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]

I didn't say they didn't. I was just- wondering what mine are.

[Besides being a blind idiot, apparently.]

It doesn't matter. He's. You have him back.

[curriculum_fictae]

... Yes. Yes, I - I have him back.

[ A pause. ]

I ... I don't want to lose you, though.

[eyediot]

You wouldn't.

[That response comes a little too fast. Enough to make his face heat up. God he has to get off this topic or he'll be stuck here going in circles all night.]

Setting that aside, is- I mean, he has to know more about what's going on then?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Right. Right. That only has one solution, and yet -

Algric takes in a deep breath. ]

Yes. He does. Even more than me.

[eyediot]

[He listens and gauges that tone.]

...And... It's so bad you don't want to tell me.

[curriculum_fictae]

... Yes.

[eyediot]

[A beat.

Then a nervous laugh.]

I-it's not like he ended the world or anything.

[He knows himself, he wouldn't do that. And he hasn't heard anything this whole time about any ritual for the Eye, it just doesn't do that. Not like the other Entities.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ God, Jon, really. Algric just looks anguished. ]

He did, Jon.

1/2

[eyediot]

[eyediot]

What.

[curriculum_fictae]

He - he ended the world. Elias found him while he was ... was weak and miserable after searching for me. Tricked him into it.

[eyediot]

Good lord...

[It's exhaled softly, the slow dawning horror coming in a gradual wave over him.]

I.. God.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ SEE. This is why he didn't want to tell you. ]

That - that timeline is completely ruined now. Apocalyptic wasteland.

[eyediot]

[Jon knows himself. He knows if he ended the world, through trickery or not, he shouldn't even be in one piece. How is Jonah here, able and trying to actively help?

Oh.

Right. Stubbornness.]

I'm.. sorry.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Stubbornness and horrible eldritch powers, yes.

Algric just shakes his head slowly. ]

I - I wasn't going to go back anyway. But I'm especially not going back now.

[eyediot]

No, I... wouldn't either. I don't think any of us would let you anyway.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ A rattling laugh at that. ]

I ... I'm glad of that. God, when I first came here, I didn't know what would happen.

[eyediot]

...To be honest, I still don't know what will happen. So that hasn't changed.

[He's made his decision, he just. Has to do it.]

[curriculum_fictae]

Oh. Well. I suppose that's true, yes. But - it's still better than what I thought might happen?

[eyediot]

At least whatever it is will be better? Than the apocalypse?

[curriculum_fictae]

...

When you put it that way ...

[eyediot]

Almost any alternative is slightly better by comparison.

[curriculum_fictae]

W-well. Yes. But. This is still good?

[eyediot]

I agree.

[Jon lifts his head to finally Look at Algric, something simmering behind his expression. Nothing heated, just. Heavy thought.]

Is the plan for now we all keep staying here?

[curriculum_fictae]

Yes. Please. If - if that's all right with everyone. I like it here.