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]

Absolutely agreed.

You know, that's only my second time talking with him? I think I'm good there.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric laughs weakly. ]

R-right? I believe it. God, I don't know how I stood him.

[eyediot]

You've got me and Tim and Jon for much better conversation. No reason to even give him another thought.

[curriculum_fictae]

... Yeah. Yeah, you're - you're right.

[eyediot]

[Jon squeezes his hand.]

It's not a big sprawling network but... Better than him.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric shivers. ]

He was - he really hated me.

[eyediot]

He did... And now he hates me more, I think.

[curriculum_fictae]

... I'm so sorry, Jon.

[eyediot]

[He shrugs, taking this next turn back home.]

He was rude to you. I don't mind him hating me if it means he hates me more than you.

[He is extremely used to being hated, after all.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Well yes, but. Algric still doesn't like it. ]

Everyone is rude to me, Jon.

[eyediot]

...At least I've tried to make up for it?

[curriculum_fictae]

Oh! O-oh, yes, absolutely. I didn't mean - I just. It's water under the bridge, Jon. Forgiven and forgotten.

[eyediot]

If you're sure.

[He will lean up to kiss his cheek real quick before opening the door.]

You do know you don't have to tolerate that f-from me, right? If I ever speak to you that way.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He blushes, leaning down a bit for it. ]

O-of course, Jon. I'll tell you. And ... more importantly, I know you'll listen.

[ Unlike Tobias. And Peter Lukas. And his mother. And ... ]

[eyediot]

I would do my best to.

[Of course he would. AT this stage, he'd do anything for Algric. But the sound of the washer in the distance is silent, so time to turn those around.]

Think about what else you want to do today?

[curriculum_fictae]

Oh. Ah. Are you still cheering me up?

[eyediot]

Am I not allowed to?

[curriculum_fictae]

N-no, you absolutely are. I just. I feel reasonably good now, actually.

[ He reddens. ]

Doing that to Tobias wasn't good but. It really did help?

[eyediot]

Cathartic, would you say?

[Because while definitely not good, it had that kind of release. At lesat for the anger he felt for someone who hurt Algric so deeply.]

[curriculum_fictae]

... Yes. Cathartic. Seeing someone who hurt me so much get even - even a hint of what we've been through.

[eyediot]

[He just... His smile is almost self deprecating more than satisfied.]

I may have... Also given him a few glimpses of the end, as well.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric falls silent at that for a moment. ]

... Good.

[eyediot]

Left him on the experience of a very quiet, empty house.

[curriculum_fictae]

.... Oh.

Is - is that what the Lonely's like?

[eyediot]

[Jon hesitates, wondering if he should really tell Algric about this.

But.. If he's a Lonely avatar, that would make it his domain, wouldn't it? He has a right to that.]

It's-- Yes? It was. Exactly like I said, a big. Empty gray house, windows frosted and fogged over. Uncomfortable chairs and no one else around. And you would just... Forget yourself. Until you forgot everything.

[Ask him how he knows that.]