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]

But a family nonetheless. [He finishes for Algric. And he is right.

Jon is still holding Algric's hand, thumbing circles into it gently smiling warmly at him.]

None of us are alone, at least.

[curriculum_fictae]

Right, yes. Instead of - you know, all our actual family being dead -

[ Wait. Algric freezes abruptly, realising something. He’s not sure if he likes the thought? Mostly he looks deeply conflicted. ]

My - my mum is still alive.

[eyediot]

Right, she would be.

[He remembers that implication before, the burn scar on his back. But he isn't sure... exactly how to read this.]

She... is still, yes.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He’s suddenly stiff as hell, wringing his hands a bit. He knows what he should do? And yet. ]

I - I should - I should talk to her. Try to. Find peace? Now that I. I know why.

[ Why she hated him. Why she neglected him. Why she hurt him. ]

[eyediot]

[Jon looks from Algric's face, to his nervous wringing hands, back to his face. He isn't entirely sure this is his place, considering his life and all, but he reaches one hand out carefully to Algric's.]

Only if you want that. And... [Is it okay?] You don't have to go alone? If you don't want.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric clings to Jon like he’s a lifeline, gulping in low-key panic. ]

I - but - I mean, yes, but - you don’t want to come with me. It’s guaranteed to be miserable.

[eyediot]

[Well, with that, Jon sandwiches Algric's hands in his own.]

Algric. You're going to help me blind myself. I can guarantee I don't mind.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Sigh. He doesn’t have a good argument for that, does he? ]

I - still, it’s different, if you don’t - feel comfortable -

[eyediot]

I generally almost never feel comfortable, let's be honest. I don't mind going, Algric.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He just nods his head helplessly. ]

Thank you.

[eyediot]

Of course... If it helps you, I'm happy to.

[curriculum_fictae]

I - I don’t know if it will? But ... I have to try.

[eyediot]

I... understand that. Either way, I'll be with you.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Another helpless nod. ]

Should I - should I tell Martin?

[eyediot]

[A ... deep exhale that would almost be a sigh.]

Probably. It's his mother too.

[curriculum_fictae]

Right. I’ll. Figure out how to broach that.

[eyediot]

Of course.

[A beat.


It's bothering him.]

How... C-can I ask how will we know if I'm being tricked into. D-doing what.. other-me did and destroy the world?

[curriculum_fictae]

Ah. It’s very simple, actually. You don’t have enough marks yet.

1/2

[eyediot]

Marks! Of course.

[eyediot]

How. Many.

[curriculum_fictae]

Fourteen, Jon. One for each entity.

[eyediot]

Christ.

[He thinks that over. Fourteen. Web. Eye. Corruption. Stranger. Distortion.

He's nowhere near fourteen. He should be fine. Probably.]

Good to know.

[curriculum_fictae]

R-right. So. You’re probably safe for now. I’ll help you keep track.

[eyediot]

And hopefully after I finish with my eyes, it won't be an issue.

[curriculum_fictae]

... Right. That - that ought to kill Elias’s project pretty thoroughly.