No, just- any movie. I honestly can't remember the last time I went to the cinema.
[ jon studies him, then turns away and apologizes, and martin absolutely isn't sure how to handle that. he clears his throat, hesitating as he turns the book around in his hands. ]
[It seems churlish to claim "everybody hates me." because even if it's true people also ...don't. He knows that. and he knows that. And even if they did...
...So. Yes. Fine. All right.]
You pick the movie. Just - something with a bit more of a plot? There's some that are smarter. Those SAW movies for one. Looked a bit grim but apparently they're smarter Georgie saw one and liked it.
He's not- he's never been picky about the people he spends time with. It's about the soul not the body and even then the body inhibited contact with the soul. He and Georgie had a long talk about that when she'd accused him of being prudish initially - but she apologized profusely after that.]
...I'd like that Martin. Thank you. I'd like it very much.
[pause]
Can I bring anything? By that time you'll have finished the book and we could ...talk about that first.
[Peering out from his scraggly hair, he blinks. Because-
Well yes. It's just friends. One - incredibly nice person and him. Hideously ugly monster him, unable to look at himself in the mirror or care about his hair and appearance him. And Martin looking at him...]
...Well.
Yes I think.
[This would be nice. Learning about Martin like this.]
There is a difference. A difference for this thing worming it's way into his mind. A difference between looking at joy and at sorrow and this is joy.
Christ. Martin must be lonely.. He could relate to that.]
Well order some then and we'll make an evening of it. You can put on as many horror movies as you like and I will regale you with my favorite science fiction books.
Leave? Leave the archives? Leave - the unknowing...He could take some work with him right? Those stupid statements that Elias leaves like breadcrumbs on his desk to some huge mystery?]
[He's not good at people. He knows this he's never been good at people. A combination of his weird childhood, his grandmother's strict upbringing and being the kid who was different in his class, he keeps his distance. Lord knew how he and Georgie had even gotten together some days.
(no, that wasn't strictly true he had commented on her paper about the history of Scottish castles and they had kicked things off from there.)
Martin however -
He and Martin have been through a lot.
And there's that tickle again at the back of his mind. Don't you want to know what he's doing? he could. He could know how he was doing and Melanie and Basira and Daisy even if Daisy made him extra nervous now like a cat smelling a dog somewhere...
HE could know.
He doesn't want to know. Texting Martin, he lightly swings his plastic bag and ignores that tug at the back of his head. Just a dinner with your research assistant that's not bad this is what people do and I don't need anything else out of that]
[ martin is embarrassed to admit that he spends a bit of time tidying up. not that his place is messy - he doesn't have a lot of room, and he likes to keep it as clean as possible. not like he has any roommates or pets or children to mess things up, and it's nice to come home to a nice place at the end of a trying day in the archives.
but, still. jon is coming over, there are going to be eyes on his sitting room, so he might as well straighten up just a little, right?
he jumps a little when his phone buzzes, half expecting jon to cancel, and relaxing when he hasn't. ]
[Outside of the archives, Jon sims cleans up...sort of. He's still the distressed academic looking for a book that he can never find, but going out in public he has his long manic hair tied up in a bun behind his head, glasses adjusted, and instead of his traditional sweater over a white shirt combo he's opted for a dark grey hoodie.
Honestly once he's at the door however he realizes he might be painfully under dressed or convey an overly comfortable message but he relaxes. He's safe here this is fine.
Walking in he holds up a six pack of coca cola and offers a nervous smile.]
Hello. I - come bearing libations.
[He didn't even bring any work Martin. Please be proud of him.]
[ martin has changed into jeans and a fading graphic t-shirt, and he grins a little at jon when he holds up the drinks. yeah, he's more relaxed at home usually, but circumstances are a little strange now: his posture is carefully straight as he takes the sodas and carries them to the small fridge in his kitchenette. ]
Food should be here any time. So I guess we should, um - movie?
[ martin smiles at him, because 'all thumbs in the kitchen' is another small fact he'll happy tuck away about him. he just shakes his head then, gesturing at the couch. ]
Dishes are all clean and I think it's gonna come with plastic silverware anyway. Just sit down while I make popcorn.
[ martin phrases that like a question, as if he's afraid he might get that wrong, before he scurries over to the microwave to start heating a bag of it. ]
That's a lot of popcorn. [ a pause, and then- ]
I'm- I'm honestly a little surprised you agreed to come by. I know how... busy, things are. [ exhaustingly, exhaustingly busy. ]
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[It hits him then, and he pales a hair or two, because...he feels like it won't. Like there's something changing within him he can't escape.
Something curls in his chest and he studies Martin.]
You and me and - what. Melanie and Basira and Daisy? And Tim?
[He knows nothing about them. He realizes. And he wants to. He wants to see it. To see what they want and just...do what with it?]
...That'd be nice. Company bonding. Just sitting there watching-
[God. He freezes at that and shakes his head before leaning forward and turning back to the desk.]
...sorry.
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[ jon studies him, then turns away and apologizes, and martin absolutely isn't sure how to handle that. he clears his throat, hesitating as he turns the book around in his hands. ]
Maybe not Daisy. Why are you apologizing to me?
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...The idea of watching things appeals far more than it should.
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[ martin sounds entirely too stubborn about this. ]
You're allowed to be excited by- movies with friends.
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...So. Yes. Fine. All right.]
You pick the movie. Just - something with a bit more of a plot? There's some that are smarter. Those SAW movies for one. Looked a bit grim but apparently they're smarter Georgie saw one and liked it.
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Jon, those are torture porn. Look, I'll - have you seen Cabin in the Woods?
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Still.]
...No?
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[/cries]
[His eyes are wide at that.
He's not- he's never been picky about the people he spends time with. It's about the soul not the body and even then the body inhibited contact with the soul. He and Georgie had a long talk about that when she'd accused him of being prudish initially - but she apologized profusely after that.]
...I'd like that Martin. Thank you. I'd like it very much.
[pause]
Can I bring anything? By that time you'll have finished the book and we could ...talk about that first.
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[ martin hesitates, visibly deliberating, before he hastily says- ]
Probably best, though, um, if it's just you. My flat's pretty small, so I don't want too much company.
[ right. ]
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Well yes. It's just friends. One - incredibly nice person and him. Hideously ugly monster him, unable to look at himself in the mirror or care about his hair and appearance him. And Martin looking at him...]
...Well.
Yes I think.
[This would be nice. Learning about Martin like this.]
I think I could do that. Coke all right?
[A pause] You like thai food?
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the smile he gives jon is much, much sunnier than any other one he's worn in recent weeks. ]
Coke is fine. Thai food is even better. There's actually a place a few blocks from where I live that makes the best pad thai.
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There is a difference. A difference for this thing worming it's way into his mind. A difference between looking at joy and at sorrow and this is joy.
Christ. Martin must be lonely.. He could relate to that.]
Well order some then and we'll make an evening of it. You can put on as many horror movies as you like and I will regale you with my favorite science fiction books.
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Tonight?
action? -->
Leave? Leave the archives? Leave - the unknowing...He could take some work with him right? Those stupid statements that Elias leaves like breadcrumbs on his desk to some huge mystery?]
...Just give me your address.
action!
[ martin pulls out his phone as he says this, then beams a little uncharacteristically at jon and stands up. ]
Just- let me know before you head over.
:D
(no, that wasn't strictly true he had commented on her paper about the history of Scottish castles and they had kicked things off from there.)
Martin however -
He and Martin have been through a lot.
And there's that tickle again at the back of his mind. Don't you want to know what he's doing? he could. He could know how he was doing and Melanie and Basira and Daisy even if Daisy made him extra nervous now like a cat smelling a dog somewhere...
HE could know.
He doesn't want to know. Texting Martin, he lightly swings his plastic bag and ignores that tug at the back of his head. Just a dinner with your research assistant that's not bad this is what people do and I don't need anything else out of that]
Heading over.
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but, still. jon is coming over, there are going to be eyes on his sitting room, so he might as well straighten up just a little, right?
he jumps a little when his phone buzzes, half expecting jon to cancel, and relaxing when he hasn't. ]
Great! I'll unlock the door.
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Honestly once he's at the door however he realizes he might be painfully under dressed or convey an overly comfortable message but he relaxes. He's safe here this is fine.
Walking in he holds up a six pack of coca cola and offers a nervous smile.]
Hello. I - come bearing libations.
[He didn't even bring any work Martin. Please be proud of him.]
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Food should be here any time. So I guess we should, um - movie?
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[Neither of them have much space but he's a guest. Watching Martin move about relaxed is ...peaceful. It's peaceful in a way he hasn't felt before.]
I'm all thumbs in a kitchen obviously but I could get something together or clean something. I'm terrible at sitting on my hands.
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Dishes are all clean and I think it's gonna come with plastic silverware anyway. Just sit down while I make popcorn.
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God I can't remember the last time I had popcorn. How do you take it?
[He sits. This is fine. This is cozy and Martin is...MArtin is so nice. He doesn't deserve that.]
...Did you know there are 1600 unpopped kernels in a popcorn cup?
[smooth jon. smooth]
...Don't know where that very pointless fact came from. Sorry about that.
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[ martin phrases that like a question, as if he's afraid he might get that wrong, before he scurries over to the microwave to start heating a bag of it. ]
That's a lot of popcorn. [ a pause, and then- ]
I'm- I'm honestly a little surprised you agreed to come by. I know how... busy, things are. [ exhaustingly, exhaustingly busy. ]
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[He smiles and then-
Yeah.]
...It's hard.
After everything that's happened? I won't deny it's hard but holding on to the things that matter...
I think that's important right?
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