apocalypsehowcomm | new arreyeval [open!]

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new arreyeval [open!]

Who: Elias Bouchard & OPEN!
When: mid-April
Where: ADI and around
Summary: getting settled & visiting a graveyard
Warnings: will edit if needed

around ADI
Elias finds himself fitting right into Administration. There's a part of him that wants to go into Research, of course. That desire to learn, to know, to figure out and explore whatever is going on still lives strong in his mind. But for the moment, Administration fits. After all, the more he learns about this place behind the scenes, the more information he has and he can use to shift things to go his way.

It is very easy to doctor a paper trail if you work in the department involved in paper trails to begin with.

The problem with working in administration is that Elias needs to do busy work. And with people vanishing on a daily basis (something which he tried to Know the cause of and was very put out that the only thing he received in return was a nosebleed), the new guy gets stuck with the busy work: roll call.

So he approaches people, he'll ask, "Pardon me. You're someone from a different world, correct?"

50 steps
Well. This is interesting.

Having seen his demise once already (stabbed, beaten bloody at the hands of the Archivist of all people), Elias lingers around the graveyard anyway. Curiosity wins out: how does this place count a death? Would he see how the body of Jonah Magnus died? What about possible deaths? After all, if he knows about this death, why would he keep things the same and let it come to pass?

That curiosity is driving him. So he lingers in the graveyard, to the point that he's still there when they're rounding up people to leave, walking around as he looks for those steps again.

wildcard
He's around ADI, so hit me up with anything!

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It feels almost unlike himself to be doing this, to be yelling and making a scene, but the apocalypse was different than anything else. This place has been different than anything else. And the thought that this may be what gets him to Jon again is too strong not to go all in for.

Unfortunately, Elias has made a deeply rational argument that Martin hates on contact, and after a few seconds he shoves the other man out of his hands. "That doesn't prove anything. You could have hidden him, or-- or whatever you've been planning since you ran off. I could-- I could tell everyone here who you are, what you've done. In a moment, and don't think I won't, if you're hiding him from me."

Since he ran off?

What?

Well Elias is again, just keeping that confusion to himself at the moment. He doesn't want to show Martin that he doesn't really know what the man is talking about. He stumbles backwards due to the shove, small frown on his face as the conversation continues.

"And how do you think that would sound? You, ranting and raving to the network, stricken with grief over the loss of your boyfriend, blaming me for something beyond my control. No one would believe you."

Martin's nose twitches, but he's trying to find his composure, even if he can't possibly stop the frown on his face at it all.

"You're not going to win with that sort of talk here. I've been here a long time, Elias. I have friends here. People trust me, a lot more than they do you." He folds his arms, trying to feel at least a little confidence in something that he knows to be true. "And for your information, I've already yelled a bit to people about Jon's disappearence, they really wouldn't think me that illogical, thanks."

See, people support him here! He has friends! He's doing great. Sort of. Mostly. He's fine.

That slight, almost imperceptible raise of Elias's eyebrow blatantly says that he's challenging the idea that Martin's fine. He's not saying 'that's a damn lie.' But he's certainly thinking it.

"That they do. You do have an advantage on me in that regard." There's a pause before he continues, "And I know you will not believe me when I say this, but I had nothing to do with the Archivist's disappearance. Whatever happened, it happened on someone else's terms."

He lets a slight hint of annoyance flicker across his face as he admits that.

Oh, here they go again. It's like he never left. Incredible, this.

"Jon. His name is Jon. He's not the Archivist. Not here, and not anymore." Yes, that's the start of this, and he seems at least resolute in that. "I'm still not sure I believe you, but your response is noted."

He looks around just a little bit-- not that he can see anyone listening, that doesn't mean they're not. "We should take a walk. Somewhere else, for a bit. Yeah?"

Is he Jon, though? Is he really? After all this, all he's become, is he still the same Jon Sims?

Elias keeps that question to himself though it's obvious he's doubting Martin's assessment. That being said,

"A walk sounds like a grand idea. Lead the way, Blackwood. After all, finding a place for a private conversation is more your line of work, isn't it."

Martin just narrows his eyes a bit, resolute even though he looks like he's pouting just a tad. Regardless, he motions for Elias to walk alongside him, because there is no way in hell he's turning his back on this man if he doesn't have to.

"If you mean that because I know the building, than yes." He directs Elias as quickly as he's able outside and away from other people into the main courtyard, looking around once or twice to ensure no one is listening.

"Okay. What do you know. What did they tell you and-- when did you get here, anyway?"

Elias follows Martin, casual as hell as if this is something perfectly normal and not two people who kind of hate each other reuniting in a new world.

"Martin, I still have my connection with the Eye. I can Know whatever I want. As for your other question, I wasn't told much. Basic information, a quick primer on the Entities, what ADI's goal is...honestly, I suspect the same things they've told everyone."

He tries to stop himself from rolling his eyes, but can't entirely, as if Elias is purposefully acting like a petulant child. Talk about growth. Still, Martin is nothing if not good at putting his shit in a line these days, so here he is.

"So your connection is still as strong as it ever was, got it." Thanks for reminding him. He needed it. Surely. "How long have you been here? And-- and what's the last thing you remember before you got here." Last time he saw Elias, he wasn't even aware of the apocalypse, so he should get his story straight. "And, and also, I am not-- not doing anything with the Lonely here, all right? I'm not doing anything with any of them, so, so you can put your jokes right out."

It's... like 75% of the truth. Not everyone intentionally serves Entities, and Martin knows this, but doesn't want to think about it. To someone like Elias, it would be obvious he hasn't severed that tie as much as he'd like to think.

"If you think so," Elias says, with a dismissive little shrug. Try as he may to claim otherwise, Elias knows Martin hasn't severed that connection as much as he'd like.

"As for your questions, I've been here around a week. And the last thing I remember is the apocalypse. The Archivist released me from the Panopticon. I...admittedly, am not sure what he plans to do, but I have a suspicion."

"Oh, so when he killed you."

He can't stop himself the moment it's heard. The temptation, the absolute desire to get any dig in to something he knows would hurt, lets the words leave his mouth. Martin doesn't find it in himself to look smug, or happy about this-- just cold. Resetting. Getting his bearings where he can scrape them up. He has no need to be afraid of this man anymore, and he shouldn't be-- right? Of course. He can do this.

"I know he did. I saw your body. He said-- he said you were afraid."

A brief flash of irritation crosses Elias's face. The Archivist killed him. His Archivist. He supposes he should have expected this, but still.

Elias isn't sure whether he wants to press for details or just let this be. However, there is one point he can press on.

"Are you surprised to hear that even someone like myself can feel fear?" If he pretends that being scared is normal, he can hide the fact that he doesn't like the idea of either of them seeing him quake!

Martin watches him intently, knowing there's that war there, knowing Elias must want to know something he doesn't. But even prying into Martin's brain for details won't yield it- he wasn't there, he doesn't know. The whole thing's a bit hazy anyway.

"Oh, that's rich. As if you didn't spend all your time acting like you were above fear. Like you were the one who controlled it." And he did, to an extent, but not like he wanted. It's more clear, now, more than it had been. "You finally saw the other end. You weren't the terrorizer this time. You, you died afraid, and alone, and without knowing anything."

Elias bristles but keeps the force of his anger to himself for the moment. Because he wants to know more. He wants to learn what happened and run away from that knowledge all at the same time. And he certainly doesn't want Martin to be the one to tell him this.

"Apparently so," Elias casually points out, as he reaches out with the Eye to just know, to pick up on something that he can use to hurt. "But better to die alone than at the hands of someone who cares for you. Tell me, when Jon was here, did he ever realize what you did?"

Oh, here come the low blows. Once again, he wnats to roll his eyes, but doesn't-- it does sting just a bit, the feeling from it all still somehow fresh in his mind.

"He-- he asked, for your information." Augh, no, he can't keep doing this, as much as he wants to. "Look, I know this is going to be incredibly difficult for everyone involved, but we do need to-- to reach some sort of understanding here. I don't care what you want, but everything is not going how it did back in London. They're not getting out again."

So Martin thinks.

They're not getting out again except Elias desperately wants them to. He had that touch of power, he had that moment where he could feel the Eye through him and he'd do anything to get even a fraction of that back.

But he hides his lust, his yearning behind a stony expression as he shrugs, "If they are getting out, it wouldn't be for a while. My ritual took...time. Effort. I'll have to learn more about this world and the people in it before any decisions are made."

"No, you don't understand."

He can feel the burning somewhere in his chest that rises through his throat, the absolute anger at how nonchalant Elias seems to be about this whole thing. Before he can stop himself, he takes a step forward, and jabs a finger square in the middle of his chest.

"They're not getting out again. I swear it. And if you're working to let them out in any way, I will kill you like I should have in the Panopticon. I might not be able to save everyone or, or everything, but I'm not going to let you ruin anything or anyone else."

He raises an eyebrow at Martin getting physical, jabbing that finger in his chest. Truth be told, Elias really should have realized that would happen. Martin was always someone he...underestimated, and his time during the apocalypse, during that 'Kill Bill' phase (whatever that means), it's hardened the man even further.

Elias stays still, a calm and poised picture, before continuing, "Now Martin, there's no need for threats. If I try anything—and that is a very big 'if' at the moment, considering I still need to get the lay of the land in this place. But if I try everything, I suspect you'll be the first in line to try and stop me. You've made your point."

Unfortunately for Elias' everything, Martin is now Serious. Where he may have been softer with Jon around, he's now just become desperate and a little off-the-handle, so here we are.

"It's not an if for you, it's always a when. So I want to make myself very, very clear. These-- these people don't know about our world, alright? I didn't tell them, and neither did Jon, but I can do much, much more than send you to prison." His face is just a bit screwed up into seriousness, but Elias of all people will know he isn't kidding. "Okay?"

Elias does know he isn't kidding. So he looks over at Martin before giving him a little nod.

"If you have kept details about our world quiet, I can keep quiet as well." Granted, he'll be upfront about this sort of thing later but not right now!

They both know that won't stay forever, but like... it's fine, for now. It's not a rosy agreement, but it's a functional one.

"Good. Then... then good." He nods, as if that makes it more definitive. "Don't fuck around and find out and we'll be fine. So, if-- if that's it, you can go back. But I'm going to-- I'll be making sure you aren't being a conniving little beast, so don't try anything." He has Connections now, which is going to start by immediately going to Pam and badmouthing Elias like hell. But for now that'll have to be good enough.

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new arreyeval [open!]

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oh god i didn't mean to leave this holy shit--

haha, no worries!

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