Deerington IC Inbox

[lonelynotforsaken]

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[lonelynotforsaken]

[Martin covers his face and sighs.]

Y-yeah. The person that was- um. I'd just rather it not get out. I really am- I should have been more careful about what I was giving you. I'll pay extra close attention to it next time.

You- everything else made sense, right?

[advanced]

[Alright, he's not cruel enough to keep tugging on this string. The smile at his lips slips away again, giving way to his customary neutral expression.]

Yeah. It was really helpful, thank you.

[It made about as much sense as information from a dreaming world could.]

You're not gonna get into trouble for giving it to me, are you? Your boss didn't seem pleased someone was looking for you.

[lonelynotforsaken]

[The mention of a boss has Martin confused for a moment.] My- The head librarian?

[Why would they be upset about a patron asking after someone specific? Or that Martin was offering out information for that matter?]

[advanced]

I guess so?

[The man hadn't mentioned a specific position, just that Martin was his employee.]

He was here the other day when I was looking for you, wanted to know why.

[lonelynotforsaken]

Oh. No one in the library's said anything to me.

[The number of people Martin knows well enough for them to claim they're his boss is vanishingly small.]

Wait. Was he short with dark skin and little pockmark scars everywhere? [There's fond exasperation in his tone.] If he was, that's not my boss, he's my boyfriend. He can get protective.

[advanced]

No.

[Also, what sort of boyfriend would pretend to be someone's boss? That doesn't seem entirely healthy.]

He looked middle aged, maybe. Light skin, grey eyes. He looked at me like--

[--like he was trying to see in Bucky's head. But he doesn't say that, it sounds absurd. Instead he just finishes that sentences with an awkward half shrug.]

[lonelynotforsaken]

[... It clicks and any softness vanishes, replaced by a flicker of cold anger.]

Oh. Him. Yeah, his name is Elias, and he's not my boss. He's not anyone's boss anymore, actually. He's just nosy and likes to pretend at it.

[advanced]

[Hm. Something odd is at play here, given that the other man had distinctly said Martin was an employee.]

I didn't tell him why I wanted to find you.

[Apparently his paranoia caution has worked out for the best this time.]

He seemed concerned about you. [Sort of.]

[lonelynotforsaken]

I appreciate that, but he can probably work it out. [More like potentially read this man's mind, but Martin isn't going to immediately spook him. He's paranoid enough as it is.]

He was the head of the Institute I worked at back home. I quit before I came here, though, so... not my boss anymore. [He shrugs a shoulder and finally picks up one of the biscuits from the tin he'd brought down.] Was he being weird and creepy at you? If yes, that's just the way he is. It's nothing personal.

[advanced]

[It's actually sort of a relief to hear that the creepy feeling the other man had given off wasn't all in his own head.]

I think he just wanted to make sure you were safe, that I wasn't a danger to you.

[At least that was the impression he got.]

[lonelynotforsaken]

I'm sure that's what he made it seem like. [Martin sighs.] Just... maybe avoid him, if you can? He'll probably leave you alone if he doesn't think you're going to be useful to him in some way.

[advanced]

[Because that's not at all ominous.]

Don't worry about me, I can handle myself. [A beat.] Is he causing problems for you?

[It certainly sounds that way.]

[lonelynotforsaken]

Perpetually. It's... fine, though. I can deal with him. I just want to make sure he doesn't bother you. Being his focus usually doesn't work out great for people.

[advanced]

In what way?

[His tone shoots for casual, but it's spoiled by the intensity in his eyes. He definitely wants to learn of anyone who could potentially be a threat here, who has been an issue for others in the past.]

[lonelynotforsaken]

[Martin considers how much to say. After Elias' little stunt on the network, he's almost inclined to be completely honest. Almost.]

He's manipulative and more concerned with sating his curiosity than any kind of morals. There's a little grass boy here named Fern. Elias convinced him to do something he shouldn't have and that hurt someone very badly. I don't know that it was even to any purpose. Just Elias wanting to see what would happen given people come back from the dead in Deerington.

[advanced]

[Manipulative and obviously without a lot conscience, if his idea of a good time was just to get people hurt for no other purpose than curiosity. That's a combination that Bucky definitely has no interest in getting further involved with. He's met Fern, the kid seemed mostly good, if a bit naïve.]

I'll make sure to keep a close watch for him.

[Hard, cold.]

Didn't anyone do anything? I've seen the abandoned police station, but isn't there any kind of authority here?

[lonelynotforsaken]

The police are cats.

[So, yeah. That's a thing.]

It's nothing you could go to them about, anyway. He's very good at covering his tracks with that sort of thing. He never told Fern to do anything, just... wound up a toy soldier and pointed it in the direction he wanted.

[advanced]

[He's seen the cats, but he hadn't realised they were the police. This town gets weirder and weirder with every moment.

That phrasing bites at him a bit, and he makes a very firm internal resolution to go nowhere near Elias again if he can help it.]

Right.

[So, not good then. He pushes back from the table, leaving the majority of his drink untouched. Now that he knows a little more about Elias, he kind of wants to be out of the library if possible.]

I should go, I just thought you might want your tape back.

[lonelynotforsaken]

[The tape. Right. The reason he came in the first place.]

Oh. Y-yeah. Sor- Thanks again for returning it. Be careful out there.

[advanced]

[He nods. Hesitates, before:]

You too.

[And then he's turning and slipping out of the room.]