[Whenever Jamie arrives, he'll find a disheveled, sleepless Archivist curled on a cot. He's missing his glasses, he's in a jumpsuit, and he has a plain black dummy gag in his mouth and strapped in place with a belt around his head. The cell is black, the only light from his phone.]
[It isn't easy to come through the Hedge when there isn't a trod. Jamie doesn't like doing it if he can help it, it's better to use doorways that are already there. But, it is for Jon.
It isn't reality bending. It's more like a tear in between the bars of Jon's cell. There's a flicker of a world on the other side, and then there's Jamie. Wearing pajamas. Little sheep drinking tea and wearing nightcaps decorate the pale purple sleep pants, a silky ribbon ties them at his hips. The shirt is plain and white and hugs the shape of his torso. Over it all is a soft cardigan, slumped off of one shoulder as he reaches to push his fingers through his hair.
The tear closes up behind him, leaving the bars once more.]
[The sense of something off pervades Jon's awareness, and he stares as Jamie appears, eyes wide, staring, and unblinking. There's a faint glow from his eyes as he drinks in the strangeness.
Jon starts to say 'yes,' but there's just a garbled mumble behind the gag as he sits up.]
[Jamie gives off a faint glow of his own. He moves carefully, though, because he can't see in the dark even if he can shine in it. He manages to get to the edge of Jon's cot and sits down without landing on the archivist.
He brushes his fingers over the gag, following a strap behind Jon's head to see if he can get it undone.]
All of this and you're afraid of spiders? Sounds like something I'd complain about.
[It's a belt with a small lock at the back. Jon shakes his head and tries to knock Jamie's hand away. He points toward the hallway, then puts his hands up like he's holding binoculars. There is a camera, and while the Guards might tolerate a clandestine visitor, he doubts they're going to appreciate him taking off his gag outside designated meal times.]
[Jamie rolls his eyes expansively and looks at Jon's face.]
You think that's going to work right now? Or that I'm really worried about being caught here? I know you probably think I'm not more than dandelion fluff, but I am not new to this, Archivist.
[Still, he sighs and sits back, arms crossed.]
Are you just going to type on your phone? Or do you just want me to get rid of the spiders and go?
[Jon's gaze flickers past Jamie to the camera. If it's not working, Jon's certainly not going to argue taking the damn gag off. He reaches up and tugs on the strap of his gag before bowing his head to Jamie. If the other man can deal with the lock, Jon will happily acquiesce to allowing the help. It means Jamie's probably going to have to put it back on, but needs must.]
[Jamie looks over the lock and wrinkles his nose. It's not complicated, the trouble is getting it open without hurting it. He reaches up to slide a pin out of his hair and works on unlocking it in the most mundane fashion. It takes a few seconds but he does manage to get it open with a soft click.]
We probably don't have long, [he says quietly as he undoes the strap of the gag.]
[Jon gives the gag a hard suck before it's removed so he doesn't drool down his chin. Jamie will be able to see it's a predictably phallic design as Jon wipes his mouth with the back of his wrist.]
You know, the only reason I haven't gone mad yet is because you aren't totally human yourself, [he says mildly as he examines the gag. Hm. He's a bit jealous of this piece of plastic. Jamie sets it aside on the cot and returns his attention to Jon.]
Our lives are all about balance, [he says as he sits on the cot. He's not sitting on the damn floor.] Our connection to the mundane world is what saves us, and we want - need - to feel accepted by it. And when we do things counter to that, it...
[Jamie tries to think, absently fidgeting with the ribbon on his pajama pants.]
We start to lose the ability to tell the difference. Coming out of the Hedge like that? That's not normal. Normal people don't do that. The normal world doesn't work that way.
I do love that you think you made me do anything, [he says with a dry look.] I don't know that it'd be a good idea to feed you in an enclosed space, but. I can deal with the spiders.
[Jamie looks at the corner in question. He can't see that far, but he trusts Jon that they're there.]
[Maybe he had been. Jon stares down at his hands and fidgets with them. God, he's exhausted. Getting rid of the spiders will solve a tiny piece of his problem with sleep, but it won't solve it. Still, he can be grateful.]
If you need me to do some sort of pledge before you get rid of them, I was being serious.
[He feels like he owes Jamie something at this point.]
Would you like to make it a formal, binding arrangement? Or will you just keep your word?
[Jamie lifts a brow. Maybe he should make sure he gets payment before he goes and performs such a service. He's curious that Jon so readily offered himself in the first place. Maybe he'll ask when Jon is his again.]
Contracts are how I do magic, but they're not the kind you're thinking of. Well, not exactly. The pledge I put us in before just made sure you'd be bound to me with consequences. I was angry with you.
[Jamie shrugs one shoulder.]
But, you've offered, and I'm accepting. It doesn't need to be more complicated than that, unless you're planning on trying to get out of it.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Jamie, it's the middle of the night.
They're hardly going to let you in now.
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but I think you wildly underestimate how convincing I can be
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Just do it the illegal way.
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alright then
don't flip out when i show up, ok?
i don't know exactly how it will look
>action
[Whenever Jamie arrives, he'll find a disheveled, sleepless Archivist curled on a cot. He's missing his glasses, he's in a jumpsuit, and he has a plain black dummy gag in his mouth and strapped in place with a belt around his head. The cell is black, the only light from his phone.]
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It isn't reality bending. It's more like a tear in between the bars of Jon's cell. There's a flicker of a world on the other side, and then there's Jamie. Wearing pajamas. Little sheep drinking tea and wearing nightcaps decorate the pale purple sleep pants, a silky ribbon ties them at his hips. The shirt is plain and white and hugs the shape of his torso. Over it all is a soft cardigan, slumped off of one shoulder as he reaches to push his fingers through his hair.
The tear closes up behind him, leaving the bars once more.]
Well this is awful.
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Jon starts to say 'yes,' but there's just a garbled mumble behind the gag as he sits up.]
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He brushes his fingers over the gag, following a strap behind Jon's head to see if he can get it undone.]
All of this and you're afraid of spiders? Sounds like something I'd complain about.
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You think that's going to work right now? Or that I'm really worried about being caught here? I know you probably think I'm not more than dandelion fluff, but I am not new to this, Archivist.
[Still, he sighs and sits back, arms crossed.]
Are you just going to type on your phone? Or do you just want me to get rid of the spiders and go?
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We probably don't have long, [he says quietly as he undoes the strap of the gag.]
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Better something than nothing.
[He keeps his own voice low.]
How are you dodging the cameras?
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I just am.
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You haven't...? Why would that- what?
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[Jamie tries to think, absently fidgeting with the ribbon on his pajama pants.]
We start to lose the ability to tell the difference. Coming out of the Hedge like that? That's not normal. Normal people don't do that. The normal world doesn't work that way.
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[Jon grimaces.]
I shouldn't have made you come. I'm sorry, I just. I'm hungry, and the spiders... I don't like spiders.
[He gestures vaguely to one corner of the cell.]
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[Jamie looks at the corner in question. He can't see that far, but he trusts Jon that they're there.]
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[Maybe he had been. Jon stares down at his hands and fidgets with them. God, he's exhausted. Getting rid of the spiders will solve a tiny piece of his problem with sleep, but it won't solve it. Still, he can be grateful.]
If you need me to do some sort of pledge before you get rid of them, I was being serious.
[He feels like he owes Jamie something at this point.]
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[Jamie lifts a brow. Maybe he should make sure he gets payment before he goes and performs such a service. He's curious that Jon so readily offered himself in the first place. Maybe he'll ask when Jon is his again.]
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[That's the main draw for an actual contract here. He'd just sort of assumed it was needed.]
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[Jamie shrugs one shoulder.]
But, you've offered, and I'm accepting. It doesn't need to be more complicated than that, unless you're planning on trying to get out of it.
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I'm not. Just... don't pick an inconvenient time for the repayment.
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