Duplicity IC Inbox

[fingeronthebutton]

(Will make this look nicer later!)

Comments

un: thearchivist; text

[compellingstatement]

[Jon can't be angry at Martin, but that doesn't preclude Elias from his anger and loathing. He'd told Martin he wouldn't run off to meet Elias, and he won't. Texting is by far the preferable option.]

What did you do to Martin at that shop?
Tell me, Elias, or so help me, I will find where you live and send a horde of insects to infest it for the next six months.

[There's one good thing that's come of that fight with Martin. Jon's been reminded that he's not alone here. There are threats he can call on that might bother even Elias. Rhys is a phone call away, and he'll just need to be directed to a location and paid handsomely... and kept as in the dark as to what reason there is for this as possible.

At least that's Jon's current plan for how to make this threat work. It's... plausible that it could work.]

You can find out what it's like to be besieged by worms on a very personal level.
Or would you prefer spiders?
We have options here.

[fingeronthebutton]

[Enjoy Elias' "Away" message, Jon.]

Presently unavailable due to work circumstances.
If this is Jon then please be advised that harming me will mean innocent lives here will be harmed too.

If your business is urgent I will call back shortly.

un: agnes, text

[lightlessflame]

Let's have a coffee.

[fingeronthebutton]

How sudden. What inspired this, Agnes?

un: thearchivist; text

[compellingstatement]

How do you feed the Eye?

[Jon is fully aware that Martin would be unhappy he's contacting Elias, but at this point, after what happened with the spell and Vash, there is some measure of sense in it. The man is the only other avatar of the Beholding in the city, and he's had centuries to learn. Jon doesn't want to go back to how it was with the written Statements, just feeling hollow, wanting the next one without really caring all that much about the one he's just had. He can't risk getting violently aroused, either, if someone tries to force-feed him another verbal one.

He'd been rash with Agnes and that concentration spell. He needs to be a little more measured. Gather information. Elias doesn't take Statements, so what does he do, instead? Maybe there's some escape there. And... some advice to fix what Jon has done to himself. He can hope on the latter, at least.]

[fingeronthebutton]

Elias Bouchard would like to wish you a pleasant holiday season. Unfortunately, he is unable to respond to your text at this moment due to handling other matters.

If this is Jon then please be aware the world does not revolve around you and some people do have jobs.

[compellingstatement]

[There is a small gift box waiting for Elias at Haven's reception desk when he arrives to work on the 26th. It seems to have been left with only his name on the tag out front. Figuring out it's from Jon likely won't pose a challenge to the other man. But Jon's at least going to make it hard for other people to track it to him.

Inside is a mug. It's meant as a sort of threat. As much of a threat as Jon can muster when he's rather failed to gain entry to Haven and snap a shot of Elias or get to any personnel files. Cullen being onto his stalking doesn't help much... But he can still menace. Sort of. At least this way there's no text exchange with Elias giving him some ridiculous 'away' message.]

[fingeronthebutton]

[Guess who totally fills it with coffee and uses it on the daily after getting it. Guess who.]

12/25

[hungerneverfed]

[Elias will find a small knife in a box sitting on his desk when he arrives that night. It's thin and elegant, something easy to conceal and comes with a strap and sheath that he could attach to an arm or a leg.]

Mr. Bouchard,

My apologies for the delay on this. I decided to make something new. Please be very careful with this blade. It is coated with a compound that will lay a man flat for an hour if you knick him with the blade. Best of luck and thank you again for your assistance.

Merry Christmas,
Dr. Reid

[fingeronthebutton]

[Reid will find a note for him later.]

Dr. Reid,

Many thanks for your gift. I truly appreciate this effort to maintain my safety. Please accept this gift a healthy donation to Haven. Of course, I suppose I should say you have to since, as the accountant, I have already applied the funds to the account.

Merry Christmas,

Elias Bouchard

[sathan]

backdated to christmas

[lacecase]

[Just as Elias left a gift for Ginger, she leaves one for him, as well. The box is all done up in silver paper and a big bow. Inside is a warm, sleek-looking coat. Naturally, she left a note for him, as well.]

Happy Christmas, handsome!

I hope this keeps you nice and toasty. I'm pretty sure I got your size right, but let me know when I see you again if it needs any fixing up. Meeting you has been such a wonderful highlight of my time here, so I hope for many good times to come!

XOXO
Ginger

[fingeronthebutton]

[He'll make sure to wear it the next time he sees her and sends her a note to thank her for her kindness.]

thearchitect | text

[emet_sulk]

You were right about his paranoia. It was very apparent when I mentioned having spoken to you.

[fingeronthebutton]

[He's been waiting for this conversation. He smiles as he sips at his coffee, deciding he can take a moment away from work to have this chat.]

It's quite potent, isn't it.

>action

[compellingstatement]

[It's about a week after what could be generously referred to as the train-wreck Jon had flung himself into on the the D/S Finder, when there will be a knock on Elias' new office door. Jon has been psyching himself up for this meeting, for trying to fix the mess he made. He's still moping in his Archives, but he's at least being dragged home at night now to shower and attempt something like sleep. So he's clean and presentable, hair pulled back in a tight ponytail and he's wearing one of the sharpest outfits he has from his first shopping trip with Peter.

He just needs to be confident, to take charge. This is his building. Elias is technically his employee. And that means he can fire the man. He is going to fire him. He'd made a terrible mistake allowing this at all when he'd been at his lowest point, but now that he's not wallowing completely (only sort of) in despair, he needs to fix this.

Whether or not Elias calls for him to come in, Jon will open the door, a frown fixed on his features, determination setting his jaw.]

Elias, we need to talk about your employment here.

[fingeronthebutton]

[Elias is busy doing some paperwork. Before Jon opens the door, he calls out to him.]

Come in, Jon.

[Without looking up, he continues to add his signature to things before setting them into neat little piles. From the looks of it, he's managing the finances currently. Making sure everything is in order and legal. He only pauses when Jon speaks, smiling with some amusement as he sets his pen down to look up at him.

Jon might be standing but it very much looks like he doesn't have power here.]

Do we now. Well, what do you want to talk about?

un: thearchivist; text

[compellingstatement]

[Jon isn't making the same mistake twice. He can have more control when he's not facing down Elias, in-person. And there's no court case to ruin. That's won. Elias doesn't have anything to hold over him now.]

I'm giving you the archives at the Institute as they exist now.
I'll be starting my own private and personal collection of Statements.
It will be a hobby and I won't require your services.
I expect you'll keep things running smoothly at my building.
But I won't be collecting anymore Statements for you or the Institute.
Nor will you be accepting anything on my behalf.
There will be no archival staff hired to replace my work.
As was agreed in our contract, I am the only one who can hire people.

[He is a strong, independent Archivist, and he doesn't need to have a perfectly nice, climate-controlled, well-positioned building with everything he could want in it. He'll just... be a hobbyist. From home. Ugh...]

[fingeronthebutton]

[Quite frankly, this is adorable. Because Jon is doing his best here. He really is.]

A hobby, Jon? How fascinating.


[And with that, he does something he hasn't done in months. He calls to his Archivist to have him come to him. Do you suddenly feel the need to pick up something from his office, Jon? Or did you just somehow wander there? It's such a mystery how you ended up there with Elias opening the door to his office to gaze down at you with a smile.]

Do come in.

action

[compellingstatement]

[It's his own building, Jon reasons. You can't break into your own building. And Elias is technically his employee, so that goes double for this. He'd tried to make certain he knew the other man was gone from the building before attempting this, though.

He uses the master key he has to unlock Elias' office and slip in. Now, if the Eye wouldn't mind just guiding him toward any contracts Elias might have with Tsurugi... Or anyone else, for that matter.]

[fingeronthebutton]

[You know, he has this feeling Jon is going to attempt something stupid. Often he just watches from a distance but tonight he feels like perhaps an in person treat is in order. So rather than continuing home, he turns back to go to his office at the Institute. And what a surprise to see that Jon is already in there.

And by that really he means it's not a surprise at all.

He lifts a brow and stands in the doorway watching. Waiting to see what will happen with this. After all, it's not like he keeps anything personal here aside from that knife.]

text; un: thearchitect

[emet_sulk]

Greetings, Elias. I have a request to make if you have the time for it. There is knowledge I seek.

[fingeronthebutton]

What a surprise, Emet. And what information do you seek?

[If you believe for a second that this is a surprise...]

un: thearchivist; text (the day after Elias' tryst with Tsurugi)

[compellingstatement]

Where the hell do you get off?
Tsurugi is banned from this building.
Do not let him in here.

On top of that, doing that with someone in your office is completely unprofessional.
It's against all Institute guidelines and your office is part of the Institute here!
I should have you arrested.
Dom's aren't allowed to be together like that.

[fingeronthebutton]

Oh? You mean like when you and I were together?

un: thearchivist; text

[compellingstatement]

[Jon's doing this right this time. He has Martin sat beside him on the sofa, able to look over his shoulder to see the conversation. This isn't going to be like the other times. Jon's determined.]

Did you die like the rest of us on that space ship?
It's something I've been wondering.
If you did, it raises a vast array of very interesting questions.

[Questions like: 'Have I been panicking over you dying for more than half a year when it doesn't actually matter here?' Then again... everyone had died.]

[fingeronthebutton]

Jon, if I had died then there would have been negative repercussions. You and I both know this.

un: thearchivist; text

[compellingstatement]

[Jon's forgotten, really, what it's like to be subject to human limitations. Fighting with a supernatural creature is a reminder that while he's not human, he's still extremely vulnerable to physical assault. He makes it to the Institute building from Tsurugi's house, only collapsing a few times along the way. There's some sort of internal damage that's been done and if he were sensible, he might go to hospital. But it's more the cosmetic injuries that have Jon concerned. That and the way his vision is swimming, making it hard to focus. He makes it down to his basement office and falls into his chair. Can't lie down. It would get blood on the sheets. He needs to deal with... that. But first, he's going to go cross-eyed sending off a text when he's suffering from the worst headache he can remember in years.]

You bastard.
You fucking bastard!
A vampire.
I'm going to find a way to change you back.
I swear to god, Elias.

[fingeronthebutton]

[Elias is at his other job. You know, because he has two. He's in the middle of sorting something out when he get a text from none other than Jon. Pulling it up, he chuckles and decides to leave it a few minutes while he finishes up what he's doing. When it's done, he writes back.]

That isn't how it works, Jon.
If it were that easy the choice you made could so easily be reversed.

text un: diva

[colorature]

i hate jon hes so cruel i hate him i hate him i hate him

[fingeronthebutton]

What did he do this time?

[As if he doesn't already know.]

text ➜ un: doggystyle

[shoelicking]

hiiiiiiiii ♥
got a quick little question for you!
just a super friendly inquiry!

[fingeronthebutton]

Would this happen to be about Jon?

un: dgray; text, cw: dorian does not understand consent that well

[brushoff]

[ Is Dorian texting Elias from the next room over? Probably! ]

I'm going to host a housewarming party soon. Possibly next weekend?
And by housewarming party I mean I'm going to invite a bunch of people over, have some lovely drinks and snacks, and then pump the entire house full of aphro so everybody has a grand time.
Warning you in advance.

[fingeronthebutton]

Do let me know when this happens and I will try to make myself available.
Only one job should offer a potential scheduling conflict, of course.

un: thearchivist; text

[compellingstatement]

[This is, undoubtedly, a pointless effort and throwing himself at a brick wall, but Jon has to try.]

Don't speak to Sally again.
She has enough on without you toying with her.

[fingeronthebutton]

The party you are trying to reach would like you to know that they are busy at the moment.

If this message is urgent you are free to call.
Otherwise please wait for a follow up message.

Thank you.

action

[compellingstatement]

[Rationally, Jon should head home, tell everyone he's all right, relax, explain what happened. Rationally, those would be the best things to do. But even after three days, Jon is angry, frustrated, ready to do what he has to in order to get Agnes out of her imprisonment. He heads down to the Archives, showers there and changes into the spare set of clothes he keeps in his office, records a Statement, then it's up to Elias' office. If the man isn't there, Jon will step inside and sit down in Elias' chair. It's... a minor power play. Not something Jon is especially good at, but he can make a game attempt at it.

Whenever he does see Elias, he'll puff himself up.]

Get Agnes out of jail. Now.

[fingeronthebutton]

[Elias is definitely there. Currently busy doing some record keeping for the Institute. Frowning a little as he does. Largely because there is a glaring issue here and... Ah. Just the man he needs to speak to about it actually.]

Sit down, Jon.

[He waves to the seat across from him but doesn't look up just yet. Instead, he makes a notation of something in pen. A bit of a calculation.]

Agnes isn't your responsibility as I recall.

un: thearchivist; text

[compellingstatement]

I got the workers like you wanted.
Will you tell them to let Agnes out of lock-up now?

Also, are memories of Sasha correct?
Would you recognize the real her over that thing that was impersonating her?

[It's incredibly annoying that Elias is his main source of guidance for his powers, but it is what it is.]

[fingeronthebutton]

I don't recall that being the arrangement.

As to the other matter, yes.
I would be able to recognize the real Sasha from the false.

un: thearchivist; text

[compellingstatement]

I'm allowed to do whatever I want in my free time, right?

[This might be asking for trouble, but the lack of clarity on the boundaries is making him more and more anxious. If he's in a box, he wants to be able to see the edges of it, not accidentally slam into the side at full tilt without meaning to.

Tim's questioning has left him feeling more uncertain than ever.]

[fingeronthebutton]

Oh? Do you suddenly have plans, Jon?
A rising social life?

text | un: diva

[colorature]

is philosophy really that important

[fingeronthebutton]

If Jon told you to do it then no.