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]

[He isn't entirely sure if Algric wants him to interfere but. Well that grip on his baton isn't wholly unregarded.

He takes a couple quiet steps out, looking like he just caught up.]

Sorry, that would've been my fault. I told him I bumped into you that night. You looked pretty shaken when you left. Have you been all right?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Honestly, Algric relaxes a bit seeing Jonah there. He would be fine, probably, but he has zero interest in seeing if he's developed avatar healing just yet.

Tobias whirls at the sound of Jonah's voice, eyes going wide. He stumbles back a few paces, towards Algric. The paranoia that had been percolating nicely in his head accelerates abruptly as well; Jonah can nearly smell it, probably. ]

"You - you! You're the one who did this to me!"

[ Algric carefully takes a step closer from behind him. ]

Jon? Jon just talked to you, didn't he? I mean, you did say some rather unpleasant things about me, but. That's a bit much, isn't it?

[eyediot]

[He can definitely smell it. For the moment he blinks twice and takes half a step forward. Jon is at least aware now that he'd a bad liar. Sticking to truths for now. ]

Me? We only talked, Fisher. You really are jumpy, did something else happen?

[Really how could Jon have done anything? He'd a twiggy nerd in tweed, couldn't take anyone.]

[curriculum_fictae]

“You did something, Sims. Something out of one of your - your damn statements.”

[ He skitters back from Jonah, only to almost bump into Algric. Thoroughly boxed in now. ]

“You said I’d feel lonely and unfulfilled every time. Well congrats, it’s true. So lay off the spooky shit and fix me.”

[ He’s trembling a little, profound loneliness spiraling up onto blend with that paranoia. He’s tried since then, but his boyfriend noticed, and they’re fighting now, and he is NOT getting broken up with, not because of some bony twink— ]

[eyediot]

I really don't think you're well. And I am sorry, you said some really nasty things about my assistant, and it was already a rough night. You just caught me when I was a bit sore.

Sure it didn't get in your head a bit? You were fairly sloshed that night, it may have just stuck with you. You should talk to someone, maybe a therapist?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Tobias takes a step to the side, looking between the two of them. These two entirely reasonable people who are nonetheless the most dangerous things in his world right now. He doesn't like this at all. ]

"Fuck off, Sims. You're the one who stalked me down an alleyway for no good reason."

[ His gaze slides to Algric for a moment. ]

"Is it because of Martin? What, are you his boyfriend now? Not gonna have a good time with him, Sims, let me tell you. Not unless you like pathetic crying because you touched his shoulders weird."

[ Algric ... stiffens. Cooling. Trying to keep his expression neutral, but Jonah surely knows how much that comment hurt. ]

[eyediot]

I believe we walked down that alleyway together, if I recall. And I was quite a deal more sober than you were at the time.

[Oh. Oh that though. There's a flash of anger there in his eyes, just for a second, before it's pulled back. Isn't it funny, Tobias, how the daylight makes things look different than at night? Surely, Jon did have that weird neck scar before? Or his hand burned? Probably another accident, Archives is always getting attacked these days. The weird shadow over his eyes though, making them look very dark... And are bearing down on Tobias.

A quick glance at Algric, a do you want me to say?, before he's focused on Tobias again.]

Yes. I am.

[He just... sits on that for a moment. Lets it settle. His tone is just... quiet. Disappointed, like a parent or teacher that gave the child one more chance to do right and the child chose badly.]

Why do you feel like you have to say such horrible things about him?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He must have? It was dark, and he was drunk, and - the Archives are just weird, so whatever! Whatever! He doesn't care. Just leave him alone weird boyfriend man.

Algric ... nods slightly. Tell him whatever you want, Jonah, he trusts you. And he knows his current self won't talk to Tobias again, so Jon saying he's Algric's boyfriend is fine by him.

So is, well. Nearly anything else. He'll stop Jonah from killing him, probably, but ... there's only grim satisfaction in his face as the compulsion sinks in.

Tobias opens his mouth to say something marginally civil - still rude, but not the worst - and finds something else torn out of his throat. ]

"Because I can. He's so weak that he won't even fight back. I'm pretty sure he likes it. Isn't that why he's with you? Seem to recall you being a complete prick to him basically always."

[eyediot]

[Jonah walks forward, closer. But stops just still maintaining some distance between them.]

For the record, I'm a complete prick to everyone. You really are just... an unpleasant person.

[Anglerfish. That's what this reminds him of. An uncomfortable shiver goes down his spine at that realization.]

We really just wanted to grab some breakfast. Not be insulted.

[curriculum_fictae]

"Then take back whatever - whatever weird thing you did and leave me alone. Arse."

[ He says, but he all but presses himself back against the wall, hand gripped tightly round the baton. ]

[eyediot]

I can certainly leave you alone. But I can't take anything back.

[It's weird, this tiny man able to make someone so afraid. He hasn't raised a hand or his voice. Just a calm, if somewhat uncomfortable conversation. But it is a good taste. ]

Tell me, in all your trips and excursions, have you ever experienced real trauma?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric hangs back, letting Jonah handle this. But he can See the fog steaming off Tobias. Breathes it in himself, looking grimly satisfied.

Tobias's fear just ratchets up more and more, disproportionately so to the smaller man in front of him. ]

"I - no. No I. Haven't."

[eyediot]

Maybe you should see some of what we've dealt with.

[He still doesn't touch. But he does lean in a bit, those red-ringed black sclera eyes crystal clear now. At the word "see", there's a pulse, and he'll get flashes - a confusing mess of sights and sounds, disorientation. Feeling like you've been left in the air at terminal velocity for hours only to suddenly rush back and your lungs never quite fully recovering or able to take a deep breath the same. Fire, so agonizingly hot, sweltering all around you as it burns an apartment building but it never actually burns down and you're stuck, with no fire escape. An empty, gray house. With fog frosted windows, uncomfortable chairs, and no one to hear you except a gray, dim ocean outside with softly lapping waves.

It happens, so fast, but Tobias will see it all with perfect clarity, all from Jonah's perspective.]

I think the truly sad part is no one will probably believe you.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Too late, Tobias covers his eyes with his hands, trying to block out the horrible images. (But they're inside his head now, aren't they? Burned there, permanent, god, and somehow that horribly empty house is the worst of them--

He sinks down to the street, back against the wall. Making miserable sounds.

And Algric gently comes up behind Jon, tugging at his elbow. That's enough. ]

[eyediot]

[At the tug, Jonah blinks back to himself, having gotten... a little lost in that house himself. He looks down at that broken man in front of him and... Steps back. His breath is caught in his throat and ...Well, being well fed is nice, but.

This isn't what he wants.

Maybe he isn't as good a person as he'd like to think he is.

Jon mimics the motion, hand touching gently to Algric's elbow before turning to leave.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Sorry, Jonah. There's guilt on Algric's face, but ... well. Perhaps less than there should be.

He leads Jonah back away from Tobias, into the morning light. ]

He deserved it.

[eyediot]

Mm.

[It's just a quiet intone of agreement. He did deserve some of that... But maybe not the extent Jonah went to. But his eyes are clear, and he left a nice trail for Algric to follow on his own in the future if he wants anything else there.]

...I don't. Think I should do that again.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Plus, Algric looks ... better? A little more solid, definitely more full. He breathes in deeply. ]

No, probably not. We'll - we'll let Tim update on him next time.

[eyediot]

Smart. He likes Tim.

[A deep breath himself.]

But I meant... Doing that again. At all, to-to anyone.

[curriculum_fictae]

... I know, Jon. I'm - I'm sorry to have put you in that position.

But I can't be upset with you standing up for me, either.

[eyediot]

And I would stand up for you any and every time.

[Just... Maybe not. Exactly like that again.]

I just... worry. Ah-about being too much like Elias.

[curriculum_fictae]

Oh. That - that is fair, I suppose.

[eyediot]

[After a few steps, he carefully reaches for Algric's hand at their sides.]

We'll find some other way for me to eat. It'll be fine.

[curriculum_fictae]

... But you did eat at least, right?

[ He takes Jonah's hand firmly. ]

[eyediot]

I did, no worries there.

[He smiles gently up at him, eyes clear and clean, no red in sight.]