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]

[ . . .]

Oh.

I.. Yes. All right, I'll concede that.

[curriculum_fictae]

Th-that isn't to say he would, just that - that it was possible. A-and I didn't want to confront possibly being okay with that.

You - you anchored me, instead. I really needed that.

[eyediot]

No, right, you're right. I'm..

[A quiet sigh.]

I'm glad I could be that for you.

[curriculum_fictae]

Of course, Jon. I'm grateful.

[eyediot]

[Jon watches him, one hand still on Algric's elbow. He wished he knew what to do here.]

Maybe... maybe I can be a better anchor after it's done.

[curriculum_fictae]

... Yes. I'll - I'll certainly need you for that.

[eyediot]

...I'll do my best, then.

[There's that quiet determination of Jon's, the stubbornness to help.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Ah, yes. Algric loves that very much. He smiles a bit, leaning in closer. ]

Thank you, Jon.

[eyediot]

[Oooh his face gets a little heated.]

O-of course. Anything to help you.

[curriculum_fictae]

I know. I -

[ He leans over to kiss Jon's forehead. ]

[eyediot]

[A couple rapid-fast blinks.]

You're making it very difficult to take you back to Jonah.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ A soft laugh at that. ]

What, were you thinking of whisking me off? Kidnapping me?

[eyediot]

[They're still a good two blocks from Tim's. But Jon looks... not entirely joking.]

Maybe? I-i don't know. Just. Away from the Institute. From all this.

[As much as he knows Algric loves Jonah, as much as he knows they're from the same time and fit together better... Jonah is still irreparably tied to the Institute and the Eye.

It wouldn't work, of course. He's not naive enough to think it would. Doesn't stop him from thinking it, though.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Of course it wouldn't. Algric knows it can't and that Jon knows that too. So ... it's just a nice thought, isn't it? ]

Mm. Would be nice, huh.

[eyediot]

Yes. It would be.

[The most defeated. And outclassed. He can at least admit that to himself. Jon tugs Algric's elbow to gently pull him on. They really should get back.]

Thank you. For saving me.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He follows then, drifting along behind him. ]

How could I do anything else?

[eyediot]

[When he realizes Algric is walking behind him, he slows his pace to walk even at his shoulder.]

You could have walked away and been free of all this. But that isn't... you.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Well. He drifts along next to Jon, then. ]

I - I mean, I could have, but - what sort of life would that be?

[eyediot]

A quiet one, probably.

[curriculum_fictae]

Sure. A quiet one where I slowly fade out of existence, talking to no one, stealing tiger bread from tuck shops until I stop hungering for food, I guess. And then I'm the shade that hangs about near the Archives, occasionally sending a statement your way.

[eyediot]

Which is why ...I'm. Glad you're here. And not doing that.

[curriculum_fictae]

So am I, Jon. I just - I'm just saying. Walking away and being "free" isn't an option either.

[eyediot]

[He thinks on that, even when they're almost to Tim's door. Sobering up pretty quickly. About the fact that he is about to be free, despite the method.]

It should be.

[curriculum_fictae]

And we both should have had parents who loved us. But. Here we are.

[ He moves to open the door. ]

[eyediot]

[Ouch.

Like Jon gets it?

But an immediate conversation ender. He stalls a little behind Algric, still raw and blinks that back a bit. Then follows him in.]