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]

Is that a compulsion, Archivist?

[ His tone is dangerous in return. ]

[eyediot]

Only a question.

[curriculum_fictae]

Hm. I'd just like to remind you that it's still a rather large ocean you're in. Rather there not be any trouble.

[eyediot]

Is that a threat?

[Because he could make it a compulsion, the faintest bits of static there, visible through his fog.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Peter sees that, of course, and lifts a hand. ]

It's a warning. Archivist. I like things as they are. You and your fiancé have already upended things.

[eyediot]

...Good.

[...It's going to bug him.]

If it had been a compulsion, what would you have even done?

[Still the Eye. Still wants to know.]

[curriculum_fictae]

... Answered you. And not enjoyed the experience.

[ He grimaces a little. ]

[eyediot]

[Oh.

He does smile at that.]

No, you wouldn't have.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He's ... enjoying this rather less now. So he shoots a look at Algric. ]

I really don't like having another Lonely avatar in London. I'd much rather you bring him down a notch or two.

[eyediot]

I won't.

And don't you have a ship to mysteriously disappear someone from? Why stay in London anyway?

[curriculum_fictae]

Business. Been a bit busy here lately - also your fault.

[eyediot]

I thought you preferred to delegate. And also how is that my fault.

[curriculum_fictae]

I do greatly prefer to delegate. But I really can't ignore two new avatars in my backyard.

[ He steps away from Jonah now, towards Algric. And Algric ... glances up. Freezing, his expression gone completely white as he stares at Peter in horror. ]

[eyediot]

[Jonah turns his head to watch Peter step past him, confused, until.. Oh no. His eyes go wide seeing the recognition in Algric's expression, and he moves to get there fast, one hand out for Algric's.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric is reaching for him in a heartbeat, straining to make contact -

Just as the beach rushes in around the two of them, dragging Algric away. The water pours in around Jonah's feet, frigid and miserable, while Algric stumbles on a sandbar out at sea, his eyes wide with terror. No. No. He can't be back here. He can't - he can't be here -- ]

That's better. Much cozier like this.

[ Peter's voice comes from the empty air next to Jonah. ]

[eyediot]

[One fot up and ready to step onto the hard wood of the jewelers, but it stumbles hitting the loose sand underfoot. No, no no nonononono. He still has his good hand out, ready to grasp Algric's, but it's all air. He goes face first into the icy waters, a shock to his system that was just so, so warm and alive. Jonah shoves himself up, sputtering and calling out - ]

Martin!

[curriculum_fictae]

[ A voice calls back to him - it must be Algric's voice? But it's faint, dissipating as it echoes across the water. Jon, please, help me--

Peter is much closer - far more solid, despite being invisible. He lays a frigid hand on Jonah's shoulder. ]

No, I'd leave him alone now. You'll only make it worse for him. Both of you share the same problem in here.

[eyediot]

[His shoulder already feels numb under the touch. Couldn't save him. He feels like he's fighting to breathe in this chill, trying to turn his eyes where he thought he heard Algric's voice fading.]

...I-i should kill you.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Couldn't save him then, can't save him now. Does he even know where Algric is now? Drowning, surely, pulled down into the icy waters never to be seen again. Or maybe he's found another door again - to a better time and a better version of Jon.

(No, there's a flicker - Jonah can just barely see a hand above the surface of the water, clinging to a crumbling patch of sand--)

But that chill is sharp and painful in Jonah's shoulder, isn't it? It goes straight for the heart and the lungs. ]

Should have done it out there. In here ... well. This is where you belong.

[ There's a flicker of other shapes in the fog. Humanoid. Distant. ]

You're not the first time-displaced person I've met. Every last one of them ends up here eventually.

[eyediot]

I promised him I wouldn't.

[He sees it, sees Algric's hand and Jonah tries to shrug off Peter's hand. Take a step forward, any step however small. Just... further into the water. Away from this man and whatever these... Things are. But there are flashes still, the frosted windows. The ocean around him distant through the walls. A perfect domain of the Lonely that even Peter hasn't seen the full fruition of. Jonah lowers his head, nose just touching the surface of the water with a shuddering breath.]

Martin... Y-you... Have to remember. You're loved.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ No. He hasn't seen it. But with Jonah remembering ...

The scene shifts around them; the beaches recede, replaced by carpets that smell of mildew and salt. Barnacles cover those fogged windows as the waves crash somewhere outside. There ... is a chair here. An uncomfortable chair, alone in this uncomfortable house.

Somewhere, distantly, a familiar voice sobs. The compulsion can't penetrate the miasma of loneliness when Jonah's so far away from him. ]

Is that your plan? Love? That never works out.

[ He strides in behind Jonah, looking very pleased at the new surroundings. ]

Where is this?

[eyediot]

[He gasps sharply when the water he was about to shove himself into is suddenly floor, solid and hard. Unfeeling. Another barrier. Another thing in his way, this damned memory. He moves to rest a hand on that nearly frozen shoulder, resting his forehead on the carpet.

Promised Algric he could always find him, and now he's paralyzed here.]

Wouldn't you like to know.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ And the longer he's paralyzed, the more despairing and distant Algric's voice becomes. He ... isn't coming, is he? This engagement, their relationship, it's all hollow. He's just going to die in here, like he should have died months ago.

Peter laughs faintly. Rapping on the wooden paneled walls. ]

I would like to know. That would help me navigate it.

[eyediot]

[....

That's right.

This isn't some all knowing, able to spy on them at all hours boss. It's just an asshole who can seemingly teleport. One that Jonah's already destroyed once before. He lifts his head to look at Peter, brows low and a slow, roiling anger filling him. While the green static that's come to be familiar to him tints over, the red of pain is brightly visible at the edges, slowly filling in.]

Sit.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ That wipes the smile off his face. He all but snaps down into that uncomfortable chair, glaring at Jonah. ]

Really. That was uncalled for.