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]

[He almost saw it, that hope rising and falling just as quickly.]

No. N-no, this isn't the house. It's... I came to find you. I promised I would.

[He shifts so he can sit on the floor, sandwich both hands around Algric's.]

There... There's a man. He saw you disappear too before. He didn't know where you'd went, but he ran to follow after you. He found you. Right out there, on the beach outside. He took your hand, like this [He moves, lacing their fingers together] and said he would take you home. He knew the way.

[He wishes it had happened that way. It still could.]

That man, Jon, loves you. He came to find you again.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He doesn't remember that? He's sure he doesn't remember that, but ...

It sounds so nice. Someone caring enough to follow him. To find him no matter what.

Trembling dimly, he closes his fingers around Jon's. Clinging to them. ]

Where ... where's home? How do we get there?

[eyediot]

[There's the dim spark of hope at that reaction. He squeezes Algric's hand gently as he stands.]

I know the way. I'll take us home.

[But his eyes hurt. Just... Enough to get them out of here, is all he asks. So far away from the Eye, in Peter's domain... It's taking everything.]

I've got you, Martin. Let's go.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric follows him obediently, despite how much it hurts to stand. It aches to move, aches to even think about existing. It would be nicer not to. He'd rather ...

(No. No there's something wrong with Jon's eyes. He's seen this before, hasn't he? This is a bad sign. He ... he needs to ...) ]

Lead ... lead the way.

[ All he can do is cling. But he clings with as much strength as he can manage. ]

[eyediot]

[It's painstakingly slow getting through the house. While Jonah lets Algric clean to one arm, the other touches at the walls while the walk, helping guide what he's having trouble seeing. But he stops here and there, turning to check on his escort, making sure he's still here, still aware before pressing on.]

This man, Jon. He got you home. H-he made sure you were safe. Taken care of, and made sure he knew he loved you every day. He even proposed to you. W-wanted to... spend the rest of his life with you.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He's stumbling and weak, his eyes glazed over. But every time it looks like he's going to fall behind and give up, something sparks dimly under the surface. Jon. Jon. He - he remembers you, Jon. He remembers - ]

I'm ... engaged. We're engaged?

[ He barely dares speak the words; they sound so fragile in his mouth. ]

[eyediot]

Yes. [He whispers it, so afraid of this being for nothing. But as much to remind himself.]

We were ring shopping, and we... Got a bit lost.

[A bit lost there. Maybe Peter hadn't been entirely full of shit.]

But I found you. And I'll get us home, Martin.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ There's a long, miserable silence. The wooden floors give way to sand again, to the beach. Past that ... are they close to getting out? Only Jon knows.

His grip tightens on Jon's hand. ]

Rose gold. I ... I wanted a rose gold band. The clerk had a lovely tray ...

[eyediot]

[It's hard for him to tell. Everything's starting to blur.

But hope.]

Yes. Y-yes, you did, you were looking at them. We're going to get married, Martin. Possibly take my name Sims.

[curriculum_fictae]

Martin Sims.

[ Yes. Yes, that's - he warms slightly under Jon's hand. ]

I ... I want that name.

[eyediot]

[At the squeeze, he stops to turn and face Martin, both hands around martin's now. His face is a mix of hope and miserable desperation, and those eyes are so, so red. While most of his vision is a messy blur of grays, he can still make out Martin's face this close.]

Then you'll have it. That name is yours if you come with me.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ And Algric leans in closer, into view. Slowly, recognition returns to his face, and the mists around them thin. Is that the ring shop behind them?

Well. Maybe Jonah can't tell anyway. ]

Yes. I do. I - want that more than anything in the world, Jon.

[eyediot]

[He could nearly cry hearing his name. He lets go of Algric's hand to cup his cheeks, pull him close forehead to forehead.]

So do I.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ And Algric leans over hesitantly, meeting Jonah with a kiss. The last of the mists fade away, leaving them standing back in the real world. ]

[eyediot]

[He meets it, relieved and trembling. Pulling away, his eyes are closed and he breathes out.]

Welcome home, Martin.

[curriculum_fictae]

God. I -

[ He clings to Jon now, more than a little desperate. ]

I-I didn't realise I was so vulnerable still. That place just - it - it wiped me out, Jon, I didn't even stand a chance without you.

[eyediot]

I... I told you I wouldn't let anything happen. That I'd always be able to find you.

[curriculum_fictae]

You did. You did. You - you found me, and you led me back out, and -

[ And he's just going to kiss you again, Jonah. ]

[eyediot]

[He leans into it desperately, holding Algric's jacket in both hands. It's fine, right here in front of the jeweler.]

We. May have to come back, I... [He lifts his head up his direction, the red having taken over.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric stares for a moment before the horror sinks in. ]

Your ... your eyes. Oh god. Can - can you see me at all?

[eyediot]

Not... Not now, no.

[He rests his face against Algric, the heat from them is unmistakable. He laughs mirthlessly.]

I think I may have left Peter stranded there.

[curriculum_fictae]

Well - well, good. I'm sure he'll find his own way out.

[ And if he doesn't, well. Fine by him. He puts an arm around Jonah's shoulders, drawing him along. ]

I'll get us home, okay?

[eyediot]

Pretty sure I promised you I'd do that.

[It's a weak argument as he walks with him like that.]

... I'm sorry. I. I had the chance to take him out before any of that happened and I didn't.

[curriculum_fictae]

I'm not going to blame you for trying to avoid murdering someone. He - he technically hadn't hurt me yet. O-or gaslit me for months on end. Or thrown me into the Lonely.

[ Now he has, so next time can be different. Algric just keeps walking ... and decides to call them a rideshare. Public transit while Jonah is blind and he's still shivering with cold is a bad idea. ]

[eyediot]

... But he hurt Martin.

[But he promised Algric. Next time he won't hesitate then. It doesn't take long for a ride to come, stopping next to them.]

We'll come back. Find the band you want.