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]

[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.]

[curriculum_fictae]

Oh.

[ He can guess, yes. God. ]

How - how long were you trapped there?

[eyediot]

[Yep, just changing laundry over, go into the dryer, mind the missing left sock now that the washer definitely ate.]

No idea. Tape recorder popped up. I started talking at it and it started jogging my memory. Until I remembered you. And then I got out.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric rubs at the back of his neck. ]

... I helped you escape?

[eyediot]

...

Yes. I, um. I... Was trying to remind myself who I was. That I was Jonathan Sims, head archivist of the Magnus Institute. And... Y-your face popped into my head for a second. Th-that first day you came in. And.. I remembered more, bit by bit, from there.

Gave me a reason to remember.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric looks like he might cry. ]

Even - even though I was gone. Even though you'd searched for me and didn't find me because I'd left you...

[eyediot]

Just needed to remember your face...

[curriculum_fictae]

[ God. Algric is going to cry. Just enough that he has to swipe at his face. ]

Can you - can you show me? I don't want you to. Have to have those memories alone.

[eyediot]

[He whips around to look at him, wondering if Algric really understands what he's asking.

But he has to know, Elias... did that to him too. And he can't just take them back either...

(The house is bad, but it's not As Bad as the others... It wouldn't be so bad...)]

Are.. I, Are you really sure?