Jonathan Sims, Head Archivist

"Why would I tell you that?"

"I haven't killed anybody, you know. My family's sins aren't mine."

"Aren't you interested in saving yourself some pain?"

Not particularly, Stranger. I'm a lot more interested in causing your mother some pain.

"Aren't you satisfied with what you've already done?"

What I've already done? Oh, no, I want her dead.

"Don't know how well that'll work out for ya."

We'll see, won't we.

"And what about the rest of us? You coming for the rest of my family too?"

.....no. i.. don't think I would.

"Good. I happen to know there's some of us that have been waiting for you to pick another fight."

I will defend myself if need be, Stranger.

"You look like a drowned rat. Might do well to curb your ego before you go picking fights."

[They ignored her, picking the Statement back up and looking through it. This one was patently fake.]

When they were focused on it, she slowly slipped to the edge of the table, dropped to the floor, and made a break for the knife on the ground.

"Asshole."

[They leant down and picked her up, putting her back on the desk more gently than she would have expected.]

"So, what, I'm not allowed to take my stuff and leave? Rude."

No, you're not. I'd like to keep an eye on you, Stranger.

"You already got my statement, what more do you need??"

She froze, looking like she might cry.

[They turned back to their statement.]

As they were working, she started fucking with various things on the desk, pushing paperweights around and peeking into pen holders. She eyed a letter opener for several minutes before deciding it would be a bad idea.

[They didn't complain, watching her with amusement.]

She eventually grabbed a sharpie from the pen holder and set to work coloring in scuffed parts of her arms.

[They watched her like a hawk, eyes fixed on her movements.]

She looked up. "What?"

What what?

"They were not kidding about you and your big freaky eyes. Don't you have work to do?"

"Surely you have something better to stare at than little ol' me."

[They ignored the comment.]

She sighed. "You got a needle and thread or something?"

"Thanks." She grabbed a needle and thread and started very carefully adding stitches to her head, where her hat had started to come unattached.

[They turned back to the fake statement, typing it up on their laptop.]

"How do you do this all day?"

"Damn. Being human looks like it sucks."

I'm not technically human, but I have to deal with this bullshit anyway.

"If it's got flesh it's human."

"Who knows."

"Uh." She held up her fingerless hands.

"Carefully," she said, deadpan.

"For real."

She laughed. She had an ugly laugh, oddly familiar to their ears. "Dumb bitch."

Sounds about right.

"Some people will get scared of anything. Hope that guy gets whacked by the Dark."

"You got any incentive for me to do that?"

"You're not strong enough to try."

She let out a choked sob, stumbling back.

Instead of turning around, he simply leaned back to look at them upside down. "My name's Victor. You're Jon right?"

"Wouldn't you like to know, weatherboy."

"In a sec. You know Miria, right?"

I might do. Why do you want to know?

"She's busy right now, so I'm here to extend an invitation to you on her behalf."

"Soon, it will be Beltane. And we will be celebrating it. We would like to have you there."

Oh-kay. I can.. ok. When is it?

"End of April. You can show up any time you like before and during the first of May. You can wear shorts if you want to. We will be playing outside!"

Got it. I'll.. be there, probably. Um. Where?

"Go find Miria. She will tell you how to use her... Skills. You need not come if you don't want to, but we would love to see you there. You need to develop an appreciation for the world around you."

Noted. Now, can I do some work?

"No, this is your union mandated break."

I'm certain the Institute doesn't have a union, kid. Off my desk.

"It's me, I'm the union. And I'm saying you're not working today. Want a granola bar?"

Instead of turning around, he simply leaned back to look at them upside down. "My name's Victor. You're Jon right?"

"Wouldn't you like to know, weatherboy."

"In a sec. You know Miria, right?"

I might do. Why do you want to know?

"She's busy right now, so I'm here to extend an invitation to you on her behalf."

"Soon, it will be Beltane. And we will be celebrating it. We would like to have you there."

Oh-kay. I can.. ok. When is it?

"End of April. You can show up any time you like before and during the first of May. You can wear shorts if you want to. We will be playing outside!"

Got it. I'll.. be there, probably. Um. Where?

"Go find Miria. She will tell you how to use her... Skills. You need not come if you don't want to, but we would love to see you there. You need to develop an appreciation for the world around you."

Noted. Now, can I do some work?

"No, this is your union mandated break."

I'm certain the Institute doesn't have a union, kid. Off my desk.

Instead of turning around, he simply leaned back to look at them upside down. "My name's Victor. You're Jon right?"

"Wouldn't you like to know, weatherboy."

"In a sec. You know Miria, right?"

I might do. Why do you want to know?

"She's busy right now, so I'm here to extend an invitation to you on her behalf."

"Soon, it will be Beltane. And we will be celebrating it. We would like to have you there."

Oh-kay. I can.. ok. When is it?

"End of April. You can show up any time you like before and during the first of May. You can wear shorts if you want to. We will be playing outside!"

Got it. I'll.. be there, probably. Um. Where?

"Go find Miria. She will tell you how to use her... Skills. You need not come if you don't want to, but we would love to see you there. You need to develop an appreciation for the world around you."

Noted. Now, can I do some work?

Instead of turning around, he simply leaned back to look at them upside down. "My name's Victor. You're Jon right?"

"Wouldn't you like to know, weatherboy."

"In a sec. You know Miria, right?"

I might do. Why do you want to know?

"She's busy right now, so I'm here to extend an invitation to you on her behalf."

"Soon, it will be Beltane. And we will be celebrating it. We would like to have you there."

Oh-kay. I can.. ok. When is it?

"End of April. You can show up any time you like before and during the first of May. You can wear shorts if you want to. We will be playing outside!"

Got it. I'll.. be there, probably. Um. Where?

Instead of turning around, he simply leaned back to look at them upside down. "My name's Victor. You're Jon right?"

"Wouldn't you like to know, weatherboy."

"In a sec. You know Miria, right?"

I might do. Why do you want to know?

"She's busy right now, so I'm here to extend an invitation to you on her behalf."

"Soon, it will be Beltane. And we will be celebrating it. We would like to have you there."

Oh-kay. I can.. ok. When is it?

Instead of turning around, he simply leaned back to look at them upside down. "My name's Victor. You're Jon right?"

"Wouldn't you like to know, weatherboy."

"In a sec. You know Miria, right?"

I might do. Why do you want to know?

"She's busy right now, so I'm here to extend an invitation to you on her behalf."

Instead of turning around, he simply leaned back to look at them upside down. "My name's Victor. You're Jon right?"

"Wouldn't you like to know, weatherboy."

"In a sec. You know Miria, right?"

I might do. Why do you want to know?

Instead of turning around, he simply leaned back to look at them upside down. "My name's Victor. You're Jon right?"

"Wouldn't you like to know, weatherboy."

Instead of turning around, he simply leaned back to look at them upside down. "My name's Victor. You're Jon right?"

Thank you. He won’t be harassing anyone again.

"It's Christmas! I gotta dress up! I wasn't sure if you celebrate yourself, but I thought I could bring you something anyway. Winter is a difficult time."

I.. fair enough. I don't really celebrate Christmas, but.. I appreciate the thought.

"Well, then consider this to be something to help you fight against the cold, ah?" She pulled a package out of the paper bag and handed it to them. It was wrapped in green and white paper, very elegant. It looked like someone had been having fun designing it.

She smiled. "I thought this might help you to sleep better." It was a fuzzy, weighted blanket in dark purple and blue. It had their name embroidered into the corner.

It's lovely. I.. thank you. I didn't get you anything, I'm sorry-

"I... I need help. With something." He leaned forward. "You guys... You guys know about the occult, right?" His voice and movements were both stiff and odd, as if he hadn't slept in days.

Thank you. He won’t be harassing anyone again.