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.

[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.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ That ... hurt a bit. At least Jonah immediately bounces back from it, but for a moment Algric goes tense and unhappy. ]

Right. Well. If - if things weren't terrible, I would. I have. Since - well, since I was old enough to want something like that.

[ A deep breath. ]

But it's just not going to be a possibility now. And that's fine. It only hurts when she weaponises it against me.

[eyediot]

[Jonah can hear in Algric's voice that he misstepped. He buries his face in those soft curls, closing his eyes. God they sting.]

Martin, I-- I'm sorry. No one's said it's not a possibility here.

[curriculum_fictae]

I'm saying it, Jon. I'm not going to have kids here. That's - that's the choice I'm making.

[ He sounds ... well. Rather bleak, honestly. But firm. He's just going to take this decision out of Jonah's hands entirely in an effort to hurt him less. ]

[eyediot]

[Jonah goes... rather still at that. Algric quickly dropping on him that he wants children, and just as quickly deciding he won't. Was it something he said? It must be. He's an idiot.]

All right.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ God. What did he expect? He had a warning by way of the conversation with Jon, and it's still fucked up. ]

It's - it's just how she got to me this time, Jon. We fought, as we always do. She tried to - to throw food at me, so we left, and. That's all.

[eyediot]

Threw food at you.

[He parrots it back, like trying ot make sense of it. How juvenile. It's not a judgement or anything. His mind is so far away from the conversation now, upset that Algric decided to make that decision for them, not even open to further discussion because Jonah can't just shut up for five minutes. It's his own fault.

Jonah shifts to wrap both arms fully around his large boyfriend, kisses his temple. There's a frustration there, a slow broiling anger in the thin red rings around his irises. He wants to hurt something but won't. Not here. Not right now.]

...I'm glad you left when you did, then.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric leans into that hug gladly, though he can sense some of that anger. That's - a bad sign? And yet, he's grimly satisfied too. Glad that Jonah is angry on his behalf. ]

Yes. I - Jon helped me leave.

[eyediot]

[He tugs Algric to just lay on him. He'll find a meal later. That should... take care of a few different things. But for now he's tired.]

Good. It's the least he could do.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He gladly does so, closing his eyes and letting a few fresh tears squeeze out. ]

It was - was all he needed to do. We talked after. And now I've talked to you, so ... I feel better now.

[eyediot]

Do you rea-

[He has to bite his tongue on that one.]

Don't... Don't answer that. I'm sorry. [A slow, deep sigh. He focuses instead on rubbing Algric's back, trying to soothe.] Rest.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh. He could hear that compulsion building. And he breathes a sigh of relief when it passes, closing his eyes again. ]

Go ahead and ask, Jon. Just - you know, no compulsion.

[eyediot]

...You just had a fight with your mum you haven't seen alive in almost a year, she used your relationship with me as ammunition, you just told me one of your life dreams and promptly decided not to pursue it because I'm an ass.

I think it'd be rather stupid to ask if you really do feel better.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Ah. Well. When he puts it like that. Algric remains silent for a moment, looking at nothing. ]

... I will feel better. And you're not an ass. I just - younger you reacted a bit poorly, that's all. Which he's allowed to do.

[eyediot]

Of course.

That doesn't mean I'm not an ass.

[At least he's getting better at recognizing it.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He sighs softly. ]

Fine, okay. Yes. You're a bit of an ass. But. Talking about - about having children is. That's a hell of a topic, Jon. Not something we have to do right now.

[eyediot]

[Or ever, apparently, according to Algric's previous declaration. Instead of saying that, Jonah kisses Algric's hair and sighs into it.]

All right.

[Algric might feel it though. That pang of worry and loneliness, having grown up with just his resentful grandmother in a sea of classmates with parents, never knowing what it was like. And a fear that if he ever did have children, feeling lost on what to do.]

....What would you name them? Just. Hypthetically.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh. He does? It's distinct, isn't it; he can't help but ... well. Appreciate it. Calm down, Algric, do not nibble on your boyfriend today. But it's very tempting; he can feel the fresh chill of being alone in a crowd of other children.

Deep breaths, Algric. ]

Oh. Um. I - I suppose - it would depend on how many. But. I always really loved Dorothy as a name. You know, from the Wizard of Oz?