[It was as simple as that, he supposed. Considering Elias at least used the network, that wasn't an excessive hardship.]
I'd need to talk to Sasha about anything we need to add from their red-string board. [He sighed.] What sort of information do you have to offer in exchange? Notes? An interview?
I have pieces on certain residents here, however my work is not nearly as expansive as yours. But-
[He sipped his drink.]
-with Jon gone, so goes his gift of getting information out of people. I, however, still have it, albeit in fluctuation. It is the closest you can have to his skillset, and there have been points where my powers have...increased, based on the town. I can help you in the situations where a cup of tea and Tim's winning smile is not enough to grease the proverbial wheels.
[Martin glanced off to one side, thinking. That would, in fact, be a useful skill to have.]
We're not blackmailing people who're Sleepers like us with anything we find out. [Just to be clear.] But the rest of the people in the town. The Mother Superior, the Mayor, people like that. I'd be okay with you digging into them. Checking the things they tell us are the truth.
[He stared at Martin, unsurprised by the response. It was vaguely disappointing.]
They are…more difficult to read. I can attempt it, but I can’t guarantee anything when it comes to the people of the town. My powers are less reliable against them.
[He sipped the drink.]
Why do you want to protect them, the Sleepers? You know that some of them are dangerous. .
You're here, so... yeah. Kind of obvious. But they're also not going to have answers for why any of this exists or how we're going to get out. The ones who do have those answers share the information they gather. If you need someone else combing the network for you, that's something I can offer. We don't need to twist people's arms, though. A lot of them want to get out of here, too, and the ones most invested in it are happy to share the information they have.
And I'm not going to give you a blanket okay to do your... mind... thing on people. Even the ones I don't like.
While I'm focused on getting out as well, might I remind you that we need to stay alive while we're in here with those dangerous Sleepers. Myself not included.
[So rude, Martin. He was trying to make some semblance of peace, after all.]
It wasn't the town that killed you or Jon; it was your fellow citizens, need I remind you?
A bunch of ice zombies murdered me, none of the Sleepers.
[Martin has much less of a defense for Jon's situation, though.]
Arid's- That was something that got out of hand. It won't repeat itself. And Fern was you goading him. Again, even if there are dangerous people, what good would doing your thing on them do? Maybe if they're trying to actively kill you, but they're not going to have the information we want or need.
[But who would determine that was still left in the air; if it was Elias, the restrictions would be far more relaxed.
Of course, these were nitpicky things, regulations and rules to come across in later discussions and negotiations; for right now, he wanted to at least settle in the idea that they could work together again. Just like the old days of scheduling and tea.]
Remember, we both want to get back to Jon, don't we?
[Martin scoffs quietly, glancing off to the side. His hand strays to his chest, playing with the Boatswain's Whistle hidden beneath his shirt. It would be so easy to walk away from all of this, to just go an hide, lose himself in the Lonely again and just ignore everyone around him.
But Martin is here and Jon isn't anymore. He can't rely on Jon and the others to solve this anymore.]
I want to get back to Jon. You want to end the world. [A deep sigh.] But fine. While we're going in the same direction, we might as well pull together.
[Gray eyes followed the hand as it played with the whistle. Elias felt the need for it still, but it was a selfish and pointlessly human desire, so he simply let it go. The Lonely could remain with the Lonely; it would rather prefer Martin, anyway.
Especially now that he was alone.]
Perfect. I assume we can work on weekly meetings? While I prefer in person debriefings, I assume we can do ones over the Fluid if we are either too busy or the world is too dangerous to adventure outside. [He smiled, not once denying the need for a return to the apocalypse. Why bother fighting the truth?]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rosecarmine
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-04 05:15 pm (UTC)[It was as simple as that, he supposed. Considering Elias at least used the network, that wasn't an excessive hardship.]
I'd need to talk to Sasha about anything we need to add from their red-string board. [He sighed.] What sort of information do you have to offer in exchange? Notes? An interview?
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-04 05:22 pm (UTC)[Simple. Easy. Hardly obtrusive at all.]
I have pieces on certain residents here, however my work is not nearly as expansive as yours. But-
[He sipped his drink.]
-with Jon gone, so goes his gift of getting information out of people. I, however, still have it, albeit in fluctuation. It is the closest you can have to his skillset, and there have been points where my powers have...increased, based on the town. I can help you in the situations where a cup of tea and Tim's winning smile is not enough to grease the proverbial wheels.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-08 07:56 pm (UTC)We're not blackmailing people who're Sleepers like us with anything we find out. [Just to be clear.] But the rest of the people in the town. The Mother Superior, the Mayor, people like that. I'd be okay with you digging into them. Checking the things they tell us are the truth.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-09 02:05 pm (UTC)They are…more difficult to read. I can attempt it, but I can’t guarantee anything when it comes to the people of the town. My powers are less reliable against them.
[He sipped the drink.]
Why do you want to protect them, the Sleepers? You know that some of them are dangerous.
.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-12 04:42 am (UTC)And I'm not going to give you a blanket okay to do your... mind... thing on people. Even the ones I don't like.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-12 02:28 pm (UTC)[So rude, Martin. He was trying to make some semblance of peace, after all.]
It wasn't the town that killed you or Jon; it was your fellow citizens, need I remind you?
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-14 08:09 pm (UTC)[Martin has much less of a defense for Jon's situation, though.]
Arid's- That was something that got out of hand. It won't repeat itself. And Fern was you goading him. Again, even if there are dangerous people, what good would doing your thing on them do? Maybe if they're trying to actively kill you, but they're not going to have the information we want or need.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-26 04:06 am (UTC)[But who would determine that was still left in the air; if it was Elias, the restrictions would be far more relaxed.
Of course, these were nitpicky things, regulations and rules to come across in later discussions and negotiations; for right now, he wanted to at least settle in the idea that they could work together again. Just like the old days of scheduling and tea.]
Remember, we both want to get back to Jon, don't we?
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-28 10:31 pm (UTC)But Martin is here and Jon isn't anymore. He can't rely on Jon and the others to solve this anymore.]
I want to get back to Jon. You want to end the world. [A deep sigh.] But fine. While we're going in the same direction, we might as well pull together.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-29 12:16 am (UTC)Especially now that he was alone.]
Perfect. I assume we can work on weekly meetings? While I prefer in person debriefings, I assume we can do ones over the Fluid if we are either too busy or the world is too dangerous to adventure outside. [He smiled, not once denying the need for a return to the apocalypse. Why bother fighting the truth?]
Would you like to add anything?
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-30 01:34 am (UTC)Banish Tim's ghost. It's creepy having it around.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-30 01:41 am (UTC)He sighed, but nodded.]
I will work on that. Anything else?
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-30 02:24 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-31 03:43 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-04-01 04:57 am (UTC)Fine. I'll meet with you next Saturday with notes. Is that all?
(no subject)
Date: 2021-04-04 02:51 am (UTC)I believe so. As always, it's a pleasure doing business with you, Martin.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-04-04 05:24 am (UTC)[Unless Elias stops him, he'll head off, giving Tim's ghost another glance on the way.]