kayakking | (no subject)

[HE JUST.]

Should I make a PowerPoint? Oohhh, I could get some animations and transitions in there too.

[It is SUCH a Tim tone. Does the press of a kiss to Jonah's neck make it better or worse?]

[Worse, actually. Because he still doesn't understand. He goes still at the affection before exhaling and staring down at Tim, the look of a Jon frustrated trying to figure out a puzzle that's being uncooperative providing all the pieces.]

I'm being serious. I'm genuinely ask- never mind.

[Jonha rests his head back down against him. He does know Tim and if he hasn't answered by now, it'll just be something he has to accept. He's frustrated but... Not enough to get into it.]

[Luckily, Tim couldn't miss that. When Jonah deflates, the fight leaving him, Tim's arms tighten a little.]

Hey, no. Just... give me a minute. Like, I know. I know. I'm not shitting you or me. Some of us don't have the same command of language here, okay.

[He gives a bit of an inelegant huff at that.]

Not like I do either. That is all the... Monster part of me.

Mmm.

[That's a thoughtful sound with no comment after it. There's a ... lot there that he's mostly accepted but it runs up hard against one identity slamming against another.

That's not a conversation for now.

Jonah may sink a bit with the huge exhale Tim lets out, his head sinking back against the cushions.]

I mean. Where's that line between them? I don't know. I know I think about you all the time. Like, I want your dumb ass to be happy but I think I've always done that? But sitting just like this? Makes me happy in a way that's just. No, I want this, desperately, as long as I can.

[He does listen, both to the words, but also Tim's breathing and heartbeat. It's... Nice, in a way. But his voice is quiet. Tired.]

I guess I simply don't... Really understand why.

I dunno. I guess because under it all, you're still you.

Am I?

Because I haven't... [A slow inhale.]

I'm a thing, Tim. I'm the Archive. I'm not... Really me anymore.

[He pulls back on the natural urge to just, immediately assert otherwise. This... seemed... delicate. He tightens his hold a little more, thumb sliding over a patch of Jonah's arm.]

Care to elaborate on that one?

.... Before Algric found me, I.

No one has called me by my name in... A very long time. Even before the Unknowing in my timeline all of it, everything hunting us, hunting me always... Called me "Archivist". Even Elias never bothered with my name except to admonish me when he needed to.

No. Always... Archivist. And then His Archive.

[He sighs, tenuous and a bit shaky. Feelings are hard when they're his own needing to be out out there.]

I don't... Know how much of "Jon" I still really am.

[And... Tim insisted on another to keep the two of them straight. He takes in a sharp breath, feeling a cold sweat down his back and a flush on his face.

He swallows hard.]

Christ... I.

God that's fucked up.

It is. A bit.

[He's kept his face turned down, cheek pressed into Timothy's shoulder and not looking directly at him.]

So, I don't. Fully understand why... me. Because I'm... I'm not me anymore.

Jon, I...

[He shifts a little, the name firm now. The hands on the other man move if only to rest a hand over Jonah's.]

God. I'm not who I was five years ago. Not even who I was in research. And the sheer magnitude of shit you've been through is-

[Enraging. No, not right now.]

Sure, you're different. There's no way to GO through all of that and not be... But.. that's who I love.

[He can't help but laugh bitterly at that.]

You don't even know half of what I've been through.

[But his tone sombers down again.]

If you're sure, Tim.

I am.

[And he loosens his grip slight.]

And yeah, I don't. If... you ever want to talk about it.. I've got a beer fridge.

[That.... He lifts his head to look at Tim, contemplating. Considering.]

You still on about craft brews?

Look. You just haven't tried the right one.

[SURE IS.]

This is. Definitely a drinking conversation.

[He watches Tim's expression carefully before moving to sit up, rubbing at that bad shoulder. It feels... a little better. Easier. Hard to tell if it's from the company Tim's provided or the actual physical warmth.]

It isn't pretty and it only gets worse, if you're sure you want to hear it.

[Tim stretches a bit behind him, a soft pop can be heard from his back.

He does... angle a look to see if there is any visible sign of improvement, but well, clothes are a bit of an obstical too.]

I'm... Yeah I'm sure. If you can.

I think I may have been an arse and- that's not on you. But ... If you want to talk, I want to listen.

All right. Drinks and a bad story it is, then.

[He does, at least, get off of Tim so they can go to the kitchen.]

Let's see... This point... You've met Basira by now, yes?

Hard to miss.

I mean, at the time, I thought she was mooning after you.

[There's a light tone to his voice there, the light thread of teasing now that it has been SOUNDLY cleared up. The fridge cracks open with a hiss and a mechanical whir.]

I know you did.

[He takes a seat at the little island.]

But I don't think you've met Daisy yet... Her partner. So... Hm.

[Even as a living Archive, there's still a lot to sort through. Jonah takes a moment, figuring out where to start.]

Right. So. Police got the CCTV cleared up to prove I didn't kill Gertrude. Eeeexcept Elias actually cleaned it up and hid his own involvement there. Basira was ...relieved of her position and Daisy brought me the rest of Gertrude's tapes. Hated me from the word 'go'.

After that, I destroyed the table. Released Not-Sa.... The. Not-Them. Chased me down into the tunnels and I met Leitner himself. Had been hiding out down there for years. Brought him back to my office, got his statement, it was... Overwhelming? Having the Entities laid out like that. And. [He looks a bit...Frustrated. At himself, more than anything.] I went out to have a smoke. Came back and he'd been beaten to death in my office while I was gone. So I ran.

That... would definitely ring you for a prime suspect.

[He.. knew what that was like. Staying, waiting it out, being innocent certainly didn't help anything be kinder or less dangerous.]

I mean, good riddance but... God. The timing of it... He must have been waiting.

Perhaps. You were convinced I did it for a while.

[He watches Tim, wonders how much of that he should go into... No. Tim asked what Jonah had gone through. Stick to that, no bother with detours.]

I ended up crashing at Georgie's for a while. I periodically received a few statements, hand delivered. Didn't realize until later it was Elias because he knew where I was. All of them pointed me towards the Stranger and their ritual. Eventually, I... Went looking for Jude Perry. One of the Lightless Flame, um. Desolation. I took her statement, and in turn she...

[He holds up his burned hand.]

Asked me to shake her hand.

[He doesn't know her. Not yet.

But he knows what that would mean. He knows what the fire wants. and sucks in a quiet breath.]

... Right.

[.. From the man who hadn't hesitated in the rubble of the Stranger's ritual...]

So he sends you to get fucked up.