monsterhaus still idk

[eyediot]

we live here

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[eyediot]

I was going to live, I was in no danger until you broke your promise.

I didn't- I had no way to know how long you both had been in the tunnels since I don't know when you left. and I even kept my promise not to See anything about either of you.

[He trusted so implicitly. The Eye drinks his paranoia up, like an old vintage.]

[curriculum_fictae]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I was wrong on - on so many levels, Jon.

[ The mist starts to recede and fade again. ]

I'll go. All right? I'll just - I'll go.

[eyediot]

[Shit. He isn't making this any better, and he's hurting Algric in turn. That isn't what he wants. But he can't simply move past this either.

He stands, reaching one hand out to whatever is left of the mist.]

Martin - wait, I. I do. I do want you here.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ The mist leaks through his fingers, insubstantial; he can't get a grip on it. Instead, frost coats his hand. ​]

No. No, you don't. You - you don't want to forgive me, and that's your right. I've hurt you too badly.

[ A quiet, miserable noise. ]

But - but if there's no chance, and no path back, and I'm only hurting you by being here, I ... what is the point of me staying, Jon?

[eyediot]

The point is that I do want you here.

It's - People hurt each other, Martin. It's. It's part of being human, it's part of caring about others. I hurt our Tim so badly it got him killed in the end.

[A quiet little exhale.]

I didn't say there wasn't a path back. I only said I don't... know what to do.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ A long, frigid silence. The mist is still here, so Algric is too, but there's far less of a sense of presence than there was before. ]

What do you want to do? Other than - other than undo it.

[eyediot]

I....

[He stands there, behind his desk. Really thinks. He doesn't know.]

I don't know. I just... [He wants the hurt to stop. The feeling of betrayal to leave him. Jonah rubs at his shoulder, the Lonely scar irritating him a bit.]

...Please stay?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Another long silence. The mist drifts a little closer, and there's the faint impression of a hand on Jon's shoulder. ]

All right. I'll stay just outside the door, then.

[eyediot]

[He doesn't initially see what direction the mist is going, not until it's too late. The sharp freezing stab in his shoulder when the mist makes contact takes the breath out of him in a cry.]

Martin-

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Shit. Shit. He forgot about the scar - or maybe the Lonely gravitated him to it -- ]

S-sorry! Sorry, I didn't - oh god -

[ He withdraws immediately - all of the mist evaporating in an instant, returning the room to its normal temperature. ]

[eyediot]

[Jon takes a deep breath, fighting to keep on his feet. He clutches at the scar, Knowing it's creeping up his neck again. He reaches out, seeing the mist gone.]

Martin...

[And... then sits again, head on his desk. and curling into himself. He did this. He should have just forgiven him.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ All is quiet again. No mist, no Algric. Just that horrible scar creeping back up again with its miserable cold grayness.

But ... after a moment, there's the quiet sound of someone breathing hard outside the door to Jonah's room. Algric is still there, keeping watch. As promised. ]

[eyediot]

[He hears it, so faintly. He's staying outside, that... that's fine. He can deal with that. Jonah sits up finally, moving to curl up on the cot. Pull the blanket up and keeps it tucked up against the scarred neck and shoulder.

But can Algric miss the pull of the shivering, the hissed breaths?]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ No. No, he really can't. Those are sounds of the Lonely, after all; he'd be able to sense them a mile away.

He longs to go in there and try to warm Jonah up, but he'll be useless like this. Just more cold, and ...

Ah. There's an electric blanket upstairs, isn't there? Rosie had one stashed away. He moves quickly, then, hoping Jonah doesn't notice his absence. ]

[eyediot]

[He doesn't notice, not at first. Not until the Eye is telling him that Martin left him, Martin won't come back. He was going to leave no matter what-

Jonah hunkers down tighter, scratching at the edges of the scar even if it hurts.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Does the Eye tell him when Algric returns, then? Does it tell Jon that it's Algric's hands gently tucking the electric blanket in around him and switching it on to full power?

He's careful not to touch that scar, at least. Trying not to touch Jonah at all if he can help it. After, he crouches in the corner of the room, watching Jonah to see if he might manage to warm up. ]

[eyediot]

[The Eye doesn't tell him, no. Just that someone is there, someone is with him-

But then the warmth starts to seep in. Wrapping him gently and calming the shivering. There's only one logical explanation really. is voice is quiet:] Thank you.

[curriculum_fictae]

Of course, Jon.

[ Algric's own voice is quiet, barely a whisper of mist. A tendril of coolness brushes lightly over Jonah's cheek. ]

I'm here.

[eyediot]

[Jonah soaks up the feeling, tilting his face into the touch.]

...I love you.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He keeps touching then, ever so light. Smoothing Jonah's hair out of his face. ]

I love you too, Jon. More than anything.

[eyediot]

[The softest chill breezes his hair aside, but it's all right.]

I'm sorry.

[curriculum_fictae]

I ... I'm sorry too.

[ He wants to apologise more, to beg for a way forward again, but ...

Instead, he says: ]

Sleep, Jon. You need your rest.