they were called the Mechanisms
New years eve wasn’t something Jon figured he’d ever see again, to be honest. In the future, there weren’t any new years to celebrate, not even an anniversary to the end of the world.
“Does it count if we’ve already celebrated this year?” Martin held tight on Jon’s hand as they walked.
“I dunno. I didn’t quite celebrate it last time around. I think. What was I doing?” Jon had skipped out of parties back then. He wanted to skip out on this one as well, but Martin had looked so excited. “I was probably working or maybe read a book?”
“Then it doesn’t count I suppose. Since you never celebrated.”
“Did you do anything exciting last time 2016 came along?”
“I did. I went to the company party we are skipping this year. Tim had gotten drunk and I walked him home. Almost didn’t make it there before he passed out.”
“I really missed out on those parties then.”
“Maybe Tim will get drunk at Georgie’s party and we can walk him home together.”
“Have to fill him in on the plan that.” Jon leaned into Martin, his head resting on Martin’s arm.
Jon walked into Georgie’s building then froze. “Martin, I changed my mind, let's bail and spend new years, just you and me.”
“What? Why the sudden change? This is literally all you’ve been talking about for the last few days.”
“I just-” Jon was cut off as a man entered behind them.
“Jonny, that you?! How’s it been mate?! Georgie didn’t say you were coming.”
Martin turned to look at the man from behind.
“Hello Tim. She didn’t mention to me she invited you either.”
“She musta forgotten, or thought you wouldn’t come if the crowd was too big. ” He laughed. “What are you just standin there for? Your plus-one, You his plus-one?” Martin nodded. “Good on ya, Jonny, your plus-one’s probably getting cold.” This stranger to Martin pushed them in.
“I’m Tim by the way.” He held out a hand to Martin.
“Martin.” He took his hand.
“Ivy told me she was going to be here later. Brian couldn’t make it, something about travel plans? No matter. You been in touch with anyone else lately?”
“I have. Basira and Nikki. Bumped into them randomly over the last year and we kept in touch.” Jon made his way up the stairs to Georgie’s place.
“Haven’t heard from them in forever. They been good?”
“They’ll be here so you can ask, but yes.”
“Almost enough to get the band together.”
“Band?” Martin sounded curious, and Jon’s hand went limp.
“Oh, Didn’t Jonny tell ya about it? We used to be in a band back in uni. Pretty large crew with us all and we’d do shows every other weekend or so. I got some videos I can share, maybe we could do a song or two. Sure Nikki would be down for some ‘tales to be told’.”
Martin’s eyes seemed to light up, almost supernaturally glowing. “Jon, you never mentioned before…”
“I didn’t…”
Martin looked to Tim. “What did he play?”
“He was our leading narrator and sang many-a-parts. Georgie heey.” Tim entered the flat to be greeted by the host.
“Hey, You made it! See you bumped into Jon and Martin on the way.”
“Georgie…Tim told Martin about The Mechanisms...” Jon moaned to her as he hung his coat.
She let out a laugh as Tim looked to Jon.
“Oh, sorry, didn’t know it was a secret. Hope I didn’t ruin any big date repeal plans. Guess too late now.” He let out a sort of laugh that had the sense of ‘oh well what can you do to it’.
Georgie went around introducing everyone to each other. The two Tim’s decided that Tim from uni would be GP Tim since between the two Tim’s, he was the only one with a nickname and neither would go by Timothy. In the process of name deciding, everyone was informed that Jon was in a band whose whole thing was they were immortal space pirates. Jon and Basira both mopped in the corner for a bit, cause it was news to Daisy as well. Daisy and Martin went back and forth about how to tease the two immortal space pirates in their lives.
“Nikki, I know why the two of them never mentioned it, but why didn’t you?” Sasha was sitting with Nikki while GP Tim was bringing up videos for Tim, Daisy and Martin.
“Oh, Cause We Always Talk About Jon, Never Jonny. If We Talked About Jonny I Would’ve Been Happy To Tell You The Tales.” Nikki beamed like it should’ve been obvious.
“Of course. That makes sense.” Sasha mentally filed that as important information. Need to be beyond specific with Nikki.
Ivy showed up not too much later than the rest of everyone and she has insisted on the crew to perform something for old time sake. Much as Jon protested, everyone could see the smile he was trying to hide, so some tales were told over some old voiceless tracks from various albums Georgie seemed to have ready. Jon was just as into it as ever and the archive crew were amazed how Jon could just switch on roles much like when he read statements. Martin looked he would melt.
Melanie recorded it with an old vhs camera since she was aware that Jon’s flavor of spooky couldn’t be recorded digitally. She played it off as it was retro and she was messing around with trying to use it for her show. Which wasn’t a lie. She did want a way to get Jon in her videos.
“So Jon, heard you got yourself an archiving job. The irony eh?” Ivy sat next to Jon while the others were playing some weird party game. Jon got eliminated in a round before Ivy had.
“Only if you were a captain of a ship.”
She let out a laugh. “When I said irony, I meant it. I’m only technically a first mate now.” She elbowed him.
“You’re joking.”
“Nope! Got the promotion few weeks ago. It’s for a shipping company that carries things that can’t go by air. Mostly artifacts and the like. Some right creepy things from time to time, but not like any of the horror stories attached are real. Pay is wild for just going to sea every once and awhile.”
“Sounds dangerous.” Jon got worried so did a quick Look at the company. It wasn’t anything aligned to the fear, but there might be some less than legal activity? “Just be careful. Would suck if you got caught with something you shouldn’t”
“Oh it’s fine. Basically an ocean mail lady.” She laughed. “Bet your place is faaar quieter than an job on the aurora would be.”
“I dunno. I could give it a run for it’s money I think.” Jon laughed, both cause she had no idea, and because it would be nice if that were the case. It might be slightly quieter by definition, but not by events.
“You’ll have to give me a tour sometime so I can be the judge of that.”
“Not much to see other than some dusty old papers about the things that go bump in the night.”
Midnight was almost there and everyone was preparing to make some noise. Jon held tightly onto Martin’s hands in anticipation. Time was hard, but here he was, not to far off from a year since time stopped working for so long. He wanted to keep it flowing like this. Next year they would have another party. Sasha was going to be fine. Tim was going to be fine.
Midnight struck and Jon pulled Martin in for a kiss. He’d seen it in movies, sure it looked cheesy, felt cliche, but didn’t stop either of them. Jon was here with Martin and they were both going to be alright and see another year turn.