Director Elliot Aarse

Head of the Usher Foundation East, Washington DC. He/Him TMA OC by @idioddyssey

[elliotaarseusher]

TEMPORARY INTRO POST

Secondary Unofficial Tumblr home of the Usher Foundation East of Washington DC.

——————————————————————

About Elliot

IT’S PRONOUNCED AYERS <— Debatable

Elliot Aarse has longtime ties with both The Magnus Institute ( London ) and The Usher Foundation ( D.C. ). Having started as a filer in the London branch, Aarse worked his way up to archival assistant with a developed interest in the happenings of the continental United States. James Wright ( former Head of Magnus Institute ) arranged to have him take place as the Head Archivist at The Usher Foundation East where he very quickly found himself the Head Director instead.

While keeping operation of the Foundation smooth he does not shy away from taking or reading statements or observing the archives.

Under Elliot’s care Usher has become a place accepting of those who feel a deep pull to the supernatural and tries to offer ways for them to identify with and work through those feelings.

About Usher & Statements

The Usher Foundation is a nonprofit academic institution in Washington, DC dedicated to the study of accounts of supernatural phenomena. We take statements from the public regarding alleged supernatural experiences, which we record and preserve for future research.

We accept written or spoken statements in-person at our Washington, DC location. We also accept spoken statements over the phone through our official tip line, as well as written statements through our official email and through submissions on this blog.

For more information regarding statements please direct your questions to Head Archivist @mcolemanusher

Other

— Servant of the Eye

— Marked by the Spiral

— Cousin to Elias Bouchard

— Story/Timeline shared with @mcolemanusher ( His Head Archivist he is rather protective of. )

———————————————————————

Writer

Heyo, the names Stellar!

I’m an adult and use she/they pronouns. I’ve been roleplaying for 10+ years.

I request that if you are a minor writer that you do not interact. I am not comfortable interacting to such an extent with minors.

Most of my time spent with Elliot as a character is on twitter rp and discord with friends so this is my first venture into tumblr rp.

Shipping is possible but he’s only ever had crushes so good luck. Chemistry is a big deal.

———————————————————————

Warnings

Typical warnings for a horror/TMA account:

—Likely descriptions related to the fears: Gore, destruction, existential, death, etc.

—Intrusive observation / questioning

—Unreality

[felipeiv]

[mcolemanusher]

Ughhhhhhh I forgot about Bouchard's stupid conference thing. Yeah flying to London is just the thing I need right now.

[elliotaarseusher]

I did say I would attend didn’t I…

[mcolemanusher]

What if we just didn't show up.

[elliotaarseusher]

That wouldn’t be a great look for Usher now would it? We should keep our word.

[mcolemanusher]

Yeah, yeah. I know.

[elliotaarseusher]

You can go learn whatever it is they bring in and I’ll keep things nice and chummy with Magnus. Maybe Elias will bring his archivist and you’ll make a friend.

[mcolemanusher]

I don't need to be sent on playdates, Elliot.

[elliotaarseusher]

Well I wasn’t going to call the man a resource. That would’ve been rude.

[mcolemanusher]

I'm not sure Jonathan Sims is much of a resource, Elliot.

[elliotaarseusher]

Well you’re never going to know that for sure if you never look. Elias would’ve chosen him for a reason.

[mcolemanusher]

Yeah, fine. I promise I'll play nice.

[elliotaarseusher]

Until just now I hadn’t imagined you not playing nice. What on earth did you have planned?

[mcolemanusher]

Nothing, relax. You worry too much.

[elliotaarseusher]

I thought I didn’t worry enough? :)

[mcolemanusher]

Too much about me, not enough about yourself.

[elliotaarseusher]

I worry a healthy amount for someone whose staff nearly got their hand shaved off by what I can only begin to describe as a ‘baby shark’

[mcolemanusher]

Lilya took care of that.

[elliotaarseusher]

That’s not the point and you know it.

Just make the poor man feel welcome. Trial by fire isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

[mcolemanusher]

I promise not to look at him with my big round eyes and say something unnerving.

[elliotaarseusher]

I just don’t think that’s a promise that you can make. If there’s one thing you are spectacular at..

[mcolemanusher]

Moi?

[elliotaarseusher]

. . .

[mcolemanusher]

Ughhhhhhh I forgot about Bouchard's stupid conference thing. Yeah flying to London is just the thing I need right now.

[elliotaarseusher]

I did say I would attend didn’t I…

[mcolemanusher]

What if we just didn't show up.

[elliotaarseusher]

That wouldn’t be a great look for Usher now would it? We should keep our word.

[mcolemanusher]

Yeah, yeah. I know.

[elliotaarseusher]

You can go learn whatever it is they bring in and I’ll keep things nice and chummy with Magnus. Maybe Elias will bring his archivist and you’ll make a friend.

[mcolemanusher]

I don't need to be sent on playdates, Elliot.

[elliotaarseusher]

Well I wasn’t going to call the man a resource. That would’ve been rude.

[mcolemanusher]

I'm not sure Jonathan Sims is much of a resource, Elliot.

[elliotaarseusher]

Well you’re never going to know that for sure if you never look. Elias would’ve chosen him for a reason.

[mcolemanusher]

Yeah, fine. I promise I'll play nice.

[elliotaarseusher]

Until just now I hadn’t imagined you not playing nice. What on earth did you have planned?

[mcolemanusher]

Nothing, relax. You worry too much.

[elliotaarseusher]

I thought I didn’t worry enough? :)

[mcolemanusher]

Too much about me, not enough about yourself.

[elliotaarseusher]

I worry a healthy amount for someone whose staff nearly got their hand shaved off by what I can only begin to describe as a ‘baby shark’

[mcolemanusher]

Lilya took care of that.

[elliotaarseusher]

That’s not the point and you know it.

Just make the poor man feel welcome. Trial by fire isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

[mcolemanusher]

I promise not to look at him with my big round eyes and say something unnerving.

[elliotaarseusher]

I just don’t think that’s a promise that you can make. If there’s one thing you are spectacular at..

[mcolemanusher]

Ughhhhhhh I forgot about Bouchard's stupid conference thing. Yeah flying to London is just the thing I need right now.

[elliotaarseusher]

I did say I would attend didn’t I…

[mcolemanusher]

What if we just didn't show up.

[elliotaarseusher]

That wouldn’t be a great look for Usher now would it? We should keep our word.

[mcolemanusher]

Yeah, yeah. I know.

[elliotaarseusher]

You can go learn whatever it is they bring in and I’ll keep things nice and chummy with Magnus. Maybe Elias will bring his archivist and you’ll make a friend.

[mcolemanusher]

I don't need to be sent on playdates, Elliot.

[elliotaarseusher]

Well I wasn’t going to call the man a resource. That would’ve been rude.

[mcolemanusher]

I'm not sure Jonathan Sims is much of a resource, Elliot.

[elliotaarseusher]

Well you’re never going to know that for sure if you never look. Elias would’ve chosen him for a reason.

[mcolemanusher]

Yeah, fine. I promise I'll play nice.

[elliotaarseusher]

Until just now I hadn’t imagined you not playing nice. What on earth did you have planned?

[mcolemanusher]

Nothing, relax. You worry too much.

[elliotaarseusher]

I thought I didn’t worry enough? :)

[mcolemanusher]

Too much about me, not enough about yourself.

[elliotaarseusher]

I worry a healthy amount for someone whose staff nearly got their hand shaved off by what I can only begin to describe as a ‘baby shark’

[mcolemanusher]

Lilya took care of that.

[elliotaarseusher]

That’s not the point and you know it.

Just make the poor man feel welcome. Trial by fire isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

[mcolemanusher]

Ughhhhhhh I forgot about Bouchard's stupid conference thing. Yeah flying to London is just the thing I need right now.

[elliotaarseusher]

I did say I would attend didn’t I…

[mcolemanusher]

What if we just didn't show up.

[elliotaarseusher]

That wouldn’t be a great look for Usher now would it? We should keep our word.

[mcolemanusher]

Yeah, yeah. I know.

[elliotaarseusher]

You can go learn whatever it is they bring in and I’ll keep things nice and chummy with Magnus. Maybe Elias will bring his archivist and you’ll make a friend.

[mcolemanusher]

I don't need to be sent on playdates, Elliot.

[elliotaarseusher]

Well I wasn’t going to call the man a resource. That would’ve been rude.

[mcolemanusher]

I'm not sure Jonathan Sims is much of a resource, Elliot.

[elliotaarseusher]

Well you’re never going to know that for sure if you never look. Elias would’ve chosen him for a reason.

[mcolemanusher]

Yeah, fine. I promise I'll play nice.

[elliotaarseusher]

Until just now I hadn’t imagined you not playing nice. What on earth did you have planned?

[mcolemanusher]

Nothing, relax. You worry too much.

[elliotaarseusher]

I thought I didn’t worry enough? :)

[mcolemanusher]

Too much about me, not enough about yourself.

[elliotaarseusher]

I worry a healthy amount for someone whose staff nearly got their hand shaved off by what I can only begin to describe as a ‘baby shark’

[mcolemanusher]

Ughhhhhhh I forgot about Bouchard's stupid conference thing. Yeah flying to London is just the thing I need right now.

[elliotaarseusher]

I did say I would attend didn’t I…

[mcolemanusher]

What if we just didn't show up.

[elliotaarseusher]

That wouldn’t be a great look for Usher now would it? We should keep our word.

[mcolemanusher]

Yeah, yeah. I know.

[elliotaarseusher]

You can go learn whatever it is they bring in and I’ll keep things nice and chummy with Magnus. Maybe Elias will bring his archivist and you’ll make a friend.

[mcolemanusher]

I don't need to be sent on playdates, Elliot.

[elliotaarseusher]

Well I wasn’t going to call the man a resource. That would’ve been rude.

[mcolemanusher]

I'm not sure Jonathan Sims is much of a resource, Elliot.

[elliotaarseusher]

Well you’re never going to know that for sure if you never look. Elias would’ve chosen him for a reason.

[mcolemanusher]

Yeah, fine. I promise I'll play nice.

[elliotaarseusher]

Until just now I hadn’t imagined you not playing nice. What on earth did you have planned?

[mcolemanusher]

Nothing, relax. You worry too much.

[elliotaarseusher]

I thought I didn’t worry enough? :)

[mcolemanusher]

Ughhhhhhh I forgot about Bouchard's stupid conference thing. Yeah flying to London is just the thing I need right now.

[elliotaarseusher]

I did say I would attend didn’t I…

[mcolemanusher]

What if we just didn't show up.

[elliotaarseusher]

That wouldn’t be a great look for Usher now would it? We should keep our word.

[mcolemanusher]

Yeah, yeah. I know.

[elliotaarseusher]

You can go learn whatever it is they bring in and I’ll keep things nice and chummy with Magnus. Maybe Elias will bring his archivist and you’ll make a friend.

[mcolemanusher]

I don't need to be sent on playdates, Elliot.

[elliotaarseusher]

Well I wasn’t going to call the man a resource. That would’ve been rude.

[mcolemanusher]

I'm not sure Jonathan Sims is much of a resource, Elliot.

[elliotaarseusher]

Well you’re never going to know that for sure if you never look. Elias would’ve chosen him for a reason.

[mcolemanusher]

Yeah, fine. I promise I'll play nice.

[elliotaarseusher]

Until just now I hadn’t imagined you not playing nice. What on earth did you have planned?

[xxlunawarriorxx]

yesterday's halloween piece

[mcolemanusher]

Ughhhhhhh I forgot about Bouchard's stupid conference thing. Yeah flying to London is just the thing I need right now.

[elliotaarseusher]

I did say I would attend didn’t I…

[mcolemanusher]

What if we just didn't show up.

[elliotaarseusher]

That wouldn’t be a great look for Usher now would it? We should keep our word.

[mcolemanusher]

Yeah, yeah. I know.

[elliotaarseusher]

You can go learn whatever it is they bring in and I’ll keep things nice and chummy with Magnus. Maybe Elias will bring his archivist and you’ll make a friend.

[mcolemanusher]

I don't need to be sent on playdates, Elliot.

[elliotaarseusher]

Well I wasn’t going to call the man a resource. That would’ve been rude.

[mcolemanusher]

I'm not sure Jonathan Sims is much of a resource, Elliot.

[elliotaarseusher]

Well you’re never going to know that for sure if you never look. Elias would’ve chosen him for a reason.

[mcolemanusher]

Ughhhhhhh I forgot about Bouchard's stupid conference thing. Yeah flying to London is just the thing I need right now.

[elliotaarseusher]

I did say I would attend didn’t I…

[mcolemanusher]

What if we just didn't show up.

[elliotaarseusher]

That wouldn’t be a great look for Usher now would it? We should keep our word.

[mcolemanusher]

Yeah, yeah. I know.

[elliotaarseusher]

You can go learn whatever it is they bring in and I’ll keep things nice and chummy with Magnus. Maybe Elias will bring his archivist and you’ll make a friend.

[mcolemanusher]

I don't need to be sent on playdates, Elliot.

[elliotaarseusher]

Well I wasn’t going to call the man a resource. That would’ve been rude.

[mcolemanusher]

Ughhhhhhh I forgot about Bouchard's stupid conference thing. Yeah flying to London is just the thing I need right now.

[elliotaarseusher]

I did say I would attend didn’t I…

[mcolemanusher]

What if we just didn't show up.

[elliotaarseusher]

That wouldn’t be a great look for Usher now would it? We should keep our word.

[mcolemanusher]

Yeah, yeah. I know.

[elliotaarseusher]

You can go learn whatever it is they bring in and I’ll keep things nice and chummy with Magnus. Maybe Elias will bring his archivist and you’ll make a friend.

[mcolemanusher]

Ughhhhhhh I forgot about Bouchard's stupid conference thing. Yeah flying to London is just the thing I need right now.

[elliotaarseusher]

I did say I would attend didn’t I…

[mcolemanusher]

What if we just didn't show up.

[elliotaarseusher]

That wouldn’t be a great look for Usher now would it? We should keep our word.

[mcolemanusher]

Ughhhhhhh I forgot about Bouchard's stupid conference thing. Yeah flying to London is just the thing I need right now.

[elliotaarseusher]

I did say I would attend didn’t I…

[watermotif]

A pleasure to have in the labyrinth

[michaeladavenport]

Michael A Davenport, 3,090 Degrees Fahrenheit (Oil on canvas, 2025)

30in x 48in

[koifrog]

From the artist’s Inprnt:

“3,090 degrees Fahrenheit is the temperature at which sand becomes glass, in a process known as the Pilkington Process. This is not the temperature of burning; this is the temperature of becoming something.”

[elliotaarseusher]

How long has he been staring at this blank paper? Was it always blank? He could’ve sworn there had been something there. Something waiting for him.

[mcolemanusher]

"Hey, boss?"

Marc seems to appear out of nowhere, but in reality they've been in the room for nearly a full minute before their voice manages to tear its way past Elliot's reverie. They lean over his desk, trying to catch a glimpse of whatever is so interesting.

"You okay in here?" he asks. "We had a meeting scheduled for about an hour ago."

[elliotaarseusher]

The sudden voice startles him. His shoulders hop up, body tensing.

It’s not so much the sound that had spooked him but rather the fact he had not caught anything that had come before it. Not even the opening or closing of the door.

The. Door.

He had been completely vulnerable. How could he have let that happen?

Out of whatever trance he must have been in he can feel his eyes are burning slightly. Maybe he’d done away with blinking alongside the apparent senses. He tries to focus his vision, bring some lubrication to his eyes to help clear the picture ahead.

“Right. Yes. A meeting with Marc. Of course. Tell them I’ll be with them shortly.”

[mcolemanusher]

"A meeting with me," she corrects, concern furrowing her brow. "And I'm not going anywhere now."

He hops up and sits on the edge of the desk, studying Elliot's disoriented expression, his bloodshot eyes. Something is clearly wrong with him. It's just a matter of prying.

To help, of course. For his own good.

"How long have you been in here?"

[elliotaarseusher]

First wrong move and it was a big one. Halle or hell maybe even Cassidy would’ve gone along with a request to reschedule.

He can’t be mad. It’s what Marc was hired for and passing on the title of archivist was one of the easiest decisions of his life. Because Marc has to know.

Elliot removes his glasses and brings his palm up to rub at his eyes so that he can at least try to read the clock.

“I.. you said an hour ago so.” Doing some mental math that shouldn’t take this long to estimate. Something is missing. “Six? Six hours?”

[mcolemanusher]

"Six hours," they echo. "Six hours, so, what, since you got here this morning? What the hell kept your attention for six hours?"

Again, he cranes his neck for a better look at the paper in front of Elliot. It remains stubbornly blank. They move on to studying his face instead.

"Seriously," he says with a much less jovial air. "Is... everything okay? Are you okay?"

[elliotaarseusher]

“That seems to be the case.” Elliot trails off as he adjusts his posture, more alert now.

He makes a point to avoid looking at the paper just to be equally averse to making eye contact with Marc. That feels like admitting some sort of defeat. As if if their eyes met Marc would be able to see right through him to that ever present bundle of ??? inside him.

“I’m fine. Probably dehydrated or— or something.”

[mcolemanusher]

"I can ask Halle to get you some water," she says, pulling out her phone to fire off a text message. "But I don't believe that for a second."

He takes the piece of paper and slides it away from Elliot. It looks normal enough, and hasn't had any strange effects on Marc, but where artifacts are concerned, one can't be too careful.

"Tell me what happened."

[elliotaarseusher]

“You don’t have to believe it.” Elliot huffs. The glasses return to his face and hands to the desk catching the paper from being moved completely out of reach.

It’s not that there’s anything important there. Not that he can recall this very second. But he’d given it his attention for a reason. If only he could remember what it was.

“I was working. At least I thought I was. I had been reading.. reading something. It was urgent, or at least felt urgent. I guess it just slipped away.”

[mcolemanusher]

Marc frowns when Elliot prevents her from taking away the paper, and glances down at it once again. Still blank, still unremarkable.

"You spent six hours reading a blank piece of paper?"

He tilts his head.

"Elliot, that sounds pretty not okay to me. I think you should give that to me."

[elliotaarseusher]

“And when have we ever used the metric of okay, Marc?”

He seems satisfied that the paper is within reach. There’s still so much to explore and understand. Something inside him is empty without having understood it to its full.

“I have to finish it. I’m sure you understand.”

[mcolemanusher]

"Elliot."

He lifts a hand from the paper only long enough to stab a finger into it accusingly.

"This is a blank piece of paper. There is nothing on it. There is nothing to finish."

Their tone softens, just barely.

"I'm worried about you."

[elliotaarseusher]

When Marc jabs the paper Elliot looks like he was the one to have a hand forcefully put upon him.

He goes to retort but words fall short as the paper really does prove to be just a white canvas. Not a speck in sight. It’s almost too perfect. It doesn’t bend or blemish when stabbed.

He tears his eyes away, still red from the time spent on the blank white expanse.

“I’m being thorough. That’s my job. That’s all of our jobs.” Like he’s trying to convince them both. Rationalizing. “And as you well know sometimes that job doesn’t always look ‘normal’.”

[mcolemanusher]

"Yeah," he says. "And we also both know this place plays tricks on you. Draws you into traps of obsession. You warned me about this when I first came onboard."

They once again attempt to wiggle the paper out from under Elliot's grip.

"So, what? Advice for thee, not for me?"

[elliotaarseusher]

“Warnings. Not scripture.”

Elliot sighs, relinquishing the paper. The last thing he needs is to give Marc further ammo to worry with. The last thing any of them need is anyone worrying at all.

“If I was tricked then it was my own fault. You’ve stopped the pattern, everyone lives and there’s rainbows and sunshine. Better?”

[mcolemanusher]

"Sure, if that's the truth."

He holds the paper up to the light and begins to examine it for any unusual properties.

"I dunno. Maybe you should take the rest of the day off?"

[elliotaarseusher]

“When have I ever told you anything but the truth to the best of my ability?”

There’s a lighter tone to Elliot’s voice knowing that’s a lie itself but a far less heavy one. The edge brought on by the exhaustion very slowly making its way out of sight.

“I started at the bottom left.”

[mcolemanusher]

"The bottom left of what, Elliot?" she asks flatly. "It's a blank paper. There's nothing on it."

Despite himself, he does look. Maybe if he can puzzle out what Elliot saw, they can help him a little better. That's definitely the only reason.

[elliotaarseusher]

“It wasn’t always like that. In fact I think it’s just doing this to embarrass me.”

He knew Marc would look. That a simple tip would lead them to investigate just a little further. If Marc could find something on that paper it would prove to Elliot that he didn’t waste six hours god knows where in his own mind, he would at least have something to blame.

[mcolemanusher]

"The paper is trying to embarass you?" Marc asks, eyebrow raised.

The paper in question remains stubbornly blank and unremarkable. He shakes it around a little in midair, and it makes only the ordinary sound of a paper being shaken around.

[elliotaarseusher]

“Whatever is behind it. Yes.”

Elliot would rather not give in to that embarrassment but it’s getting increasingly harder as Marc continues to flaunt this completely average page.

“The point I’m making is I’m fine as I always am and that you are likely correct in assuming trickery. But the source of the trickery..”

[mcolemanusher]

She sighs and puts the paper down.

"If you think there's something bigger going on here," he starts, "then I believe you. But if something is trying to mess with you, getting obsessive is probably playing into its hands. We should probably destroy this."

[elliotaarseusher]

“There is always something bigger at play. Always a bigger fish.”

He laces his fingers together, elbows on the desk, forcing himself to keep the paper out of his hands just in case.

“I wouldn’t say I was being obsessive.”

[mcolemanusher]

The paper remains stubbornly on the table, undestroyed.

"That's not how you would characterize this?" Marc asks, tilting their head. "You wouldn't call staring at one paper for six hours, to the point of failing to notice the passage of time or other people entering the room obsessive? That's interesting."

[elliotaarseusher]

Elliot goes quiet. Of course it’s obsessive. That’s what he is. He finds something to hone in on and won’t be seen or heard from until he’s made sufficient progress.

Six hours doesn’t seem like much in the grand scheme of what sometimes can become a week.

“I would say it was a bit conservative for me.”

[mcolemanusher]

He sighs and levers himself to his feet with her cane, the desk creaking a little bit at the absence of his weight.

"Come on. Let's get something to eat. I bet you're starving."

[elliotaarseusher]

He hadn’t given hunger much thought. He’d barely given hydration thought until it made for a good excuse. The time spent nearly statuesque has left him feeling a bit week as he stretches his legs out and rises from the desk.

He brushes himself down as if he’d gathered dust in those hours and feels around for a wallet.

“I can admit I could go for something a little more flavorful than pulp.”

[mcolemanusher]

Marc heads for the door and holds it open for Elliot.

"Not surprising. I assume you haven't eaten since breakfast. What are you feeling?"

Honestly, material food doesn't actually sound as appetizing to Marc as a statement or two, but he isn't quite ready to abandon the concept of eating and digesting food.

[elliotaarseusher]

“Ah, nothing since— Yes, breakfast.”

Or rather his morning coffee. No wonder his fingers couldn’t keep still.. though the paper was partially to blame.

“There are coffee stops all around here that offer a bite to eat. Nothing too heavy in case we should be leaving room for something *other*.”

Theres a mutual understanding that both of them have begun to replace some diets with others. In fact Marc had been quite quick making such a change that it’s nice to see him be agreeable towards actual food.

[mcolemanusher]

He shrugs.

"We could just do the cafe around the corner. It's kind of pricy but not too far. I'm kinda worried if we tried to walk more than a block or two, you'd just-"

She mimes comically losing consciousness, stopping just short of ragdolling in the doorway.

[elliotaarseusher]

Elliot pauses to watch the over dramatic display and rolls his eyes. Really it might as well have been a full body movement.

“I’m not going to keel over. Just need a boost.”

Now he’s just got to really focus on making it there and back without a single stumble.

[mcolemanusher]

"Sure," she says, slowly righting herself. "Still, better play it safe, right? Who knows, maybe I'll keel over. That'd save you the embarassment."

He gives Halle a little salute on the way out.

[elliotaarseusher]

“I don’t you taking the fall would be saving anyone so why don’t we just avoid it all together?”

He gives Halle a smile and mimics taking a drink. Halle understands and holds up her finger asking for one for herself before saluting Marc right back.

Elliot can tell she seems relieved seeing the two of them walk out of the office alive.

“And our meeting. What was that about again?”

[mcolemanusher]

"Just your weird regular check-in," they say, shrugging. "I'm fine, by the way. Doing great. Maybe I should start scheduling regular check-ins for you."

Her tone is jovial, but the edge of real concern has yet to fully leave them. He can't help but keep glancing at Elliot out of the corner of his eye, making sure he's still with them.

[elliotaarseusher]

“It’s not ‘weird’. It’s necessary to ensure you’re in the best working environment we can provide.”

Elliot is just focused on the path ahead. Sidewalk, crosswalk, whatever it is straight forward. Stick to the path. Which is why he seems extremely unsettled when there’s a road closed that they have to detour a couple blocks.

Instead of taking it as a minor inconvenience he is noticeably looking every possible direction as if he’s expecting something to jump out at them.

[mcolemanusher]

Marc doesn't push the subject of the check-ins, even though he's fairly sure he knows the real reason Elliot insists on them, and she doubts it's anything to do with working environments or professional development.

The detour seems to be a bigger issue, though. Elliot's obvious discomfort doesn't escape them, and they subtlely move so they're walking on the side of the sidewalk nearest the road.

"Erika in accounting has a new boyfriend," he says casually. "He's like twice her height. I thought I was seeing the hat man."

[elliotaarseusher]

And that’s reason would be just as necessary if not more so.

Marc’s words earn a laugh and shake of the head. “Completely off the record here. She might last longer with the hat man.”