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]

[For himself but enough for Tim's sake, Jonah doesn't move closer yet. But he is staring.]

Diiiiid you... mean to do that?

[kayakking]

[Time from crush realization to cock up? NEW RECORD, MR. STOKER.]

You know? Lets just forget that happened?

[eyediot]

You know that's literaly impossible for me to do.

[Now he moves to sit across from him at the table. Jonah leans forward a little, really looking but not Looking.]

Was there something you want to talk about?

[kayakking]

[There's plenty to see even for normal sight, there's a rise of color across his cheeks, brightening his ears. The way his pupils are blown, the look aside.

And the way all of it vanishes under the cover of a determined gulp of coffee.

Fortified and guards back in place, Tim gives a devil may care grin.]

You know, you're annoyingly hard to read right now.

[This is not an answer either.]

[eyediot]

[No, it isn't. Jonah sits, still watching until he looks down to sip his own coffee.]

Considering... everything that's happened to me, I really. Really don't like things being kept from me.

[It isn't a threat or anything as serious as that. Just a statement of fact. But what he's referring to... maybe feelings being hidden away. Maybe that Algric made his final decision, or that this time's Jon decided to quit the only way he can. Maybe that there is a plan formulated against the very thing Jonah said he didn't want to do.

Or maybe it's just whatever is making Tim so squirrely right now. He doesn'tlook back up at Tim, instead keeping his eyes focused on the coffee he's now holding in both hands.]

I'm just... saying you can tell me anything.

[kayakking]

[God. You know? You actually know what? That does make it easier. Somehow. This is going to be nice, distant. A good, calm shutdown so he can stop stewing in this.

He sets his mug down and just meets those uncanny eyes straight on. It starts light, almost jokey, and by the second statement drops into simple, serious.]

So your unwitting campaign of emotional terrorism has finally paid out. I like you.

[Tim picks his mug back up, gives a tiny salute with it, and takes a REAL big gulp.]

[eyediot]

[Jonah listens, catches Tim's eyes and ...

Blinks once.]

Well. I mean, I assume so. You've been letting me stay.

["Like" is so vague, especially to Jon Sims.]

[kayakking]

[.......





...........







............

GOOD LORD, SIMS.]

Right, that's why the peck there.

[He rubs his hands down his face. Jonah, you are so lucky he has SOME MODICUM OF EMOTIONAL MATURITY AND SECURITY BECAUSE THE FIRST IMPULSE REALLY IS TO JUST LET IT GO LIKE THAT.]

It means I've formed deep emotional and physical attraction, you blithering idiot. Could be love? Ask me in another cup. Or go "yeah, I appreciate you as a friend but I am taken" which is a fantastic line. There you go.

[eyediot]

[He sits back at that explosion of emotions and honesty, blinking owlishly at Tim.

His first few thoughts are variations of "what", before a few renditions of "why", then picking at the details.]

I-i..

[God. Jon spent so many years being unattainable after Georgie, too wrapped up in work and finding answers, then being the Prick Archives Boss, then... everything else going to hell. The thought he can even say he's taken is a foreign idea even after Tim posits it.

He swallows hard, then lowers his eyes taking a slow breath. He can't help that his good hand moves to rub idly at where Tim had soothed his wrist before when he couldn't see.]

... What did Algric say?

[kayakking]

[How does he even gauge that?]

First of all, that's extremely bold of you to assume I'm so obvious that Algric noticed.


That said... seemed, okay with the concept at least. No idea bout the particulars. I hadn't intended on-

[Well, no, he did intend on acting on it. Just not in THAT way.]

Things are fine there.

[eyediot]

..Hm.

[If Tim had been frustrated at how unreadable Jonah was before, it's likely tenfold now. He remembers those early days of Tim hitting on him and asked him out twice, and he had.... politely but bluntly told him no. And then it was Tim and Sasha and...

His voice is quiet, barely audible outside the kitchen. But more than that, it's sympathetic.]

...It wasn't that you were so obvious he'd have noticed. I just. Know you and how long it takes. And that you probably had some outside perspective. That's all.

[That's not all, but god there's a lot to unpack here.]

[kayakking]

[There is so much to unpack. Tim pushes himself up and tops up his cup. Is this where it's going? HE GUESSES THIS IS WHERE IT IS GOING. Why should he have anxiety about this? Emotions are ridiculous and unappreciated at the moment.]

In that case, yes. I was, in fact, extremely directly called out.

[eyediot]

Hm. [At least it's a more jovial sound as he sips his own coffee again.]

He doesn't really beat around the bush anymore, does he?

[Algric went through too much to be bothered. Too many powers trying to play him and keep him in the dark. Jonah feels much the same way. It's just.......... not something he can easily navigate when it's his own feelings.

Like this.]

Can Iiiiii ask a question?

[kayakking]

Not at all.

To the first part.

You can absolutely ask a question.

[Smooth.]

[eyediot]

Why.

[kayakking]

NOPE. No.

Nuh uh.

You have to give me SOME indication first.

[eyediot]

[This is where Jonah needs to dig deep, really... really think about his feelings. Because Tim is important to him, and he's desperately glad to see him alive and getting along with this timeline's Jon, and they're all working together. And honestly, he'd do anything for this guy that ignores his barbs and spines to poke at the hedgehog like a golden retriever that doesn't know danger.

This is the most he's ever had to navigate his feelings since... Well, since he killed Peter Lukas.]


I.



Don't know.

[kayakking]

[IT SURE IS. And Tim watches him the whole time. Probably a hell of a turnabout for Jonah in particular.

But at the answer he... he just exhales. That was it, wasn't it? Best case scenario.]

That's.. probably fair enough. Given it just getting dropped on you.

And look, why both is and isn't complicated. You're intensely you at all times and sometimes that's really good.

[eyediot]

[The best case scenario would be to give him some time to think about it and talk it over with Algric and also know how to look at and express his own feelings like an adult, but sometimes you have to go with second best.

But Jonah deadpans him:] And I happen to know for a fact from my own experience and extensive outside perspective that me being intensely me is me being stupid and a prick.

[kayakking]

[IN which case you did this to yourself, Jonathan "I literally cannot forget" Sims.]

Yeah? [THERE'S NO ARGUMENTS HERE. NO CANDY COATING.

It's just he doesn't LEAVE it there either.]

Just. Look, I've had enough time to cool my head and, surprise, surprise, it's easier to see why things are done when you're not blazingly furious about what was done.

... And it's real obvious how much you care.

There's worse things to fall for, okay?

[eyediot]

['Fall for'. Christ. Tim just gave a little more of himself away there.

He should just say 'no'. Simple as that. He went through literal hells to find Martin, ended up in a completely alternate timeline in the past to find him. They are.... it's hard to be 'happy' under the circumstances, but they're figuring things out and, and he should say no here.

It's just.


Algric apparently hadn't told Tim no? Which leaves just that little inch in the door open that is going to bug the hell out of Jonah if he doesn't at least look at a possibility.

He taps one thumb against the rim of his mug and nods.]

All right.

[kayakking]

Which subject does that go to?

[WHY DO I LIKE YOU?

It's me. I'm the idiot.]

[eyediot]

The... All of it?

I mean, I'm.

[He tilts his head back to look at the ceiling, sees the other pair are still asleep. His eyes shift without turning his head to where he knows Algric is, and he's still asleep and iced. Knowing it'll still be a while, he leans forward, soaking up some of that Tim Desolation Warmth and keeps his voice low again.]

I.... didn't. Realize until. Until you weren't there anymore how. How much you meant to me. I mean, I. I specifically requested you change over to Archives, you and Sasha, because...

Obviously, I. I cared, but also. [Hmmm.] Do you remember, those couple times back in Research, you asked me out? I-i said no, obviously but.

[This is probably the most vulnerable he's been away from Algric. And even Algric doesn't know any of this.]

I. Asked you and Sasha to come to work in Archives with me because, because even if I said no at the time? It... I was going through a. Weird, not amazing time then? And it meant a lot that. That anyone was even interested.

[kayakking]

[God there is so much to unpack there. From the simple kindness begat kindness which opened the door to fear. (Did Elias know, the connections between the four of them, that none of them did at the time.) The length of time Jonah must have had this-

(It makes the breeches of trust harder.)

- and still just held it quiet.]

Yeah it was, honest at the time. Way more casual, but everything was.

[He hadn't intended on getting attached. REALLY HAD NOT.

He just, eyes still wide on Jonah. And just, god. This impossible man.

What is he even supposed to do about this. "All right."

"ALL RIGHT" HE SAID.

It comes out on a rush of an exhale, breaking the silence after that first statement, ] Go- Just. Talk with Algric, okay?

[eyediot]

...Y-yes, of course. I was... going to no matter what.

[I mean that's what you're supposed to do? Tell your partner when a mutual friend kisses you?

God, he really should let Tim listen to that recording of the birthday. Eventually.]

Just, he's asleep? And I would. Like to not freeze this early in the morning.