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]

Not really. The Archives staff get-together was the first real tradition I ever had.

[curriculum_fictae]

Really? That was it?

[eyediot]

Y-yes.

[Look what happened. Now he's self conscious.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Sorry, Jon, he doesn't mean to. ]

Well - well that's okay. It was a good tradition. Best one I had at the time too. Given, ah.

[ He rubs at his shoulder lightly, hand touching that old scar. ]

The best Christmases I remember were from when I was very little.

[eyediot]

...What were they like?

[His bright big eyes are watching up at him.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh, Jon. Algric smiles a bit and lets some of his rare good family memories rise to the top of his mind. ]

We - we always celebrated the most on Christmas Eve. Mum would get out the family cookbook and - and we'd cook together, making all the food for dinner that night. Kolacja Wigilijna, that's what she called it. The Christmas Eve supper.

[ A soft sigh as he reminisces. ]

We'd eat, and. And then we'd go to midnight mass at Divine Mercy. I was so excited getting to stay up that late, but I always fell asleep in the pew.

[eyediot]

[Jonah's easily captivated by things like this - any time he gets to learn something new about Algric. Especially if Algric's telling Jonah himself. Compared to what little he knows of Martin's mother, this...]

It sounds nice.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Uncomplicated happiness is rare for Algric, after all. ]

It really was. After ... well. After everything went wrong, the Christmas Eve suppers stopped. But Mum still took me to midnight mass, and ... and even when she was at her worst, I still loved to go.

[ His voice softens. ]

There's something uniquely peaceful about standing in a church in the middle of the night on Christmas, with the candles bright around you, and the choir singing ...

[eyediot]

I...I haven't been. [Quiet and soft. No one in his family that he knew was religious in any way.]

But the way you describe it, it... It sounds nice.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric laughs softly at that. ]

It's all nostalgia, honestly. Can't think of a single belief I actually agree with any more? I was lapsed long before all this supernatural business started, so.

[eyediot]

Still.

[He does the slow routine with Algric's mug again while they talk, taking small sips.]

Would you ever want to go back? Even just for a special event or anything?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Hmm. He thinks about that, letting Jon sip as he does so. ]

Maybe? Bit of a hike up to Manchester, but.

[eyediot]

But...

[He just. Rests his hands over Martin's now, having scoot even closer half spread across his lap.]

I've never been to a church.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Again, an odd gesture but not an unwelcome one. Algric smiles down at it, dimly puzzled. ]

Really? Not once?

[eyediot]

No. My grandmother wasn't much for religion. Had the cross on the wall and all, but not much else to show for it.

[If Algric isn't removing his hand, then Jonah won't move it either.]

[curriculum_fictae]

I - I mean, if you want to, we could go. Sure.

[eyediot]

...Maybe in due time. Closer to the Eve maybe?

[curriculum_fictae]

Right, yeah. Something like that sounds nice.

[ He looks down at Jon's hands again. ]

Did you want to just hold my hand, Jon?

[eyediot]

Hm? Oh, no.

[Maybe. He looks at their hands too.]

The mug is still a little warm.

[curriculum_fictae]

Oh, is that what it is.

[eyediot]

Perhaps.

[He's smiling, though.]

But fine, maybe I do just want to hold your hand.

[curriculum_fictae]

You can just do that, you know.

[ He shifts a bit, setting the mug aside. And reaching his hand out for Jonah's. ]

[eyediot]

[He will gladly take it, closing his fingers around Algric's. There.]

The snow is nice.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Good. He squeezes, gently, and his hand doesn't seem quite so cold. ]

It - it really is. I've always rather enjoyed winter anyway.

[eyediot]

Yeah? Aannyyyyy particular reason?

[He'll squeeze Algric's hand back, watching his face. He leans in a little closer.]