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]

I'll - I'll keep us invisible. Get us to the Panopticon. And then Tim will set him on fire until he dies.

[eyediot]

...And the back up, in case he still somehow sees you?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ A slight shrug. ]

Well. Probably set off whatever explosives Tim's gotten in there ahead of time.

[eyediot]

[Jonah looks up at him. Realizes he's serious. Lets his head fall heavy onto Algric's chest.]

Martin...

[Sigh. Then he looks up at him again, resigned and serious.]

You need a proper distraction from the get go.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric just looks tired. ]

And that's why I didn't want to tell you.

[eyediot]

[?!?!]

So you'd rather risk you and Tim being killed than let me be involved to help?

[curriculum_fictae]

I'd rather not risk you too!

[eyediot]

[Jonah sits up fast, ignoring the twinge in his leg to stare down at him.]

I would be fine!

Even if you destroy Jonah's body, there's still his using Elias' body! I could-- I could distract Elias so you both can burn the Panopticon. I'd be able to know how much time you need and when to take out Elias properly!

[He's angry. He hasn't felt truly really angry in so long, he almost forgets that's what he's feeling. But his hands are each clutching at the sheet and Algric's shirt, desperately hoping he can get across how badly he doesn't want them going into this alone.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric stands his ground, despite his wince when Jonah grabs his shirt. ]

Listen to yourself! You - you don't even have all the details and you're already putting yourself in the most dangerous role! I - I -

[ His voice breaks. ]

I can't mourn you again!

[eyediot]

And I can't lose you!

E-either of you.

[If he lost his anchors...]

What was your plan for even leaving to do it? Say you're going out for drinks? Sneak out in the middle of the night? What, Martin?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric hunches in on himself. ]

We'd think of something. Or I'd just - you know, vanish us. Make you forget for a little while. I think I could manage it.

[eyediot]

[That anger, that paranoia, old and ugly, is wrapping itself around Jonah's heart fast, like he never truly forgot it.

His voice is quivering:] I would never be able to forgive you if you did that.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ And Algric's own tone is bitter and black; he hugs himself unhappily, fingers scrabbling at his back. ]

Yeah, well. At least you'd be alive to hate me.

[eyediot]

[Jonah swallows thickly.

Breathe.

Stuff it down. Compartmentalize. Deal with everything on his own later, alone. Like he always has, always does. If Algric was willing, and wanting to keep Jonah out of this and risk his own life, then maybe they aren't a team.

The anger in his voice is gone. Left empty. Hollow.]

...If you succeeded, what was the plan for after?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ God, Jonah. He's telling you, isn't he? Isn't that enough? ]

We - thought we'd take over the Institute. Solve the. Food problem.

[eyediot]

Right.

[He. Carefully unclenches the fabrics he held. Methodically fixes the wrinkles of Algric's shirt he made. Jonah feels like he can't breathe. All the oxygen in the room is just gone and his head is imploding on itself. The weight of all his knowledge and thoughts and being folding in on one singular point: Algric is still willing to die.

He ducks his head down, scooting away a couple inches so he can try to breathe.]

All right.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Sorry, Jon. It's a painful truth that Algric can't make untrue.

He tries to follow Jonah, reaching out for his shoulder. ]

Jon, please ...

[eyediot]

Don't. ...Please... don't.

[He can't do this. He can't, he can't. He trusted Algric not to do this to him.]

After.. Everything I told you, everything he did to me, you thought... You really thought I'd be all right with this.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric lets his hand drop then, the fingers fading out. ]

... I. I suppose I knew that you wouldn't be. Deep down.

[eyediot]

[Jonah just... Starts to curl in on himself, knees up and arms hugging himself. His own bits of the Lonely becoming more visible, a heavy mist around him. They both agreed to this. Algric and Tim both knowingly made this plan, and the way Algric talked? They've made more extensive planning than what Algric's said here.

It hurts in a way he hasn't felt since he can remember when.]

I can't stop you and Tim.

[curriculum_fictae]

No. No you can't.

[ Algric can vanish them and be gone long enough to carry off the plan. It may end terribly - it may end with them never coming back - but they could hide it from Jonah if they decide to do it.

He chokes down a miserable noise himself. ]

We'll ... we'll tell you before we go. All right? I won't sneak off.

[eyediot]

[That voice from so many lifetimes ago whispers in his ear you can't trust him. He was going to do this without ever telling you, you can't trust him to his.

Jonah curls up tighter into himself, face buried in his knees and that mist getting stronger around him. After everything he survived and forced his way through alone...]

All right.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Damn it, Jonah. He knows that mist and he hates seeing it on you. Algric hesitates for a moment, miserable. Then - he reaches through it, trying to pull him into a hug. ]

You can - you can compel me. I'll let you do it.

[eyediot]

[He's easy enough to move. Jonah's miserable, he isn't struggling or fighting it off. He moves with the motion almost dead weight.]

I wouldn't. I told you I wouldn't.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Then Algric just holds him close to his chest, squeezing him gently. ]

I know - I know. But this - this is an exception. I-if it will help you - if you'll feel better -