[ 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. ]
[ but, yes- jon seems to be enjoying the movie, to which martin way more delighted than he should be. he'll lift his hand to gently push at jon's shoulder - not trying to shove him away, just a playful excuse to touch him - before he laughs and drops his hand back to his lap. ]
[ martin cracks up before he can help himself, and gently- gently - pushes at jon's arm one more time, just because it wasn't ill received before. ]
That, um - sometimes I'm really jealous of the fact that you got to go to university, and then you tell stories like that and it makes me feel like I'm probably very luck that I missed out.
[That same certainty. Of course he didn't get to go. that's why he lied on his CV - to an extent but there's more to it because-
Ugh. Shut up. Get out of my head and let me have this. leave me alone.
Can an eye laugh? Can he accept that?]
It's largely thanks to my grandmother's help. If it makes you feel any better.
[He pats him on the shoulder. comfort yes. comfort is good. Onscreen as the children run around he's now focused back in time.]
But I have a million stories. I once blew up a science lab. I broke my arm at a protest because I tripped and fell flat on my ass. I led a surprisingly active university life when all I wanted to do was just-read.
[He leans back and leans on the couch, settling back beside Martin. He's relaxed.]
I was always a stuck up asshole. I think that's why the universe decided to keep shoving things at me.
[ jon pats him on the shoulder and he relaxes visibly, trying not to look strangely pleased. he takes a bite of the popcorn, eyes half-focused on the film in front of him. ]
Seems like you've always kept yourself busy. I mean - [ and this is where he'll glance sidelong at jon. ] - honestly, it's kind of a wonder you ended up at the Magnus Institute at all.
[Onscreen the backwoods family is torturing people and Jon can't tear his eyes away. Just for a moment - before Martin's words hit him.]
Sorry what? I-
[Magnus institute.]
...Well.
[He pauses] I think we've all had our brushes with the paranormal. And in this case the pay was good and I wanted something where I could put my degrees to use that wasn't just...biology or some kind of psychology.
...You know. That sort of thing.
[Look at Martin. Don't look at the TV. Don't Because it makes sense and humans always know don't they...
He shifts so that he can look at Martin directly with a smile.]
So...I mean...
My grandmother used to tell me that the only way to get me to sit still was to hook me into a good story and I've tried to follow that. If I don't find interesting and engaging stories...well. I get bored.
[ martin has seen this film twice already, but he's having just as much trouble tearing his eyes away. finally, jon turns to actually look at him and martin, flustered for a reason he can't explain, continues: ]
Guess that doesn't surprise me too much. You needing a good story, I mean.
[He might be slightly kidding] Am I that unreliable Martin?
[Yes. In some ways. In some other ways he's better. Gotten better. getting better weirdly.
Before he can say what else he wants to say he turns back to the screen at the sound of a loud jump and - the kids are heading back to the ritual space.]
...Oh.
[And amid the slaughter he laughs.] Why is it that whenever people try to perform rituals for ancient gods something always goes wrong?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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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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--horror movies matter?
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[He shrugs and squirms at that a bit.] I honestly never was very social. but now I want to at least try. That counts right?
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[ martin will lapse into brief silence, at least until the popcorn is finished, before he heads over to the couch and takes a seat. ]
Are you- ready for the movie?
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...Yeah. Yeah all right.
[popping the top on his coke he pauses. There's not a lot of furniture so he'll just. Scoot over.]
What's this one called again?
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[ god he really hopes jon doesn't hate this. he'll offer him some popcorn. ]
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Those guys in the suits remind you of anyone?
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[ but he's not complaining - just pleased that jon is engaged. ]
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Well I mean, I should hope I've been a better boss than that - it's not hard to imagine them with someone like Elias in charge though.
[Oh. The kids.
And they're forcing them? To...experience trauma.
To feed Gods. It's hard not to lean forward with interest and he makes up for it by scooting closer to Martin by a hair.
It's just a movie. And truth be told it's a fascinating concept. Though when the girl gets it on with the wolf's head he snorts.]
...She's going to get fur in her mouth.
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[ but, yes- jon seems to be enjoying the movie, to which martin way more delighted than he should be. he'll lift his hand to gently push at jon's shoulder - not trying to shove him away, just a playful excuse to touch him - before he laughs and drops his hand back to his lap. ]
Fur in her mouth.
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Martin's touch makes him snort.]
So. Once when I was in college, one of my roommates was dared to kiss a giant stuffed bear. He did a pretty convincing impression of her-
[He points at the girl.]
and when he woke up after a very drunk evening...he complained about fur in his mouth.
Georgie nearly peed herself.
[He snorts back laughter and then...aha. Back to that focus. ]
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That, um - sometimes I'm really jealous of the fact that you got to go to university, and then you tell stories like that and it makes me feel like I'm probably very luck that I missed out.
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Ugh. Shut up. Get out of my head and let me have this. leave me alone.
Can an eye laugh? Can he accept that?]
It's largely thanks to my grandmother's help. If it makes you feel any better.
[He pats him on the shoulder. comfort yes. comfort is good. Onscreen as the children run around he's now focused back in time.]
But I have a million stories. I once blew up a science lab. I broke my arm at a protest because I tripped and fell flat on my ass. I led a surprisingly active university life when all I wanted to do was just-read.
[He leans back and leans on the couch, settling back beside Martin. He's relaxed.]
I was always a stuck up asshole. I think that's why the universe decided to keep shoving things at me.
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Seems like you've always kept yourself busy. I mean - [ and this is where he'll glance sidelong at jon. ] - honestly, it's kind of a wonder you ended up at the Magnus Institute at all.
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Sorry what? I-
[Magnus institute.]
...Well.
[He pauses] I think we've all had our brushes with the paranormal. And in this case the pay was good and I wanted something where I could put my degrees to use that wasn't just...biology or some kind of psychology.
...You know. That sort of thing.
[Look at Martin. Don't look at the TV. Don't Because it makes sense and humans always know don't they...
He shifts so that he can look at Martin directly with a smile.]
So...I mean...
My grandmother used to tell me that the only way to get me to sit still was to hook me into a good story and I've tried to follow that. If I don't find interesting and engaging stories...well. I get bored.
very bored.
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[ martin has seen this film twice already, but he's having just as much trouble tearing his eyes away. finally, jon turns to actually look at him and martin, flustered for a reason he can't explain, continues: ]
Guess that doesn't surprise me too much. You needing a good story, I mean.
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[He might be slightly kidding] Am I that unreliable Martin?
[Yes. In some ways. In some other ways he's better. Gotten better. getting better weirdly.
Before he can say what else he wants to say he turns back to the screen at the sound of a loud jump and - the kids are heading back to the ritual space.]
...Oh.
[And amid the slaughter he laughs.] Why is it that whenever people try to perform rituals for ancient gods something always goes wrong?
[He looks genuinely happy. Amused even.]