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It was another boring meeting. Discussions of budgeting and collaborations with different libraries that made Martin nearly doze off in his seat and daydream about how he could spend his evening. There was at least a buffet after the meeting since it ended around noon and Martin indulged himself in some bite sized pieces of bread with spread and decorating vegetables on top. He eyed the bowl of fruits and wondered if he could make 2 whole apples disappear into his pockets and save out on buying lunch. That’s when a figure nudged up to him with a polite excuse and made Martin jump to the side. They reached out for a muffin and Martin recognised them. Elias.
“The dark chocolate ones are quite the treat.” Elias commented.
“Ah, y-yes.” Martin stammered back and shoved a piece of bread into his mouth.
It’s been over a decade or so since he was hired by the man, and he’s long since giving up on the daily fear of someone finally finding out about his lies, but when he was around him and remembered the forged CV, he couldn’t help the bits of anxiety that bubbled up. Elias had been present at the meeting as well, giving his odd comment here and there, though Martin could have sworn he looked zoned out at one point.
Martin had never paid attention to it, but now when he saw the hand reaching out and placing some dessert on his plate he noticed a wedding ring. He just finished his bite and found himself so bewildered at the thought of his boss being married that he couldn’t stop his mouth.
“Oh, you’re married?”
Martin immediately regretted his occasional lack of self control. But much to his surprise he heard a scoff and then a little chuckle from Elias.
“Yes.” He answered and turned to Martin. Eyes staring directly into his that crinkled at the corners with the wide grin he was now sporting, pronouncing his dimples. “Currently.”
Martin stared at him with his mouth open and then blinked. What? Noticing his own lack of reaction he gave a painfully awkward laugh and brought out an “Okay.” before making his excuses to leave, because he was far too afraid to ask more questions.
Martin doesn’t think too much off it. While he loved gossip, he wasn’t going to search it out. If his boss was having marriage troubles he should be allowed to have them in privacy, even if his apparent eagerness to divorce his spouse was a bit weird. And when he passed Elias on the hallway, paid attention to it and saw the ring was gone he didn’t think much of it.
It wasn’t until Martin was called into Elias’ office for the offer of a new job position down in the archives, shook his hand at the congratulations and noticed he was wearing a wedding ring again. Divorce was one thing, but marrying again in such a short amount of time? This time Martin couldn’t help but talk at least a bit about it to Rosie and let his mind paint movie-like scenarios of wild affairs his boss could be having or 'accidental' murder like a Edwardian woman getting rid of her husband.
Transferring to a new station wasn’t easy. Martin hardly knew anything about archiving and although he spent a weekend researching the subject, it didn’t seem to correlate at all with what they were doing so Martin was getting his ear-fulls from his new boss Jon about his mistakes. It didn’t help that his coworkers Tim and Sasha already knew each other and he felt a bit left out. When he did try to socialise with them more, he was delighted to find out that they enjoy gossip just as much as him. When they brought up Elias, because Sasha had noticed he had earlobe piercings but never wore any ear rings, Martin found it was the right time to bring up the wedding ring. They were both amused, Tim having to bite down a laugh so they wouldn’t get overheard by Jon. But Sasha looked a bit perplexed.
“Hang on.. I saw him today though and I am sure I remember he didn’t wear any jewellery. Definitely not a wedding ring.” She explains.
Martin gives her a perplexed look back, but surely when he sees Elias he isn’t wearing it. The three of them continue to talk and theorise. Martin brought up that maybe he just forgot it, but several days in a row seemed weird. Tim entertained the idea that maybe he lost it and just hasn’t gotten a new one. Sasha commented that maybe he just didn’t want to wear it anymore even if he was married, but it would have been quite sudden, after he’d worn it diligently previously. They had their fun bantering, but were not going to search for answers deliberately.
Elias came down to the Archives to ask Jon about a specific statement. By now some time has passed and much to Martin’s, Sasha’s and Tim’s delight, the ring, same model specifically, had not only appeared again, but disappeared as well. Several times. They have made it a sorta game to see who checked the ring status the fastest and keeps a perfect tally of how many days it will be until it’s gone or back again. They send each other the widest eyes and smiles after Elias had passed them on his way out and was wearing a ring again.
They couldn’t help but laugh, amusing more ideas of whatever was going on with his marriage that he would wear the ring and then not in almost perfect intervals. Their laughter was too hard to hide from Jon who came out of his office, asking what was going on. Tim was quick to explain Elias’ on and off wedding ring and their game about it. Jon expectantly just scoffed and told them they were wasting their time and that it was none of their business.
His next time seeing Elias though, Jon couldn’t help but glance down at Elias’ hands when they weren’t folded behind his back and saw the wedding ring. He wasn’t too much up for gossip and prodding his boss’ privacy so he didn’t raise any questions.
Jon gets called into Elias’ office sometimes. Mostly about budget sheets for his assistant’s research or bringing files others were requesting from Elias. This time it was because a statement giver had gotten very angry about how they handled their statement after they had given it and Elias just wanted to inform Jon that he sorted it all out. Jon thanked him and noticed it when he looked down at the folded hands on the desk.
He opens the door to the Archives apparently a bit too quickly, because the others send him confusing looks. Jon blinks.
“The ring… It’s gone again.”
Excited laughter and cheers ensue that they managed to rope Jon into their game. He lets them play it under the condition that they don’t let it distract them from their work. And that he also gets to see their notes on the ring's status.
If you would believe it, Elias had been far too busy until now to properly notice their game. He had noticed their stares, especially Jon who was very unsubtle about it, but didn’t think to look beyond them questioning his marital status. But when he was Looking down into the Archives and found out about their little game about him, how could he not indulge?
Not correlating it to his actual marital status, he starts wearing the ring on and then off at random intervals. On the same day he remarks how filled his schedule was and that it had no time open to get his much needed divorce done to Jon, then catches Martin later and asks him if he knew any wedding photographers. Made sure to complain to Tim and Sasha separately how hard it was being married, ring worn when he talked to Tim but not to Sasha. But he saves the best for the annual institute holiday party where he tells them he’s sad his husband couldn’t make it with his ring on, then makes sure it's off the next day and mentions divorce.