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]

[ 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.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Sorry, Jon. At least he turns when Jon stalls like that? And reaches out his hand to bring him in. ]

[eyediot]

[He takes the hand, loose and light, and simply walks in with him.]

Thank you. For asking me to go with you.

[He can't help the sense of finality to those words.]

[curriculum_fictae]

Thank you for coming.

[ He squeezes Jon's hand gently before drifting apart again. Probably should find Jonah now, huh ... ]

[eyediot]

[Jonah's easy enough to find, finishing a statement in the sitting room, door cracked. Private and alone, just the way he likes to have them.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh. Algric hears those familiar tones and waits quietly outside, being careful not to listen. ]

[eyediot]

[He does finish after a moment, sighing loudly. He sits and rubs at his eyes - irritated again, the faint stinging rising back up - before there's the shuffle of papers and Jonah steps out a minute later, closing the door and--]

Oh. Y-you're back. I thought you'd be out longer.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric immediately looks over Jonah's eyes, a concerned expression on his face. ]

I - I thought I would be too, but. Visit was short.

[eyediot]

...Bad visit?

[Just. Genuinely asking. He's trying not to Know anything since he wasn't asked to go.]

[curriculum_fictae]

Yes. Not sure what I expected but ...

[ He comes to sit down next to Jonah. ]

I'm not going back.

[eyediot]

[Jonah watches him, one finger running along his lip thoughtfully.]

... Martin neither, then. I'm sorry.

[curriculum_fictae]

If - if he wants. But.

[ A deep breath. ]

It won't be pleasant for him. She'll say the same nasty things about Jon, probably.

[eyediot]

[His eyes dart to Algric at that, curiosity underneath the faint red ring of his irises. He wants to know.]

May be best he doesn't if that's the case.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He knows you do, Jonah. He ... hesitates. Would it feed you if he told? Would it help? ]

I think you're right.

[ He looks down at his fingers, wringing them a bit. ]