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]

Of course. We'll - we'll all look after each other.

[eyediot]

We will. And they will come out the other side better than we did.

[He does feel genuinely better about this. He loosens his grip on Algric so it's a bit less of a deathgrip.]

In the meantime... Wwwwhat do you. Want me to do about Tim?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Thanks, Jonah. He leans in comfortably. And ... ah. Makes a face, but. ]

I think ... if you like him, you should draw him into this. To us.

[ A pause. ]

How do you feel about him?

[eyediot]

[Oh boy.]

It's... Complicated?

[curriculum_fictae]

Talk it through with me?

[eyediot]

[There's a bit of silence that seems like Jonah might not actually respond to him. But, he shifts them so they can lean back a bit, almost laying down and pulls Algric as close as his arms can.]

Back in, um. In Research, I worked pretty closely with Tim and Sasha. And... you know Tim, he's. Tim, he doesn't hesitate when it comes to. Being social. Talking. And I'd just graduated uni, and was trying to focus on my new job and not Georgie, and.

[He sighs. Rests his head against the top of Algric's.]

Tim asked me out, uh, a couple of times. I. Said no both times, obviously. And then he and Sasha got closer and... [And Algric probably could see how that storyline went.]

...I never forgot it though. That... he was even remotely interested, even as casual as it was.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He just about leans down next to Jon, then, arms gentle and ... well. Not warm? But less chilly.

He ... goes rather still at the mention of Sasha. Poor Tim. Yes, he knows how that went. ]

So - so what does that mean now?

[eyediot]

...I don't know? I hadn't thought about it until a few hours ago.

He said I was... [A half snort.] That I had an 'unwitting campaign of emotional terrorism' against him. Whatever that means.

[curriculum_fictae]

I mean. That's accurate.

[eyediot]

I'm sorry, what? [Excuse him while Jonah cranes his head to look at Algric.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric, meanwhile, just shrugs and laughs a little. ]

You're just so - unexpectedly kind? And you don't even know you're doing it.

[eyediot]

Because it--

That's just being a decent person!

[curriculum_fictae]

And the fact that it's that simple for you is part of the charm.

[eyediot]

[Jonah rolls that over in his mind a few times. Are they all really this starved for positive affection? And then remembers Tim is still mourning Sasha. Tim is also still falling into the Desolation.

And he'll need an anchor.

And Jonah does... love Tim. In his own way.]

You're really sure you're all right with him? Having to share me?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric considers that for a moment. A really long moment. ]

I think ... in this case, it's not really sharing? Don't get me wrong, I'm still going to get jealous from time to time.

[eyediot]

...How is it not really sharing?

[curriculum_fictae]

I'm - I'm a bit different from Tim, yeah? Even if you - ah - do things with him, I'll still be different.

[eyediot]

[That is a lot in two sentences. Jonah looks at him confused, then turns so he's facing Algric, leaning in for a soft kiss.]

It would be different because you and Tim aren't the same person. And-- [His voice softens, really hoping Algric understands here.] And I told you before, that's... still an open conversation for us. You and me.

[He'll come back to the assumption he'd do 'things' with Tim, that's a whole other conversation.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Look, Algric assumes dates and cuddles, okay, not - whatever. He returns the kiss gladly, gently. ]

I - I know. I don't mean you'd - you know, with him and not me -

[ ANYWAY. ]

I um. I assume I'd still be special. Even if you dated him too.

[eyediot]

Of course you'll still be special. Didn't do for him what I did for you.

[You know. Wander the Lonely. He doesn't want to keep Saying The Words.]

Not exactly packing up a lunch to take him on a picnic or anything.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Right, right, he remembers. ]

I know that too, Jon. That's why I think ... if you do want to have that sort of relationship with him, I'm okay. Because - because I know you love me.

[eyediot]

You're right. I do love you.

[And what a change that is, no hesitation saying it to him.]

And when you do feel jealous, tell me. The whole next day will be yours.

[curriculum_fictae]

... I think I can work with that.

[eyediot]

And if you ever decide you can't, then. I'm back to only yours.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He leans over to kiss Jonah again. ]

Thank you, Jon.