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]

...I really...really don't like this.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric's expression hardens just a bit. ]

I'm sorry, Jon.

[eyediot]

[He sighs and sinks into the couch a bit.]

...The Institute really was the perfect set up for the Eye. God, I hate that man.

POST JONAH BLINDNESS

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Well that was a fucking mess. God. Algric still isn't over the part where Jonah/Jon went blind and somehow managed to not tell anyone it was happening. And the Unknowing, and ...

He's back to having only cold days, his temperature dropping steadily. Ironically, he's more certain than ever that he's loved. No, it's a different drive now. And there was a reason why he'd offered his weaponised depression specifically. Having seen what happened, he's made a different decision, one not at odds with his decision to stay with Jonah, but definitely a different direction. It's easy to renew his own monstrousness when he falls back into that pit every night, only to awaken and find Jonah still there.

He's at the kotatsu late one evening, alone for the moment, deep in thought. About everything, really: Jonah. Tim. What to do now. ]

[kayakking]

[How often is it, frankly, that it's Tim bringing the tea? Alric will feel the warmth of the other man leaning in, the light clink of it on the coaster on the table.

It's passable, when he tries it. Not great, not bad. Just passable.

Though it does have a little insulator around it... to keep his tea from turning to ice too easily. It's the little things.]

Hey.

[kayakking]

Right? People just walk in to tell him shit.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Pretty much never, which isn't a slam against Tim, honestly. When you have two Martins in the house, at least one of them usually gets the tea.

He appreciates the gesture, though. And the little insulator. Algric manages a smile as he takes the mug from him. ]

Hey. Ah. How are you doing?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ A very, very long pause from Algric. A thought having just occurred to him. But ... he buries it for later. ]

Bastard.

[eyediot]

I... I really don't want to follow in his footsteps if I can help it? So. We'll figure out some other way.

[kayakking]

Is that... something you can ... you know, Know?

[kayakking]

[He scootches himself under the kotatsu and pulls up a blanket besides. It really was the best idea they had. He puts his feet right up against the heater.]


I... don't know? I have no idea. It sort of feels like everythings changed... but at the same time, really hasn't.

[eyediot]

It's... um.

[He rubs at his forehead.]

Knowing is more for... Concrete things, things that. A-already existed or happened. Not so good for. Planning? Making plans? And. My options for this are either. Ask people for statements. Or...forcibly take them.

Neither are pleasant, in my experience.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric is only barely under it himself, which is good, probably. Or else he might freeze the little heater.

His expression softens with sympathy. ]

Yeah. Yeah, it's - it's strange, isn't it? Not as bad as you thought, I bet.

[kayakking]

It really isn't.

[He looks at Algric and then glances back down.]

No offense. I thought it would be awful. But...

Does it feel kind of... I don't know? Right? For you too?

[curriculum_fictae]

It's wonderful. Especially at first. Realising that - that all that misery you went through, everything you lost and wanted and suffered from - it has a point.

[ He takes in a deep, shuddering breath. ]

And that point is sharp enough to cut your way through the world for once, instead of it cutting you down.

[kayakking]

[Tim really did have no idea what he was offering.]

So... what? I mean, it's just, you know. Hearing some terrible shit, right? It can't be that bad.

[curriculum_fictae]

It causes nightmares. Terrible ones. For both of us.

[eyediot]

[Jonah nods because... Yeah.]

Not only that, but it'll be. Nightmares of whatever was told to me, only worse and.

[He does hate this part.]

You'll see me there. Watching.

[kayakking]

Right? Everything is in.. relief. [There's a breathless tone about that. As if he can't quite find the word to describe how it FEELS.] I feel like... like I can just do what I need to.

... Maybe actually protect someone, for once.

[curriculum_fictae]

Yes. Exactly that.

[ A deep breath. ]

Of course it's also, you know. A connection with some kind of eldritch fear god that is corrupting us. You three were all rightfully afraid of me at first.

[kayakking]

... okay. That's ... creepy.

[curriculum_fictae]

Y-yes. And the dreams end ... differently. Worse. Like you didn't escape the horror story you told.

[eyediot]

[At the 'creepy' remark, Jon winces a little and looks down at the floor by his feet instead.]

I wish I knew a way you guys didn't have ...to.

[Huh. A thought occurs. He remembers hearing one tape, Daisy and Basira...Basira had stopped having the dreams.]

...I think. I think if you're connected to the Institute still, you... You're protected from them. Algric- When you gave me your statement, about. About the worms, did you have any dreams about it? Like, like the dreams we just described?

[kayakking]

You seemed... all right, when you were with us?

Jon- Jon touching you really was the turning point, that first meeting.

[curriculum_fictae]

... Ah. Right. He - sharpened me up. Touch does that, I think.

[ He looks down at his hands, grey and colourless again. ]