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]

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.

[eyediot]

And it'll leave him with only one option. [A part of him feels kinda bad for painting that target on Jonah's back but.... Jonah's stronger. He'll be fine.

But the thought of being blind... Jon shifts to rest his cheek on his hand and just... Watches Algric, his expression thoughtful and fond.]

...I'll miss it.

[curriculum_fictae]

Yeah.

[ God he’s got to. Figure out how to fix that too. Elias can’t use Jonah to end the world, dammit.

He rubs at his own hair lightly, just. Thinking too. Before he refocuses. ]

Being able to see? I don’t blame you. Not - not something I’d want to do, myself.

[eyediot]

Hm? Oh- that, yes. Definitely.

I was... Thinking I'll miss your face.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh. Oh. Algric immediately flushes bright red. ]

R-really? Mine specifically?

[eyediot]

Yes.

And-- And Martin's, and Tim's, of course. But. Yours specifically too.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He goes even redder. ]

I - I’m glad, I just - I’ve never had a very nice looking face.

[eyediot]

It's... [Words.]

It's a soft face. And... very kind.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He touches his own face self-consciously. ]

I-is it? I’ve ... I’ve barely looked in a mirror. Even after you helped me.

[eyediot]

[Did he mess it up before? That has him worried. Something to think about later.]

It is. It's, um. It's the sort of face that puts you at ease.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ No, no. Jon’s compulsion still holds brightly in Algric’s mind. He’s just ... still terribly self-conscious more than anything. ]

... Yeah? Like - like you feel safe?

[eyediot]

Yes. Yes, I-i do.

[But he can't help the nervous tick of rubbing at one of his worm scars at his jaw.]