[PSL] time travel, time travel

[curriculum_fictae]

[ 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? ]

Comments

[kayakking]

[Tim's expression is a certain quiet, angry intensity. Moreso than anything Jon has actually seen even focused on him.

As Tim decides that if he's going to do something drastic it has to be real soon.]

I suppose there's no wiggling on just... doing things on a technicality?

[eyediot]

[Something about that sits... Wrong with Jon. He can't put a finger on it. He shifts as best he can in his chair to look directly at Tim.]

...Not that I know of. I... What are you thinking?

[kayakking]

[He gives Jon a long look.]

I'm... thinking we should get all four of us together and use the time we have effectively. I'm not sure why he'd even give us time to plan, but the fact we have it... if you just go to him obediently- What comes back out?

[eyediot]

Who even knows. Nothing good. That's all I can say for sure.

[He wants to get up and pace around SO BADLY. Instead, he taps one finger on the chair's arm rest idly. Just... Thinking.]

It's-- It's not even obediently. [Sorry, Tim, this is a pedantic thing, but he cannot abide letting you think he's doing it by choice.] He... He did something. Algric called it compelling, a Compulsion. A thought or, or idea he puts into your head. You can't... ignore it. So this isn't, "Oh my boss said I have to do this thing so I'd better." It's more "there is a supernatural thing in my head that is literally forcing me to do this and I don't want to find out what happens if I try to ignore it."

[kayakking]

I know.

[He says, with the confidence of someone who DOES.]

The shit he did to mess with Algric's head is absolutely monstrous.

[eyediot]

Yes, the-- Making him come in by the end of week to do who knows what to him.

[Said with the confidence of someone who doesn't know the depths of horrible, awful things it's capable of. Jon is still thinking in the literal action sense. He never even considered anything more conceptual or mental.]

[kayakking]

No, the - Okay, yes that, but also, the whole can't look at Martin thing.

[eyediot]

[A beat.]

The what.

[kayakking]

[Good god, he sees the warning rattle in that tone and expression. He.. hadn't had that conversation. (But then, there's SO much ... and just the way Algric prioritizes and...)

Fuck.

He resettles carefully, hand out half in a 'okay stay calm' and half in a 'okay let me explain' motion.]

So.. apparently, Elias forced a compulsion in Algric's head in the... in his past but before coming here. [... That's where we are. Those are words he just strung together.]

It forces him to see ... someone he hates when he looks at himself, I think, is what he said. It's bad in mirrors, but apparently, looking at Martin was next level terrible.

[eyediot]

[Jon watches Tim, eyes focused in that very determined, unwavering stare. Then he breathes in very deliberately through his nose and holds it a moment.]

Christ.

[Like, sure he'd noticed Algric avoids his own reflection, but he never thought to ask. Figured it was something just... He didn't know. He didn't really think about it, more to do with the Lonely and how he can blur or disappear altogether. But the way he'd just dead fainted when Tim shoved him in front of Martin and had Tim's tie around his eyes that whole conversation. It should have been some kind of clue. But he didn't push, too many other big things that needed his attention.

He should have asked. He should have figured it out.

He's only ever truly hated one person in his life, but he's finding it easier and easier to hate a second.]

So our boss is truly, unquestionably, a bloody monster.

[kayakking]

[Tim isn't exactly what he expected. There's some part of him still pushing past the last few months that expected deflections and explanations, accusations of delays and distractions.

So the relief is almost as powerful as the absolute agreement, at that undeniably intense anger and loathing simmering in Jon's words and expressions.

God, someone GETS it. And he wasn't expecting it to be Jon.

But at this moment, he's profoundly glad it is.]

As bad, if not worse than any of the things we've studied.

I don't even care about getting the research out of it I need. We should just- just take the place down.

[eyediot]

[If it were a stranger, that's likely what he'd get. But it's Algric, Martin's future. One of his immediate assistants, and... someone he's gotten close to.

He's a little protective. Sue him.

But this being bad enough that Tim doesn't even want the circus research... Even Jon hesitates.]

I-- Are you sure?

[kayakking]

Yes.

[The answer is immediate, bursting on a heavy exhale.]

Look. It's not just that we are working for literal evil, but by being there we're just-

We're going to get worse until we're going to be monsters. Or dead. That's the crux of it. That's what we end up.

[eyediot]

[He watches Tim, still. Weighing the pros and cons mentally - the loss of knowledge and experiences versus the safety of... everyone. Like it's a hard choice. (And for Jon it is, he can't help it, he needs to know, is it any wonder Elias chose him to groom?)

Finally, he nods.]

The tunnels. I don't think he can see down there.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ That’s fair. Algric winces a bit, apologetic. ]

R-right, right. That’s. Yeah.

[ An awkward pause. ]

I like to believe you’d find a way to believe me, though.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ At some point between Jon going to visit Tim and Algric being forced to go to the Institute, Algric returns from the day’s shopping, exhausted. (Self checkout again, with no one so much as making eye contact. It’s ... dimly comfortable, after Elias’s violation; he wears the fog like a cloak when he’s out in the world.) He puts away the perishables and sets the tiger bread out on the table to match with the roast he’d started before leaving. Simple, hearty fare to help with Jon’s healing. At least that’s the plan.

He murmurs a cursory greeting at wherever Jon is before going to the bathroom to wash up. Already he’s closing his eyes, ready to avoid the mirror - and then blinks. Stares at the sheet that’s been draped over it. And blinks again. ]

Jon? Did you - did you put this up?

[ The tone is surprised? And dimly grateful. He hadn’t told Jon about the compulsion, so why...? ]

[eyediot]

[He's exhausted just. Sitting in the living room, having pulled himself to sit on the couch. He's done about all the errands he can muster the energy for the last couple of days. He'd planned on Tim's place being the last stop, but after the conversation there, he stopped at a nearby store. Grabbed a couple thing out of the cheaper bin and brought them home.

He had no idea something so... simple was causing Algric so much grief. What's it to him to take a few extra seconds to lift a sheet to check himself and leave if it meant making his life a bit easier?

He's reading a news report and doesn't look up when he hears the question.]

Put what up?

[He knows damn well.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ You know damn well, Jon. That mirror is too high for you to accidentally leave a sheet on, even if it weren’t brand new.

Algric crosses back into the living room, seemingly appearing out of nowhere at Jon’s elbow. (Or perhaps Jon can see the wavering echo Martin leaves in the Lonely, like the wake of a boat.) ]

The sheet. Over the mirror. I - I never told you about that?

[ He’s obviously not mad. Nor had he considered it to be a secret, just ... where does A connect to B here? ]

[eyediot]

[Jon's not even bothered by the sudden appearance. He's started getting used to it, honestly, but he does look up.]

Oh, um. Well, I can't take the mirror down - connected to the wall and it might damage it. So... Sheet.

[The simplest answer in the world.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ God damn you Jon. Algric makes a dimly frustrated noise. ]

Let - let me rephrase then. How did you find out about my. Ah. Condition?

[ He is Concerned if you just Knew it, okay. ]

[eyediot]

[You love him though.

He does, admittedly, look a little self-conscious for it. Jon rubs at the back of his head.]

Tim told me. When I went to check on him, it's... [Just. A quick short exhale of breath. Not quite a sigh.] I should've realized something was wrong about it sooner.

[curriculum_fictae]

Oh.

[ That gets immediate relief. Tim, of course. He’d told Tim, and Tim and told Jon, and that is an entirely human chain of events. Algric comes to sit down next to Jon on the couch with a soft sigh. ]

You were a bit distracted.

[eyediot]

A bit.

[He sits there, comfortably now with Algric next to him. Odd how fast he can acclimate to this once his head's in the right lane.]

...Why? Did I get the wrong color or?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ That actually surprises a laugh out of Algric. ]

Opaque is precisely the right colour, Jon. I -

[ And he pinks a bit, looking away. ]

Thank you. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.

[eyediot]

It's all right. I... understand why you wouldn't.

[It's a hell of a thing, to not be able to look at yourself without a visceral, uncontrollable reaction like that.]

Just... Let me know, next time, if there's something else I can do to make things easier?