[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.]
[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.]
[He sits down, but only because... he was going to do that anyway, thank you.]
You made her my responsibility when you set the guards on her in the middle of a private meeting. And got me hauled off to jail, as well. She doesn't belong in prison. Get. Her. Out.
No. She is still my responsibility and her punishments are decided by me. Regardless of how much you desire to dip your nose into these matters until you land yourself in prison.
[Capping his pen, Elias leans back in his chair.]
Would you like to know what is your responsibility, Jon?
Avoiding committing what is essentially...tax fraud.
[Sliding a paper over with a LOT of numbers on it, he sits back again.]
According to the numbers I calculated this evening it appears that for this building to be within the reasonable definition of what you have claimed to be it will require at least a couple more employees. As it stands you have one administrator and one girl who isn't even aware she can work full time. That is two employees unless you would like to include yourself in the matter. Even then that is not enough to run this building properly.
[Elias taps the number he wrote in pen.]
That is the number you owe if you do not bother to fill in some slots here. I can assure you that you cannot afford this.
[Of the many things Elias could have led with, this was not in the top ten of anything remotely like what the Archivist had imagined. Jon's righteous anger is momentarily covered over by confusion. He picks up the paper and there are... certainly numbers. Going to things.]
But... What? I own the building. Outright. That... there are only profits from the tenants. And we can pay the taxes with those. [Right?]
That is not how this works. Essentially the tenants and the Institute qualify as two different businesses. Pulling funds from one to pay for the other will mean you are shorting yourself. It's a terrible business practice.
[Elias leans forward to tap the number again.]
You can either hire more employees to make sure that this business operates smoothly or I will hire them for you. Those are the options I am giving you, Jon.
[Jon is entirely unprepared for a discussion of good business practice.]
I don't have any income apart from the building. The Institute doesn't make money. [It is a black hole of lost revenue because charitable organizations have to play nice with things like donors. And then disseminate knowledge instead of collecting it and keeping it for the dragon's hoard that is the Archivist's basement.] How am I meant to pay anyone if I'm not using that money for-
I can't have employees. The Institute can't have employees. You'll just drag them into your bloody... metaphysical death binding web. Or whatever the hell you do.
I would would suggest that while you are at it that you find donors as well then. If you are determined to be non-profit then the profit has to be obtained elsewhere. And not from tenants who are only paying rent to live. That money has to be used for other expenses.
[Surprise, surprise, Jon. You hired a man good at his job for this. And now you're doomed.]
Now, will you be making the post asking for employees and donors? Or will I?
You can't just make me- You had me in prison for three days! I'm only out because some random person came to visit and bailed me out!
[In hindsight, attempting to compel multiple guards for information might have been responsible for his general inability to access a lawyer or his bank account.]
You're- you can't expect things to just go back to normal! Agnes is still locked up. And I'm buying her her damn coffee shop.
[Elias lets out the most put upon sigh and he leans forward.]
Jon, if you continue to force my hand when it comes to matters of Agnes I will write it into her contract that it is illegal for her to make contact with you. If would like to maintain your friendship with the Desolation then I highly recommend you leave that matter alone.
[He taps the paper again.]
And do your job before I have to file these matters with the local government who will be fascinated by how you run your business.
[The threat is infuriating. He wants to lean across the desk, grab Elias by his £50 tie, and shake him. Jon gets as far as slamming his hands down on Elias' desk and rising out of his chair.]
Why are you doing this? Why can't you let her have this? It's not even hurting you. What possible reason could you have for denying her? Because you can? She has a hard enough time in this damn city. And if you put her in Realignment again...
You are complicit in this business. Anything potentially illegal I've been doing, you've been facilitating it.
[Despite the fact that he's still sitting, it's clear he's still the one in the powerful position here as he looks up at Jon.]
Have I? As I recall I have made sure that your paperwork has been filed and organized as needed. If there have been random inspections I have been able to supply information that they require. So if you would like to keep your business I suggest you do as I've advised or I will do it for you. This is not a threat, Jon. This is a fact.
Maybe I don't want this business. Maybe getting it shut down would put a stop to it. All of it. This Institute. You holding it over my head. It doesn't all just transfer to you, if I fail. I'm pretty sure they take your assets if it's tax evasion. This building is my only asset.
I know you wouldn't want that, Elias. So, let's come to an accord. You let Agnes out of prison, and I'll be--[not 'a good boy,' ugh, why is that the first thing that comes into his head?]--cooperative. That's what you want, isn't it?
Jon, if you lose this business then I will buy it and make it my own. Do you really want Jonah Magnus running the Magnus Institute? I can assure you I can easily buy this place immediately after they take it from you.
[Elias finally smiles at him. That sweet and charming smile he uses anytime he knows he's going to get his way.]
[He wants to throw it back in Elias' face, dare him to do it. Jon is still the Archivist. Elias can't replace him. Even if... Jon and Gertrude seem to be capable of existing simultaneously in this place. Could there be another? Someone else who might want the power, work with Elias to obtain it. But then, the other Fears aren't here properly, and feeding on paper Statements would only get them so far.
Is it worth the risk? Maybe.
Jon holds Elias' smug gaze for as long as he can manage before dropping his eyes.]
Fine. What will it take to get Agnes out now. Name your price. You obviously have one.
[He needs to know. That desperate, clawing sensation at the back of his mind needs to know exactly how bad it is. Exactly how twisted, even if he can't pay it.]
[Jon draws in a sharp breath. What is Agnes worth to him? Elias already basically has control here, but he wants everything. He's paralyzed, just staring at the elder avatar as his mind pings back and forth, runs down all the rabbit-holes of what Elias could do, how many more people he could hurt. How much he could hurt Agnes, if left to it. But one life. One life versus so many. But she's important to him. But she's caused so much suffering on her own. But that wasn't her choice. But-
The walls of the office feel closer once more, and Jon's starting to tremble. He's not equipped to make this choice. Every option is a bad option. He shouldn't have asked because now he has to make the choice. It's either abandon Agnes to her fate or give Elias everything.
He can't make this choice. He cannot make this choice.
So, he runs. No answer. Jon just stumbles back from the desk and rushes to the door to have his panic attack away from Elias' prying eyes. At least his physical ones.]
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fingeronthebutton) wrote2019-11-20 04:53 pm
action
Whenever he does see Elias, he'll puff himself up.]
Get Agnes out of jail. Now.
no subject
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.
no subject
You made her my responsibility when you set the guards on her in the middle of a private meeting. And got me hauled off to jail, as well. She doesn't belong in prison. Get. Her. Out.
no subject
[Capping his pen, Elias leans back in his chair.]
Would you like to know what is your responsibility, Jon?
no subject
[He raises a brow. He's not dropping this, but Elias clearly has something he wants to talk about that isn't Agnes.]
no subject
[Sliding a paper over with a LOT of numbers on it, he sits back again.]
According to the numbers I calculated this evening it appears that for this building to be within the reasonable definition of what you have claimed to be it will require at least a couple more employees. As it stands you have one administrator and one girl who isn't even aware she can work full time. That is two employees unless you would like to include yourself in the matter. Even then that is not enough to run this building properly.
[Elias taps the number he wrote in pen.]
That is the number you owe if you do not bother to fill in some slots here. I can assure you that you cannot afford this.
[He lifts a brow at him.]
So I have two options for you. Are you listening?
no subject
But... What? I own the building. Outright. That... there are only profits from the tenants. And we can pay the taxes with those. [Right?]
no subject
[Elias leans forward to tap the number again.]
You can either hire more employees to make sure that this business operates smoothly or I will hire them for you. Those are the options I am giving you, Jon.
no subject
[Jon is entirely unprepared for a discussion of good business practice.]
I don't have any income apart from the building. The Institute doesn't make money. [It is a black hole of lost revenue because charitable organizations have to play nice with things like donors. And then disseminate knowledge instead of collecting it and keeping it for the dragon's hoard that is the Archivist's basement.] How am I meant to pay anyone if I'm not using that money for-
I can't have employees. The Institute can't have employees. You'll just drag them into your bloody... metaphysical death binding web. Or whatever the hell you do.
no subject
[Surprise, surprise, Jon. You hired a man good at his job for this. And now you're doomed.]
Now, will you be making the post asking for employees and donors? Or will I?
no subject
[In hindsight, attempting to compel multiple guards for information might have been responsible for his general inability to access a lawyer or his bank account.]
You're- you can't expect things to just go back to normal! Agnes is still locked up. And I'm buying her her damn coffee shop.
no subject
Jon, if you continue to force my hand when it comes to matters of Agnes I will write it into her contract that it is illegal for her to make contact with you. If would like to maintain your friendship with the Desolation then I highly recommend you leave that matter alone.
[He taps the paper again.]
And do your job before I have to file these matters with the local government who will be fascinated by how you run your business.
no subject
Why are you doing this? Why can't you let her have this? It's not even hurting you. What possible reason could you have for denying her? Because you can? She has a hard enough time in this damn city. And if you put her in Realignment again...
You are complicit in this business. Anything potentially illegal I've been doing, you've been facilitating it.
no subject
[Despite the fact that he's still sitting, it's clear he's still the one in the powerful position here as he looks up at Jon.]
Have I? As I recall I have made sure that your paperwork has been filed and organized as needed. If there have been random inspections I have been able to supply information that they require. So if you would like to keep your business I suggest you do as I've advised or I will do it for you. This is not a threat, Jon. This is a fact.
no subject
I know you wouldn't want that, Elias. So, let's come to an accord. You let Agnes out of prison, and I'll be--[not 'a good boy,' ugh, why is that the first thing that comes into his head?]--cooperative. That's what you want, isn't it?
no subject
[Elias finally smiles at him. That sweet and charming smile he uses anytime he knows he's going to get his way.]
You have until the end of the week, Jon.
no subject
Is it worth the risk? Maybe.
Jon holds Elias' smug gaze for as long as he can manage before dropping his eyes.]
Fine. What will it take to get Agnes out now. Name your price. You obviously have one.
no subject
[Well now he chuckles as he sits back, extending his hands out to the side.]
I doubt there is a price you could pay that would get her out now. Why do you think I haven't offered you one?
no subject
[He needs to know. That desperate, clawing sensation at the back of his mind needs to know exactly how bad it is. Exactly how twisted, even if he can't pay it.]
Name a price.
no subject
[Did he mention you wouldn't want to pay this, Jon? Did he?]
no subject
The walls of the office feel closer once more, and Jon's starting to tremble. He's not equipped to make this choice. Every option is a bad option. He shouldn't have asked because now he has to make the choice. It's either abandon Agnes to her fate or give Elias everything.
He can't make this choice. He cannot make this choice.
So, he runs. No answer. Jon just stumbles back from the desk and rushes to the door to have his panic attack away from Elias' prying eyes. At least his physical ones.]
no subject
The end of the week, Jon.
[And he goes back to work like he didn't just ruin a man's life.
Again.]