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 settles for just. Holding Algric's hands.]

And I think you and he will too. So... So believe that for yourself.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric laughs weakly. ]

Sneaky.

[eyediot]

Have to be sometimes. And will have to be if I'm going to grab statements for him.

[curriculum_fictae]

Mm, yes. That's going to be rather dangerous.

[ A pause. ]

I ... I could come with you? I can hide you.

[eyediot]

...Are you sure? Wouldn't that be just as dangerous?

[For Algric going in, and for Jonah losing the cover...]

[curriculum_fictae]

I'm sure that Elias can't see me when I have the Lonely thick enough around me.

[eyediot]

[Jon keeps a steady gaze on Algric, then at Jonah still sleeping. If it helps him, then...]

All right. Let's do it.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric nods, brightening. ]

Then - if you're ready. Let's go.

[eyediot]

Right.

[He just. Needs to grab a couple things, tell Martin he's going out and. His eyes fall on Jonah again.]

...Are you sure? He's... he'll probably look for you when he wakes up if we aren't back.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric jolts guiltily at that. ]

R-right, you're right. I'll leave him a note and explain the situation.

[ He moves to the dresser, taking out a notebook and pen. ]

[eyediot]

[He nods, hand lingering for a second before he starts to go down the hall.]

I'll meet you downstairs then.

[And off he goes. Gets a couple things and by the time Algric's done, Jon is downstairs waiting.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ It takes him longer than expected; he writes the whole damn thing before realising the issue with it. Blind. Right. A note won't do him any good ...

So instead he corrals one of the tape recorders and leaves a message there. Rewinds it, then tucks it under Jonah's hand. "Jon and I are going to get you food. We'll be safe, I promise. Please rest until I come back. I won't leave you. And I love you more than anything."

... He emerges from the stairs a few minutes later. ]

I think - I think I'd like to take the quick route.

[eyediot]

[He jolts but.]

...Ttthhhhhe quick route?

[He has no idea.]

[curriculum_fictae]

Er. Teleport.

[eyediot]

Oh.


You can do that?

[curriculum_fictae]

Y-yes. I don't much, but. I can. And I think it will be safest.

[eyediot]

[A long, thoughtful pause. Why wouldn't he do it much...

He steps closer, offering his hand.]

Then. Then let's go.

[curriculum_fictae]

Right. Just - hold on, okay? Don't let go of me for any reason.

[ He grips Jon's hand tightly. ]

[eyediot]

[Worrisome.

He tightens his grip.]

I won't. I'm ready.

[curriculum_fictae]

Right. Then here we go ...

[ The world melts away around them. It ... seems like the Lonely at first? It has that misty chill to it, but it is neither the beach nor the empty, labyrinthine house. If anything, it seems very much like the Institute, except ...

Just around the corner, there's the sound of people. Familiar sounds, warm voices, if indistinct. But they don't see you, don't hear you, don't even think about you. You wander like a shade in the night, passing unseen.

Also, for some reasons, there are tinned peaches everywhere. ]

[eyediot]

[His breath leaves him for a moment as the rush takes them. But... Oh. He squeezes Algric's hand again.]

Peaches?

[Something about that pings for him. He knows there's an association there for some reason.]

[curriculum_fictae]

Oh.

[ Algric's voice is wavery, not entirely there. But his grip is solid, still. ]

I think that's - well. Me projecting a bit. I lived off the stuff when I disappeared for two weeks, remember?

[eyediot]

Oh.

[OH.

The tinned peaches... Right. He swallows thickly and keeps moving with him.]

...Will we really be all right like this?

[curriculum_fictae]

It'll - it'll be fine. Probably. Safer than coming in through the door.

[ He keeps walking through the winding halls; they shift as they go. Algric's old apartment hallways. The nursing home. School hallways where no one notices them, nor wants to be friends with them. ]

[eyediot]

[He notes each change, deciding not to comment for now. Taking it all in. This is more than just that little patch of Lonely that he saw before... This is something else.]

I'll trust your word for it.