eyediot | that one time travel psl

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.]

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From:

eyediot

Oh.

I...I-i didn't hear any of it.

[Not after that initial dig. He'd forcefully tuned his ears out, the pretense of giving Algric privacy (which he wanted to do, yes, but--). The idea that he was an alternative, a substitute for a woman for Algric, and even then he can't--

He closes his eyes for a breath, exhales slowly, then smiles gently (if a bit pained) up at him.]

I'm...grateful you stood up for me too.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Algric tugs him in a little closer as they walk, struggling to contain his own anger at the memory. She’d said worse after, but that ...

He thinks he knows where it might have hurt Jon specifically, given his own recent conversations with Jonah. ]

Of - of course. It was a horrible thing to say even if it was true, and it’s not true, Jon. You’re - you’re not a substitute for anything or anyone.

From:

eyediot

It's fine.

[A little too prickly. A little too open wound to be poking at. He ducks his head down as soon as the words leave his mouth, knowing how clipped his tone sounded, squeezing Algric's hand.

He forcibly eases his words a bit.]

Do.. C-can I ask. What else she said?

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ It is, and Algric flinches a little at that clipped tone. But. That just proves his point, doesn’t it? He was right: his mother had hurt Jon badly.

He shakes his head lightly. ]

Do you - do you really want to know? It wasn’t ... wasn’t pleasant at all.

From:

eyediot

[For once, he's glad for Algric's invisibility cloak. It means no one else hears any of this unpleasant conversation, even as they get to the cafe.]

...I-i do. I. [God. Fuck the Eye.] I need to know. Otherwise, it just-- You'll keep it to yourself and. It'll fester and...

[It's as much that honestly as it is he's selfishly curious and paranoid.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Indeed. To everyone else, Jon just walked in alone.

Algric falls silent for a moment, gathering his own courage. He’s - he’s right, of course. And he can’t blame Jon for wanting to know. Better to ask than simply ... Know. ]

She - she asked me how I planned on having kids. How that plan was going to work out for me now.

From:

eyediot

...Ah.

[Somehow the thought that Martin or Algric might even want kids hadn't occurred to him. He swallows hard taking a seat and lets that fresh hurt roll over him.

God what if they do? There's no way either of them will stay with him.]

That's, um. I-i can see why she'd... [He can't. Any kind of polite response just validates her, and he's trying not to do that here.] What shit that is.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ That surprises a small, choked laugh out of Algric. ]

Right? It’s completely shit. I - I mean, ideally, yes, I’d still like kids? But I’d hoped for them before I found out that our world was secretly being run by eldritch horror monsters.

[ Now, the thought of having kids is ... god. He longs for it, but he can’t picture going through with it. How could he want to bring anyone into this world? ]

A-anyway, I - I made the mistake of mentioning that it didn’t matter, I loved you no matter what you did or didn’t want to do, and then she. She went on about how fitting it was that you didn’t want to with someone like me. Th-that - that clearly I wasn’t good enough to change your mind.

[ That hurts, but the motion in his face is more anger than anything else. What a horrific thing to say about his ace boyfriend. ]

From:

eyediot

[Jon listens quietly while Algric unloads all this. He had asked for it, hadn't he? These bits and pieces of Algric - Martin's - hopes for some future and how he's fitting what he has in front if him neatly into little slots that fit and discarding what doesn't. Of course it hurts Jon. But it's one of those things he's dealt with on his own since he found the words for what he is and how to explain it to people he'd expressed interest in - some left abruptly, some stuck around hoping he'd change his mind, and others tried to make it work anyway but. Well, his own shitty personality ruined it plenty on its own.

By the time Algric finishes, his eyes are glassy. Both hands brought to clasp in front of his mouth.]

I'm sorry.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ God. See, this is why he didn’t want to tell you - why he’d gotten so angry when his mother had said it. He goes a bit limp himself, looking back at Jon with residual anger and quiet pain. ]

There’s - there’s nothing to be sorry for, Jon. I love you. I just - after she said that, I got furious, and you walked in, and ...

From:

eyediot

No, just- you. Had to sit and listen to that be...because of me. So. I'm sorry. F-for that.

[God. Using him to insult Martin. That simmering anger he felt initially starts to bubble again. He's clearly trying to push past it, his voice heavy.]

It, it doesn't matter even, since you're not going back.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Algric just shakes his head gently. What else can he say? It's true that his mother used Jon against him, but ... well. Mum uses everything against him. ]

That's right. I'm - I'm not going back. Not to her, not to my timeline, not to any of it. I tried. That - that was it.

From:

eyediot

[Jon only hesitates when the waitress comes around. He watches Algric another moment before turning his attention to her, ordering tea for them both, and a couple of pastries. She nods, doesn't feel like questioning the amount for one man, before heading inside.

Jon sighs shakily, rubbing at his own hands. He's nervous. This whole thing has him nervous, from the hunger and being overwhelmed by the fear there, to the deeply personal hurts it brought up.]

That was... it. Yes. [He laughs one mirthless, broken chuckle.] I guess we all had to be a little broken to work in Archives.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Algric flashes Jon a look of gratitude at that. That invisibility aura is still strong, and it's especially active right now. ]

Yeah. Yeah, I - I think so, honestly. That was how it preyed on us.

From:

eyediot

Still is, if we're being honest.

[He idly rubs at his ring finger before nervously moving a few things on the table where he wants them.]

We should... We have to let Martin know. S-so he doesn't... come here and get it worse.

From:

curriculum_fictae

R-right. I. I guess so.

[ He looks down at his own hands, the missing pinkie. ]

But it wasn't that much worse than a normal visit. I'd just ... forgotten? Hoped for better?

From:

eyediot

That... That was normal?

[His heart aches at that. Jon reaches for his hand, taking care to give attention to that missing space, not avoid it.]

Then. Then I'm glad you've been staying with all of us.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ He clings to Jon's hand for a moment. ]

She's always been like that. Yes. Not - not even the first time she's used you against me, heh. Though at the time you were my crush at work.

From:

eyediot

[For the waitress that comes back to bring their tea, Jon is just looking sad, wistful at the skyline. Hopeful he can chagne something but isn't sure what. But the tea is hot and steaming, and the morning pastries come after.]

I...I-i know she's your mum, but... [Maybe it's okay? That she's gone in Algric's time? Is that too harsh to think.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Both are immensely cheering, and Algric can't help a small smile as he takes his mug and flaky cheese danish. ]

I - I know. She's ... god. It's always been complicated. Better to have her. Not in my life, I think.

From:

eyediot

I...think so too.

[He carefully lets go of Algric's hand to take his own mug.]

...Children though?

[It's not a judgement or an accusation or anything. Just a question.]