thecompulsion | TFLN OVERFLOW

In terms of my recent reading or at Hatchards?

[Jon is an Eldritch God in the making that has absolutely no sense of self preservation and finds books so much easier than people.]

Well. They may be airplane reading but I've enjoyed Philippa Gregory's novels about women in the English monarchy. A bit boring but they held my attention. Particularly Catherine of Aragorn. A good mystery. I'm always very interested in a good mystery. My grandmother used to say that books were a better babysitter than any she could pay. She thought that was a bit...creepy about it. Crichton! Again more airplane reading but the man somehow combines technical knowledge with good writing

[wow that was a lot.]

Good god. Probably more than you ever wanted to know. I am so sorry.

[ it's likely telling that this feels momentous for martin - having jon ramble at him a bit, even if it's just via text. he remembers the impression he had of the man when he started working in the archives and compares it to what he knows about him now, and honestly it's impossible not to smile a bit. ]

You should lend me a book. We can talk about it.

[He blinks because why.]

I don't know what you like to read. Which is I guess a failure on my part.

[Pause. It feels so ...mundane. And strange. Statements he's got in plenty but for Martin that just seems...]

Have you read Jurassic Park?

I haven't.

[ he actually hasn't, classically, read very much. not that he doesn't enjoy it, but it's always been a matter of time and motivation. ]

I'll pick up a copy.

Really? You always Too busy writing poetry?

[He's joking. It just might be a bit harsh but then...]

No don't buy one. I have an extra I'll lend you. I've worn out five or six of them.

[Science trying to control nature, nature breaking free. There's just something about it that appeals.]

I hope you like it. You should make more time to read books. Really I thought you were a bit more of a book...fan.

[He didn't say worm. He didn't think worm.]

[ silence, for a long while, but that's only because- ]

Here.

[ he's gently tapping open the door to jon's office, sandwich bag in hand and the file tucked between his forearm and chest. he doesn't bring up the remark about poetry - he can't quite tell if jon is mocking him or not. ]

And for the record, I don't dislike reading. I just - honestly, I guess it's just easier to play a video game at the end of a long day.

[He can be a bit abrasive sometimes Martin. Looking up from the tape recorder before setting it down. Socialize. He can do that.]

...What kind of video games?

[he pauses]

The only one I know is the one with the-

blocks. Stacking them - Tetris! That's the one.

The only game you know is Tetris? Come on, Jon, that's - really old school stuff.

[ but he'll start dutifully unpacking jon's sandwich for him. ]

[Martin how do you know his favorite sandwich. He looks genuinely touched at that before he stares at his hands.]

Well my grandmother was...strict about wasting time. [pause] about time and I could never manage to sit still anyway there was something about books that captured my attention more.

I had a friend with a whole bunch of consoles but he'd be a bit...stingy with playing them what games do you play?

Uh-

[ he doesn't take a seat, but he does linger around a bit awkwardly. ]

Assassin's Creed, recently? They've - er, they've got good stories. You'd probably like them.

Martin sit down please, you're making me uncomfortable.

[Jon Sims will get right to the point. Accepting the sandwich he wraps a napkin around it before studying him. Assassin's Creed]

It sounds exciting at least. What's it about?

[ martin will take a seat as he pulls his own sandwich out, and he looks a little bit embarrassed suddenly. ]

It's just - a sort-of retelling of history, in a way? But with, um, indulgent video game flair.

[A retelling of history from someone without a degree. It's an interesting concept however.]

You're going to have to explain indulgent. Remember I'm used to colorful blocks in different shapes.

[His features turn pleasant.]

Peter had another game with the dog? That hunted ducks. That one I liked. Not the duck hunting part I mean I understand it but the dog was kind of funny.

[He can't do pets. Period. But digital animals? sure.]

Oh, I just meant - lots of impossible running and jumping off buildings and landing just fine. Crazy fighting, too. Stuff that's fun in a video game.

[ martin tries very hard not to smile down at his sandwich. ]

You always struck me as more of a cat guy.

I like cats better in person I'm-

[he considers the question for a moment taking a bit of his sandwich.]

Just because a dog was funny in a cartoon doesn't mean I enjoy dogs in person. They're loud. He just-

[Enough.]

Cats I like but I could never spend time actually taking care of one. Friends with them are the exception. Or it might just be the admiral.

[He stares at his sandwich. This is the most open he's been with anyone in...awhile.]

...do...do you like animals? Sitting down to play games with a pet in tow?

Edited 2020-05-28 02:36 (UTC)

Do you really have to 'take care' of cats? I always kind of figured - you know, they've got a reputation for taking care of themselves.

[ it's certainly the most open he's been with martin, and he enjoys soaking it up. ]

But yeah, I've always wanted a dog. Never really had the time for one. Or the space? Hard to come by in London.

Well yeah, but you'd want to give them toys and pet them and feed them. They need toys - the admiral is a lapcat but he has his toys.

If I'm going to invest time and effort into caring for something I want to be able to give it all my time and attention you know? I'm not the best with affection. I'll own that. But when I make the time and effort...you know. And the job...

[He sighs and takes a bite of his sandwich.]

I'm rambling. I really did want to hear about you. So you play Assassin's Creed, you like dogs.

[ martin shakes his head, as if he's not letting jon off the hook that easily. ]

No, wait, rewind: who's the Admiral?

[He hesitates, before smiling and opening his phone to show him a photo of himself, a dark skinned woman with thick black curly hair, and a very large, very fluffy orange cat.]

This is the admiral.

[His smile is fond.] Georgie's my ex-roommate. We went to college together. She's had the cat ...

God. I don't remember.

[He chuckles]

But the admiral's her cat. I go and have tea with her sometimes and the admiral is very - fond. Of interrupting tea by shoving his ass in my face and demanding backscratches.

[He laughs aloud]

[ 'ex-roommate?' martin wants to press, but he doesn't, because he knows that he doesn't really have any ground to -- and because he doesn't want to ruin this, anyway. ]

Look at that- I was right. You are a cat person. [ he'll just seem a little proud of himself here as he finishes up his sandwich. ] I, uh- was that the file you needed, by the way?

Well I'm more of an admiral person.

[He chuckles] when he's not sitting on my laptop. He broke it and Georgie still hasn't replaced it.

[Something in his tone says that it doesn't matter but then he takes the file and everything else falls away. He's not Jon Sims for a moment he's The Archivist.]

Yes this is exactly it. I think there's ...a name in this that might - I was looking for it awhile back but I'm trying to trace if it's the same person, if it's another avatar. These people have - they seem to be immortal.

[Not going to address if the same applies to him. It's ...not a thought he can think of somehow cats and afternoon sandwiches and books are nothing compared to this.]

It's fascinating. Isn't it?

[ this kind of thing makes him uncomfortable and he wonders if he should even pretend otherwise. the good natured smile on his face flags into something a little more cautious, a lot more wary, and he pushes himself to his feet. ]

--yeah, fascinating. I'm going to go check on Tim, then, I reckon. Just... let me know if you need anything else.

[Jon blinks, staring at him because that's not enthusiasm and when he mentions Tim...]

Tim is okay?

I-

I mean I'm ...

This will help. But yeah. If you need to go. You should.

Yeah, Tim's fine, he was just - he's going through some things, you know?

[ martin hesitates again, because he'd half expected jon to shoo him out of his office. ]

Unless you'd like some company.

[company?

It occurs then that people might not see him as social. He's not. To be quite honest apart from Georgie and a few college friends he's not the sort of person to...actively seek out human beings. He just sort of wanders. Martin is acting like The Admiral a little bit. Determinedly invading his space but how could he say no?

Still he's stayed and he keeps asking.]

all right. I would. I mean.

[The hunger on his face as he looks at the file is real and his holding it lingers.]

Thanks again for the sandwich. [pause] My grandmother for some reason had an absolute aversion - when I was younger - to anything but bologna sandwiches. I think we had a fight about it when I was about...10? And one day she just sort of replaced the stuff with pastrami.

[One of the few nice moments from her.

He loved her. She was just...set in her ways.]

You get stuck with it. What kind of sandwiches do you like?

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[/scream]

i apologize for martin....

NEVER be sorry for Martin.

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TY this is so cute

right!!

Re: right!!

Re: right!!

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After 169 this hurts so much in a good way