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

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He's stumbling and weak, his eyes glazed over. But every time it looks like he's going to fall behind and give up, something sparks dimly under the surface. Jon. Jon. He - he remembers you, Jon. He remembers - ]

I'm ... engaged. We're engaged?

[ He barely dares speak the words; they sound so fragile in his mouth. ]

[eyediot]

Yes. [He whispers it, so afraid of this being for nothing. But as much to remind himself.]

We were ring shopping, and we... Got a bit lost.

[A bit lost there. Maybe Peter hadn't been entirely full of shit.]

But I found you. And I'll get us home, Martin.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ There's a long, miserable silence. The wooden floors give way to sand again, to the beach. Past that ... are they close to getting out? Only Jon knows.

His grip tightens on Jon's hand. ]

Rose gold. I ... I wanted a rose gold band. The clerk had a lovely tray ...

[eyediot]

[It's hard for him to tell. Everything's starting to blur.

But hope.]

Yes. Y-yes, you did, you were looking at them. We're going to get married, Martin. Possibly take my name Sims.

[curriculum_fictae]

Martin Sims.

[ Yes. Yes, that's - he warms slightly under Jon's hand. ]

I ... I want that name.

[eyediot]

[At the squeeze, he stops to turn and face Martin, both hands around martin's now. His face is a mix of hope and miserable desperation, and those eyes are so, so red. While most of his vision is a messy blur of grays, he can still make out Martin's face this close.]

Then you'll have it. That name is yours if you come with me.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ And Algric leans in closer, into view. Slowly, recognition returns to his face, and the mists around them thin. Is that the ring shop behind them?

Well. Maybe Jonah can't tell anyway. ]

Yes. I do. I - want that more than anything in the world, Jon.

[eyediot]

[He could nearly cry hearing his name. He lets go of Algric's hand to cup his cheeks, pull him close forehead to forehead.]

So do I.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ And Algric leans over hesitantly, meeting Jonah with a kiss. The last of the mists fade away, leaving them standing back in the real world. ]

[eyediot]

[He meets it, relieved and trembling. Pulling away, his eyes are closed and he breathes out.]

Welcome home, Martin.

[curriculum_fictae]

God. I -

[ He clings to Jon now, more than a little desperate. ]

I-I didn't realise I was so vulnerable still. That place just - it - it wiped me out, Jon, I didn't even stand a chance without you.

[eyediot]

I... I told you I wouldn't let anything happen. That I'd always be able to find you.

[curriculum_fictae]

You did. You did. You - you found me, and you led me back out, and -

[ And he's just going to kiss you again, Jonah. ]

[eyediot]

[He leans into it desperately, holding Algric's jacket in both hands. It's fine, right here in front of the jeweler.]

We. May have to come back, I... [He lifts his head up his direction, the red having taken over.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric stares for a moment before the horror sinks in. ]

Your ... your eyes. Oh god. Can - can you see me at all?

[eyediot]

Not... Not now, no.

[He rests his face against Algric, the heat from them is unmistakable. He laughs mirthlessly.]

I think I may have left Peter stranded there.

[curriculum_fictae]

Well - well, good. I'm sure he'll find his own way out.

[ And if he doesn't, well. Fine by him. He puts an arm around Jonah's shoulders, drawing him along. ]

I'll get us home, okay?

[eyediot]

Pretty sure I promised you I'd do that.

[It's a weak argument as he walks with him like that.]

... I'm sorry. I. I had the chance to take him out before any of that happened and I didn't.

[curriculum_fictae]

I'm not going to blame you for trying to avoid murdering someone. He - he technically hadn't hurt me yet. O-or gaslit me for months on end. Or thrown me into the Lonely.

[ Now he has, so next time can be different. Algric just keeps walking ... and decides to call them a rideshare. Public transit while Jonah is blind and he's still shivering with cold is a bad idea. ]

[eyediot]

... But he hurt Martin.

[But he promised Algric. Next time he won't hesitate then. It doesn't take long for a ride to come, stopping next to them.]

We'll come back. Find the band you want.

[curriculum_fictae]

... Yes. He did.

[ No denying that. He helps Jonah get into the car, then, and clings close to him. ]

Don't - don't worry about that right now, Jon. The band doesn't mean anything if you're not alive to enjoy it too.

[eyediot]

[He sighs heavily, feeling a bit safer like this. He leans into Algric while the car moved them forward.]

Right. Need to get you warm again too.

[curriculum_fictae]

I'll - I'll get the electric blanket out. And I'll make tea, and - and we'll both cuddle under it the rest of the day, okay? You won't have to lift a finger.

[ He brushes Jonah's hair back from his face, trying to get a better look at those eyes. ]

[eyediot]

[He's keeping his eyes turned down, away, closed. He knows it's bad.]

Martin - you need to rest too. That was... Don't worry about only me. All right?

[curriculum_fictae]

You're hurt. You're - you're hurt because you rescued me, Jon. You have to be safe before I can relax, all right?