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]

[ There's no objections from Algric. If anything ... his own hunger is bright, flaring with a frigid desire to see this man disappear. To realise exactly how alone he is, just as he made Algric feel.

He remains invisible and watches.

Tobias ... looks dimly uncertain. Finally. But only a little. ]

"What! What. Okay, fine. Maybe I was. It's not a crime."

[eyediot]

No. No, it isn't.

[He only turns to take careful, measured steps toward him. His voice is firm, but quiet.]

But by god, I hope, from here on until you can't remember your own name, that every time you finish, alone or rolling off your partner of the week, that you feel just as empty. And cold. And alone as you've made everyone you've done that to. I hope the guilt of knowing what you're doing tears you apart and you can never really, truly enjoy getting off again.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Tobias's eyes go wide as he staggers back, the compulsion sinking into him. He doesn't know what's happening - how could he? - but he knows that something is wrong, that somehow what Jonah is saying now must be true. ]

Fucking - Archive weirdo -

[ He stumbles back at that, fear in his eyes as he looks back at Jonah for a moment. Then he legs it as fast as he can, overturning a few bins as he hurtles out of the alley.

Behind Jon, Algric's silhouette becomes dimly visible. He can feel the loneliness radiating off of Tobias already - how it's going to make him feel when he realises there's nothing that's going to feel anything more than hollow now. He takes in a deep breath, just ... drinking it in for a moment. ]

[eyediot]

[Jonah drinks that fear in, the way he looks at Jonah, the way he stumbles drunkenly away. He'll never be able to know for sure for the rest of his life if his unhappiness in that is from this weird encounter with the Archive Weirdo, his own inadequacy, or that ever present feeling that he's being watched and judged.

Jonah takes a deep breath, feeling that anger wash away and the red in his eyes fade.]

Midnight snack?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric reluctantly materialising then, looking ... better? Sharper, in a strange way. A midnight snack indeed.

He shivers a little, not sure what he thinks of that encounter. ]

You've ... you really ... god, you were terrifying, Jon.

[ He isn't sure if he's frightened or turned on. ]

[eyediot]

[For all the attitude and anger he just had, Jonah's frame shrinks a bit, folding into himself still not looking at Algric.]

...I really didn't want you to see me do that.

[curriculum_fictae]

It was awful.

[ But he leans down and gives Jonah one hell of a kiss. ]

[eyediot]

Yes, i-it wa--

[OH.

He blinks surprised before melting into it, pulling him close.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric backs him gently up against the wall of the nearest building, hands framing Jonah's face, kissing him like it's the end of the world or something. He won't go much further, but there's a new sort of desperation in how deeply he kisses Jonah. Something bright and hot and incandescent. ]

[eyediot]

[This is new - sharp and desperate and not sweet, but not unwelcome. And with Algric's Lonely cloak it isn't as if anyone's going to notice. But it's the stones of the wall against his back and feeling pressed in that get him breathless in an unpleasant way, feeling his heart racing out of his chest.

He clutches at Algric's jacket, breaking away to try and gulp down air like he's drowning, a worm struggling to the surface, dirt and mud and grit under his nails and down his throat.]

Al--Martin. Martin.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ It takes Algric a moment to realise that that clutching isn't a good thing, that Jonah's in distress here. He lurches back enough to give Jonah space and air, but he still hovers close. ]

S-sorry, I just - I don't -

[ That was wrong, wasn't it? He just saw Jonah ruin someone's life. He shouldn't feel like - like - like this. ]

[eyediot]

No-- No, it's not. [BREATHE. He takes a cautious step away from the building, shaky and breathless and god he didn't know Algic could kiss like that.]

It's not you. Um. Just-- Wrong place. N-not here.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric didn't really know Algric could kiss like that, okay. He's still so red that he nearly glows in the dim light. ]

Back - back home, then? To Tim's place?

[ He's agitated, still. Ashamed of the adrenaline pumping through him at seeing such delicious revenge served to someone he hates. ]

[eyediot]

I- yes. Home.

[One long, steadying breath and he's good. He's fine. Not Buried. He knows he'll have to actually talk about this but. Tomorrow. After... whatever this ends up being, and a night's sleep.

He holds an arm out to Algric, offering to walk him home. Like it's the most polite couple's night out.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Right now, it seems nearly like a date? They've had a meal, and now Algric takes Jonah's arm with a shy, warm smile that doesn't match what Jonah's just done at all. ]

It - it is rather nice out.

[eyediot]

...Yes, it. It is.

[He wants to ask why specifically Algric followed him. But ...well he'd just gotten a small appetizer himself, hadn't he? Was Algric's monstrousness finally making him hungry too? He doesn't want to ruin this... terrible horribly romantic walk back. His eyes are bright and clear, the first truly clear since he arrived here. At least it isn't a long walk back.]

Didn't take you long to find me.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ It is without a doubt the most horrifying thing they've done together. And yet Algric's eyes are clear too, and he's chilly but sharp. More than just a rolling fogbank with no purpose. That had been ... good. ]

I - I sort of knew where you'd gone? You left a trail of sorts.

[eyediot]

Really.

...Hm. I guess the Lonely left a deeper mark than I realized.

[curriculum_fictae]

You said you wandered the Lonely for a long time, right? A-and then you were alone in the apocalypse.

[eyediot]

That's... right, yes.

You can see it, can't you.

[curriculum_fictae]

... Yes, Jon.

[eyediot]

Hm.

[He lifts Algric's hand to kiss his knuckles while they walk.]

I suppose it's good you know how to find me, then.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ His flush deepens at that. ]

Y-yes. Ironically, you won't ever be alone now. Because I'll always find you.

[eyediot]

It's a nice feeling. Knowing that.

[Jonah smiles warmly up at him before getting the door, holding it open for him.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric heads in then, giving Jonah a bit of a lovestruck look. ]

I - look. I know - I know what you did was terrible? But no one's ever done that for me before.