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

[curriculum_fictae]

Here? Maybe. Yes. I mean - that's the point, right? We come back, we fix things.

[eyediot]

[Jon watches Algric closely until he sighs and gets the warmed scones out of the oven. Good and soft and warm.]

I guess that is what the point is now.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric sets out plates, moving to sit. ]

Y-yes. And - and maybe having a quiet life after. You know. All five of us?

[eyediot]

[He'll get the scones placed, split between them.]

That's... I mean, that is quite the goal. Considering.

[curriculum_fictae]

Considering the world is terrible and four out of the five have a time travel duplicate?

[eyediot]

And that the fifth should technically be dead?

Yes. I would say, yes, considering all of that.

[curriculum_fictae]

Y. Yes. I. Suppose that's true.

[ He chomps down on a scone for a moment, uncertain of what to say next. ]

I thought I'd never see him again.

[eyediot]

[Jon is realizing very quickly that he doesn't really shine a candle to this other him, that's been through so much worse.]

But now he's here. And you... have him back.

[curriculum_fictae]

Yes. Yes, I do, and - god, I'm so glad?

[ He glances up at that, though, hearing something in Jon's tone. Misjudging it. ]

And - and things are much easier for you and Martin now too, right? Now you don't. Don't have to have me intruding.

[eyediot]

[Oh. He's mid-biting into his scone but. So that's the sort of official breaking up happening. It's already complicated and he isn't sure how to categorize in his mind what's happening? He'd barely known him a month now, but.

It still stings a bit.

It's only fair.]

R-right. I. I never thought that, but no, you're right.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ That - that was the wrong thing to say? He thought it was right, but clearly ...

He hesitates, trying again. ]

I-it's - it's better, right? Having me there is. Is a risk to Martin, even if he isn't saying anything. You've - you've both been so kind. Allowing me to be a part of the relationship between you two, even though I'm just a faded copy.

[eyediot]

...Is that really how you thought about it?

[curriculum_fictae]

I - y-yes? I mean, on some level.

I mean, I'm terribly selfish too.

[eyediot]

[Gulp.]

Of course.

[Of course, Algric wouldn't have wanted to share him. Let alone one that's from so far behind and, by comparison, not as much use. Especially since he's trying to find the best way to break off from the Institute.]

I-i guess I just thought-- We, you and I... I don't know.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric looks down at his hands shyly, practically glowing for a moment. ]

You - you liked me specifically. Somehow.

[eyediot]

I do.

['Liked'. He isn't so juvenile to think oh were my feelings that easy to discard. No, he's an adult who can handle his own feelings maturely.]

I did.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ That first sentence makes him pause, eyes going a bit wide. ]

You - you do? Still?

[eyediot]

Yes?

I-is that surprising?

[curriculum_fictae]

I -

[ He ducks his head, cheeks burning. ]

I-I don't know. I mean, I want you to still. Still like me, but. God can you imagine that conversation with Martin? How can I tell him I still h-have feelings for you when the Jon from my timeline is here now?

[eyediot]

No, no, you're right, of course.

[He doesn't want to think about how that would turn out. Badly, no matter what the details.]

I'm glad you have him back. Truly.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Incredibly badly. He can't do that to Martin. Demand that he share while Algric loves two Jons. Greedy, greedy.

But he's shaking, growing more miserable the deeper they get into this topic. ]

So am I. Desperately. I - I mourned him, and now I have him back --

[ A shaky breath. ]

Is it wrong to - to still love you? Even with that?

[eyediot]

I-i don't know.

[He finally sets his scone down, wishing he knew what to do to help with that shaking.]

This is. All new territory and... I don't know what to do? [He does. He just doesn't like it because he's selfish.]

...He probably does need you more. With whatever else he's gone through.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ It's true. They both know what to do, but ... Martin is just as selfish, he finds. Greedy, selfish. That's what he is. Algric's mum was right about him.

He takes a deep breath, clinging to the table. ]

A-and your Martin needs you. With. What he's going through now.

[eyediot]

I do need to be with him.

[It'll be different. Not bad, just different, his future of waking up to a different Martin.]

I haven't... Been around him much, but. Is he much different?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric blinks at that. ]

Your future self? Well - yes? But also no. He's - you, amplified.