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]

[All things he knows. He knows Algric is happier with Jonah (they're engaged, aren't they?), but he won't just... leave him behind here. Jonah might rightfully kill him. It doesn't help the words sinking into his muscles. He tightens his grip on Algric's hand.]

Will these really help?

[Not that he doubts, but. Will he be the one who has to read them?]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric's voice drifts over to him, faint and wobbly. ]

Yes. I - I think so. They have to, or. Or else I guess we're both going to split Tobias Fisher.

[eyediot]

[He knows he can still feel Algric's hand in his, his voice is still close, but it's starting to shake his nerves a bit. He feels ...cut off somehow. After all, Tim has Algric and Jonah. Elias hasn't come calling for him to return to work after giving that statement. He's going to blind himself soon, and then what use will he be to anyone?

No... Being of use. He can at least help with this before he's tossed aside]

Split... Tobias Fisher... I'm sorry, what?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ But after that? What then? Martin will be stuck caring for him just like he was forced to care for his mother. And eventually resentment will blot out any love he might have felt.

Algric ... pauses at that. Going quiet. ]

That's. That's the man we've been hurting.

[eyediot]

...Oh.

[Right. They...Fear, feeding. Right. He recognize the name at least, works in Library.]

Then... Let's get these home. Make it so you don't have to do that.

[curriculum_fictae]

Right. Right. Let's - do that.

[ He feels a bit better for some reason? Enough to focus, and -

And they're back in Tim's kitchen, the mist receding again. ]

[eyediot]

[Safer. It's safer here than the Institute or that weird place they were just traveling through. Jon takes a deep breath steadying himself.]

Um.. We should... Go up?

[curriculum_fictae]

Y-yes. Um. I'll just - well we can take all of them up, I suppose. I'll have to read to Jonah.

[eyediot]

I just figured your hands were full.

[He can carry the bag and at least get the door for him. He leads the way to do just that, actually, quietly opening it and holding it for Algric. Jonah's still asleep, though flopped onto his other side now and still having a nightmare. The tape's been played though, likely pressed play in his sleep and rolled away from the noise.]

Will you be all right?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh, Jonah. His gaze goes soft as he puts the statement box down by the foot of the bed. ]

I will be. I promise. The Lonely is - it's bad, but. It's close enough to what I am now anyway.

[eyediot]

...I meant reading these. [His voice is quiet. He knows how hard reading statements can be, he just... worries.]

[curriculum_fictae]

Oh.

[ Right. That ... is bad, isn't it? And yet. ]

... I think I'll be all right.

[eyediot]

[Jon's gaze lingers for a few seconds too long, really taking him in. Finally, he sets the bag down on the floor closer to the dresser.]

If you're sure.

[Not needed. Useful when he has anything that can be taken, but ultimately unnecessary. He swallows, turns to leave.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric can't help but breathe that in, be braced by it ... then he exhales. ]

Jon. Wait.

[eyediot]

[He stops, one hand on the door and looks at him.]

Yes?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He takes a step towards him. ]

Thank you. I'll - I'll be down once Jonah's settled, all right? I'd like to make dinner.

[eyediot]

[Oh...He softens a bit, but solemn.]

It's all right. You don't have to do that.

[Jonah will need him, after all.]

[curriculum_fictae]

I want to, Jon. Let me do this for you?

[eyediot]

...Sure.

[Gulp.]

Don't.. Don't rush, though?

[curriculum_fictae]

Sure. I'll make sure Jonah's feeling better first.

[eyediot]

Good.

[He watches another few seconds, then leaves, closing the door quietly behind him.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric watches him go. Then ... he stoops to the box, grabbing the top statement, and then settles himself down in bed. He reaches out to Jonah's face with one hand. ]

Jon? I'm here.

[eyediot]

[The heat of Algric's ice block hand cuts through the heat from his eyes, burning even in his sleep. Jonah whimpers - encased in it, dropped into the depths of the blood-colored sea, a viewing tank while the world falls apart around him - and hand twitches, gripping the duvet tightly. They're leaving him, left alone in life and they'll go the only place he can't, dying, dead. Safe from all of this finally.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh - Oh god. Somehow he can see that, can't he? The feeling of the Lonely bleeds through first, but he's Eye too, courtesy of those statements, and -

He stifles a gasp of terror and moves to shake Jonah's shoulder. ]

Jon - Jon I'm here, I'm back, you aren't alone--

[eyediot]

["You are very lonely, aren't you?"

The words in Peter's voice echo over Algric's in his ear.

He was never that strong, was he? If he were, he could break this ice, help them all, keep his loved ones safe from the illnesses, safe from the bites and claws and tears and screams and burns but he was always going to fail

There's nothing he can do to stop tears in his sleep, hand stiff as the cold seeps into him.]