that one time travel psl

[eyediot]

sad bad end s5 jon and tim on a monster road trip



[Algric had given the trio a fair warning of what was happening. Not the specific details of what he was coming from, but he was from a little further along Algric's timeline, and came through Hilltop Road. Never pleasant, but he's here now. IT took a few days of settling, readjusting, and putting some firm self-imposed boundaries on himself before Jon felt comfortable enough to see the others.

After a few minutes of surprise and staring, Jon ends up sitting alone with Tim for a few minutes; the others having some things to take care of themselves. He sits there, fiddling a bit with his fingers, trying not to be self conscious. He can't do anything about the myriad of different, newer scars, nor about his black sclera or so many other things about himself now.

But god... Tim. Alive and not shouting at him right this second. How novel.]

Tim... I.. [Where does he even start.]

Comments

[eyediot]

He's a menace with no shame.

[And there for a brief moment, he hears the dulcet tone of their third partner calling out that yes the boyfriend shirt look is adorable before Tim's gone again.]

...As I said.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric just laughs for a moment. ]

Why are you so stubborn about this.

[eyediot]

Because--

[He doesn't have it in him to admit he still feels like he should keep up the allure of Being A Respected Academic after everything he's done.]

Because it doesn't... feel like me.

[curriculum_fictae]

But it feels like how I feel about you.

[eyediot]

[Shit. His heart.]

Hardly think that's fair. You know that's something I can't argue against.

[curriculum_fictae]

It's true. I am a rampant cheater.

[eyediot]

You joke, but this conversation is proof.

[All serious and all joking, this mna. His smile gives him away, it's hard to keep it up in this warm jumper.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Yeah, Algric sees right through you. ]

Do you really mind?

[eyediot]

[He reaches to tug Algric down by his shirt, so so gently and only between his thumbs and forefingers for a quick kiss.]

No. Not from you.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh. He loves this, Jonah. He loves you.

He looks absolutely smitten after that kiss. ]

[eyediot]

[Hard to believe this soft man in the oversized jumper of his boyfriend's is the same man that stalked a man down in an alley and scared him shitless.]

So don't take it to heart when I call you on your cheating ways in the future.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Look. Look. Algric loves all of you, Jonah. Especially the stalker parts.

He sighs a bit, content. ]

I'll keep that in mind.

[eyediot]

You'd better.

[That's a better look than the worry and concern Algric sounded when everything went tits up. With that, he straightens Algric's shirt that he tugged on.]

The other statements I'll read can wait. What would my fiance like to do?

[The red isn't as bad as it was, and he can at least make out details closer now. It's all sincerity city here.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric does check, of course, but ... Jonah is right. He does seem to be doing better. ]

Mm, sit next to each other and drink tea, then?

[eyediot]

Mm. Until one or both of us falls asleep, I'm sure.

[It's all he wants.]

[curriculum_fictae]

That sounds perfect, Jon.

Mummy Dearest (Algric and Martin)

[secreteary]

[tidying is easy, and mindless by this point. it's not that Martin has anything in particular he wants to avoid thinking about at the moment, but. life is A Lot lately, so a mental break is never unwelcome. it even manages to thaw the chill. not much, but noticeably.

he washed and dried all the sheets, even the pillows themselves, for the bed that he and Jon share in one of Tim's many, many rooms. (the house is something he almost doesn't want to know about and yet is dying to be nosy about at the same time.) he even hoovered the mattress with a small handheld one before putting on the mattress cover and tucking it neatly under each corner, straightening it out so that it's perfectly smooth, then proceeds on to the pillows...]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric has been drifting around the house in turn, puttering around in other ways. Making sure that it stays tidy, for one, and cooking when he feels like it. Which is most of the time, honestly.

He spies Martin in his room and gently pokes his head in. ]

Ah, good morning?

[secreteary]

--Hi!

[a little startled, he stops and turns right before his favorite part: throwing the top sheet across the bed, hopefully getting that pleasing billowing effect.

Martin hesitates for a moment, still unsure how to navigate this unique dynamic. start small, maybe?]

Hhhhhhhow're you?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ It’s so awkward isn’t it? And Algric seems especially muted, thinking about something. Still... recovering from his mother. And Tobias, for that matter. ]

Oh, ah. I’m. I’m all right. Not the best week but I’ve had worse.

[secreteary]

Which is...r-really bad. By most anyone else's metrics.

[at least he's aware enough to know that his bar for a "bad day" is much, much higher than a lot of other people. learned through osmosis, rather than swapping sad stories.

without even realizing, Martin has started folding the top sheet he was just about to put on the bed; something to do with his hands, with his now nervous energy. Martin tilts his head just a little, trying to puzzle something out.]

So, on our metrics... How bad was it?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric drifts a bit closer, but - Martin doesn’t really need help, does he? So he just sort of stands there awkwardly. ]

Ah. Well. I took Jon with me to talk to our mum. A-and I. I bumped into Tobias Fisher.

[secreteary]

Wow.

[it's a small, barely breathed exclamation. Martin has a bit of a thousand-yard stare as this processes.

dimly, he's aware of Algric's obvious intentions, and somewhat mechanically unfolds his work again, moving around to the other side of the bed so that Algric can take the closer side. teamwork. that's nice.

nicer than what he's mentally unpacking, anyway.]

That bad.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Teamwork is nice, okay. He gladly accepts the gesture. ]

It - well - y-yes? But also not the worst. We lived through both encounters, so.

[secreteary]

Nono, I know, but. I wouldn't- I'm. Um.

[words are hard. making a bed is easier. going through a few familiar movements gives him enough time and grounding to string a sentence together.]

Just. To have- Have both in one week.

[there's an unconscious roll of That Shoulder while he grimaces, the thought of Tobias Fisher starting to leave a nasty taste in his mouth.]

I'm sorry.