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[recordingends]

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meme continuations
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[arachnafriendly]

Martin could honestly be sitting in one of the chairs in the flat, but instead, he's made himself comfortable on the floor, hands across his stomach as he stares at the ceiling. So far Jon has dragged him out of the Lonely, made their way to Daisy's flat in who-knows-where Scottland (he didn't quite pay attention because he was trying to not continually look over his shoulder), and now? Now he can finally breathe after managing to unpack the few supplies they had.

He should go into town to get food. He should keep a low profile and hope that Not-Sasha won't find them.

It's not like they'd stay hidden from Elias forever.

No. No! He wasn't going to think about that. Instead? He turns his gaze to Jon, giving him a slightly perplexed look before asking.

"Do you think we're safe here?" Start there first. Start slow and then-- And then what? He'll figure it out. "And for how long?"

[recordingends]

"As safe as anywhere else," he answers from where he's sitting on the plaid couch. It's garish, possibly forty or fifty years old, but oddly comfortable. "Are you alright down there, Martin?"

Jon wonders if he should be concerned, but Martin doesn't look like he's having a panic attack.

[arachnafriendly]

"I'm all right."

He glances to where Jon had settled onto the couch, smiling softly, glad if, for the moment, they were safe. It might not be for a long time but it was something.

"It's not bad down here, you know. The ceiling is quite nice." He jokes with a laugh.

[recordingends]

Jon gives Martin a long look, but then a small smile flickers across his face. With a long-suffering sigh, Jon eases off of the couch and settles down on the floor next to Martin. He folds his hands over his stomach and looks up at the ceiling.

"Is that... water damage?"

[arachnafriendly]

He didn't think he'd actually do it but here was Jon, on the floor with him. Martin laughs a bit, settling into a sigh as he goes back into staring at the ceiling.

"Maybe. It could just be old water damage. Roofing didn't look too shabby when we got here."

[recordingends]

"Mm. Are we going to stay down here long?" he asks as he lolls his head to look at Martin. The little smile appears again and his look softens as when he meets Martin's gaze. Maybe they are on the floor of a little cottage in the middle of nowhere, Scotland... but Jon realizes he's rather happy to be here.

[arachnafriendly]

"Maybe. Depends on when we get hungry I suppose." Martin can't help but catch his eye, a sudden wry smile on his lips. "Did we elope?

The audacity of asking so out of the blue! But! But it was quite funny, and he knows he's going to love the look on Jon's face. It's such a ridiculous notion but here they were, far away from everything, together in a cottage...

It was nice. Maybe they could make the best of it until they were found.

[recordingends]

Jon rolls his eyes and gives Martin a small nudge with his elbow.

"I think eloping still involves a marriage," he points out, though he feels his face getting hot even as he says it. Jon's never been very good talking about relationships, and apparently that isn't going to change. "And would you really elope to Scotland?"

[arachnafriendly]

Good news! He has food in his fridge for once. Bad news! He's spent the last three days obsessing over how clean his one-bedroom flat was. For the most part, Martin isn't a messy person, things had a place and maybe it was a surprising fact, but he's organized at home. Things had a place, and if they didn't well... let's just say things needed to be in a place.

But, but he's not thinking about that. His focus is on making sure things are perfect.

It's movie-date-night after all.

"All right." He throws on a large sweater, double checks his hair in the mirror (does he need to get his fade fixed? Later. Later!), and just...sits on the couch to wait.

Wait and try not to fixate on all the ways this could go wrong. Like if Jon was allergic to anything he bought for dinner. Or he'd hate the movie. Or he'd hate his flat and never want to come back! This was fine.

[recordingends]

Jon is nervous.

He tells himself that he shouldn't be. This isn't their first date, but it is the first time he's been to Martin's flat. He spent a long time looking dubiously at himself in the mirror, eyes lingering on the scars on his face and neck, on his hand. He changed once before he finally made himself leave so he won't be late.

He's halfway there when he starts thinking he should bring something. A bottle of wine? Does Martin like wine? He stops over to get something he thinks will be relatively safe, and after he does, he spends some time wondering if its presumptuous.

By the time he gets to Martin's flat, he's managed to calm down. Mostly. He texts Martin to let him know he's on his way up, and not much long later he's knocking on the door.

[arachnafriendly]

Well. Time to die.

Martin takes a deep breath as he heads to the door, and opens it too slow, and too fast at the same time. Already off to a good start, but Martin laughs a little, scratching the back of his head with a smile.

"Hey! Hey. You look good. Great, even!" Nailed it. Martin steps aside to let him in. "I'll get tea on. Make yourself comfortable."

Of the few things that are noticeable about Martin's flat, is that it is sparse. Nothing really with his "touch" so to say, no knickknacks, no photos, just a few pieces of furniture and the television (a little dated, but still looks nice!). It doesn't feel personal-- which if they actually make it to his room it'll be much of the same.

[recordingends]

Jon's actually surprised to see how sparse Martin's apartment is. He doesn't know quite what he was expecting, but it isn't this. It's more neat than his workspace.

"I brought this, in case we wanted something with dinner."

And because it really did feel strange to arrive empty-handed, and because Jon doesn't know if flowers are appropriate. So, alcohol. He offers Martin the bottle as he moves further into the flat.

"You look good, too."

He really does like Martin's sweaters. It's something he probably would have derided (or possibly did) when they first started working together, but now he finds the jumpers charming.

"Can I help with anything...?"

[arachnafriendly]

"Wine?" He smiles. "This is perfect. I couldn't find a wine I liked."

Or could afford a bottle after he spent a little more than he should to make sure dinner was perfect. He was determined, and it's been a while since he actually had the opportunity to cook. Maybe, now things are settled, he could do it more often.

"Oh! No, I'm fine actually. I did most of the prep work already so I just have to cook." He starts pulling out a pan. "Just relax, I'll grab a glass for wine instead. We can have tea later."

[recordingends]

That Martin is already planning for later makes him feel a bit dizzy, but not in a bad way. It's that quiet assumption that the night will go well. And why shouldn't it? They aren't brand new to this--this relationship.

And this is a movie night, for God's sake. What could be easier or more straightforward than that?

Jon feels a bit better when he has a glass of wine, if only because it gives him something to do with his hands while he watches Martin cook.

"What movie have you picked out?"

[arachnafriendly]

"Amélie! I hope you like it. I think it's rather cute and it's a good movie to forget all of the crazy horrors we deal with on the day to day."

He's glad that conversation seems to be a little less stilted, flowing easier now that they're both inside and just with each other. He hands Jon the glass of wine and gets back to cooking. Thankfully it doesn't take him long, with having everything prepped before Jon even arrived? He should do more food prep.

You know. When he isn't running around like a madman doing research.

"I mean, I did think about picking up The Ring but we practically live in a horror film."

[recordingends]

"Oh, God. No, I'm content to stay away from horror for a while."

Jon used to like horror movies. Some horror movies. It's one of the things he and Georgie bonded over in early days. Now, every night he dreams of horror. There's no reason to invite it into his life through film.

When it seems like Martin is done, Jon asks again if he can help - if only to get food to the table or wherever Martin planned for them to eat.

[arachnafriendly]

When would they have time to just be?

It's been difficult, to take time away from the archives, to relax or think about anything other than being at the Magnus Institute. So, just as a little surprise, Martin stopped by the bakery on the way into work. Jon hadn't arrived yet, for once Martin got there early and that worked out for him.

He leaves the box on Jon's desk with a small, handwritten note.

Happy Birthday, Jon.

Inside the box is a cupcake that is, maybe surprising for Jon, in a flavor he actually likes.

Martin will be back later once Jon comes in for work, with a cup of tea, and hope that maybe Jon got some rest.

[recordingends]

It's a day like any other as far as Jon's concerned. He gets into work, feeling a little tired and mostly just looking forward to disappearing into his office for several hours. He won't have complete peace, because he'll be at work, but he'll have some.

He pauses in the doorway when he sees a box on his desk. He tosses his coat aside and moves closer, unable to help the rising suspicion.

Then he sees the note on it and he actually blushes. Martin. Jon sits at his desk and sets the note aside so he can open the box. A cupcake. Just a moment later, he sees a familiar shape in his doorway.

"Good morning, Martin."

[arachnafriendly]

"Morning, Jon." He smiles gently as he walks over to offer him his tea. "How are you doing?"

He doesn't mention the cupcake, doesn't wish him a happy birthday, not just yet. Martin's never really been sure how Jon feels about his birthday, but simple gestures are great for brightening up frustrating weeks.

[recordingends]

"I'm tired," he admits. Then he gestures at the cupcake. "But this is nice... thank you."

Jon is rather ambivalent about his birthday. He's actually surprised Martin found out when it is, since he's never brought it up. Jon pulls his tea closer and cradles the mug as he sits back.

[arachnafriendly]

"I figured it might...brighten your day up a bit without drawing too much attention."

He's surprised, actually, happily surprised that Jon seemed to not mind the cupcake. It's nice to be appreciated once in a while. Martin stands by his desk, drinking his own tea.

"You could try a tea that helps with sleep. I mean I can't really talk I'm knackered." He chuckles a little.

[recordingends]

"I would prefer you keep it to yourself," he admits. The last thing he needs is anyone else finding out and wanting to make a thing of it. Maybe it'd be nothing more than going out to drinks, which he might be up for, but he doesn't want anything more wild than that.

Jon sips his tea and considers Martin's advice.

"I don't know if this is something that tea could help. But. Maybe."

[arachnafriendly]

"I didn't plan on bringing it up to anyone."

He chews on the inside of his cheek. Like anyone would really talk to him much about it, considering how busy they were he doesn't think it'll come up. He takes another sip of tea, before nodding.

"Even if it doesn't help," Martin starts. "It could help you relax."

[recordingends]

"Are you saying I'm not relaxed, Martin?"

It's a joke, even with the deadpan delivery. Jon takes another drink from his cup and he thinks Martin isn't really wrong. He could do with some relaxing. He just isn't sure that tea is going to do it.

Maybe it's worth a try. Some nice chamomile at the end of the day.

The ultimate fluff.

[arachnafriendly]

On one hand. This was probably a really bad idea. A really terrible, "why am I doing this" sort of bad idea.

On the other hand.

Jon's been talking about cats for the last six months like he's been hinting about getting one and has just not pulled the trigger. So, in the spirit of following through really bad ideas without thinking about them in great detail: Martin has adopted a kitten.

Martin has adopted a kitten on his day off while Jon is at work so he won't discover the truth until it's too late. Hence, the bad idea. The good news is that everything is set up, and he's exhausted (paperwork, playing with said kitten, chasing him around the flat because he stole the sandwich meat, you know. Average kitten stuff). He sets up water to boil and checks his watch.

Well. At least Jon will be home soon.