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'm-- I'm sorry.

[He wasn't trying to make light of it, but.]

Better times ahead of us?

[curriculum_fictae]

Oh, yes. Very much so. I can't remember ever being this happy.

[eyediot]

[Jon smiles a little more at that, reaching for his hand to hold.]

I'll try my best to live up to this then.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric takes it gladly. ]

Just - just stay with me, really.

[eyediot]

[He kisses his knuckles, aiming for that ring finger.]

You don't have to ask for that even.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ God. Well Algric is bright red now, thanks. ]

Yes - yes I do. You don't - you don't realise. How alone I've been my whole life. A-and now I'm engaged.

[eyediot]

You are. And I'm not leaving.

So you'll have to think of something different you want.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric ducks his head for a moment, really thinking about that. ]

Any - any physical intimacy you're comfortable with, really? I liked ... ah, I liked cuddling a lot.

[eyediot]

...I did too, Martin.

[He leans up, kissing him softly.]

And. Really, I'm fine with a lot.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ That doesn't make him any less red, that's for sure. ]

R-right, you said. That. Ah, you didn't mind. Using your hands.

[eyediot]

..Mm. No, I don't.

[He sits back a bit, still on his lap but up straight now and looks down at his hand.]

It's just... been a while? A long time.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ That gets a flicker of curiosity. ]

Really? So you don't - er, at all...?

[eyediot]

[That does get a bit of something - shame? embarrassment? - from Jonah and he casts his eyes downward.]

It, um. The last few years with the Institute and all going on... [Deep breath, got to sound more confident than he feels.] Libido's a fickle thing these days.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric's tone is only curious. If there's any shame, it's directed inwards. ]

Sure, no, that seems. Normal. We all had impressively terrible lives for a while there. I mean, I didn't really date after Prentiss, so.

[eyediot]

We did. Think we all just... Took a break from everything at that point.

[If he were honest, he'd admit he's had a morning or two here to himself, in the shower where no one could hear him, but. He's not quite that honest.]

All the same.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Look. Algric would take that as a compliment, of sorts. ]

R-right. I'm just - I - look, I don't want to walk on eggshells for something that's, you know. Entirely normal? But I am curious, and. And it is a different experience from mine. S-so if I'm asking a question you don't want to answer ...

[eyediot]

It's not that I don't want to answer it. [He sounds more tired than anything. There's no accusation or anger in his tone. Just a man who isn't sure what words to say.]

I.... still do, myself sometimes. Just... Rare. I-is all.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh, Jon. He doesn't particularly want that reaction either, but it's not a bad one. He just cuddles Jon more closely. ]

Is - is that something I could help you with? Something you would want...?

[eyediot]

[Being cuddled close, he can't really look at Algric's face. Which means Algric can't see when Jonah's face goes a dark shade. They'd been working on the physical intimacy in pieces, gentle massages here and there, so...]

M-maybe? Though I really... don't mind helping you.

[curriculum_fictae]

Sure, sure. It's - there's no pressure at all, Jon. I hope you know that.

[ He leans down to kiss Jonah's forehead. ]

[eyediot]

...I do. Know that.

But thank you. [He takes a breath and moves so he can reach, cup Algric's cheek.] I just... Know for a lot. Most people, that's. Important to them too. I don't want you to think I feel any less.

[That accusation from Algric's mother that he told Jonah about still plays in the back of his mind some days. Enough of a fear that he can't let it go.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Yeah. It's a private little fear at the bottom of his own heart, as much as he knows it's stupid and insulting. But still, occasionally her words ring in his ears anyway. Not good enough. ]

I - I know you don't feel any less. And for me, well. It's nice but it's not the point. At all.

[eyediot]

I-i know. And... Honestly, that's a relief in some ways, for me.

[He thumbs along Algric's cheek, where his glasses would normally sit.]

I just worry sometimes I'm not enough.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Missing again, now that the Lonely's acting up again; he'd rather deal with the blurriness than them icing over all the time. ]

You're everything that I want, Jon.

[eyediot]

[Broken, he keeps that thought to himself. Instead he opts to keep up the small show of affection, watching Algric's face.]

If you're sure.