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]

... I-i don't know. I don't know what I would have done. I just... was so angry for you.

[He gulps down air, finally feeling like he can put to words what he's known.]

You're my anchor, Martin. I...I-i need you.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Ah. Now he sees it. If he were to disappear suddenly, never to return. Or even make it seem like that were possible ... what would Jonah have then? Nothing. Worse than nothing.

He trembles wordlessly, just holding out his arms for Jonah again. ]

[eyediot]

[At the silence, Jonah finally looks up at him. And sees those arms held out for him.]

...Are you sure?

[curriculum_fictae]

Of course, Jon. I -

[ He keeps those arms open. ]

Trust me? Please?

[eyediot]

[Jon hesitates for a moment. Watching him. Wanting to believe Algric really means this.

And that's the crux of it, isn't it? Trusting him.

He takes a deep breath and goes to him, wrapping both arms tight around him.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric clings to him, then, drawing him in close. A small sob escapes him as he digs his fingers gently into Jon's back. ]

I won't - I won't leave you alone, Jon.

[eyediot]

[Jonah buries his face into his shoulder.]

And I'll trust you. Just...come back to me.

[curriculum_fictae]

I swear it. I've - I've come through worse, okay? I-I might not have your scars, but ...

[eyediot]

But you've gone through... equally horrifying things. I'm sorry.

[curriculum_fictae]

Mm. I don't know about - equally, but. Yes. Terrible things. We've all been hurt badly.

[eyediot]

...Yes, we have been.

[Jonah at least relaxes a little in his arms.]

...I told you the revenge wasn't as satisfying as you'd think.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ That's good. He pets Jon's hair softly. ]

Mm. I'm still glad you killed her.

[eyediot]

I suppose Tim would appreciate knowing I... did that in my time as well.

[curriculum_fictae]

... Yes. You - you might want to play this for him too.

[eyediot]

...Maybe just the last bit.

[Do they really need Tim knowing about the Stranger's domain?]

Martin, I - I'm sorry. About all this.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Okay yes, that's fair. But. Algric suspects you won't be able to get away with just the last part. ]

Could we really have done anything differently?

[eyediot]

I... I dunno, maybe?

I don't know how, but. [He rests his head on Algric, all that momentary anger and upset leaving him exhausted in their wake.] I don't know, Martin.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Better, probably, even if Jonah is still miserable. Algric pets his hair. ]

... I don't know either.

[eyediot]

[He laughs, tired and almost bitter.]

I wish I could see potential outcomes to things. It feels weird not Knowing what could happen.

[curriculum_fictae]

Yeah, but then you'd know everything.

[eyediot]

I guess. I was kind of... already to that point anyway. So maybe it's good I can't know hypotheticals, no matter how useful it'd be.

[curriculum_fictae]

Yeah. Leave some mysteries in the world, right?

[eyediot]

Let me solve something the old fashioned way.

[He actually smiles at that. He misses being able to do that.]

[curriculum_fictae]

There we go.

[ He tugs Jonah closer. ]

[eyediot]

Hm? Oh, were you just as invested in letting me not know things as that?

[Just missing the point, but he lets himself be tugged in. Martin's an easy balm on that anger and hurt.]