[Jigokucho] IC CONTACT POST

[curriculum_fictae]

"Hullo, you've reached Martin Blackwood's voicemail. Text me maybe?"

Comments

texting on his break; morning of the september mini event

[eyediot]

Martin we have a problem

Re: texting on his break; morning of the september mini event

[curriculum_fictae]

[ It takes a moment, but the text comes back: ]

What’s happened? If it’s the milk I’m sorry, I’ll pick up more after work

[eyediot]

No, the milk is fine, it's got another three days.

Martin, I knew something about the Captain just now.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ There's ... a rather long pause as Martin tries to convince himself that's not what Jon means. ]

like
knew?
or Knew?

[eyediot]

Like I almost told her she should talk to the hostess distracting her without her having told me anything Know

[curriculum_fictae]

oh god
um

[ TYPING... ]

are you sure? you couldn't have gotten it another way?

[eyediot]

I don't
She's a private woman, I wasn't exactly in the habit of asking about her personal life.

[Sorry, Martin, but he's really panicking right now.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Typing ... typing ... ]

whats the surprise i have for you at the flat right now

[eyediot]

[There's a pause before a response comes. Either he was thinking about it or had to answer someone's question.]

A short housecoat with a cat pattern on it, that isn't really the point, Martin

[Except it kind of is, and he realizes as soon as his finger hits the send button.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ YEAH, JON. God. ]

shit. okay. dammit.
come bac to the flat as soon as you can

[eyediot]

Right.
Finish work here and I'll be there in 20

[And true to his word, he's home in about twenty-five minutes, some grace for the foot traffic. Busy day out. But he still looks a bit shaken up.]

[curriculum_fictae]

see you soon

[ And Martin will wait anxiously for him? Also he’s going to have dinner ready when Jon walks in. He's made oden, in fact, using a kit someone had sold him on at one of the convenience stores. The cat housecoat is draped nicely over Jon's usual chair. Clearly threadbare, and with ink on the sleeves, but good quality. ]

[eyediot]

[Jon's breathless when he gets there, his head feeling like it's going to split open. But he'll go to Martin, touch at his arm and looking... a little afraid.]

That - smells wonderfully.

[But how much can he eat before he's ill?]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ A similar thought is going through Martin's head, but he won't voice it just yet. He just pulls Jon into a gentle hug. ]

Oh, good. I'm still adjusting to the ingredients here? But a soup's a soup.

[eyediot]

[Oh, good. A hug, perfect. Martin won't see how scared he looks if he's burying his face into Martin's jumper.]

No, of course. It, um. Most of the ingredients are easy to translate, I think.

[curriculum_fictae]

Y. Yeah. Not bad, anyway, and I’ve seen enough anime to find it a bit familiar, at least.

[ he just breathes Jon in for a moment before drawing back. ]

[eyediot]

[When Martin draws back, Jon lifts his head up to look. Afraid and desperate, with just the faintest thicker outline of black in his eyes. Enough to question but not enough to be certain.]

I-it's... All fairly simple. There's, um. Some stores with more familiar food in the Sutoku territory if you'd rather that.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Martin stares back at those eyes for a moment. That hint of black … Was it there before? ]

N-no, no. I think it’s. Good? When in Rome, and all.

[eyediot]

Sure... But. If you want something like a steak or something, we can head that direction. I know a few good people in that faction you should meet anyhow.

[curriculum_fictae]

Oh? Yeah? Like who?

[ Martin moves to sit down at the table. ]

[eyediot]

There's, um. Kimmuriel an... odd fellow. Butt heads for a few minutes but he seemed all right. Cloud, he's been helping me look into a few things aside from everything else. Good head, brave. Good head on his shoulders, it seems. Then there's, ah. Kim Kitsuragi. He was... positively brilliant. One of the first people I met here, he was very kind considering the state I was in. Helped me get fresh clothes and explained everything here. There was also a, um. A doctor. Dr. Dyer that I saw. She was kind.

[He hasn't moved to sit down at all, still too pent up with anxiety and fear now.]

They're a lovely bunch.

[curriculum_fictae]

… You have quite a few friends here, Jon. I’m really proud of you.

[ He beams from where he’s sitting. ]

[eyediot]

[he blinks confused at that. Enough to draw him out of the spiral he was starting down.]

I mean - I don't know that I'd particularly call them 'friends'. [He absolutely would, he just doesn't know where he stands on their side of things.] They're acquaintances, mostly.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Martin just grins. ]

Oh come on. I know you, Jon. You do not use that tone with anyone who isn’t actually your friend.

[eyediot]

Pffwha- I don't have a tone for that! I barely know anything about any of them.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Additional grinning. ]

Really? Are you sure? I feel a bit jealous of this Kim fellow.

[eyediot]

You shouldn't. He's a nice guy, but he's not you.

[curriculum_fictae]

Oh yes, I know. I’m just saying. You absolutely have a tone.

[eyediot]

[HMPH. He does not have a tone, he'll deny it forever. But he fidgets with his fingers before going to get bowls down for the soup.]

It still smells good.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Martin will ladel it out once Jon has the bowls. Delicious oden. ]

well, good. Eat … whatever you can.

[eyediot]

[Ah. There it is. Well... Here's to hoping. He waits until Martin's ready before taking a bite. It's... sort of there. The taste isn't gone completely, it feels more dulled than anything. He looks down at the bowl in thought. Maybe not entirely back then?]

I can taste it.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Martin lets out a breath he hadn't known he was holding. ]

So - so it's not as bad as it could be just yet.

[eyediot]

[His own shoulders slump a bit, relieved.]

No. Not as bad as it could be. [Another bite.] Do you think it'd be too much to hope this is as far as it goes?

[curriculum_fictae]

... I mean. I don't trust our luck in the slightest. But it seems ... possible?