alwayskayaking | Duplicity Inbox

How can you be sure? Just because we look alike? That doesn't mean anything. [It felt wrong to question his brother's face. It did look exactly like what Tim remembered. That smiling face who looked down at him and tried to inspire him to go to the gym more. Then again so did the Not!Sasha. How could he possible be sure?] Elias... he would know? Would he be able to tell? [Tim's original plan had been to simply avoid Elias for all time while in Duplicity. Unless given the chance to kill him. Maybe that would need to change now.] Or was that only because he worked with Sasha and knew her before she was killed?

[It still felt so strange to say out loud that she was gone. Killed and replaced. I'm unforgettable. Her voice echos in his ears. Or was it that thing's voice? He can't be sure anymore.] She deserves to be remembered, doesn't she?

[...] You really think we can fix these pictures?

I don't know if he could tell. Or if he'd tell you if he could. [Jon sighs.] Elias seems more Web than Watcher some days.

Let's fix our memories and the pictures first for Sasha. Then we can see about Danny, all right? I have some people who might be better options than Elias for asking after. If I could just borrow one of those photographs for them to test things with?

[This... is good! This is progress, right? He can't fix Crowley for Martin, but he can fix this for Tim. He needs to fix it.]

Yeah. Sure. Take the whole book if you want. [Questioning everything about those photos now means that Tim has little interest in walking down memory lane. It was a painful pang to look before when he thought he was looking at the dead. Painful, but also nice to see them as well. Now that he couldn't tell truth from lies there was no joy to be had in it.]

And the bracelet. Would you be alright if I borrowed it for a couple months? It will take me a bit of time to get my plan set up and find everything I'll need.

[Months. Jon had sort of been envisioning maybe a few days. A week at the outside. He takes the album from Tim and looks down at his wrist where the bracelet is still clasped. Maybe it doesn't work, but there's a part of him that hopes it does. That wants to believe that he's been safe and hidden from Elias' gaze for at least the past day or so since it's been on.

A lot of things have happened, but that, at least, has made him feel just the tiniest bit lighter.

Probably best not to get used to it.]

Y-yeah. Yes. If that's how long you need it for.

[The album is set in his lap, and he finally undoes the clasp properly, offering it to Tim. He doesn't look thrilled about this.]

Do you think Gertrude knows a good place to get C4? [He asks casually right before taking the trinket from Jon. Wanting to try to raise red flags. Wanting to start the thought that this isn't going to be a prank, but in fact an assassination. Wanting to see if he gets Elias's attention once this starts.]

[It certainly works on Jon. His eyes go wide, his tail and hair fluff up again, and he pales just a bit.]

I don't- that's not- You're not really going to...?

[This is an earlier version of Tim, but it's so easy to get sucked into thinking of him as the angry, bitter, and violently explosive man he'd ended up becoming.]

Pull a prank? Sure I am! One I hope Elias will find unforgettable. [He's not sure if that's a dig at himself or Elias. He doesn't really care at the moment.] And what's a good prank without a little C4? [Later he'll feel bad and maybe apologize to Jon for leading him on about his real intentions. For now he wants to test to see if Elias will care if he's actively and opening planning on trying to kill him. Regardless if Tim decides to go through with it or not.]

Tim...

[He might have made a slight miscalculation. So, he's going to reach for his tea and sip it to brace himself. Mental note: Tell Gertrude again not to give Tim C4 or bomb-building demonstrations. The tea, as it happens, does calm him mainly via distraction. He'd only meant to sip, but it's deliciously milky, and he starts to suck it down rather quickly.]

Please just remember he's a vampire now, too. It's going to be harder to do... things.

Doesn't mean those things won't be fun to try. Even if a bit of garlic in his coffee won't kill him. Or iocane powder.

[He makes an unhappy, distressed sound in the back of his throat that's very feline as the tip of his tail flicks in agitation.]

Don't go buying iocane powder. Please.

Of course I'm not going to buy iocane powder. I don't know where to get some. I'm going to pay someone else to buy it for me.

[Are you having regrets Jon? ARE YOU?] Why do you think I'd need a couple months? Besides maybe there are some better options when it comes to poison here.

[Jon is having a significant anxiety and he's telegraphing that in every human and feline way possible.]

I can't actually tell if you're joking.

Maybe that's for the best. It's probably better if you stay in the dark and don't worry about my plans for Elias. Unless you have some information about vampires that might help me. [He wants to lean a bit heavily to make it sound like he plans on harming Elias. Hoping that when he does eventually plan his attack that Elias won't be there to stop him as that will mean the bracelet works. ~~Or Elias doesn't care what Tim does.~~ If he is there to stop him then they'll know for sure it doesn't work.]

You said this was a prank.

[He finishes his tea and sets it aside, clutching the photo album, instead. Jon is suddenly feeling a great deal less overly affectionate. It doesn't occur to him that might have something to do with the bracelet. It doesn't just hide a person from remote viewing. Wearing it makes them more open and solicitous with physical affection. Because nothing in Duplicity can be easy.]

Oh yeah. The biggest one I've ever done. [He smirks and winks at Jon.] Don't you worry about it. Just keep an eye on Elias. If he sees me coming then we know this thing isn't working. And if he doesn't suspect a thing? Then we know it's working. [He reaches out to pat Jon gently on his knee.] That's what you want, right?

[STILL NOT REASSURING, TIM. He's going to worry constantly. As if Gertrude weren't enough to induce a panic. The pat just makes Jon frown, and he reaches to bat at Tim's hand instinctively. His tail is still flicking.]

I suppose. He might know something is coming now he can see into my head again. Just not specifics.

So is it everyone's head he can get into? Or just yours? Are you going to be able to keep this bracelet a secret while I work?

He can get into practically anyone's head. Mine, yours, Martin's. He almost certainly already knows about the bracelet, itself. The note said it would block remote viewing, magical and mechanical. He watches people through eyes, whether they're living people, photos, or cameras. Gertrude halfway figured it out and started cutting out eyes from any photos she found.

Just be careful who you talk to about anything.

Any eye... ugh. [What a creepy prick. Tim slides a little closer to Jon on the couch without thinking about it.] I'll keep that in mind. [It works for Tim though. If he keeps talking like he's out to kill Elias then the man should be doing something to try stop him.] Don't want to waste this chance. Might only get the one shot.

You know. You're actually really cute with those ears.

[At a prank? At explosions? Jon should probably take that bracelet back, but he doesn't want Tim to be angry again. He'll just have to be vigilant.

At the mention of his ears, they flick up, turning slightly toward Tim before flattening again as Jon's cheeks heat up.]

Don't start. It was an accident. The potion said one to two for duration. Anyone with half an ounce of sense would think that meant hours, not... however long this is going to last.

You know what they say about things that last more than four hours, right? [He teases. Reaching up with the intention of gently scratching just behind Jon's new ears if he's not stopped.]

[He's halfway to raising his hand to knock Tim's arm away when the other man's hand begins scritching at the base of one of his ears. Jon sighs, a significant portion of the tension going out of him as his hand drops back down atop the album and he visibly relaxes.] Mm... stop that. That's... [Jon tilts his head, eyes falling to half-closed.] Hmm.

[This is humiliating, but god, if that doesn't feel nice. It's like there's a tap directly into some sort of calming center in his head. He begins to purr again, unable to help it.]

Why fight it? You like this sort of thing, right? No need to feel ashamed. [He scratches a bit more purposely now that his hand isn't being batted away. Making sure his fingers are getting buried in Jon's hair and scratching just a little harder.] Besides I think you're cute with the ears and tail. And I bet Martin finds those claws pretty fun. [Does he? He's not so sure he pictures Martin liking pain, but it's more fun to joke about.]

[Does Tim want an Archivist melting against him? Because he has an Archivist slowly melting against him. The comment about Martin earns him a momentary frown and huff.] I've never played with him like that. I don't like hurting people.

[Contrary to the evidence and what his monstrous nature would like him to do.]

And I need to... fight. Fight it. [He's not really going to start one up with Tim.] Elias made me come to the house where he's living. Dorian was there. They toyed with me, humiliated me for fun. I don't... I don't want it to happen again.

Edited (wow, i swear i speak english) 2020-07-12 02:56 (UTC)

[Tim listens. Shifting himself to make Jon as comfortable as he can as he leans against him. Enjoying the way Jon is resting against him.] I'm sorry. [He frowns. Not liking what he was hearing.] But you shouldn't care about what those two assholes do to you. Don't let them get to you. [Easier said then done, Tim.]

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cw: mentions of mind-control and ... dubcon kink play??? Dorian and Elias being shady bastards.

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