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]

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.

[eyediot]

That doesn't sound as positive as you might think.

[curriculum_fictae]

That's because it isn't.

[ Said fondly. ]

He's better in the ways that you are better, but his flaws are worse, so. It balances.

[eyediot]

Flaws.

[EXCUSE.]

L-like what?

[curriculum_fictae]

The - the flaws that you have? Everyone has flaws, Jon.

[eyediot]

I didn't say they didn't. I was just- wondering what mine are.

[Besides being a blind idiot, apparently.]

It doesn't matter. He's. You have him back.

[curriculum_fictae]

... Yes. Yes, I - I have him back.

[ A pause. ]

I ... I don't want to lose you, though.

[eyediot]

You wouldn't.

[That response comes a little too fast. Enough to make his face heat up. God he has to get off this topic or he'll be stuck here going in circles all night.]

Setting that aside, is- I mean, he has to know more about what's going on then?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Right. Right. That only has one solution, and yet -

Algric takes in a deep breath. ]

Yes. He does. Even more than me.

[eyediot]

[He listens and gauges that tone.]

...And... It's so bad you don't want to tell me.

[curriculum_fictae]

... Yes.

[eyediot]

[A beat.

Then a nervous laugh.]

I-it's not like he ended the world or anything.

[He knows himself, he wouldn't do that. And he hasn't heard anything this whole time about any ritual for the Eye, it just doesn't do that. Not like the other Entities.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ God, Jon, really. Algric just looks anguished. ]

He did, Jon.

1/2

[eyediot]

[eyediot]

What.

[curriculum_fictae]

He - he ended the world. Elias found him while he was ... was weak and miserable after searching for me. Tricked him into it.

[eyediot]

Good lord...

[It's exhaled softly, the slow dawning horror coming in a gradual wave over him.]

I.. God.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ SEE. This is why he didn't want to tell you. ]

That - that timeline is completely ruined now. Apocalyptic wasteland.