fingeronthebutton | Duplicity IC Inbox

[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.

Matters between her and I do not concern you.

[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.]

You have until the end of the week, Jon.

[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.

A price, Jon?

[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?

What do you want?

[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.

Give me control of the Institute with you as my Archivist. Full control. No silly stipulations to keep me from doing something. Everything as mine.

[Did he mention you wouldn't want to pay this, Jon? Did he?]

[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.]

[That's what he thought. Elias lowers his hands and gets back to work, sliding the paper from before back in front of him.]

The end of the week, Jon.

[And he goes back to work like he didn't just ruin a man's life.

Again.]

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