The Magic Box, Monday

[existencemisspent]

Last week's lead had not panned out. So Eliot was -- theoretically -- doing more research this morning at the Magic Box.

What he was actually doing was sitting with a number of books spread in front of him while he stared vaguely into space and thought about arguing about what girls were like with tiny Margo across the teaset from him yesterday.

. . . Oh shit. Did he maybe someday want kids??

[open!]

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[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon hadn't managed to help with any research this weekend, from the simple fact he hadn't remembered it due to being a child.

So he was here to help, and in lieu of helpful notes, he brought his own tea and a large coffee doctored the way Eliot liked, except for the alcohol.

He eyed the books and held out the coffee to Eliot. "The Perk doesn't have alcohol. I had them leave room in it."

[existencemisspent]

Eliot let out a soft sigh and then accepted the cup with a nod of thanks. "Alas, many places don't understand the glory of adding just a little bit of booze to things."

He gave Jon a purely clinical once over as he pulled out his flask and added the alcohol in himself. "Survived the weekend, did you?"

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"I could stand a few more weekends like that," Jon said. "Nightmares and all. At least I was human."

He offered Eliot a small smile. "It sounds as though you had fun with Margo."

[existencemisspent]

"You have a disturbingly low bar," Eliot informed him. "But yes, we did rather. Though I've attended enough tea parties now to last me through the next decade or so."

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon shifted awkwardly. "I'm better fed now than I have been since I got here. Even if I should probably get a stepstool for my kitchen. It was nice."

He chuckled. "But I imagine they were very well-planned and stylish tea parties."

[existencemisspent]

"The most stylish," Eliot agreed. "I got to hear all about how terrible other little girls are." He gave Jon another considering look. "You do look much less like you're on death's door. Unfortunate that it takes Fandom magic to keep you properly fed these days."

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon shrugged. "I'll take what I can get. Hopefully it won't be quite as bad now, either. All the fiction around Halloween made it a lot harder to find real stories."

He nodded toward the books. "It does mean I didn't get any research done for you this weekend, though. Sorry."

[existencemisspent]

Eliot gave him a little ironic sidelong look. "Oh yes, how terrible that you did not use your personal time to work on mine and Margo's problems."

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon blinked. "Well, I mean, I, uh. I said I would help. I want to help. Unfortunately I was eight years old, so I, um. I forgot."

[existencemisspent]

"Your life is allowed to take precedence over mine, you know," Eliot said with an amused laugh. "I know Margo would disagree, but she's not actually always right."

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"My life involves teaching one class a week and living in a flat," Jon pointed out wryly. "I don't really have anything else to do."

[existencemisspent]

"Just apologize for things outside your control?"

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"But I...wh..." Jon blinked, trying to reorient himself to the question, which he hadn't quite been expecting. "But I...I am sorry. I had wanted to do something for you, and...and I didn't. Out of my control or not, I wish I had been able to. If that makes sense. And I do have plenty of free time, so i-if I can help someone, I want to do that."

[existencemisspent]

Eliot shook his head. Jon was so much like Quentin. The stammering just did Eliot in. He had a problem.

“Well, your intention is appreciated, even if your apology is entire unnecessary.” He gestured to Jon with his coffee. “Have a seat, would you? You’re likely to be the only customer again today, may as well make yourself comfortable.”

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon would have been alarmed at that comparison, and immediately tried to either save or kill Quentin.

Jon nodded and sat, pulling one of the books toward him. "I don't suppose you've made any further progress since last week?"

[existencemisspent]

“You would not suppose correctly,” Eliot said, then blinked. “Or — whatever combination of negatives means that the only progress we’ve made is eliminating last week’s text as an option. It’s all very frustrating.”