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 thought maybe you might have, but I wasn't sure.

But I... Martin, I know I felt something else.

[He touches his hand to his own abdomen, remembering that feeling. His rib somewhere tugging at him...]

...That's what that's from. Anyway.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric just sighs softly at that. Not going to argue here. ]

Right. Right. Sure, gave Jared a rib for later, why not.

[eyediot]

[Jonah would normally shrug but... One of the few plans he thought he'd worked out well is starting to feel like a hollow victory now.]

It's over and done with, all the same.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ !? ]

You paid him for a statement?

[eyediot]

... It helped going in well fed.

[He isn't proud or happy about it.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric just. Puts his head in his hands, bending forward a little. This brings some of his upper back scars into view, particularly that shoulder stab wound. ]

I - I'm sure it did, but -

[eyediot]

[He could look.

He won't.

Instead, he turns his gaze downward, at his hands against his bare legs. Why does he keep thinking he can do this?

He's pouting.]

It's over anyway. And this Jon won't have to.

[curriculum_fictae]

Right. R-right. He's - going to blind himself soon.

[eyediot]

[Sigh.]

Yeah. And no one got thrown in, so.

[curriculum_fictae]

So no one to have to rescue either.

[ He realises that he's bent over after a moment and straightens, stiffly. Tensing up. He's conflicted, though; he trusts Jonah enough to have taken his shirt off, but... ]

[eyediot]

[Jonah is still turned away, giving him that privacy. You're fine, Algric.]

Exactly. If I knew where it was I'd just seal it away somewhere.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He is, isn't he? Algric realises that after a moment, cheeks pinking. Jonah is trying so hard to allow him this space ... ]

R-right. I mean, maybe we could. Find it?

[eyediot]

Maybe.

Or maybe just leave it alone, I don't know. Timeline is quite a ways off now.

[curriculum_fictae]

Yeah. I'm not sure which is safer.

[ Algric hesitates again. Then, slowly, he reaches out for Jon's face with one hand. ]

[eyediot]

It's hard to... [Hm?] say.

[At the touch, he looks at Algric, not sure what to expect here.]

[curriculum_fictae]

Right. We'll figure it out.

[ He's tilting Jonah's face to look at him, expression unexpectedly soft. ]

I know what you're doing.

[eyediot]

[Jonah just... Watched him. Gets a half smile on.]

Being miserable that what I thought was a decently thought out plan didn't actually work?

[curriculum_fictae]

N-no, not - I'm sorry for tearing it apart. I didn't mean to make you miserable.

[eyediot]

I'm- I'm joking.

[Half joking.]

I just... I said I wouldn't look.

[curriculum_fictae]

You did say. And you haven't. And I'm - I'm so grateful, Jon.

[ It's allowing him to approach this slowly, on his own terms. It's difficult, of course, but... ]

I - I think - I would like you to. To look.

[eyediot]

[It's hard to properly guess what he's thinking behind the inscrutable eyes of his staring at him.]

Only if you're sure.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ So unfair not being able to Know himself. Algric hunches his shoulders, dragging in a breath. ]

Yes. I'm. I'm sure. I don't want to - to have this between us.

[eyediot]

[Jonah watches.

Then carefully moves to lean up and kiss him gently.]

All right.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric kisses him back, slow and tender. Despite his words, he's nervous. ]

A-and - and fair is fair, anyway, given I've seen you naked now.

[eyediot]

Maybe, but I was willing to be patient.

[The curiosity would've burned him through though.]

Still am willing.