alwayskayaking | Duplicity Inbox

Pretty sure the archives didn't have any rules about interoffice romances and therefore not illegal. Besides everyone finds me charming!

You have an excessive amount of ego.
Enjoy your magic tricks, Tim.

I had to make up for the lack that was around the office. Thanks. I think I will.

I hold every right to renege on the deal if the product is not up to par.

Then we're going to scour every shop until we find a product you accept. I'll see you soon.

[Jon doesn't actually hide his identity this time. Tim's going to know it's from him. He'd messed up and it's... going to be obvious when a gift arrives the next day. It's a coffee table book on architecture in Duplicity with some of the most notable buildings photographed along with some descriptions of the architectural inspirations. There's a note with it in Jon's cramped handwriting:]

I'm sorry.
The Arch
Jonath
- Jon

[Tim will have to open the book, but if he does, he'll find there's an old-fashioned Polaroid photograph inside. He'd bought it to try to get a snapshot of Elias, but that had fallen through, certainly. The photo is of Jon. He's wearing the cat ears headband he'd got for Easter and doing a money cat-esque pose with his freehand up and curled. He's grimacing more than smiling and his cheeks are bright red, but there's only so far he can really press himself for this sort of thing.

Enjoy the blackmail material, Tim.]

[Tim does indeed open the book and begin to flip through it. He's surprised by the photograph inside of it. Chuckling to himself as he looks it over and wondering who took the photo. His best guess is Martin.] Heh, cute.

[It makes him smile and remember their conversation. He knows it wasn't fair of him to judge Jon for something he can't really help anymore, but knowing it wasn't fair didn't seem to help. He still hated it and fair or not that feeling wasn't going away.

Hoping most of his need to write only truthful things has mostly left he picks up his phone to text his former boss.]

Have you visited any of these places before? Maybe we could check out a couple together sometime. [It's an olive branch gesture. Tim doesn't really expect Jon to accept his offer. Not when he could be working instead.] And get a cup of coffee on the way. [Olive branches can have small, pesky thorns on them, right?]

[Olive trees do sometimes have thorns. Jon glares at that addition. He supposes he should be happy the other man is talking to him at all again. Some light teasing can be tolerated.]

I've been to the music hall.
There was a Statement about a Slaughter-esque string quartet playing there.

Pick out two other places and I'll go to them with you.
Don't make me regret this, Tim.

[Of course there was. Of course Jon had to mention it.]

Are they still there? [Should he blow up that building too?]

[Look, you asked, Tim.]

Not that I've been able to find.
They seem to be in the vein of Grifter's Bone.
Did you get to that case, yet?

In any case, it's not something you need to concern yourself with for the moment.

Not yet, but I've heard of the rumor. [Can't any fun 'spooky' story just be that anymore? A made up story?]

And knowing there is a killer quartet running around seems like something I should at least be moderately concerned about if you ask me. But alright. I'll pick out a couple places and you let me know if there is anything wrong with them before we go. Although I can't promise no regrets. Can't have a fun and cool adventure without one or two regrets.[Several moments after sending his last text he thinks to add to it.] Feel free to invite Martin and Gerald if you want.

[But not Agnes, another one of the monsters.]

Don't go to any concerts, and you'll be fine.

[Clearly.]

I'll see if they're available.
A real 'boys day out,' hmm?
Or whatever people call it.

There is no way I'm stopping going to concerts. Classical or otherwise. What else am I suppose to do on the weekend? Let's start easy with a get together. [Agnes will never be invited to anything if Tim is given the option.]

Popularize sea kayaking.
The locals are afraid of the ocean here.
I've yet to find out why.
It doesn't seem to be made of acid, and the worst we found was a kelpie menacing and eating people on one of the beaches.

[And really, one little kelpie can't be responsible for everything.]

It's been taken care of.

And fine.
Just give me a time and location when you've picked them out.

You want me to go out to the ocean where there are kelpies eating people? Oh yeah, sure, that seems way safer than going to a concert that might have a killer band at it.

Every hobby has its risks.
Honestly, I don't think the kelpies are a common problem.
But there are other ways to fill your time.
Take up modeling?
You'd be good at it.
Or go back to publishing.
You're a Dom.
It means you really can do just about anything you want.

Why do you feel like sculpting my body? You better have a lot of clay on hand. [Is he saying that just to get a rise out of Jon? He sure is.]

[He could make a very snide remark about the Spiral and the Worker in Clay, but Tim isn't really the right audience for that.]

You're very aware I don't do hobbies, even if you happen to.
I live a joyless life of work, Tim.
And unwarranted community service, apparently.

And you're telling me to get a hobby. You clearly need one as well. Tell you what, one day I'll show up at your office with some paint and model for you.

Bring paint into my archives and I will flay you.

[Nevermind all the things that aren't regulation that have been in his archives...]

Relax I won't get any paint on your statements or in your archives. I know how precious those are to you. At worst I'd steal some to get you outside more often.

[He bristles instinctively, even knowing Tim is teasing.]

And that will get flayed and banned.
Surely you've met more interesting people here to harass.
Any hopes for a contract?
I can imagine you've got at least four different people begging you for one by now.

Not yet. The only person I've offered a contract to turned me down so I'm still looking.

I didn't think you got turned down.
New experiences already!

Even experts fail now and then. It's how you learn.

Duplicity Inbox

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

gift delivery

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject