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

[kayakking]

It really isn't.

[He looks at Algric and then glances back down.]

No offense. I thought it would be awful. But...

Does it feel kind of... I don't know? Right? For you too?

[curriculum_fictae]

It's wonderful. Especially at first. Realising that - that all that misery you went through, everything you lost and wanted and suffered from - it has a point.

[ He takes in a deep, shuddering breath. ]

And that point is sharp enough to cut your way through the world for once, instead of it cutting you down.

[kayakking]

Right? Everything is in.. relief. [There's a breathless tone about that. As if he can't quite find the word to describe how it FEELS.] I feel like... like I can just do what I need to.

... Maybe actually protect someone, for once.

[curriculum_fictae]

Yes. Exactly that.

[ A deep breath. ]

Of course it's also, you know. A connection with some kind of eldritch fear god that is corrupting us. You three were all rightfully afraid of me at first.

[kayakking]

You seemed... all right, when you were with us?

Jon- Jon touching you really was the turning point, that first meeting.

[curriculum_fictae]

... Ah. Right. He - sharpened me up. Touch does that, I think.

[ He looks down at his hands, grey and colourless again. ]

[kayakking]

[Tim turns the cup in his hands.]

I think- I think Jonah did the same for me.

[curriculum_fictae]

He did? During the Unknowing?

[kayakking]

I don't-

Not during. I still... don't remember much of the Unknowing? That whole part is just a mess.

After though? There was so much exhilaration and pain and... despair. That I hadn't done enough.

[The ceramic scrapes on the coaster gently.]

The first thing I honestly remember is arms around me. Telling me I wasn't alone.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric's expression instantly softens. ]

He's wonderful, isn't he?

[kayakking]

[He looks up at Algric, face feeling a bit warm.]

Yeah. Yeah, he is.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh no, it's cute. ]

... You have a crush on him, don't you.

1/3

[kayakking]

What? No, I just-

[kayakking]

[Tim freezes for a long, wide eyed moment. Algric can almost hear the click as he, you know, thinks about that.]

[kayakking]

[And a groan.]

It's me. I'm the idiot.

[curriculum_fictae]

Yes. Yes you are.

Fortunately, you have a friend who's an expert on this exact topic.

[kayakking]

Look. I'm calling this justified.

[Still, the absolute- What is this? Is it absurdity? Is it a lightening where it shouldn't? He doesn't know. But he can't quite stop the small laugh.]

All right. Lets hear it.

[curriculum_fictae]

Mm. Well. Say goodbye to your dignity, I suppose. And be prepared to stop him from doing all sorts of stupid nonsense.

[ That last bit is a little more thoughtful. He might ... have an idea. ]

[kayakking]

You're assuming this isn't just a flash in the pan.

[Says the guy who was literally just hugged out of his own willing self immolation.]

....



...... I know that look.

[curriculum_fictae]

Possible, but. I think you might be stuck.

[ He takes in a deep breath. ]

He's not going to protect himself, you know.

1/2

[kayakking]

[kayakking]

[Okay, that's a good thing to refocus on.

And a terrible thing.]

... No. No he's absolutely not.

...

Neither are the others.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He nods slowly. ]

Your Jon isn't far enough along. And neither is Martin. And - and I guarantee there will be other problems, even if there aren't more rituals to stop. Elias ... Elias will probably try to use Jonah.

[kayakking]

No. [It's snapped, immediate, and with a spark of heat.] Fuck. Elias.

[curriculum_fictae]

Right. Fuck Elias.

[ Less intensity, but ... well. The air in the room gets very, very cold, and very foggy. Tim can't see far past the edge of the kotatsu. ]

They both need statements. Jonah especially, but ... that's difficult with Elias running the Institute, yeah?