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]

Do you rea-

[He has to bite his tongue on that one.]

Don't... Don't answer that. I'm sorry. [A slow, deep sigh. He focuses instead on rubbing Algric's back, trying to soothe.] Rest.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh. He could hear that compulsion building. And he breathes a sigh of relief when it passes, closing his eyes again. ]

Go ahead and ask, Jon. Just - you know, no compulsion.

[eyediot]

...You just had a fight with your mum you haven't seen alive in almost a year, she used your relationship with me as ammunition, you just told me one of your life dreams and promptly decided not to pursue it because I'm an ass.

I think it'd be rather stupid to ask if you really do feel better.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Ah. Well. When he puts it like that. Algric remains silent for a moment, looking at nothing. ]

... I will feel better. And you're not an ass. I just - younger you reacted a bit poorly, that's all. Which he's allowed to do.

[eyediot]

Of course.

That doesn't mean I'm not an ass.

[At least he's getting better at recognizing it.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He sighs softly. ]

Fine, okay. Yes. You're a bit of an ass. But. Talking about - about having children is. That's a hell of a topic, Jon. Not something we have to do right now.

[eyediot]

[Or ever, apparently, according to Algric's previous declaration. Instead of saying that, Jonah kisses Algric's hair and sighs into it.]

All right.

[Algric might feel it though. That pang of worry and loneliness, having grown up with just his resentful grandmother in a sea of classmates with parents, never knowing what it was like. And a fear that if he ever did have children, feeling lost on what to do.]

....What would you name them? Just. Hypthetically.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh. He does? It's distinct, isn't it; he can't help but ... well. Appreciate it. Calm down, Algric, do not nibble on your boyfriend today. But it's very tempting; he can feel the fresh chill of being alone in a crowd of other children.

Deep breaths, Algric. ]

Oh. Um. I - I suppose - it would depend on how many. But. I always really loved Dorothy as a name. You know, from the Wizard of Oz?

[eyediot]

[It's there, growing up alone like that. Growing up knowing he was different - from the Leitner experience to just being himself. Even now, in his house of people he loves dearly, he knows he's separate. The one who destroyed a world, the only one who's seen what the apocalypse looks like. A scent made fresh being reminded of all this.

He smiles at that.]

Dorothy... Hm. It's a good one.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ It's enough to stir a strange hunger in Algric. He's never felt it before? Not quite like this, anyway. The urge to go out for a walk alone, perhaps. Or just ... maybe find someone on their own, and just lure them into -

Oh god. What - what was he just thinking? He has to swallow, thickly, and force himself to focus. They're having a nice conversation, damn it. ]

R-right? And - and I thought I could get that whole series of books and read them to her. So she's the star of her own adventure, you know?

[eyediot]

I'm sure she'd love it.

[He remembers reading... One. One of the ones in the middle, he thinks. He liked it well enough. Jonah rests his cheek against Algric's hair.]

What about a boy?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He closes his eyes for a moment, a smile softening his face. ]

Hm ... is Jon Junior too on the nose?

[eyediot]

I would worry about his inevitable bad luck.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric laughs at that. ]

Right then. Something a bit safer.

[ He looks a bit shy. ]

Maybe ... maybe Edmund? That seems like a nice name.

[eyediot]

[Sensing that bit of shyness, Jonah reaches to card fingers through Algric's hair, soothing gently.

There is something to be said about the name Edmund - traitor brother turned firm believer and first forgiven. Hm.]

It's a good name. Like that one.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Look. It's maybe the less nice of the two options, but Algric is the last person to suggest naming his son Peter.

Besides, Algric always liked Edmund best, anyway. ]

Good, I'm. I'm glad. And I thought - well, Eddie and Dory seems cute, right?

[eyediot]

[Yeah, Jon wasn't about to suggest it.

He nods along] Yeah, they're-- They're cute.

[A beat.

And then he's grinning, trying not to laugh.]

Eddie Diggly or Dory Diggly? M-middle name.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric's eyes go wide at that, then he flushes bright red. ]

Not - oh god, I wasn't. Wasn't thinking about that. That's terrible.

[eyediot]

It's adorable.

[curriculum_fictae]

I-I can't do that to my hypothetical kids!

[eyediot]

Guess you have to pick a different last name, then.

[curriculum_fictae]

I - I guess I will, then.

Dory and Eddie Sims seem quite nice.

[eyediot]

[SHIT HE GOT PLAYED.

Jonah takes in a sharp breath and holds it. That was... not what he expected. Too distracted at how cute those names could have been.]

You- You think so?

[curriculum_fictae]

Oh yes, Jon. I definitely think so.

[eyediot]

[Hopefully Algric doesn't look up to see how absolutely embarrassingly deep his face is blushing.]

I think-- You were one- The one to, um. Say we should. Slow? Take that slow.

[Except tripping over his words does not help hide it.]