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squarebracketsmileyface · 2 months

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Again by ARAKI is so so so Jaylex and Timlex core in the context of ur fic

Oooooooo yes.

It got long again so hiding it for neatness

"i haven't been the same lately, I don't blame you for not wanting to stay" so Jaylex, that one's obvious, Alex was changing so much all through uni, no wonder Jay hated him so much by the end, no wonder Jay started changing too, becoming crueler and doing things that hurt Alex as much as Alex was hurting him. Alex thought he deserved it, Amy told him he didn't and tried to show him what a healthy relationship should look like. Jay ALSO thought he deserved the pain he was in from Alex not liking him back, but just in a more nebulous way rather than for any real reason. It just felt like that was how it was meant to be, for both of them.

But but but... Jam. (I assume you meant jay and Tim, rather than Tim and Alex, as Tim and Alex haven't actually technically interacted in sorry it's locked yet? Either way imma yell about jam) JAM, obviously there's the whole thing with Tim and Jay falling out of trust with each other towards the end of the series. Jay sneaking into Tim's house with a knife, Tim overpowering him and tying him up with zipties, leaving him in his house to try and keep him safe.

There's always that.

But there's also kinda a thing for if Jay hadn't died at the end of the series too. Like, if he and Tim had both survived and gone on to live together and further their relationship. Jay would have changed, he's unfortunately very very fucked in the head, and as we see in the series, pretty resistant to actually getting any therapy or anything, and that'd easily be his downfall. (One of the things he does in chapter 5 is also something he did to Alex back in uni, and like, yeah, yikes, not good. Alex wasn't the only one making that relationship toxic. They both were. Jay pushed boundaries that shouldn't have been pushed, etc)

ANYWAY, the only thing kinda holding Tim and Jay together in the fic itself right now is the whole operator thing. If that was over, it'd be a lot harder for them to ignore all the things wrong with their relationship (unfortunately, all the things wrong with Jay that he refuses to fix). Now that he's in a relationship with Tim, Jay is the problem component. Before, he and Alex were the problem (and in Jay's head, it was just Alex) but now all Jay's damage from being with Alex back in uni will be on very clear display, and eventually it'd start getting in the way of his and tims ability to have a healthy relationship. For Jay it'd just feel like a normal relationship, like this is how it's meant to be, and hed just assume something with Tim changed, like tim got tired of pretending to be a nice person and started being horrible. But in reality Tim would have been struggling so much with how Jay was treating him, and he'd stop just putting up with it once it became clear that jay didn't think there was an issue, or think they needed to go to therapy about it, because "well this is just how relationships are, sorry you can't see that tim"

Their relationship would so easily fall apart, because the only one tying real knots in the strings that attach them to each other is Tim, and jay's just haphazardly tangling threads together hoping they'll hold, and refusing how to tie real knots, because "well in all my other relationships we just tangled the strings together and it worked"

I love jay. But he needs therapy. And he'd definitely keep refusing to get it, probably because he's scared it'll somehow make him lose Tim, rather than letting him keep Tim (his brain stupid, jay thinks dumb things that make no sense, but same so it's okay) anyway, sorry. Yeah, jay's now the fucked up one in the relationship and he doesn't know what to do with that, so he assumes it's actually TIM who's the bad guy or who has changed for the worst, when really Jays the one starting most of the fights and blowing up over tiny things. And if Jay doesn't wanna do therapy about it, Tim doesn't have to put up with that, especially when they have a kid in the house. He's not having her traumatised like he was by the people who are supposed to care for her.

#asks #sorry. im rambling #yes im still giving tim jays kid #i fucking love the angst of it and i cant see sorry its locked without her anymore. shes just become part of it #sorry yhis was meant to be a lil song analysis and then just turned into rambling about one line #oh well 💀#anyway WHOOOO SONG #(just pretend i analysed all the lyrics in the context of SIL)#marble hornets #jay merrick #tim wright #alex kralie #marble hornets fanfic #mh jam #jaylex #mh sorry its locked

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thetrenderchronicles · 1 year

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Blame Kat's 2am thoughts:

So, basically, Brian Thomas lives rent free in my Brian, and I wanted to share a character study my brain formulated at 2am last night. So, here we go.

At first, Brian seemed like a funny, caring guy. He was pretty much best friends with Tim and good friends with Alex. He was cheery and a good friend. So, what made him drastically change to Hoody? Here's my thoughts: I have two ideas. Betrayal and Abandonment.

Let's start with betrayal. Brian trusted Alex, and Alex led him to the abandoned hospital and attempted to kill him. That would have made Brian hurt, confused, and angry. Focus on the angry. Brian would most likely wake up in the middle of the woods with memories missing and just a gut feeling that Alex tried to kill him. He'd assume that everyone thinks he's dead and that Alex if knowing Brian is alive, would want to finish the job. So, Brian would become Hoody to conceal his identity. Then Masky comes into the picture as his partner in crime. Both after Alex and both trying to stop the Operator. Then Jay comes in and takes Masky away, and Masky doesn't come back. One more betrayal. Brian fidns out Tim lied and knew about the Operator, another betrayal. Brian would be pretty pissed by now.

Secondly, abandonment. Alex tried to kill him and abandoned his body. Tim didn't bother to come looking for him, hence Brian assumes Tim abandoned him. That stung because he was Tim's best friend. Then Masky abandons him due to Tim teaming up with Jay. Brian felt like Tim chose Jay over him and abandoned him.

All of this on top of years alone would make Hoody closed off, aggressive, and manipulative. Hoody would blame Jay for bringing Alex back but also thank him so Hoody could kill Alex. He'd see Jay try to figure things out and formulate a plan to get rid of Alex and the Operator. Jay finds Tim and Jessica. Now, all Hoody needs to do is push everyone in the right direction.

A side note: if Seth and Sarah were part of ToTheArk, Brian and Hoody would appreciate them and try to protect them as well, but eventually they too left him.

Brian learned his lesson. Don't trust anyone every again. Trust only led to hurt. Anger is what pushed Brian. Deep down, he's just hurt and looking for someone he can finally trust and someone who he can trust not to hurt him anymore.

I believe Brian didn't want to hurt anyone because of his love and care, but Hoody was the protector. He had to push everyone away to keep Brian safe. To keep the hurt from growing. Brian would have held onto the window, asking Tim for help, but Hoody let go. He'd rather die to protect Brian than live and Brian hurt even more.

And that is what I have. This is all purely my thoughts and headcanons. So, don't come after me if I got anything wrong. I hope you enjoyed!

~Kat

#marble hornets #brian thomas #timothy wright #alex kralie #jay merrick #sarah mh #seth mh #save tag #kat's thoughts #brian is my favorite #clearly #mh hoody #hoody needs a hug #BRIAN NEEDS A DAMN HUG #GIVE THEM A HUG COWARDS

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dergeistvond · 2 years

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Habit headcanons part 2 because it was demanded and who am I to protest? + Co. Because the world don't revolve around him.

@chillinginthethematary thanks for allowing me ramble I literally have nobody to let out all these thoughts so it means a hell of a lot to me you asked for this.

-I don't know how visible it was in my concept art but the true form has this fur pattern in black on the back in the shape of a cross

-I think this may be like the 7th or 8th iteration already, it started showing up on Ev as well, more like a burn scar if anything.

Regarding Noah/Firebrand

-He got to him in the second iteration, and killed that girl from Thanksgiving as means to make his presence known at fist but then continued to do it because let's be real this is Habit he'd kill anyone again and again if offered the chance.

-Habit couldn't care less about Noah until the journal showed up and realised "oh shit this guy's onto it"

-Firebrand's relationship to him still isn't the best. Brandy would like to move along and go on his duty but still has this sense of being in debt for the help he'd been provided - as little as it was it made the difference. They keep in contanct, more because Habit wants to.

-He enjoys annoying Firebrand more than anything do NOT PUT THEM IN THE SAME ROOM. ONE OF THEM (maybe both) WILL LEAVE WITH SEVERAL INJURIES.

Regarding Milo/Mr. Scars

-At some point he'd considered inhabiting him as well, but his energy was too off. (Because the cult and direct influence of Operator)

-Once settled in Evan's body though, there had been a timeline where he'd been there since the Fairmount days, and there had been occasions he'd roughhouse with Milo

-Needless say he had to make him shut up as well every time he made him cry (spoiler: Habit made him cry a lot as a kid)

-While having low opinions on Mr. Scars, he does have some respect for him. Mostly because he shot Mary.

Regarding Kevin/Observer:

-They're exes (from the second iteration also). But neither is bitter about it at all, they still chat every now and then to laugh about Noah.

-They split off when they realised they're on opposing teams.

-Idfk man they did drugs together every other thursday need I say more.

Regarding the rest of the collective:

-Habit thinks they're a bunch of freaks. Case closed. Scriniarii? Stupid. Cursor? Even more stupid. Deadhead? A nobody. Why? Because his ego. It's always the ego for him.

Regarding the Rake:

-I actually am Seth=Rake truthist here so excuse that (-D)

-When he found out his Snoopy here was a man once, he continued treat him like a dog for the fuck of it.

-Doesn't see him as a man anyway, and probably never could.

-You know the video where he's like in the woods, the one with the infamous "We're gonna have ourselves a Jeff kebab" quote? Yeah Rake showed up off camera and they played fetch.

-If you're curious - in my AU Alex lives and he's Rake's owner now (but unlike Habit he tries connect it to human senses again)

-(Alex is also friends with Jay :D)

Which leads us to the MH crew:

-He watched from the distance trust me here, Habit knew his old friend Operator's out there.

-And thanks to Jay he found out where the damned thing actually is. He just knew at some point they'd cross paths again.

-While not interacting with them in the slightest, Habit did pick favourites (cough cough Alex Kralie, but somehow still thinks he was an idiot)

-It just baffles him how BAD everyone is at killing people smh get a grip guys c'mon.

Enter the proxies:

-Generally Habit has this distaste for anybody under Operator's influence willingly

-But messing around with the underdogs? Sign him in.

-Spacifically because he can control them actually, considering their job in the field is as hitmen.

-Starting off, his first encounter was with Hoodie. It was brief, a mere exchanging glances, but they just both knew it meant no good.

-He feeds Kate every now and then, when there's leftovers he brings them at the edge of the forest for her.

-She doesn't know how to take him as considering she knows he's not human, but doesn't know what he is. (Operator's influence made her sensitive to otherworldly activity and entities.)

-Coyote got defensive around him the first encounter, but she's too cheery to just run away like that. She trusts Habit blindly because unlike Kate she thinks he's human.

-Toby is too far gone. They fought the first time they ran into one another.

-Rouge minds her business so they don't know each other.

-Does Skully count? Yeah Skully, like Tim would rather stay away. Doesn't mean they have a choice.

-Masky now is complicated. Unlike Tim, they don't mind Habit but neither seek him.

-Hoodie and Brian are okay internally with one another so you may take them as the same person. Similar to Masky, only that he's a little more open towards people generally.

Okay now that's about it but I do take requests if anyone wants anything. (Ofc from my AU.)

#Headcanons #ALSO YES I AM CONTINUING MY CANON DIVERGENCE IF ANYBODY IS CURIOUS #ask me for the drafts if you wanna see em #Anyhow #Emh #everymanhybrid #Habit emh #tribetwelve #T12 #Mh #Marble hornets #Slenderverse

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debbiechanclub · 7 months

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Hello

I have a question that im really curious to ask

What would be Nellie like in the bullet club?

Like as her character and I’m also really curious if her and David did make public their relationship

TOO SWEET

MEG🌼

Hi, Meg! I LOVE that you're curious about this and I'm more than happy to answer!

So, the main thing that Bullet Club (and really, David) has done for Nellie is restore her confidence. She'd really been sort of beat down and burnt out by both her career and personal life until David came back to Japan for the G1 Climax 32 (2022). He really reminded her that she's a bad ass who deserves more than just the status quo, and so Bullet Club Nellie is a lot more assertive and aggressive. But she doesn't talk shit that she can't back up on her own; she's not chickenshit heel Bullet Club 😉

She's also actually really good friends with all the War Dogs and (surprise, surprise) I have a lot of thoughts about her dynamic with each of them.

After David, Nellie is the closest with Clark. She definitely looks at his antics like wtf is wrong with you (affectionate), because while he can be an absolute menace inside the ring and out, he's also a super genuine person who cares a lot about his friends. And idk, they just have fun together. But sometimes he def tries to flirt with her and David shuts that down real quick 😂

Then there's Gabe, and Nellie tries her best to be his voice of reason lmao. Like she wants to be the angel on his shoulder when all the guys are being devils 😂 She just cares about him and knows he's had kind of a rough go of it and wants to see him do well. I think part of her feels bad about the way Jay treated him when he was a Young Lion, too 😂

I definitely think that, in actuality, Alex is the kind of person who if he gives you a hard time it means he likes you, and that's def the vibe with him and Nellie. He talks a lot of shit to her just because he's from NYC and she's from Philly and there's that natural rivalry there. But she always laughs at his dumb dad jokes so she's cool in his book.

As for Dan, he's ride or die for his friends and family, and Nellie knows he has her back 100%. Also, I've talked about this with @aussiearrow - Dan (and also Gabe) has definitely fired back at rando dudes who say weird, creepy shit in the comments of Nellie and Torrance's socials 😂

Which brings me to David 😊 When I saw that you asked if he and Nellie had made their relationship public, at first I was like, "What do you mean? She went out there with him for Dominion, of course they made it public." But then I realized they didn't kiss or anything out there, so I guess that's not definitive 😂 But yes! They make it public (and neither of them gaf what Jay thinks about it 🤭). And sometimes Nellie is purposefully obnoxious about their relationship. Like you know how David has been leaning into the fact that he's a rich nepo baby? Well, Nellie has definitely made a post somewhere saying something like, "I don't have to wrestle anymore because daddy takes care of me, but I'm too good not to" 💀. But that's just her leaning into her heel stage persona 😂

So yeah, there's my essay of an answer (and I could have written more, trust). But seriously, it made my day seeing this in my inbox, and I hope I've answered your question! And feel free to ask any others you may have!

#asks #might have to link this on the masterlist lol #tmhwmp ficverse

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marbled-roses-au · 4 years

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Marbled Roses

~°Entry #: 003°~

Tim, Brian, Jay, and Alex had all basically rushed back to the dorms, all gathered in Alex's dorm while he got the footage off his camera and onto his computer. He was probably the most calm of all of them, focused only on his computer.

Jay was sat behind him, hands between his knees while they bounced anxiously and chewing at his bottom lip. Brian was sitting on the couch, spacing off a bit and chewing his nails. Tim, on the other hand, was pacing, arms crossed and the nail of his thumb caught between his teeth. He couldn't help it. Whatever that was, he knew it wasn't a hallucination. People don't share hallucinations.

"What the hell even was that thing? It-It just--teleported!" Tim rambled, hands shaking a bit and pacing faster. "Humans don't do that. That was not a human, what did we see?"

Brian looked up at Tim, "Hey-" he said, standing up and grabbing his hands, "breathe with me, Tim, c'mon...it-it'll be okay." He reassured with an uncertain tone. "Whatever it was, there...there has to be a rational explanation for it. Right?" He asked, knowing he could distract Tim and ground him.

Tim swallowed dryly, but nodded, "R...Right." He said, chewing at the inside of his cheek. He still felt nervous, but...something about Brian always made him feel safe.

Jay watched them, not saying a word. He wasn't even sure he could use his voice at the moment. He knew something was wrong he just...never expected something like this.

Alex finally got the video to import onto his laptop, huffing a bit and pulling up the video. He skipped all of the stuff before, pausing when he had the creature in frame. "What...?" He asked, mostly to himself. "That...That thing has no eyes. Just-Just a mouth..." He said, frowning a bit, "That...That doesn't make sense..."

Jay looked at it, panic setting in further. He wanted to say something. He wanted to say anything at the moment. Right now, though, he felt frozen with fear, panic coursing through his veins.

Brian looked over, a shaking sigh slipping out, "It...It doesn't look like a costume...?" He asked, a slight hopefulness to his tone. He could hope, after all.

Alex shook his head, "No. There is no way that is a costume, look at it." He said, jaw tightening a bit. He felt a bit uneasy, but was pushing it deep down.

Tim looked and chewed on his lip, "Look, it...it was a one time occurrence. Can..Can we please just ignore this thing? Maybe it was an animatronic and someone pulled it away before we got to the tree." He said, "Or, maybe it was a prank. Or...literally, any other reason than we are being followed by a monster." He added, chuckling nervously. "We will all have cameras on us, right? We can...We can record it...if we ever see it again." Tim was trying his hardest to be the calm one. The others looked up to him, he couldn't sit there and be the one panicking the most. He had to be strong for them. If he was freaking out, they would be freaking out, too. He couldn't let that happen.

Brian nodded in agreement, "Yeah...and we can try and catch him if we see him again, see what he is exactly. He could have just been a guy in really amazingly done makeup." He said with a shrug and a nervous smile.

Alex looked at them and rolled his eyes, "That thing is not a costume or a robot, or anything!" He said sternly, "Whatever it is, it's real." Alex didn't want to admit that whatever they saw could be simply fake. Something inside said it wasn't fake. That maybe it was what gave him the rose and had been talking to him, giving him pointers for his movie.

"Alex..." Brian sighed, "think logically. Do you really think there is an eight foot tall monster out there, watching us?" He asked, trying to mske him see hiw ridiculous this was.

"Yes!" Alex snapped, "It doesn't move like an animatronic or a human. That thing has to be what gave me the rose." He said, standing up. "I'll be back." He huffed, going to the bathroom to take a breather.

Jay had been watching, looking at Brian and Tim, "G...Guys...?" He asked softly, voice shaky, "Uhm...I'm worried about Alex." He said in a hushed voice, "He's told me about something..."

"Told you about what?" Tim asked, frowning a bit.

"About this...voice." Jay said, "I think...I think that thing is telling Alex things." He added, looking more worried. Whatever was happening it couldn't be good at all.

"What kinda things?" Brian asked, going to sit with Jay to encourage him to keep talking.

"Things like...advice, encouragment, flattery, and...a-and..p-predictions." Jay said nervously, "Alex told me how everyone would act today...he told me what we would say and--and he was right." He fidgetted a bit and chewed on his lip, "I think...that creature might be attracted or attatched to Alex, for some reason."

Tim huffed, "I knew that rose was a damn curse." He said, hands running through his hair. "Well, what do we do now?" He asked, "I mean...if there's some weird monster following us to help Alex with his movie, should...should we try to stop it?"

Brian and Jay shared a look. Would it be right to tear this creature away when it seemed like all he was doing was helping? After all, Alex seemed to be doing good on a project for once...maybe they should just...let it be. For now.

Alex came back out of the bathroom, taking a deep breath. "Guys, I... I'm sorry for snapping like that. I just...I don't think this is something to worry about." He said, "Besides, who are we going to tell and what will we tell them?" He asked, "'Oh, hey we have some monstrosity following us, giving us flowers and not harming us in any way.'?" He chuckled, "We would sound insane."

Tim sighed, "Alex, I...I still don't trust it. But...I trust you, so, if you think this thing is safe, then I'll take your word for it." He said, smiling a bit, "Doesn't mean I'm gonna turn my back on that thing if it is around, though." He added with a chuckle.

Alex smiled a bit, "Thanks. For now, let's just...ignore it. Maybe it will go away on its own." He said.

Brian smiled at them, sighing softly. "Well, we have had way too exciting of a day and its only one in the afternoon. We should go get lunch somewhere." He said, looking down at the camera, "Hey, the camera is still recording. Let's take it with us. Just...for comfort."

#page #alex kralie #timothy wright #brian thomas #jay merrick #marbled roses #marble hornets au #marble hornets #au #masky #hoodie #skully #ARK

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ciceroprofacto · 7 years

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20, and I don't care.

20. “Come on, give me one good reason not to jump in the lake.”

November 10th 1777

Hamilton hadn’t expected to return to Morristown now that the troops he’d been sent for were en route to Whitemarsh. Parson, Larned and Poor’s Brigades finally having fallen in on their march after a difficult deal with Governor Clinton had obtained them six-thousand dollars to pay their troops and quell their riots. Hamilton was to be away with Gibbs, heading south to return to his station by Washington’s side. And, after this one final call, he would make speed to do so; Gibbs would have arrangements for their quartering by the time he rejoined him tonight- after responding to this last ‘urgent’ missive.

Exhausted by a nagging ache of a fever; eager to be back among the family and away from New York, political schemes, and illness; he had the report Washington required, the solutions he’d been sent to defend, and the informants he needed to manage Gates’s treasonous scheme without detection-

“I lost the cypher.”

“What.”

“The cypher you gave me, I need a new one like it…”

Barely in the threshold of Lieutenant Hughe’s cabin, Hamilton blinked, unable to comprehend what form of incompetency would lose the singular device necessary to carry out simple orders from a superior- “There isn’t a new one like it, we only made the two…” when the tone of his voice cut, Hughes’s lips pressed thin and he looked down at his feet with shame. It made Hamilton angrier. He tore off his gloves, “You offered to report the rumors you hear- you spouted on about loyalty and honor, you asked to help!”

“Sir, yes I understand, but-”

“You lost it! How should I trust you and any word you pass if you can’t do as you’ve said. You’re useless to His Excellency-”

“Hamilton…”

Turning from Hughes, Alexander recognized the voice, too familiar to mistake, had a recent reunion in Albany, but now he was unexpected company in the field house of Peter Hughes. Troup.

“It was my fault,” Rob said, stepping out from the kitchen. His arms were folded over his chest, still broad as ever, he was somehow slimmed by the stripes of uniform lapels and the green sash of an aide. General Gates’s aide. When Hamilton just stared, he admitted, “I…tried to dispose of it.”

Another long, incredulous stare until Alexander gathered himself, “…why?”

“Well, first off, I was drunk,” Troup admitted, trying a small smile as if that might calm his old friend’s obvious ire. It didn’t. “And, I thought…maybe I might convince him not to contact you again.”

This didn’t calm Alexander either, but it shocked him silent. Robert Troup had been a pivotal resource in blocking Gates’s political maneuvers thus far- diverting the Northern General’s attention from grabbing for the power some men in Congress wanted him to have. If not for Troup receiving and sharing the pamphlet Hamilton sent, then fastidiously tracing it’s spread through camp and reporting it, Alexander would’ve had no way of confirming the plot to General Washington- no authority to begin placing agents and informants across New York.

The dawning betrayal was written all over Alexander’s face.

Troup explained hastily, “I don’t want to see Gates unseat General Washington any more than you boys do, but-”

“But you’re loyal to him now? It’s late for that now, Rob, you’ve already exposed him- do you think standing in the way of our investigation now will make him forgive you?”

Troup raised a brow, seeing for the first time his friend’s warped perspective, and he answered slowly, “Gates is not your enemy, Alex.” Unfolding his arms, he locked them instead behind his back to stand more formally, “He’s a commander in our army, one who’s well-loved ‘round these parts. And, while I believe we all disagree with the motives pressing him to take power, you should remember that he’s just the pawn of politics here. All this secrecy- the measures you’re taking to spy on him and his friends-”

Hamilton pushed a hand out to stop Troup’s words before they could broach into accusation any more then they already had.

A signal that he didn’t intend to listen and a motion that Troup was well familiar with. He rolled his eyes.

Hamilton turned back to Hughes, “So, you’ve lost the cypher then?”

“Well, yes…”

Hamilton nodded and picked at his bottom lip, plotting alternatives. He had one vial of ‘sympathetic stain’ left with Gibbs which would only require a ride to Peekskill- possibly a two-day diversion. Or…Troup should have some left from his correspondence-

A gift from John Jay, Hamilton had access to a quantity of ink, invisible to the eye until the tannic acid came into contact with a counter agent. It was useful for hiding messages in plain sight, instrumental in recruiting several merchants in New York City. They had been familiar with Hamilton as a clerk of the Christiansted branch of their New York-based import-export house, then as a popular young speaker on Wall Street. After the British occupied the city, they probably hadn’t expected to see the boy again- shocked by his return almost exactly a year ago, wind-bitten, shivering, and traveling undercover. Presented with a demonstration of the ink and a few words of patriotic duty, they were sold to his cause. A chain of informants, smuggling information to the American army.

Hamilton could trust the ink now as a last resort, “It’s no matter, just let him have the ink I gave you…” he turned to Troup, a suggestion and a test all at once. “If you’ve any left now.”

“It’s standard procedure to check for that now on documents to and from Washington’s camp,” Troup said.

Hamilton sent him a glare. “What?”

Troup gave a shrug, “With all the rumors floating around-”

“Only a guilty conscious suspects others of plotting.”

Troup raised a brow at Hamilton again, not needing to say anything aloud to imply those words against Hamilton himself. But, as was always the case, paranoid and suspicious as he was, Hamilton was right. Perhaps Alexander’s conscious was more guilty than most, perhaps he had been ruthless and cruel to meet his ends, but his methods were effective, and if his conscious could bare the weight of those methods, Troup had to trust him- could never manage to do otherwise.

If he needed a ring of informants, willing to send him names and quotes of dissenters against the Commander in Chief, Troup trusted him still. And though he wasn’t pleased of the risk it placed on his friend’s reputation, there would be no stopping him from using the resources he had to their fullest extent. He would be writing letters to New York- whether Troup was included in that ledger or not, so he would be better to participate, protect his Hamilton however he could. “You don’t need a new cypher,” he said.

Hughes looked up at the same time as Hamilton turned to him, he said “But, you threw it in the pond out back- it must be sunk by now.”

“What!”

“Hamilton, please-”

“No.” Hamilton stepped back away from his friend further, “What happened? Why is the cypher in a pond-”

“It’s really more of a lake, and as I said, I was drunk, it was a foolish tiff and really I pressed it, but…yes, um…it’s in the lake.” Before Hamilton’s incredulous look and raised arms could convey further anger, Troup said hastily, “No, truly- we can retrieve it. I know exactly where it is, it was too dark to find it in the water. But, I knew it’d float, so I went out this morning…well it’s prob’ly best if I show you.”

Conversation ended for the moment as Hughes and Troup gathered coats and cloaks, Hamilton replaced his trifold hat and his gloves, retied his cloak around his shoulders.

And, a short trudge out into the cold, feet crunching in deep snow, Troup stopped at the edge of the lake, half frozen and proceeded more carefully to walk out on top of the ice towards the open center where the lake hadn’t yet frozen. He stopped about halfway to the middle, scratched his foot over the surface of the frosted ice and pointed.

Hamilton followed at a safe distance, stepping towards the hole in the center of the lake. Sure enough, where Troup pointed, at the edge of the stretching ice, the knob of wooden rings was bobbing, suspended, just under the frozen surface, too thick to simply cut through.

“If we wait for it to warm a bit, I’m thinking the cypher will just float to shore,” Troup said casually.

“Maybe, but not till about March or so, and by then who knows what injuries Congress will’ve inflicted to our command,” Hughes was saying.

Hamilton barely heard them, fabric rustling over his ears as he tore off his cloak and hat, shrugged off his coat and began untucking his shirt. He was half-way undressed- a well-practiced motion quickly performed- by the time Robert grabbed his arms, “What the hell are you doing?”

“Getting the cypher.” It was such an obvious solution, Hamilton hated Hughes for calling him here. But, he doubted either of these officers would reduce themselves to solve the problem by simple means anyway. So really, it was a good thing he had come. He started towards the opening of the ice.

Troup grabbed his arm, “You are not.”

Hamilton baulked, pulling his arm away and grabbing his shirt up, defiantly throwing it over his head as he turned back around. So, he stood, glaring down his friend, bare-chested and breathing steam into the frozen air. He dropped down and unlaced his boots. “Really.” he said, “I’m not?”

“No- are you mad?”

Hamilton took a step back when Troup stepped towards him again, kicking off his boot and throwing it at him. “I dunno, am I?”

“Hamilton don’t do that-”

“Why?” Troup was digging at an old point of contention, trying to tell his friend what to do, even for his own good. Hamilton raised his arms, welcoming the argument, “Come on, Robert, come- give me one good reason not to jump in the lake. It’s obviously why you’ve called me here- that or to point out your own mistake, did you think I wouldn’t fix it?”

“No one needs to fix this- Hughes called you for a different method of correspondence, and I was hoping you’d see just how unnecessary all of this is!”

Ignoring the suggestion, Hamilton continued to back towards the edge of the ice, “No other method I’m seeing, so I’ll need a better reason-”

“It’s frozen solid, Hamilton!”

“No, not good enough.” And, the more Troup didn’t want him to, the more Hamilton felt this was necessary. He kicked off his other boot, standing barefoot on the ice. “See, I already noticed that- it’s hard to miss.”

“You’ll freeze!”

“Then are you offering to come get it yourself? Because that’s the only other solution I see here,” Hamilton cocked his chin like a dare, a test. “I mean, I’d love to let you. You did throw it in after all…”

Troup said nothing, expression twisting with regret.

But, Hamilton was unsurprised, had no pity for regret. Troup’s unwavering loyalty was something Hamilton had rejected long ago, and while he could trust him to be a useful ally to Washington, he wouldn’t never expect sacrifice from him- even when the problem was his own creation. No, anything he needed done, Hamilton knew to do himself. And, Troup had long-realized that there would be no stopping Alexander Hamilton once he had set his mind to a solution. Troup would allow it. Someone was jumping in to get the cypher.

And it would have to be him.

“Well alright then.” Hamilton reached down and dropped his breeches, tossed the pile of clothes at Hughes and he sent a sharp look at Troup, “Get a fire started. I’ll want to get warm after this…”

#writing prompt meme #filled #anon #SOA #Song of Alexander #Alex in Albany series #Robert Troup #Hamilton is insane just fyi #ficlet

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