monsterhaus still idk

[eyediot]

we live here

Comments

[curriculum_fictae]

That's because you were moderately successful.

I'll be back in a few hours.

[eyediot]

All right.

...Take care, Algric?

[curriculum_fictae]

I will. Truly, I will.

[ He lets his hand linger lightly on Jon's shoulder before he slips away, heading out into the London evening. ]

[eyediot]

[Jonah is there, in the Archives. Piled in his old office (not his, it's this timeline's Jon's, not his-) with a mountain of files and reports and statements in front of him. Harder for Tim to find him in here; he's either been here reading or in the panic room trying and failing to sleep.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Tim might have trouble finding him, but Algric ... Algric just knows, doesn't he? The Eye has always been fond of him, but especially when he's moving through the Archives unseen. Trying to find Jonah.

For Jonah, a chilly little breeze goes through the room he's in, stirring the pages. A hint of mist touching his ankles. ]

[eyediot]

[Algric does know. And it's not like Jonah isn't some level of predictable. He's hunched over the desk trying to read a statement but getting nowhere. His mind's wandering to what lies below, what's calling to him as he tries to ignore it.

The chill in the room is enough of a distraction. His mouth sets into a firm frown.]

Did Tim send you?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Sorry, Jonah, but you aren't making progress there anyway, are you?

The little curl of mists stops. Just ... leans against Jonah's ankle for a moment, like a snake resting its head there. ]

No. No, it's just me.

[eyediot]

Are you certain?

[How can he trust you?]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ The mist shifts closer, being nearly a shimmer in midair. Close, but ... not close enough to make contact. ]

If - if Web has a plan, it's a pathetic one. Jon.

[eyediot]

[His jaw clenches, has to bite down the inside of his cheek to swallow down the acid that wants to spew out.]

That isn't what I meant.

[curriculum_fictae]

What d'you mean, then.

[ His tone is dull, cold. Miserable. ]

[eyediot]

[He grits his teeth a moment. Forcing his tone calm.]

Can I trust your words.

[curriculum_fictae]

Jon ...

[ God, that hurts. That hurts. It's enough to drop the temperature in the room just a few degrees as he reels from it.

But Algric hurt Jonah, and that's the truth. ]

Yes, Jon. You can trust me.

[eyediot]

...Prove it.

[curriculum_fictae]

How, Jon? What d'you want me to do?

[eyediot]

Go back and unbreak your promise?

Make it so you didn't lie to me from the start?

Change things so I didn't come after you and- [He shivers, trembling as the memory of how things played out comes back to his conscious thought.] and... that none of it happened.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ The little chair across the desk from Jonah ices over as a frigid mist settles over it. And Algric chokes back a miserable noise, hand clasped over his mouth to keep the sob from escaping. ]

I - I can't do any of those things. I -

[ His voice drops to a whisper. Was Jonah saying he regretted coming to the past in the first place? That he regretted searching for Algric in the Lonely at all? ]

Y-you don't mean that last one.

[eyediot]

[He knows Algric misunderstood what he meant. He wrestles with himself about whether he should correct it, or soothe him.

He loves this man, so dearly. Enough he went through hell and back to find him. But gods he's so angry and hurt, still. And Algric won't even face him properly now.]

Not the way you think.

Algric, I- [He lets out a broken exhale.] I believed you. I trusted you, I - I refused to put some compulsion in your head because I needed to trust you.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He won't, no. Even seated in the chair across from him, Algric is veiled by mist and cold. He can't bear to show his face to Jonah - not after what happened.

And he isn't about to now, either. He takes in that last comment with ... something cooler, if equally miserable. ]

But you considered it? Putting a compulsion in my head?

[eyediot]

You asked me to. And I said no.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Had he? Yes, he had. It's been so long since then ... Algric can scarcely remember now.

He remained silent for a moment, the little flare of anger falling away. ]

Do it now. You can - you can force me to tell the truth from now on.

[eyediot]

No.

I don't want to do that, Algric. I never did. I just - I want to trust you. And. And I don't know that I can.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric is silent for one miserable moment. ]

I don't know how to make things better.

[eyediot]

...Then tell me why you lied.

Without using my "protection" as an excuse.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ His mouth was, indeed, open to say just that. Instead he clamps it shut for a moment. ]

Why can't I say that? It's the truth, Jon.