Not quite an interigation.
Sasha spent the rest of the weekend with Tim, trying to keep herself distracted from thinking about Jon, and just all the unknowns. It made her nervous, which occasionally she would remind herself that was literally the brand of monster Jon was. Maybe this was just the lingering effects of what Jon apologized for the first time, how he had accidentally sewed a seed of a statement when he learned he couldn’t be recorded any more. When was the last time Jon apologized that sincerely?
Tim did a pretty okay job keeping her distracted, while the other end of the distractions came from Nikki.
From time to time she would get a text from Nikki that was either a selfie picturing her causing some sort of chaos in Jon’s flat, or the chaos they both were creating that was probably driving Martin crazy. She’d never really spent much time at Jon’s place, but from what she could tell, Jon was terrible at actually organizing. There was no way Nikki could’ve caused that sort of mess in a day. Especially since Jon was letting her keep the majority of the things. It was no wonder Elias picked him for the job if the goal was originally to find the worst fit for the job.
Seeing Nikki having fun did help put her at ease a bit. Jon wasn’t just running away to avoid a topic. He was really moving out of his place.
--
Monday rolled around and Jon could feel Sasha’s determination the moment they greeted each other, he could practically taste her questions hanging in the air. It was going to be one of those days.
Jon let out a sign. “You’ve got questions.”
Sasha nodded. “I do. I want to know about the bet you mentioned with Elias.”
Tim and Martin both turned their heads as Jon’s expression slipped into something tired.
“Yes. About that.” Jon paused like he was trying to think of a good way to word it, but considering the glow to his eyes, and the few that opened on his neck, it was complicated.
“Can you all hold off on comments until I explain everything thoroughly?”
“Depends, boss. How bad is it?” Tim glanced at Jon, hoping his weekend of defending Jon wasn’t going to be betrayed.
“Um, Bad sounding? But not?” that wasn’t a confident answer.
“I can’t promise, but I’ll save judgment till you finish.” Sasha wanted to know. Jon would probably clam up if someone other than Martin didn’t agree.
“I didn’t include this in the original explanation cause well, I wasn’t hiding it or anything, just explaining 14 fear gods and time travel at the same time felt like it’d be too much? Then I sort of maybe forgot to include it in part two of explanations?”
They all nodded.
“What I said about Elias wanting to mark me with all the Enties to complete the Watcher’s Crown wasn’t affected by the time travel. It’s always been his goal. Just undoing it wasn’t ideal for him, so he wanted it back. The- the first week, he tested me with a statement to see if it could be performed with just the memories of the marks or if it needed to be on my physical self...”
Martin looked horrified, while a small bubble of rage in the shape of Elias’ dumb face formed. The other two looked worried, but they didn’t understand the context. Jon never told them how the ritual was performed, just what was needed for set up.
“I- It didn’t work. Obviously. Since the world is still okay and everything. Elias was watching, joined me in my office after I finished. We got into something of an argument, and I agreed to terms in the form of a wager. The terms I was aiming for was he can’t hurt any of you to mark me. He wins when I’m marked by all 14 entities -maybe 15 if it takes him too long- and the world returns to what it was with us in power and humanity’s end, I win and you are all free and able to quit with the very real chance it’s with Elias’ death.“
“That it? ...ah, it's not is it.” Tim saw Jon somehow get smaller from guilt as Tim talked. Jon had to work on his poker face.
“I took it, the bet, because it was a safe bet. Safe because I couldn't really lose even if I fail...”
“Oh Jon.” Martin knew more than the other two what kind of world waited if they couldn’t stop Elias.
Sasha was about to say something, but was interrupted by Jon before she could.
“I was more confident I wouldn’t fail back then. Now that I've been marked by the End. It happened last week and I Don’t want to talk about it. I’m not as sure. What Sasha overheard was us talking about progress on the wager. Part of it was to try and see if he would brag about what he was up to, so I could have a better idea of what he was up to, the other was…” Jon paused, trying to find a good way to word this next part.
“It’s hard to put into words, so I’m just going to say it. Part of it might have been me encouraging him. Deep down…” Jon let out a bitter laugh. “No. That's a lie. It’s not deep at all...I want the Watcher’s Crown to succeed. Keep in mind, I also want that jumper I saw online the other day, with the cat paw pattern on the sleeves where hands go. They are the same level of want for me in that they would improve my life greatly. While the cost of a jumper is unquestionably affordable if not a little overpriced, the Watcher’s crown is too expensive with the cost of the world as it is now. So yes. I want it. Any time Jonah rubs it in my face, I can’t deny it. But I also know I cannot, Will Not have it. Wanting and having are two different things, and I’ve accepted this. I’m going to win the bet by Elias losing.”
Tim stood from his desk silently. Grabbed his phone, jacket, and bag, then walked out, slamming the door behind him. Sasha looked at Jon for a hard minute, looked like she was going to say something, but the slammed door stopped her.
“I’m not going to say sorry for bringing this up. I need a moment to process.” She quickly grabbed her things, and chased after Tim. Without slamming the door when she left.
“That could’ve gone worse? You really have to work on how you word things Jon.” Martin tossed the little mouse toy Marshal brought him.
“I know...but any other way would feel like a lie.” Jon sounded so tired.
---
“He compared all of humanity to a jumper, Sasha. A. Fuckin’. Jumper. What am I supposed to do with that!? We are all just objects for scare for a meal. He is no better than the rest of them.”
“You know that isn’t true, I don’t think...Look I’m upset too, but we are going to have to deal with this.”
“No. I don’t think we do. I’m not. I’m going to get drunk. Book a trip and peace out for a week before spooky sick kicks in. Maybe calm down, maybe not. I don’t know.”
---
Chat between Sasha and Nikki
Sasha: Did you know about Jon and the Watcher’s Crown?Nikki: Is That What His Ritual Is Called? Too Bad They Don’t Let Him Name It. He Is Better At Naming.
Sasha: yeah, he told us a little bit about it today
Sasha: I can’t believe he wants to succeed at the watchers crown, after everything hes said and done to avoid it, he still wants itNikki: Of Course, Why Wouldn’t He Want It? A World Ruled By Your God Is Bliss.
Sasha: wait, you aren’t mad at him? Don’t you have conflicting interests?
Nikki: Yeah, But I Can’t Fault Him For It. I Just Have To Succeed Before He Does. :D
Nikki: I Don’t Think You Have To Worry Yet. He Enjoys This World And It’s People Too Much. I Don’t Get It Myself. I Would Only Start To Worry If He Ever Gets Bored. When Someone Of The Beholding Gets Bored Is When Things Start To Get Dangerous. They Are Almost As Bad As The Web.Sasha: I thought the only there were only 2 avatars?
Nikki: No. I Don’t Know How Many There Are, But Thinking There Are Only 2 Is Quite Silly. There Is Only 1 Archivist Tho. The Eye Is Funny Like That With Names And Titles.
Nikki: We Still On For Wednesday? I Was Going To Get Tickets For This Darling Little TheaterSasha: yeah. I can come early and we can check out the area beforehand. I don’t plan on going to work this week with Tim taking off. I think I should spend some time thinking too.