rosebyanyother | duplicity inbox

[Peter is more focused on their conversation then getting an actual tour, though he does pay some amount of attention to the surroundings. Magic is a curiosity of his.]

Not secret, no. But I wouldn't know where-- ah. Hm.

[Hawke does know Jon. Works for Jon. He's just very surprised that Jon might have mentioned it to him....]

[ It is mostly well warded, secure (in a more conventional sense), open space with a small corner devoted to the library and some doorways. One of which Alaric is leading Peter toward. Through there it's simply a sitting room. Comfortable chairs, even. ]

Would you rather talk about something else? Or not talk?

No, no, I don't necessarily mind. If Hawke thought we should chat about that I'm sure there's a reason. [Peter's tone is a bit airy. He glances around the space Alaric leads him to and then seats himself in one of the chairs and continues to regard him curiously.] I take it you and he are in...that sort of situation? A relationship involving multiple people.

[ He folds himself down into another chair with an easy grace and comfort that seems (and is) just a little bit... manufactured. ]

I am. With both he and Anders. I was in a far less functional situation before I arrived here.

[Probably the first sign that something is very wrong is that Jon actually calls, rather than texting. His voice is ragged and very, very small.]

Morrigan? Could you come and meet me at the archives? Something happened. I-

[He takes a deep breath.]

I was kidnapped earlier today, and... I need to talk to someone. Please?

Edited 2021-01-23 06:45 (UTC)

[That is extremely troubling. So is the tone of Jon's voice. Immediately, both Peter's worry and a sense of protectiveness are kicked into high gear. It doesn't help when Jon admits he was kidnapped.]

Of course. I'll be there right away. [...He'd been just about to leave for work but this is far more important. He can call out. He's shoving his arms in the sleeves of his coat as talks.] Are you hurt? Is there anything you need? I can pick it up on my way.

[And he's out the door.]

Edited 2021-01-25 06:01 (UTC)

I'm not- [He breaks off. Honesty. Be honest.] I'm hurt. It's not... physical anymore. I just need you, really. I'll have tea ready in the breakroom when you arrive. I, um... It was one of the dualcam clone things. Tim's.

He saved me from it. The real Tim saved me. It's gone now.

[Peter is especially good at spotting that sort of thing and so he notes the air of performance. It's certainly curious, but he isn't sure if it is a product of their conversation so far or something else.

So he'll press on unless it becomes much clearer that he shouldn't.]

How did you find yourself in this sort of relationship? Is it something you've done before?

Not in a relationship with both people no. This time I was contracted to Anders and his existing relationship - Hawke - arrived. Previously the 'relationship' was with my King. He, of course, had to get married. He adores his wife; she would like me dead.

[ That really is matter of fact as can be, but that 'performed' casualness is maybe a touch more intense. He kind of hates the second half of that. ]

[It is a bit of a fumbled answer but Peter is honestly sort of used to that from Sally at this point. He is attentive throughout, not wanting to interrupt her. All the stumbling does not seem to put him off.]

In that case, is there anything you would like to do? Anything.

[He is willing to do it. And then, because his brain does not quite correctly parse the extra input it gets as...well, extra. Non-auditory:]

I wouldn't say you sound intolerable at all. [More than a bit unsure with yourself, of course-- no, no need to point that out.] And I wouldn't have offered to spend time with you if I didn't mean it.

[Of course I suspect something is--

And then Peter realizes that he isn't positive that he heard that last bit from her out loud and abruptly his eyes widen.]

[Hurt, but it's not physical. Dualcam clone.

Peter isn't sure if his rushed interpretation is correct but either way, Jon is admitting to being emotionally - mentally? - unwell and that's all that matters.]

Alright then. [Jon may be able to hear loud staccato footsteps as Peter rushes his way towards Jon's building. Not quite running, but quick.] I'll see you soon, then. Very soon, I promise.

Do you want me to stay on the phone with you until I am?

No, I... that's fine. I can manage.

[He will make himself manage.]

Sorry, I know this is sudden. I'll see you soon.

I love you, Morrigan.

That is...certainly less than ideal.

[It reminds him of how...it is entirely likely that his own situation might evolve into something similar. He hopes that he can charm Martin. He is not sure.]

Well. I understand now why Hawke suggested we chat. I...have been in something like a relationship with someone here whose boyfriend has just recently turned up. Or, well. Returned. He was here previously and had given his consent for us to explore what were more...uncertain feelings then.

...He doesn't remember doing so. [And those feelings have bloomed into love, since.] We're...waiting, now. Giving his boyfriend time to adjust to Duplicity before he tells him anything.

That seems....

[ He pauses there, thinking of something Hawke had said of his relationship with Brion. ]

Unfair to you. Did you participate in that decision or was it made for you?

There's nothing to be sorry for.

I love you too.

[And then he hangs up, fretting all the while. The rest of the walk goes quickly as Peter puts in a quick, breathless call to work and begs off...citing an emergency with his Dominant. They aren't happy but it's something that's quickly respected.

In short order, he enters the Institute's building and bypasses the reception desk to head down to the Archives with his keycard. Knowing that Jon promised tea, he pokes his head into the break-room first.]

Jon?

[Jon hears the door at the top of the stairs, which is why there's a mug of tea waiting for Peter at the table in the breakroom when the other man looks in. Jon is also there, sat staring at a mug of tea his own hands are cupped around, expression blank.

His hair is damp and uncombed, just hanging down, and he looks very clean, in general. He's wearing the pajamas he keeps in the Archives along with a jumper he'd stolen from Martin the first time the other man had been in the city. It's too big, a little worn, and brightly-colored.]

Yes. There's tea.

[He doesn't gesture, doesn't look up. Jon's aware he should make more of an effort or it's going to worry Peter all the more, but the effort that entails seems daunting in the moment.]

I made it how you like.

[...Is it unfair? It had seemed...reasonable to Peter. Not ideal, not easy. But reasonable.]

I agreed to it.

[Which isn't answering the question directly but may well answer it indirectly.]

[If Peter were not already terribly worried, this would be worrisome. But he has already begun to suspect the worst. Jon's behavior just confirms it.]

Thank you.

[So. He sits down at the table across from Jon. Silent for a moment or two, taking him in. Taking everything in. One hand reaches halfway across the table, and then stops.]

Am I allowed to touch you? Or is that too much?

[Jon flinches, just at the movement toward him, then shakes his head, the movement sharp and brief.]

Not- not just now. Please.

[He doesn't want to hurt Peter's feelings, but faking that he was all right with things last time hadn't gone over terribly well. Jon's also not particularly in the headspace to be able to manage even a poor imitation of being fine.]

I, uh... [He takes a slow breath, then a sip of tea to give himself a little more time.] I want you here, but I'm not... It was one of the DualCam clones. Tim Stoker's DualCam clone. It kidnapped me, and...

[His grip tightens on the mug.]

Tim rescued me. The real Tim. He sent me back to the archives in a cab. I didn't want... I don't feel safe anywhere else. And I can't let Alessandro see me like this. I'm worried what he might do to... god only knows who he'd blame. He'd get himself in trouble.

Edited 2021-02-06 06:20 (UTC)

[Sally doesn't have the chance to respond to his question about what she'd like to do, her pondering cut off by the response she hears...to her own thoughts. This stops her short, and Sally stares openly at Peter, completely boggled.]

What the fuck?

[What the fuck?]

Did you hear...did I hear...?

[Having hurt feelings is the furthest thing from Peter's mind, currently. As soon as Jon flinches, even before he says no, Peter is withdrawing his hand. Instead, he curls it around his cup of tea and listens.

At least this time it doesn't feel as intensely personal. Of course he cares about Jon being hurt, of course he's upset and worried about him. But there's no added layer of Jon lying to him, nothing that he's done to make it worse. It's good. He gets to keep his head a bit more, with much less struggle.]

I'm so sorry, Jon. [His voice is quiet, when Jon finishes.] Whatever you need from me, I'm here.

I can stay the rest of the night, if you'd like. I'd like to, in fact. You wouldn't have to entertain me, I would just....be here. [His lips quirk into the ghost of a smile.] You could put me to work, perhaps.

Y-yes, work. I'm... I'm just going to work tonight. I need to...

[He looks off toward the door, into the stacks. What does he need to do?]

Reorganize. I should reorganize. [What? What should he reorganize?] There are, um... The old numbering system. It's nonsense. We should have something else. S-something sensible. I need to renumber everything, get it into the computer. Yes, that's.

Yes.

Could you help with that?

[Peter simply....raises a hand to his forehead, rubbing it back and forth. Of course it couldn't just be simple. He'd been fine with a general sense of compulsion to want to be nearby Sally. But no, it's more than that.

What a mess. I'll have to be very careful. It's a good thing I have practice with not- no, don't think that.]

He cuts himself off mentally and very firmly pictures...space. Just....space. A black nothingness that hopefully prevents any transmissible thought.]

I'm....afraid so. I think.

I could. I will.

[But the way Jon falls over his words now is worrisome. Peter has to hold back the instinct to reach out. Instead, he keeps his voice very level, very even.]

Breathe, Jon.

I'll help. But you said you wanted to talk to someone. I think we should do that, too.

[He understands the need and even the benefit of having a distraction from thinking about terrible things but he also isn't about to let Jon bury them completely.]

[ He arches his eyebrow a little, because yeah. That is a kind of an answer. ]

There are things it is very hard to say no to. Or to feel you can.

duplicity inbox | un: prince

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un: thearchivist; audio (cw: this is going to get into a discussion of a sexual assault situation)

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