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[mrballisticsdummy]

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[statementfuckingends]

He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly as he considers it.

"Not really. I spent most of the last year going downhill until I got to finish it all off with the plastic explosives." He shrugs one shoulder. "Haven't really needed to apologise for that, given the circumstances."

[mrballisticsdummy]

He sighs. "I just - have to do better, then." And Jacobi can do that. He's done that. It's just like what he talked about with Jon. He just has to Do Better.

"You shouldn't ever apologize for plastic explosives," he smirks, looking up. "Not when you mean to. But - what happened? Why did you blow up a circus? And keep it light on the existential horrors, if you can."

[statementfuckingends]

Okay that gets a genuine bark of laughter.

"Mate, you've known Jon how long and you think a spooky circus from our end of things isn't gonna be an existential nightmare?"

He straightens up, shifting so he's resting his shoulder on the bars instead. "Circus of the Other belongs directly to the Stranger. They were doing their whole ritual to destroy the world, or remake or some bullshit, and we stopped it. With a bang."

[mrballisticsdummy]

"Hey, I said light, not non-existent. I know you can't help that you're from a shithole."

But he runs fingers through his hair, away from his face. "Isn't your world always about to end, though?"

[statementfuckingends]

He gives a light scoff. "If I'm remembering some of the old statements correctly? More or less. The lot of us work under the Eye, apparently, which got really damn good at screwing up everyone else's rituals to end the world on their terms. We got to personally interrupt one called The Unknowing."

[mrballisticsdummy]

There's something about Tim's statement that triggers a memory in his brain. Words that Jon had told him. What did he talk about -

God, he had been so drunk.

"Tim, I'm only asking you this because it seems like a touchy subject and I'm safe behind these bars. But - uh - the Circus thing. And the ritual. Did it have to do with your brother?"

[statementfuckingends]

What good humour was on Tim's face drops immediately, and he pushes off the bars to look down at Jacobi in a moment of open shock. But then it's gone, buried under a defensive layer of resentment.

He's going to smack Jon. Because it had to be him, he listens to all the tapes and Martin wouldn't.

"Not the ritual specifically, no." His voice is flat again, humourless. "The Circus, yeah."

[mrballisticsdummy]

Oops.

Oh well.

"To be fair, Mr. Grumpy Face, I? Was exceptionally drunk. And Jon was....drinking. Does he get drunk?"

Jacobi's always the first to go, so he never remembers. "He never said your name, but - " The detonator. Their relationship. It kind of makes sense.

[statementfuckingends]

"He was always a lightweight when I knew him. Can't say if being a spooky freak now changes that." He's gonna be salty for a while.

But, well. Since Jacobi already fucking knows. "My brother was an urban explorer and just so happened to go into the wrong building. The Circus was there first and they turned him into a bloody sideshow."

[mrballisticsdummy]

"And you blew it the fuck up."

Good.

Good. Jacobi would have made the same sacrifice.

[statementfuckingends]

"Gave it was it was about four years overdue for."

But he's tired now, between his aches and the sudden change to an incredibly private topic, so he pushes off the bars properly now with a stiff smile.

"I'll message when I find out who else got Robocopped."

[mrballisticsdummy]

He doesn't want him to go, but only because he doesn't want to be alone again. It's a selfish reason, so he doesn't say anything.

"I think I'm going to go with Terminator," he points out, turning back to his desk. "Seems more my aesthetic."