2024-03-13 1:13:31 ¶ ● ⬀ ⬈

klm-zoflorr:

> unending-vigil:

> > do we talk enough about how Jonah was probably listening in on Jon reading his letters and probably had shrimp emotions when Jon said “my dear Jonah”

> Oh my god hello

He can’t keep doing this. He told himself he’d stop, and yet here he is, Watching as Jon cautiously picks up the statement, aware of its age and not wanting to damage any part of his Archives, and clears his throat, turning on the tape.

The Eye’s attention on him is palpable, awaiting its offering. Jon shifts a little in his seat, uncomfortable with all the attention. Jonah’s sure he’ll get used to it.

Jon speaking his name - his actual name - is still delightful and terrifying enough to have him flinch in his seat, a tiny gasp escaping him. And the way Jon says it, too: even now Albrecht’s affections for him bleed in, beyond his death and through his terror, into Jonah’s Archivist and into the Eye, and it makes hearing it all the more sweet.

The statement itself was fitting. It had been, after all, Jonah that had gotten Albrecht killed. His love was like that; everyone he’d touched had been consumed. Smirke, and Albrecht, and dear, sweet Barnabas, and now Jon too. His plans for Jon are going to ruin him anyway. Jonah can’t let his love for his Archive destroy him further.

But he doesn’t look away.

2024-03-13 1:32:17 ¶ ●

“My dear Archivist,” Elias says, voice low and fond and satisfied. One hand is on Jon’s cheek, cupping his face, and the other is busy affixing the dog collar back to his throat. He’d felt so bare without it, in America, where he hadn’t wanted to weather the strange looks. He makes a little relaxed sound, leaning into Elias, eyes closed. Content. “How good to have you back where you belong.”

Here, in his Archives, the Eye watching both of them, Jon can’t help but agree.