#I'm a monster so I take 3 or just pour roughly that amount into the cup :

[the-magpie-archives]

Several times recently I've found myself making tea whilst listening to The Magnus Archives, and as a result I've developed a silly little headcanon...

I'm not sure if it's a nationwide thing, but certainly throughout my life I've experienced the weird stigma of having sugar in your tea. It's not direct or aggressive, but there always seems to be this vague notion that sweetening your tea makes you less strong, less manly. I rarely see men ask for sugar, and often observe an obvious proudness in teenage boys when they say "no sugar, thanks."

Picture Jonathan Sims, newly appointed archivist, worried he's not good enough, placed haphazardly in power of people who were very recently peers, and desperately trying to prove he's the right man for the job. Everything seems to be falling apart a bit, and he's not at all sure his assistants have any faith in him; he had to ask for a tape recorder because he couldn't get his laptop to work properly - that's embarrassing.

Now imagine Martin: office sweetheart, gets along with pretty much anyone, just moved to a new position working with two close friends, and the attractive guy from research is his boss (he's a bit rude and stuck up, but it's probably just the stress, right?). He's pretty comfortable! Aside from the occasional snide remark from Jon it is a good job, which is especially pleasing considering how he got to work at the institute in the first place.

Two opposing forces, as we all well know! But what's better at building bridges than a nice cup of tea? Martin makes a lot of tea, but I like to think he memorises how everyone takes theirs. Regardless, he has to ask at least once.

And so, kind, sweet, gentle Martin, his offer of a cup of tea promptly accepted, would have the misfortune of saying, "do you take that with sugar?" to an embarrassed, flustered Jon, who's trying desperately not to confront any romantic feelings he might have hidden away. The ensuing scoff and slightly too enthusiastic 'No! Thank you.' would be enough to remember that preference for a while.

As times go on, hundreds of cups of tea later, things get less tense between the pair, and Martin never has to revisit the question; but late one night, shortly before Jon is to leave for Great Yarmouth and Martin is to risk it all to take down Elias, Jon places a hand gently on Martin's shoulder and asks "Could I have a cup of tea?". Of course Martin says yes, it's the least he could do, but as he turns to go and make it, Jon calls out again. "With sugar, please."

Just a tiny vulnerability, but enough. By that point most of Jon's facade has been torn roughly away many times, but letting go of small points of pride often means more than non-deliberate actions. Having enough bravery to admit to liking something soft and sweet is harder than you'd think.

Maybe during those six months after, Martin would watch the sugar dissolve into his own tea with a painful melancholy, the sweetness a bitter memory.

#This is so much soppier than the stuff I usually write‚ but the mind wants what the mind wants 😌 #I was planning to write this as fluff only but that's not where it wanted to go #But God. It's literally just like Peter Lukas said‚ cos they love eachother so much and so intensely #But how much do they ever really know about eachother? It shows how much they truly love eachother who who they are #But it also makes it so much more tragic that they loved eachother so much yet they never got to know everything about the other... #Anyways that's enough of that! #tma #the magnus archives #the magnus institute #jonathan sims #martin blackwood #Jmart #Jonmartin #teaholding #tma headcanons #Fun fact I actually wrote this instead of writing case studies for real life because the only academia in my brain is tma... #Also if you read this far put in the tags how many sugars you take in your tea... I'm curious... #I'm a monster so I take 3 or just pour roughly that amount into the cup :/

[rosetheex-editor]

(OOC WARNING: DESCRIPTIONS OF HEAVY GORE BELOW THE CUT, PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK.)

[Video transcript begin.]

[The transcript begins as most do, the front jacket pocket of someone's jacket. This time from a wagon, the camera facing someone's back as they drag it along. Multiple walls pass by as the woman, wearing a brown jacket with a Ruby on the back. Mutters to herself.]

?: [Muttering.] Stupid. Fucking STUPID. Why can't I just not start a fight?

[Voice identified: Rose Henderson.]

?: Where are we going?

[Voice identified: “Sparrow”.]

R: I don't know, just somewhere so I can calm down.

[Rose continues walking, eventually a green light is seen relatively far away. Rose stops, the wagon stopping as well.]

R: [Muttering.] Ruby… Ruby… I have to try…

[Rose begins walking again, dragging the wagon along. Neither person speaking for roughly 3 minutes, the light getting closer the more they move.]

Sp: This is dumb. You know this right?

R: I have to try, give me my phone.

[The camera changes position as Sparrow hands the phone to Rose. The walking continues faint static eventually is heard as Rose walks ever closer.]

R: [Muttering.] Ruby, please don't kill me…

[The static gets louder as Rose turns a corner, as the camera focuses on a creature. Sitting facing the wall, their spine is covered in wires and rotting flesh as it sticks out like a spike. Dirty long brown curly hair in view tangled by the wires and rotting flesh. And a loud inhuman crunch is heard as the creature slowly stands.]

R: Ruby?

[The creature spins, rotting flesh and remaining organs fall out as it does. The face of the monster now visible, two bright green lights shine down the hallway the creature is in. One of which is seemingly shining through a hole in what appears to be an eyeball. A small amount of human flesh remains on the face seemingly positioned in a sad face, the rib cage is bent open revealing a broken speaker covered in rotting flesh. The legs of the creature are the worst, human bone in the hips peaking out, bent 90 degrees around, kneecaps both broken.]

R: Sparrow go.

[After 6 seconds the sound of a wagon is heard, the person inside rolling it away fast. Rose and the camera stay focused on the creature, who screams loudly before slowing heading towards Rose.]

R: Ruby plea-

[The creature begins running prompting Rose to do the same, the footage becoming a blur of gray white and illuminating green. The creature screams as after 30 seconds Rose runs up some stairs, the creature heard following behind.]

R: RUBY LISTEN TO ME PLEASE! I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE I'M SORRY!

[Another mechanical scream, Rose keeps running, being chased by the creature. After a minute they run up another set of stairs. Still being chased.]

R: RUBY WILL YOU LISTEN TO ME!

[No response, the creature continues chase for another minute as Rose runs up another set of stairs.]

R: RUBY! PLEASE!

[After 30 seconds of Rose repeating the name, she trips. The phone falling out of her pocket and lands against a pillar, now facing Rose on the ground, her hand up facing the monster. And the creature, looking down at the now bleeding arm.]

R: I know… I know you're in there somewhere… Plea-

[Before Rose can finish, the creature grabs hold of Rose's right arm their hand in the creature's mouth. Blood oozing from both the hand and shoulder, the sound of fabric and tendons being ripped, bones snapping and popping out of place and after 5 more seconds. The creature rips Rose's arm clean off as she screams in pain, before the creature can do anymore harm a loud shout is heard followed by something hitting them in the head. Causing the creature to put the arm in their mouth like a toy and run in that direction.]

R: [Pained.] h- help… f- fuck…

[Rose coughs, blood pouring out from where the appendage used to be. Creating a puddle after a few seconds.]

[Distant footsteps can be heard off to the right, whoever is approaching is taking large strides to reach wherever they’re trying to get to.]

?: Hello? I heard screaming, is ev–

[Voice identified: Ophelia.]

[Zey pause, her legs now visible in frame near Rose, a shriek that nearly moves the camera from its spot is let out.]

O: HOLY SHIT. ARE– what the fuck am I saying. I– shit. Fuck. FUCK. Um, Rose? Can you… are you…?

R: [Pained and layered with coughing.] S- she hurt me… why… w- why?

O: Oh, no. I… Rose. Jesus… I’m going to get you help, okay? Because I know Ness would probably throw herself off a building if you died here. Does that sound good?

[Rose struggles to raise her thumb in the up position, blood still draining from her shoulder.]

[Ophelia wastes no time in crouching down and grabbing Rose, as well as the phone, she puts it in what appears to be a pocket in a jean jacket. Xe places Rose on one of their shoulders so she can have one arm free. And they begin sprinting.]

[Ophelia’s phone begins ringing, the song “Another one bites the dust” is identified as the ringtone.]

O: [Quietly.] Shit.

[Ophelia pulls out her phone and answers the call, putting on their most happy tone of voice as zey speak to the person on the other end.]

O: [Overly cheerfully.] Hey girlie! How are you?

?: Want the truth or a lie?

[Voice identified: Ness.]

O: The truth, bestie. What’s up? What’s bugging you?

Ne: Henry… Has made no progress at all with recovery.

O: Aw, I’m sorry, Ness. That sounds really rough. I hope he gets better soon.

Ne: Yeah… Honestly Rose is the only reason I haven't snapped… If anything happened to her I uhm… I am worried about what I would do.

O: [A tinge of awkward worry added into her tone.] Um. Yeaaaahh…!

Ne: Ophelia… What happened?

O: So, uh. [Her voice falters, the cheery facade falling away.] Ness, I’m so sorry. She’s– I– I don’t–

Ne: Please god don't let her be dead… Please.

O: NO SHE’S STILL ALIVE. I HAVE HER RIGHT HERE. She’s just… [Quickly.] down a limb.

Ne: …

O: I have to go. I’ll… do something. Just… hang tight, alright? It’ll be fine.

Ne: If she dies. I'm in. I don't care who I have to fight.

O: … got it.

[Ophelia hangs up.]

O: Rose, don’t you dare fucking die. Stay with me. Your girlfriend has just made a very stupid choice.

R: [Loopy.] I told jebby… I wouldn't die… So we goob…

O: [Under her breath.] Who the actual fuck is Jebby.

R: [Loopy.] Sparrow… Mom…

O: I– okay. Save your energy, girl. We’re close, but I need you to stay awake for a bit longer. Just a little more.

[Rose does not respond outside of a groan of pain.]

[Ophelia speeds up, ending up in front of a door within 15 seconds. She flings it open, revealing the PR office. Several people are watching TV within.]

O: GUYS. PROBLEM. HELP. NOW.

[Several members stand up, and move over to Ophelia, only noticing Rose once they step closer.]

R: [Loopy.] Ruby ripped… My arm off…

?: Ha, parallels.

[Voice identified: Nicholas.]

[Every PR member turns to Nicholas, who can be seen in the back leaning up against a wall. They all shout at him in unison.]

PR members: SHUT THE FUCK UP, NICHOLAS.

O: There’s a time and place for jokes like that!

R: [Loopier.] Fuck… You… Cunt…

O: Ignore him. Someone get some bandages and… well. Everything we have!

R: trancrip…

O: Wh–

[Ophelia fumbles around, struggling to get Rose’s phone out of their pocket. Once xe does, zey sigh, and end the transcript without another word.]

[End transcript.]

#((OOC) Gore warning.) #showfall ask blog #encoreverse blog