fingeronthebutton | Duplicity IC Inbox

[He was... why was he here? Jon is holding a cup of coffee in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. He'd just been at home and he was going out to get something to drink. But he'd... come to the Institute. To give... Elias a coffee? It would make him easier to deal with. But he hadn't meant to meet him in person. Had he?

Jon stares at the other man in confusion, then mild horror. He hadn't meant to be here. Or, maybe he had? To get a copy of the contract. He still needs one of those. So maybe he came for that?]

I... brought you a coffee. [He holds it out to Elias. What else is he going to do? Throw it in the man's face? Tempting... He'll seriously consider that for the few seconds it takes the other man to grab the takeaway cup. Jon steps into the office, expression still puzzled and extremely off-balance.] I need a copy of the contract. Your employment contract.

[That must be why he came here. Jon is fully aware that is not at all why he is here, but the alternative is admitting to himself that Elias just magically walked him right to his side, and that's a thought he doesn't want to deal with.]

Edited 2020-05-14 20:50 (UTC)

Did you? How kind.

[Taking the coffee, Elias closes the door behind him and then waves for Jon to have a seat.]

Now, what do you need a copy of the contract for exactly? It is in the records so you need only get one of the digital copies to print out. There really isn't a need to be here.

[Going to his desk, he sits down and has a sip of the coffee. Not bad really.]

[Jon sits, too disoriented to do much more than just do as he's told. Digital records. Right, he can just print a copy. So, why is he here? His fingers curl around the cup of tea he'd brought for himself as he stares at Elias.]

I wanted to... [His expression hardens. He needs to shake this off. He's just been jerked around like a dog on a leash, and while it's nothing Jon wants to particularly think about, it's happened.] It's none of your business. I told you what you needed to know in my text.

Actually, now that I have you here, we should discuss that. After all, there's a lot that could happen here without you around to keep an eye on me.

[He sets his cup down and looks across at Jon. Here Jon thought he could escape a face to face interaction. Well, he has such a surprise for him.]

[There's an unpleasant prickling along his skin as he bristles. What could happen... What could happen?]

What are you planning to do?

[It's fairly pointless to attempt to compel Elias, but that's not going to stop Jon throwing himself against the brick wall.]

Really, you must stop doing that, Jon. It's quite pointless.

[He chuckles softly then leans forward, resting his chin on threaded fingers.]

This place requires employees. I obviously can't hire anyone to work for this place but really it wouldn't hurt to bring in my own employees since you won't be here to take Statements.

[His smile grows as he looks at him.]

It will be good to keep this place running efficiently.

You-you can't- That's-

[Completely undercutting the single advantage Jon thought he had in this arrangement.]

I'll ban them from the premises. I still own this building.

You own the building but you hired me to manage it. You put me in charge of making sure things stay running here. It is why you put me in charge of your finances, yes?

[The smile turns so overwhelming pleasant.]

Do you know what your finances are paying for currently? I know I do.

[And this is why he hadn't wanted to have this meeting in person. Jon can feel his heart rabbiting. He needs a chance to calm down, to think, to go to Lyall, maybe, or Rafa, and ask them to look at the conversation and help him respond. Right now, he's alone and scrabbling at straws.]

Th-the building, obviously. Power, water, cleaning services... taxes? [That is the extent of Jon's knowledge of what buildings need done. He owns the place outright, and has no mortgage to speak of. That makes it simpler, right?] Alessandro and Lyall have their own accounts. Alessandro owns his own house. And my contract with Dorian ended a week ago. You can't touch them.

[If that's where this is going.]

Edited (I forgot about Dorian... poor Dorian.) 2020-05-15 14:51 (UTC)

Oh Jon. You might own the building but you don't understand all that goes into a business. Or where your money can end up if you aren't the one managing it.

[Elias gives him such a patient look.]

The point is that you don't have the power you think you do, Jon. You never have. You will cycle away but always gravitate right back to the Eye because you chose to belong to it. You chose to be my Archivist. Even as a hobby everything you do is for the Eye. Run and run and run but you'll find yourself running where I want you. Where it wants you.

[It's almost like the eye is right behind him. Staring down at Jon, supporting Elias. Approving of him.]

So you may as well do your little hobby here. Because in the end everything you do will still be for the Institute simply due to the fact that you made a choice you cannot take back.

[It's like reading Jonah's Statement again. That blind and inescapable terror in knowing just how helpless he is, how perfectly he'd walked the road this man had laid before him. He'd ignored every hand held out to pull him off of it, actively slapped a few of them away because at the end he could See. The Archivist's eyes are wide and staring past Elias as much as at him. His breath comes in short, fluttering gasps through parted lips. He can't look away, can't blink. Elias' words register, and he can't even refute them. Not really.

He'd been brought to another universe, and what had he done? He's started another archive. He's refused the people--Rafa and Aziraphale--who have told him they could potentially rip the Eye and its influence out of him.]

I'm... [He's sat forward in his chair, eyes fixed, but distant. His tongue feels dry, heavy.] I'm not yours. I belong to the Watcher, not you. You belong to it, too, Jonah. [Although, it does seem like Elias has far more control in their relationship than the Archivist with their patron.]

And?

[Elias doesn't look perturbed in the slightest. And why should he really? This is old news to him. Obvious news really. He even lifts a brow as he looks across his desk at him.]

Are we truly equals in this? Do I truly have no power over you?

[His head cocks to the side and the eye behind him widens.]

Then why are you here?

[Why is he here? Why is it impossible for him to compel Elias? Why does Elias have the power to appoint the Archivist?

The beating heart of the Magnus Institute.

This isn't fair. He's done what the others have told him to. He's trying to do it. He can't fight Elias. He can't take out his eyes to escape the Eye and Institute. He's too much of a coward to let someone try to take the Eye away from him. And he's drawn toward that eye that fills the room behind Elias. Watching. Watching this and them. Feeding on the Archivist's terror.

Distantly, he connects that this is probably, in part, how Elias feeds himself; he'd always wondered.]

I... [He wants to reach out, to touch the thing that he only ever sees in his nightmares. The Archivist lifts a scarred hand, the mark of the Desolation upon him, and rises from his chair. He can remember what it felt like, to have all the fear of the world shoved into him all at once, tearing open a gaping hole inside of him that he still hasn't been able to fill, even with the Eye more distant in Duplicity.] I could still... I could sue you.

[For... something.]

Feel free. There is nothing wrong with our contract nor is there proof of me having done anything wrong. I am an upstanding member of the LIERs, Jon.

[Elias knows what Jon is looking at behind him, finds it amusing that he is. Really now, an Avatar for a short time and he thinks he knows everything. Please. He's been an Avatar for far longer than him so he knows how this works. Knows how people work.

Jon is in for a terrible surprise if he tries anything.]

Now, are you going to continue your work here or will I have to clean up another mess for you?

[Jon forces himself to still, closing his eyes as he curls his plaintive fingers into a tight fist and drops it to his side. He can still feel the Watcher's gaze, Elias' eyes upon him. He hates that he doesn't hate it more, that the sensation makes him feel... like he belongs here, like he needs to be here. It feels right.]

I hate you...

[The words are quiet but resigned. He tries for a little more bite, though it loses something when he keeps his eyes closed.]

Don't call me to you again.

I will call you when it is necessary.

[Elias waves towards the door.]

You may leave now. I look forward to seeing the work that you do, Jon.

[He turns and trudges away. It's starting to feel like any time he's in this office, something terrible happens. Is this the room where they did the ritual to remove the magic Jon had put on himself? Elias would be enough of a dramatic bastard for it.

Jon does slam the door when he leaves to try to make some kind of point. It's not much of one, but he doesn't have anything else.]

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