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]

That is unfortunately what dogs do.

[curriculum_fictae]

...

Maybe we could get one?

[eyediot]

What?

No, if anything we get a ca-

[Oh. Right.]

...A dog. Might not be the worst idea.

[curriculum_fictae]

A cat would be lovely too.

[eyediot]

It would, but I don't think it would help in my case. A trained dog might be better.

[curriculum_fictae]

You don't like cats?

[eyediot]

I actually prefer cats.

[Wait.]

We are talking about after I take care of my eyes, right?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh. OH. Now he gets it. ]

-- yes, that's right. We could get you a seeing-eye dog.

[eyediot]

[There it is.]

I hadn't even considered. [He was just going to brute force Jon Sims his way through it.] So. Something to talk to Tim about. If he's allergic or anything, or if he even wants a dog around here.

[curriculum_fictae]

I'm sure we could convince him. If he's not allergic.

[eyediot]

[He squints. Just thinking.]

Tim's a dog person. I can tell.

[curriculum_fictae]

... He does seem to be the type.

[eyediot]

Can definitely picture him in a park playing frisbee with a bigger dog.

[curriculum_fictae]

I can too. We'll - we'll propose it, then.

[eyediot]

And in the meantime, I suppose we can start getting everything else ready for after.

[curriculum_fictae]

Right. Ah. Making sure there's no sharp corners and. Suchlike.

[eyediot]

[He takes in a slow inhale, taking his glasses off to rub at the corner of one eye.]

This is... really going to happen.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He reaches out for Jon's hand. ]

Yes. I'm sorry.

[eyediot]

[Jon lets him have that hand, putting glasses back on and watching him.]

None of us asked for this to happen, Algric...

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric clings, then. ]

I know. I know ... But still. I feel as though I've caused this.

[eyediot]

You didn't. Elias did. He hides what the Institute is. Didn't tell us anything when we moved to Archives. This is his doing.

[curriculum_fictae]

W-well yes, ultimately, but you weren't blinded the first time around.

[eyediot]

I don't see how that's anything you need to apologize for.

[curriculum_fictae]

I ... I just ... it's instinct, I suppose.

[eyediot]

[He squeezes Algric's hand gently, holding it there between them.]

Well. You dont have to. Not for this.