curriculum_fictae: (Default)
Martin K(nife) Blackwood ([personal profile] curriculum_fictae) wrote2020-06-16 06:15 pm

[PSL] time travel, time travel

[ Martin had always known that Lukas would kill him in the end. If not along the way, then surely at the end, once he'd gotten what he wanted out of Martin, whatever that turned out to be. When the Lonely rose up to swallow him, he'd accepted his impending death with ... what?

What did he have left, really? Numbness, mostly. A hallucination of Jon in the Lonely, looking for him, but - but that was impossible, ridiculous. His mind playing cruel tricks. He settled himself down in the frigid surf, knees drawn up close to his chest, unshed tears frozen to his cheeks and lashes.

And then. A door. A door that shouldn't exist, that couldn't exist. That he shouldn't take at all. The Lonely was terrible, yes, but it was quiet, and it was peaceful. Martin was aligned enough with it by now to very nearly enjoy it, in a strange and terrible way. The Spiral would be infinitely worse than this quiet beach.

But ... it was hope, too. In a strange way. Hope enough that Martin found himself turning the door handle and stepping through, leaving the false comfort of the Lonely behind him.

The transition was unpleasant. Long. But Martin couldn't remember it after; he only remembered stumbling out through the door of a supply closet somewhere deep in the Archives, blinking up at the dim bulbs that pretended to be sufficient. What time was it? Had he escaped? Where were Lukas and Elias now?

And where was Jon? ]
eyediot: (so I bookmark my DSM)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-05 11:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[CLICK


There's a distant sound of rhythmic ticking. A clock somewhere in the room. IT's otherwise quiet in the emergency ward. Some footsteps outside in the hall go by as a nurse goes to check on someone else. There is, of course, a heart monitor beeping in a different time than the clock.

"It's just a day or so for observation"

"This many attacks at the Institute in a few short months is a bit alarming."

"That must have been some wild dog that caused injuries this severe."


It's the middle of the night. Jon's been drifting in and out. For the moment he's awake. Staring whatever direction his neck is comfortable doing. Lucky, they told him. Lucky it didn't get his achilles tendon or go too deeply into his back to hit his spine.

Some luck.]
eyediot: (but my memory could not be saved)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-05 11:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[Martin?

No. If it were Martin, he'd be fussier.

He looks toward the sound of the voice and definitely sees someone there. Maybe the painkillers, maybe the exhaustion, maybe just the fact the man is... the Lonely now.]


Algric?
eyediot: (take you with me)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-05 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[While normally, under different circumstances, he'd be relieved for the confirmation. But now he isn't even sure he can trust his own memory.

-aw dragging on the floor. Just a regular day watching that leg drag awkwardly-

Something pinches between his brows and he takes a sharp inhale.]


Like.... Honestly, a bit like I fell under a tanker.
eyediot: (cause I need to remember my place)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-05 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm sure I do. Between the worms and now this...

[Jon's not a vain man or thinks he's the best catch. Hell, before now he barely cared about his looks. But he's acquiring a few too many scars for his liking.]

...What time is it?
eyediot: (take you with me)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-05 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
...And I take it no one stopped you coming in.

[Why would they if they can't see him? There's... something akin to relief in his expression at that.]

Thank you. Being here, I mean.
kayakking: (047)

[personal profile] kayakking 2020-08-05 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Look. It's not incompetence. In a normal job, you'd have a real rough first year and either grow into it or quit. Happens all the time.

But at this point, I think we can all agree literally everything is stacked against us.
eyediot: (but my memory could not be saved)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-05 11:57 pm (UTC)(link)
...I agree with you there.

[He's already fairly tipsy, just. Sort of leaning his cheek heavily on his hand, elbow to the tabletop.]

What about you?
eyediot: (s5; and putting them back in my face)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-06 12:01 am (UTC)(link)
Dinner?

[He wracks his brain for a second. Why would that matter, Jon always eats alone, he never-

I'll make dinner.

God. He'd forgotten, in everything. Who told Algric he was here?]


I'm... sorry about that.
kayakking: (008)

[personal profile] kayakking 2020-08-06 12:03 am (UTC)(link)
[Tim blinks, nose wrinkling a bit as he goes back over the last few bits, trying to connect.]

What about?
eyediot: (In the deep city streets in the summer o)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-06 12:05 am (UTC)(link)
The Institute. Why you joined it.

[Another half-committed sip. He's... Relaxed. In a way Tim probably hasn't seen in a very long, long time.]
eyediot: (that it's me who was to blame)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-06 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
[He's going to hold onto that guilt and remember it every time he sees Algric or Martin now. He doesn't.... God, he doesn't want to forget anything, to be okay with forgetting things just because of Algric's association with the Lonely. That doesn't make it all right.

Jon watches him for a few minutes. It almost seems like he's just catching his breath or dozing off but-]


How did you know I was here?
kayakking: (021)

[personal profile] kayakking 2020-08-06 12:12 am (UTC)(link)
[Literal years. It's... a good sight? It's a good sight.

Better than the boss who put on a bit of an extra accent, tore down Martin, and pretended like monsters didn't exist. It... looked like his friend again.

Which is.. likely why the slamming door that would have happened just a day ago, maybe even hours ago doesn't.
]

That's... [He gives a long sigh.] That's one more of these away.

[He tilts his glass.] And a request. From you.
eyediot: (jesus in pieces! I believe)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-06 12:15 am (UTC)(link)
Hm?

[Wait, give him a minute, he'll get there.

Right. Drinks. Okay. Off limits conversation. That's all right. He wants to know, but doesn't need to know. Not now that their friendship is repairing.]


All right... What request?
eyediot: (my soul was crushed like a tall boy)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-06 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
Oh.

[Jon makes a note to give Tim the rest of that Irish whiskey when he's out. He'll likely forget in an hour.]

Always said having a landline was still a good idea these days.

[Half dead laid up in a hospital bed and can still be a smug prick.]
kayakking: (035)

[personal profile] kayakking 2020-08-06 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
[He takes another slow sip.]

No recorder, no statement. I'll tell it to a friend. The Institute can get fucked.
eyediot: (with a backwash swill)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-06 12:21 am (UTC)(link)
But it is a rare situation that happened.

[LET HIM HAVE THIS, he's had so few wins lately.]

Did he tell you what all happened?
eyediot: (boi)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-06 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
[Jon blinks at him, very clearly tipsy but still coherent enough to understand what's being asked.

He sets his glass down and nods, trying to look serious.]


Agreed. On. Every front.