sure he knew about it.

[ if martin sounds a little bitter, well- he's not really elias's number one fan at the moment, and he reaches forward to take his tea with a little frown. ]

So, um- I've got roommates, now.

What? Then why didn't he- ugh, nevermind. [he'll actually try not to press for answers. for now. frankly it is extremely difficult and it probably shows from the way his fingers restlessly twitch.]

In- oh, you mean here. Yes, that's normal, I suppose. [he glances at the dogs] You'll have to speak to them about your dogs.

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.

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