the_archivist | Prisma Inbox

I'm dealing. Sorry, just reminded me of- of someone from home for a minute. He always used to- um- he'd bring me tea. Even when I was awful to him.

[ Hal's ears flatten slightly. Now he feels kind of sad he somehow made some homesickness bubble up. But it can be bittersweet - silver lining, right? ]

Good memories?

Yes. He is- He was one of my assistants. Martin. He always believed in me. Supported me. I didn't deserve it.

Well... as someone who does things like that, I think I can understand how Martin felt.

[ Hal gently tugs his friend's hand, trying to get him to walk with him. They can talk over tea. ]

[Jon lets himself be tugged along, and starts to drag himself together. Really, it isn't fair, that every other Avatar gets the emotions burned out of them, and he's still here, feeling everything too much.]

Sorry. That got maudlin.

It's not! Keep telling me about him. I have big ears for listening right now!

Um, well, he's... Like I said, he was my assistant in the Archive. He was a researcher. I was- I was terrible to him at first. But he didn't-

He always tried to take care of me, make sure I ate and went home, even when I- I went through a period of intense paranoia a couple of years ago. Not entirely unjustified paranoia, but I handled it badly. burned bridges with one of my assistants pretty badly. But Martin- he just kept protecting me. He trusted me. Never gave up on me.

He really cared about you. It's good that you realize that now.

[ Hal nudges Jon gently. ]

Lead the way.

Too little, too late, unfortunately.

[Because now Martin is embroiled in something with Peter Lukas and Jon- he worries. It can't be pleasant, working with an Avatar of the Lonely that closely, and he doubts that's all that's going on.]

Right. Come on then.

Oh.

[ Well, nothing more to say on that front, then. He's quiet, letting Jonathan lead him, the smell of the baked goods in the paper bag wafting up into his face. ]

Well, I'm here for you. Even if you're prickly.

[Jon takes a breath.]

It's not- it's complicated. Things got messy. very messy for a while. At work. And then I was in a coma for six months, and when i woke up, well, everything was different. I was six months behind and Martin- he works as the assistant to the acting Head of the Magnus Institute now. And I can't see him.

[And he is so very worried.]

I know you are. Thank you. It means a lot.

Mmm. I can't say I understand your paranormal, academic world, but I can understand your feelings. How scary it is. How alone and helpless you feel. I've been there plenty of times!

[ Hal is gentle and even, soothing, and waits for Jon to let him in. ]

You can sit down with your muffin and tea with me, and talk more, if you need to. Want to. I'm here for you today! It makes me feel better to be.

You're better off not knowing. I- I don't even know how I'd begin to explain it anyway.

[He doesn't want to, because then he'd have to explain that he is a monster, and Hal will never want to talk to him again.]

That sounds really nice.

[He opens the door and steps inside, and lets Hal follow after him.]

[ Without his usual shyness, Hal invites himself right in like its his own home. ]

-- wait, are you a shoes off kinda place? I know some places do that.

[ He does take them off anyway, then resumes making himself at home. ]

Tea time! We can hold hands. That's good for you, right?

[ It's fortunate Jon isn't under Cordis at the moment, or even inclined towards being interested in sex, because Hal's heat is roaring and he's really struggling with it. He is making a very laundry-like, soothing smell. ]

I tend to take mine off, yes. I don't really have visitors though.

[Hal and Thor had been the only ones so far.]

We can hold hands.

[Jon takes his hand again and heads into the kitchen to start the tea.]

[ His ears shift forward slightly, and then flop down as he smiles; it's very sweet. ]

This is why James just up and left. He was jealous because you're gentle with me and can be cute when you want to be.

[Jon snorts at that, although from the way he flushes it's clear he isn't entirely displeased.]

You are definitely the only person who thinks I'm cute, just so you know.

Because I get to see a side of you I don't think you show other people. It's the same with Dave -- he's a legendary super soldier, but only I get to see him as a person. Y'know? It's special for me. A simple guy like me.

[ He puts the bag down on the counter and tips it over, freeing up the muffins and one almond croissant. ]

The croissant is mine. Just a heads up, so you don't get any ideas.

You- you might be right about that.

God, I think Georgie might be the only other person who has actually seen me at home like this.

[Domestic and affectionate and sure, kind of a dick, but not The Archivist.]

I promise your croissant is safe.

D'you have a table or something? Little plates? I can put things out -- up to you. I'm used to being a bit messy in my own home. Dave took all the furniture in the apartment apart to begin with, checking for bugs and such.

[ Hal picks up his croissant and begins eating happily. A rabbit-man munching away. ]

There's the coffee table in the living room. Just move the papers and the tape recorder.

And plates are in that cupboard.

[He pulls out the teapot, one of his few non essential purchases and drops a couple of teabags in while the kettle boils.]

[ Hal nods and hums a little anime song's tune as he pulls things out; he's very soft and cheerful, and it's weird to him when he reflects back on how he is during Iris' pull. It's like he becomes a person not dragged down by his trauma and personality flaws that make him nervous and clumsy. Instead he's just... like, a cute anime uncle. The kind he liked in shows he'd watch that were a bit more slice of life.

Jonathan gets his cranberry muffin on a plate, and Hal puts his own crumby mess on one as well. Now to clean the table. ]

Why do you have a tape recorder? That's pretty old tech, especially here.

[ He's very careful with the papers -- he doesn't want to disturb any order Jonathan had put them in, but he still stacks them up. ]

Uh... to record the statements with. The real ones won't record with anything more modern. Trust me, if I try to record them on my laptop at home, they just get corrupted.

[ Hal's ears go flat again, and he looks noticeably nervous. ]

Are they... cursed? Is that why?

Cursed- no, they're-

You won't get hurt by touching them. They're just- they just don't record digitally. Magnetic tape is what works.

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