Duplicity Inbox

[domainless]

Martin is away from the phone right now. Pleas leave a message and he'll get back to you.

Comments

[domainless]

Tim... I did not stay sane. Not really.

I started working for Peter Lukas and threw myself into the Lonely because- because I thought it was a good way to get killed.

[alwayskayaking]

That really wasn't a good way. I'm so sorry Martin. If I had known-- [He stops and deletes that last sentence before he writes something else. This wasn't something that he just didn't pick up on. This was something he wasn't even around to not notice.] I'm sorry that you were so alone.

I hope you know that you're not alone anymore. If anything like that happens here? Me and Sasha are both here for you.

At least, Sasha will be when she wakes up again.

[domainless]

Not your fault. It was just... a lot of bad things, a lot of loss all at the same time.

[Losing Tim, losing Jon, losing his mother. Melanie was too angry and Basira too distant.]

I know. I appreciate it. I'm trying.

But the point is... don't take after me?

She'll wake up. I'm sure she will.

[alwayskayaking]

Yeah, she's Sasha and she's so strong.

But, if you ever have some free time, maybe you'd like to come over for a tea? Or, I dunno, something? [Come keep him company as he watches over a sleeping Sasha.]

[domainless]

...yeah. I'd like that actually. Sounds nice.

When's good for you?

[alwayskayaking]

Anytime you'd like, really. I've sort of cancelled all my plans.

I don't want her to wake up alone.

[domainless]

You're a good person, Tim.

I could come over now, if you like?

[alwayskayaking]

I would LOVE a distraction right now. I'll send you my address.

[domainless]

Cool! Yeah, I can get over when you do.

Not exactly working. I'm a kept man these days :)

[alwayskayaking]

[Sends over his address.]

Yeah? And you're happy with that? [He asks because he's concerned about Martin. Especially while he and Jon weren't exactly the best of friends at the moment. He knows Martin and that sometimes the other man will give too much of himself away for the sake of others.]

[domainless]

I mean... yeah. It's nice to feel taken care of.

[And to get to be with Jon. And to not have to worry about money. It's weird, but it's still nice.]

[alwayskayaking]

And he does that, he takes care of you? He's not too wrapped up in himself?

[domainless]

Of course he does! Tim, he's not- He sometimes gets stuck in his head, but he's a good boyfriend. I promise.

[alwayskayaking]

Alright. I just worry that he might be taking advantage of you sometimes.

[domainless]

What? Trying to get an extra cup of tea?

[alwayskayaking]

That's not what I mean and you know it.

[domainless]

He's not. I mean, god, he saved my life back at home. He risked his own to do it.

[alwayskayaking]

One moment of heroism doesn't mean that he doesn't take advantage of you every other day. Not that I'm saying he takes advantage of you if you're saying he doesn't, but I just want you to keep that in mind should that ever change.

[domainless]

Look, i know you don't like him but... he's a good boyfriend. Really.

[alwayskayaking]

It's not that I don't like him. [Okay, so there were parts of Jon that Tim didn't like.] It's just that he can be a bit selfish and I worry that you can't see that because you like taking care of people so much.

[domainless]

I don't. I don't like taking care of people, Tim.

But someone has to do it. Someone has to- to make the tea and be nice to Rosie so she'll make sure the Archives get their paper delivered, and remember to send birthday cards to the library staff so we can keep using the books without things being difficult.

And that person is apparently me.

[alwayskayaking]

[Huh... he never once thought of Martin's actions in that way. He always thought of it as Martin just being... Martin.]

Wait, really? You sent birthday cards because you wanted to use books? Not just because you wanted someone to have a happy birthday?

[domainless]

I mean, I *do* want them to have a happy birthday! But it also just makes things run smoother if you send a birthday card and- and offer to make a cup of tea if you're going to the break room.

And if I made sure the people in the library, or in Artefact Storage, got a birthday card 'from the Archives team!' then it makes them more likely to *want* to help.

It's like if you're pleasant to the cashiers at the shop, they're more likely to overlook it if you're a a few pence short and they let you keep the extra potato anyway.

[alwayskayaking]

I mean, I admit I flirt with cashiers sometimes, but it's more that I enjoy making them smile. Plus it can be fun to come up with creative one liners. The occasional free drink is just sort of a bonus.

And I certainly didn't think about you having that sort of motivation before.

[domainless]

It's not-

I'm not doing it to be manipulative. That's not the reason. I just know how to make things easier.

I mean, you have actual qualifications, right? I don't. I spent ten years terrified that people would figure out I was clueless, and people- if you're nice to them, helpful, remember birthdays or someone's coffee order, they're much more willing to believe 'Well, that's Martin. He's a bit absent minded but he gets things done' rather than 'he's obviously an idiot and lying about having a degree'.