kayakking | (no subject)

Somebody better start. Or I'm going to open it asymmetrically or some shit like that.

I vote together.

[ He reaches to tug at one corner? ]

That was sort of the point.

[Jonah watches, as Jon steps in to watch as well. Inside is a cassette tape. Labeled "Birthday 001".

Jon blinks at it, then up at Jonah who sort of shrugs.]

You three should have that.

[... That sure is a spooky type of tape.]

Jjjjjooonah? I mean, I don't mean to be a lil bit jumpy but I am, in fact, a little bit jumpy.

Is this a- 'this is Good' important or is it a 'It's Important' kind of important.

Um. Mostly column A, a little of column B?

Wait, I don't know what this is either.

It's the "Column B" that worries me, however "little" there is.

[Martin picks it up and turns it over, looking for a B side.]

Oh for--

[Jonah huffs a bit and looks around. He Knows there's one around somewhere. Jon watches him get up and dig a tape recorder out from behind one of the chairs and bring it over.]

Go ahead. Listen to it.

[So, in the mean time, Tim will pick up the cassette and open up the case. Even IF it is a spooky tape, he's game to give it a shot.]

All right.

[And sets it in, there's a click, a hiss and then-]

[As it starts, Jonah starts stepping back, away. Let them have this.

The tell tale sound of the click that's become so familiar and then martin's voice telling them "be careful!"

A door opening and three voices - Tim, Martin, and an unfamiliar woman's voice shouting, "Surprise!" Jon surprised and fumbling and... It's a birthday party.

A birthday party for Jon in Archives.

For his part, Jon is sitting listening a bit awed.]

I had.. Forgotten about this.

[ Oh. Oh, that's - Algric remembers that. Except the woman's voice?

He listens quietly, abruptly blinking back tears. ]

[The first line passes with only a brief furrow of his brow. The woman asking if Jon was okay could have been anyone. In fact, sounded like just... you know. Anyone.

The 'Plus, it was kind of fun, giving you a heart attack.' The memory clicks, and with it, an urgency.

He leans forward, fingers reaching for the rewind and hesitates, looking at the others.]

Can -? Just- Just a second.

[Jon leans in a bit, nods.]

Yes, of course.

[ Algric nods, still awed and a little numb. ]

God, I- Yeah-

[The tape clicks and whirs as it rewinds just a hair. The dialog repeats. The woman's voice starts again, bright and full of a distinct personality.

The view in front of Tim's eyes waver from the water suddenly filling it. Click. Rewind. Play.]

That's... that's her. What she really sounded like...

It is...

[It was so recent for them yet he had already forgotten.. That was truly the horrific reality of Not! Them.]

How - how did I forget. God, I ...

[ He knows how, but still. ]

[Tim's fingers slip off the button and cover his mouth. He just breathes, tears falling, unremarked.

It was her. ]

Christ.

[The birthday is continues, a glimpse into a time that seemed so much simpler than it was. A rocky start, a new coworker. A friend who got promoted over another.

And Elias.]

[survivor's guilt is a hell of a thing. for his part, Martin doesn't know what to say that hasn't already been expressed...but he does put an arm around Tim's shoulders, blinking back mist in his own eyes.

let it out, Tim. they're here for you.]

[Jon is sitting, listening. He barely remembers this, after the last few months of horror and trauma. Was this really maybe the last time they were all happy together? There must be other times, but they aren't coming to mind.

He leans in a bit, resting a hand on Tim's arm to give a little squeeze.]

That's really her.

[He takes a ragged, shuddering breath and nods.]

I... yeah.

[Watery eyes find Jonah, and ... were it in other circumstances. A find he made himself and listened to alone... it would have been a torture of his own devising, the realization he didn't know her. And maybe never had.

But this, as a gift given. It's some of her BACK.]

Thank you.

[there's a loud, wet sniff from behind Tim; Martin is giving the tape recorder a watery smile.]

Who knew that there'd be a good side to The Archive?

R-right? Seems impossible, but.

[ But here it is, the evidence right in front of them. ]

There aren't many, no.

[Jonah sort of shifts nervously where he'd moved to stand, give them space.]

"You're welcome."