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]

That's...

[No. No comment yet. He closes the door to Tim's room, unfortunately claimed by the two of them for the time being (or until Tim kicks them out, whichever comes first). Gets settled and pulls Algric to him.]

I'm sorry.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric sits, then, and leans his head against Jonah's. ]

It's not your fault. I've heard nearly every iteration already, anyway.

[eyediot]

[With that, he gets his scrawny Archivist arms around Algric and holds him close.]

That doesn't mean it's any easier to keep hearing it.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric turns his face into Jonah's shoulder, the tears already starting to spring up. ]

I-I know. I know, I ... it hurts every time. And she's never quite wrong, which is why it hurts so much. She was right about that girl who was just dating me for a bet. A-and Tobias Fisher.

[eyediot]

[He shifts so Algric can turn easier, not having to twist so much.]

A.. A bet.

[Christ. He'd made girls cry, but...]

From what I heard, Tobias Fisher wasn't even worth a second thought.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Look. Algric's romantic history is misery all the way down. ]

He really wasn't. But I - I told her anyway, afterwards. Because who else was going to listen to me?

[eyediot]

[He starts to say Rosie probably would have, but. Rosie was also probably on friendlier terms with Tobias than Malgric. He rests his head against Algric's proper, fingers trailing circles against his arm.]

...Might not be so bad the Flesh took him.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Rosie sure was. Algric just ... lets a few stray tears fall. ]

Mm, well. That's more or less my thought.

[ He knows it's terrible, and yet. ]

Hasn't been taken here yet, though. Likely still gallivanting about and being a prick.

[eyediot]

[He takes a slow breath, keeping up the gentle motion.]

...I could change that, if you want? [He smirks.] Give-- Give him the worst nightmares.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric's eyes go wide for a moment. ]

I - well - I mean -

[ He wants that so badly. And he hates himself a little for it. ]

[eyediot]

[Jon squeezes Algric gently, turning his face to chuckle into his curls.]

Just-- Make him feel sad and a little empty every time he's finished?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ That gets a weak laugh from Algric. ]

That'd be only fair, given that's how everyone else feels.

[eyediot]

[Okay, now he just outright buries his face into Algric's hair, laughing clearly.]

I'm- I'm so sorry you went through that.

[curriculum_fictae]

Me - me too. God, I don't even know what I saw in him? I was just - desperate and lonely, as always.

[ He's laughing too, though, relaxing against Jonah. ]

[eyediot]

We... Admittedly, we all don't make the best choices when we're desperate and lonely.

[He's coming down from that laughing, resettling to hold Algric closer now that the larger man is relaxing.]

It just means you can make better decisions later by comparison.

[curriculum_fictae]

Right. I am - I am trying, now. Starting with her, I guess.

[ A deep breath. ]

This time, she tried to get on me for. For probably not getting a chance to have kids of my own.

1/2

[eyediot]

What? Well that's...

That's hardly your fault. That's-

[eyediot]

[....]

Oh.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Yeah. Oh. Algric takes in a deep breath, trying to pick his way carefully. ]

It's not your fault either. I can't have them anyway. N-not in our timeline, and definitely not here either. But the only part she knows is that I'm dating you, so ...

[eyediot]

...Why can't you?

Is-- I mean, is it a. A Lonely thing, or an Avatar thing or... Or a timeline thing?

[He's trying to avoid that elephant in the room, that because he's dating Jonah reality.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Yeah. That's the biggest reason right there, of course. ]

Timeline. Yes. Back home is just the apocalypse, yeah? And here is ... I can't do that. God knows what strange effect it would have on the timeline.

[eyediot]

I... I don't know. Could always surrogate?

[While he may not be as immediately hurt as Jon, it's settling in nice and deep. He rests his face against Algric's hair letting it. This knew knowledge that Algric wants children and can't because of him.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Sorry, Jonah. He's trying to soften it as much as he can, but ... that question leaves him with few options, doesn't it? He has to ask. ]

Do you want children, Jon?

1/2

[eyediot]

[He takes in an audible inhale before letting it out as a ragged, breathless laugh.]

Does the avatar of horrible secrets and voyeuristic knowledge want children. What a question.

[eyediot]

[And just like that, the edge is off, his tone soft again. Quiet, thoughtful. Vulnerable.]

I don't know. It's... not something I ever gave much thought to.