Thanks for sharing your thoughts, yess that would absolutely be the worst timing and the worst callback. Honestly this idea stuck in my head today so managing a fill is a bit more likely than I first thought. If first time noncon would be the more fun option then the plotbunny can basically work as well for that; if inspiration holds out for a second cake then I might try the other option as an alternate version since it wouldn't be an outright DNW.
'The fallout' as a bonus point has got me imagining the next few months' worth of fallout, in a way that maximises the 'accidental but irrevocable breach of trust' whumpy potential. And since it goes beyond anything specifically outlined in the prompt, I thought I'd better share the outline to see if that sounds fun too, or not quite what you wanted for a main fill and also best reserved for a theoretical 2nd cake:
- Starts at the safehouse. Martin thinks Jon's talking about how much he needs him and wants to play rough, how he's been working up the nerve to ask, and he's looking forward to it because "I'm safe with you, aren't I?"
- But really, after apparently getting an answer on sex not being an issue, Jon's talking about how 'Even if the world is against us, I can hold out hope, so long as we have each other'. How he went a long time thinking he didn't want a relationship (after Georgie, without necessarily any other relationship attempts), giving the MAG150 list of reasons for focusing on his career instead (Time to himself. Self-care. Putting himself first. Not being a burden on anyone). And the way becoming the Archivist made it harder to trust, and he didn't think it'd ever come naturally to him again (as he mentioned in 118), but then he realised how much Martin means to him, and these last few months, when he told him that he missed him and trusted him, he was trying to express himself as meaningfully as he could, but communication was difficult too. He asks Martin to tell him that they're safe, hiding out here. 'I know I was the one reassuring you earlier, but I could really stand to hear it from you.'
- Martin's reply, fitting both conversations, is "Yeah. You're safe with me."
- Afterwards, when they're both kinda falling apart, Jon asks Martin to go find a place to stay in the nearest town for a while, to give him some space, and says Martin should visit the safehouse the next day to talk about everything they need to talk about. Martin leaves, too guilty to argue, after Jon makes him promise to take a taxi if he's missed the last bus and stay safe; they *will* deal with this, but not now.
- Jon agonises over everything and makes a failed suicide attempt. He tries to See one last time, writes down what he found out to help Basira find Daisy and Jonah, and writes Martin a note (along the lines of 'I'm too far gone, I was lost before we even tried to run, but you can still escape. Please forgive yourself and make a fresh start, far from all this evil, seriously you'd better not ignore my last request'). He blinds himself (to get rid of the healing factor), and gets found in time to survive.
- They have some heartfelt talks while Jon's in hospital (and Martin makes it clear that he couldn't have lived with Jon's death on his conscience, what the hell was that note). Jon's still worried about Martin's wellbeing, but struggles to talk about what happened, until Martin asks him to be honest. ("There's a difference between forgiveness, and saying things'll be okay just to spare someone's feelings. One's accepting reality, and the other's denial. And I think denying reality would make me more vulnerable to the Spiral, in the future. So. If you don't want to talk to me, that's understandable. I can leave, for now, or for good. But if you're holding back to try to salvage things between us, then. Don't. I don't deserve it, and it won't work. I've lived with a loved one's unspoken resentment for most of my life, and that's not what I want for either of us. So - so please talk to someone. A therapist, if the hospital's put you in touch with one. And then, if you want to spend time with me, please be honest. Let me know how bad it is, what makes it worse, a-and what to expect." )
- Jon asks for time to think it through, and realises that as a romantic relationship, it's over. ("I don't want a relationship anymore. With you, or anyone else. Even kissing... I don't think I could let anyone in that way. Not again. I can't imagine trusting enough to... I, I'm sorry, that's not what I wanted to tell you. I wanted to move on from this. But honestly, I don't think I can. I still care about you, though. We've both survived terrible things, and I - I think we could offer each other someone to talk to. Someone who understands. I hope we can salvage a friendship.")
- At Jon's request, Martin goes back to London to help Basira with crisis management. They find Daisy, and kill Jonah by fulfilling Gertrude's last plan. Martin spends a while in hospital, and he and Jon keep in touch over the phone.
- Martin says he wants to move back up to Scotland as soon as he can arrange it. (Being unemployed and newly blind makes it a bit difficult, even though he didn't end up arrested for any of the many, many things he was questioned over). Jon talks about how he's been getting enough support that he might be able to move into a place of his own soon, and asks that once Martin's made his own arrangements, they find a cafe to meet up at, and make it their regular spot. Martin gets the message that Jon doesn't want to invite him over or be alone with him again, feels heartbroken on several levels, and tries to focus on being grateful that they're still part of each other's lives at all. - (If most of that would work for you but you'd prefer they have a closer bond by the end, they could take longer to reconcile more thoroughly.)
Re: Prompt: Jon/Martin, Noncon, Spiral made them do it
'The fallout' as a bonus point has got me imagining the next few months' worth of fallout, in a way that maximises the 'accidental but irrevocable breach of trust' whumpy potential. And since it goes beyond anything specifically outlined in the prompt, I thought I'd better share the outline to see if that sounds fun too, or not quite what you wanted for a main fill and also best reserved for a theoretical 2nd cake:
- Starts at the safehouse. Martin thinks Jon's talking about how much he needs him and wants to play rough, how he's been working up the nerve to ask, and he's looking forward to it because "I'm safe with you, aren't I?"
- But really, after apparently getting an answer on sex not being an issue, Jon's talking about how 'Even if the world is against us, I can hold out hope, so long as we have each other'. How he went a long time thinking he didn't want a relationship (after Georgie, without necessarily any other relationship attempts), giving the MAG150 list of reasons for focusing on his career instead (Time to himself. Self-care. Putting himself first. Not being a burden on anyone). And the way becoming the Archivist made it harder to trust, and he didn't think it'd ever come naturally to him again (as he mentioned in 118), but then he realised how much Martin means to him, and these last few months, when he told him that he missed him and trusted him, he was trying to express himself as meaningfully as he could, but communication was difficult too. He asks Martin to tell him that they're safe, hiding out here. 'I know I was the one reassuring you earlier, but I could really stand to hear it from you.'
- Martin's reply, fitting both conversations, is "Yeah. You're safe with me."
- Afterwards, when they're both kinda falling apart, Jon asks Martin to go find a place to stay in the nearest town for a while, to give him some space, and says Martin should visit the safehouse the next day to talk about everything they need to talk about. Martin leaves, too guilty to argue, after Jon makes him promise to take a taxi if he's missed the last bus and stay safe; they *will* deal with this, but not now.
- Jon agonises over everything and makes a failed suicide attempt. He tries to See one last time, writes down what he found out to help Basira find Daisy and Jonah, and writes Martin a note (along the lines of 'I'm too far gone, I was lost before we even tried to run, but you can still escape. Please forgive yourself and make a fresh start, far from all this evil, seriously you'd better not ignore my last request'). He blinds himself (to get rid of the healing factor), and gets found in time to survive.
- They have some heartfelt talks while Jon's in hospital (and Martin makes it clear that he couldn't have lived with Jon's death on his conscience, what the hell was that note). Jon's still worried about Martin's wellbeing, but struggles to talk about what happened, until Martin asks him to be honest. ("There's a difference between forgiveness, and saying things'll be okay just to spare someone's feelings. One's accepting reality, and the other's denial. And I think denying reality would make me more vulnerable to the Spiral, in the future. So. If you don't want to talk to me, that's understandable. I can leave, for now, or for good. But if you're holding back to try to salvage things between us, then. Don't. I don't deserve it, and it won't work. I've lived with a loved one's unspoken resentment for most of my life, and that's not what I want for either of us. So - so please talk to someone. A therapist, if the hospital's put you in touch with one. And then, if you want to spend time with me, please be honest. Let me know how bad it is, what makes it worse, a-and what to expect." )
- Jon asks for time to think it through, and realises that as a romantic relationship, it's over. ("I don't want a relationship anymore. With you, or anyone else. Even kissing... I don't think I could let anyone in that way. Not again. I can't imagine trusting enough to... I, I'm sorry, that's not what I wanted to tell you. I wanted to move on from this. But honestly, I don't think I can. I still care about you, though. We've both survived terrible things, and I - I think we could offer each other someone to talk to. Someone who understands. I hope we can salvage a friendship.")
- At Jon's request, Martin goes back to London to help Basira with crisis management. They find Daisy, and kill Jonah by fulfilling Gertrude's last plan. Martin spends a while in hospital, and he and Jon keep in touch over the phone.
- Martin says he wants to move back up to Scotland as soon as he can arrange it. (Being unemployed and newly blind makes it a bit difficult, even though he didn't end up arrested for any of the many, many things he was questioned over). Jon talks about how he's been getting enough support that he might be able to move into a place of his own soon, and asks that once Martin's made his own arrangements, they find a cafe to meet up at, and make it their regular spot. Martin gets the message that Jon doesn't want to invite him over or be alone with him again, feels heartbroken on several levels, and tries to focus on being grateful that they're still part of each other's lives at all.
- (If most of that would work for you but you'd prefer they have a closer bond by the end, they could take longer to reconcile more thoroughly.)