9030/Let Your Love Shine Bright
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| Let Your Love Shine Bright | |
|---|---|
| Date of Scene: | 05 December 2021 |
| Location: | Martin and Jon's Suite |
| Synopsis: | On the last night of Hanukkah, Jon comes home to tell Martin about the Papal Killer and his thoughts about the case. |
| Cast of Characters: | Jonathan Sims, Martin Blackwood
|
- Jonathan Sims has posed:
Jon's home before the candles finish burning.
Even if Jon doesn't share Martin's beliefs, he shares the rituals of his Jewish husband because they're important, and because he of all people understands honoring one's ancestors and their stories. Passover could be a /little/ awkward, but Jon's long since declared the Egyptian practice of slavery was an obvious mistake.
He's been busy, of late, in and out of New York to check on crime scenes, down to Gotham to meet the Outsiders. He's always tried to stay in Westchester until sundown, be with Martin to light the Hanukkah candles, then leave for whatever other work he has once it's done. On Saturday it was Gotham, home to light the menorah, back out to New York, and then back home late. They don't have gelt anymore, with Lyra dead, but they still make latkes and sufganiyot.
But on the last night, Jon hasn't been home, hasn't responded to Martin's texts about whether or not he's coming. There was a story with his picture in the New York Post, but more importantly there was another murder and Jon rushed out to go to the crime scene.
Now, after the candle's been lit and while it burns, Jon comes bursting through the door. "Martin, I'm so sorry--"
- Martin Blackwood has posed:
Martin is standing before the menorah, rocking back and forth as he reads from a small book. His prayer book. His words are soft, only for his ears and God's. But small snipets come to Jon's ears: 'protection' 'loved ones' 'guidance' 'safety'.
He finishes the passage and closes the book, bowing his head and bringing it to his chest before turning to Jon. There are lines of wetness on his cheeks. "You're safe?" he asks with a small smile. "I'm glad. God heard my words this time."
- Jonathan Sims has posed:
"I'm safe, love, I'm fine," Jon says, going over to wrap his arms around his husband. He's careful not to disturb to menorah or crush the prayer book or anything like that. "I'm sorry I worried you."
He pulls back, frowning. "You were crying? Oh, /gods/, you were crying. I... I'm so sorry, Martin, I didn't even /respond/ to your texts..." A frown creases his brow. He'd been so wrapped up in his work, in his feeling of failure, that he hadn't even let Martin know he was okay. What was /happening/ to him?
- Martin Blackwood has posed:
"I was worried" Martin says softly, bringing his own arms up to embrace his husband. "No word and you in that place..." He sniffles a bit and nods. "I'm glad you're not hurt. What happened? Why didn't you... well..." He takes a step back and looks over Jon's form, making sure there isn't any sign of struggle or conflict on the man's person. Maybe he lost his phone and couldn't contact Martin? Stranger things have happened.
- Jonathan Sims has posed:
"You didn't see the Post." Jon sighs. "After the candle's done... well. I'm on the front page of the New York Post." He says it wryly. "Not... /me/ per se. The Archivist. And it's a blurry photo, so nobody can identify me. But..." Another sigh, heavy.
He squeezes Martin briefly, then turns to walk to the kitchen. "The latest body got the story leaked to the press, it seems. Not that I care about /that/ so much, it just... I don't know. Between the victim--a small-time embezzeler--and the comments on the story..." Oh, no. He was /reading/ the /comments/? "I just... it all got to be too much. I'm sorry, Martin."
- Martin Blackwood has posed:
Martin's expression goes from worry to dismay. "Jon..." he says. "One, I don't pay attention to tabloid rags like the Post. Two, I steer clear from most news durring this time of year."
He moves to the couch and sits. "And three, the *comments?* Honestly, Jon... why not just go to reddit and read the posts from r/Trashy... they're probably about the same level of garbage..."
He sighs and leans back. "What were they saying?" he asks, his tone one that sounds like it expects the worst.
- Jonathan Sims has posed:
Jon doesn't respond at first. He's in the kitchen now, pulling out the last of the oil and grated potatoes and dough. Preparing to cook, it seems, because that's one of the things Jon does to say he loves Martin or that he's sorry. He cooks.
Finally, "Nothing good. The /kindest/ were comments on where I could shove my 'hat'. The worst..." He shudders. "Bad enough /I/ have to live with that for the rest of my life, I don't need to infect /you/ with it."
He sighs. "It's not just that, though... it's... someone else died, Martin. We didn't figure this thing out fast enough, I spent Saturday in Gotham and Queens, and someone /died/. This is /my/ responsibility, and I haven't been taking it seriously enough."
A pause, and he peers over the cut-out in the wall that lets one see the living room from the kitchen. "Are you coming in here and cooking with me or not?"
- Martin Blackwood has posed:
Martin set the book reverently on the coffee table and rises before moving to the kitchen.
He starts by washing his hands. "Any clue as to the perpetrator?" he asks. "I mean... were you able to find out who it is and why they're doing it the way they are?" he asks.
He was only familiar with the situation by the coverage of the news. Whatever is killing people it's out of SHIELD's jurisdiction and so he didn't want to get involved unless absolutely necessary.
The name given to the killer mad ehis skin crawl for reasons beyond his disdain for Christianity. To masquerade as a savior figure--false or not--while murdering people was... well, heresey didn't even cover it in Martin's opinion.
- Jonathan Sims has posed:
Jon hesitates, then says, slowly, "...It's an angel, Martin. It's mind-controlling people to nail themselves to the crosses, then torturing them for their sins, and then burning them from the inside out." He stops in the middle of laying things out to cook with. "I've taken... eight statements now, I think? Variations on a theme, but it's the same... M.O., as it were."
He swallows. "Right at the end, it reveals itself to them. IT's so bright I can't make anything out, but... /gods/. It's an angel. Six wings, eyes on the wings, the whole... thing."
- Martin Blackwood has posed:
Martin stops washing his hands and blinks. "I... you're serious..." he says looking at Jon. He pales a considerable amount but finishes his handwashing before moving to helping Jon prep for cooking. His eyes track to the prayer book on the coffee table. "I... I can't help you with this one, Jon. I can be here for support and I can help talk through it with you, but..."
He swallows and eyes Jon. "Jewish tradition dictates that you don't interfere with the affairs of angels, regardless of their actions. They're... too big. Too beyond our scope of understanding." He furrows his brow and looks supremely torn in the situation. "I want to. I want to go out and help you fight it but... with this... I can't."
- Jonathan Sims has posed:
Jon sighs. "Whereas my /duty/ as Archivist appears to be, in part, to keep angels in line."
He turns to wrap his arms around Martin from behind, briefly tilting his chin to rest it atop the shorter man's head. "It's fine, Martin," he says softly. "I know we say 'where I go, you go,' but... that doesn't mean you have to be by my side for everything that happens. Just knowing you're around helps. Knowing I can come home to you at the end of it all."
He hesitates, then says, "...If there's another murder before we can figure this out, I might have to stay in Hell's Kitchen for a while, though. Focus all my attention on the case. Is that... will that be okay?"
- Martin Blackwood has posed:
Martin stops his prep, relaxing in Jon's arms for a moment, enjoying the proximity and comfort in the man's embrace. After the question his nods. "Just... make sure you answer your phone this time around? Or at least message me to let me know you're safe and alive?" he asks.
"And I will be here... when it's over with. To help you get through... whatever you need in the end." He seems to think the ordeal will not end positively for Jon by his tone. But Jon can tell from the link between them, that regardless of his less than optimistic attitude, he *will* be there in the end of it all.
- Jonathan Sims has posed:
"I will, love. I'm sorry I... it's just... it's a /lot/, Martin. When I went to that first crime scene, took the first statement... I /fainted/. And I knew, I /knew/, that this is what I was meant for. Before all the other stuff, the... House Citrine Archive business, before keeping temple records, all of that." Jon sighs. "This is my original purpose. Keeping things in line that are too powerful to let just... die in the normal course of things."
He hesitates, then kisses the top of Martin's head and then steps back. "Oh, so... I /may/ have gotten us a double date with a vampire and, ahh... the leader of the Brotherhood of Mutants." He grins. "Lydia's a delight, though, it'll be worth it, I promise!"
- Martin Blackwood has posed:
Martin stops in his prep again. "Full of surprises tonight, aren't we?" he says a little breathlessly. "Jon... you do know that not too long ago they were The Brotherhood of *Evil* Mutants, right? And were identified by SHIELD as a terrorist organisation? A designation that many of the guard" he specifically leaves out the old monicker since a number of those he considered peers are part of it, "still feel it is deserving of?"
He sighs and shakes his head. "I trust you know what you're doing and I will go, of course." He eyes the taller man sidelong for a moment. "I support mutant equality, I really do, but some actions are too extreme even for me. I hope you won't think less of me should I reserve judgement on them both."
He moves back to the prep. "Now come on. You came home to cook with me tonight and we are a bit behind on the schedule. Help me out here." With that he gets down to business in earnest.
