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: (that it's me who was to blame)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-13 02:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[Jon lets him cry like that, holding him gently. Ready any moment Algric decides to pull away, but still wanting to try and do this; he's way beyond 'out of his comfort zone' and actively trying to push. Sure, his back hurts, a throbbing soreness with small spikes of pain, and one foot hurts having to support how he's sitting. But it's nothing if it means he can help, even a little.]

You won't. I. I'll do my best to make sure you don't.
eyediot: (in the end we come right back)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-13 02:06 pm (UTC)(link)
You deserve more than that. But yes, that's. A good starting point, I think.

[Jon just... Settles to rubbing Algric's back, trying to soothe.]
eyediot: (but I would walk 500 miles)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-13 02:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Well.

[HM!! It sounds like Martin's thought a lot about it.]

I'm not happy with that. And I'm sure Tim wouldn't be either. [If Tim's immediate question of 'How can I help' happened when Jon told him what Algric had to do is any indication.]

I don't want you to disappear.
kayakking: (003)

[personal profile] kayakking 2020-08-13 05:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[Jon's changed it ZERO times in how long?

Tim's eyes track back to the paper Jon has written out, chewing his curry thoughtfully.
]

I'll send you what I know and remember tonight.
kayakking: (018)

[personal profile] kayakking 2020-08-13 06:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Hey..

[His voice is soft, rough with his own rising emotion, and while he doesn't bring his other arm in, he turns a bit into the embrace, good arm squeezing tightly around Algric's shaking shoulder.

It's not that he can't understand, it's that he does, far too well.
]

No, it's okay. Take your time.
eyediot: proclaimers - "500 miles" (when I wake up)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-13 07:47 pm (UTC)(link)
I-- oh. [Not what he meant but he'll take it.] Thank you.

[The hard part is remembering to not read it before he makes that statement. The less he knows before then the better, which is such a contradiction to what he wants.]

...I am glad you seem to be doing all right, though. I wasn't. Entirely... coherent at the time and didn't hear about you after.
kayakking: (019)

[personal profile] kayakking 2020-08-13 08:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[Tim has FAR less of an idea of how difficult it can be to work with ravenous hunger for knowledge versus Algric's generally evasive way of... not counting his own issues as Relevant.]

Iiii... God. Yeah, I'm sorry, I should have been out and to see you earlier. Or called.
eyediot: (if I could stop myself I would)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-13 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
No, it's all right.

[He... Does get it. It takes a second even after he gives the initial platitude, but. He remembers now. This whole thing started as a way to prove about Sasha. And now Tim knew for a fact that Sasha... really has been dead for a year. They had no idea, from what research he knows there's no body to find and bury, and they're a year late mourning her.

Of course Tim got wrapped up in his own head for a while.]


I... I get it.
eyediot: (when I come home oh I know I'm gonna be)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-14 01:07 am (UTC)(link)
[Hm. Yep, gonna resolve right now to get a bigger place, even if he has to move to a cheaper area.

He gives Algric another soft squeeze.]


It's been... Nice having you living here too.

[Not 'rooming' or 'staying' with. Living with.]
eyediot: (three birds of a feather)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-14 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
Good.

[He lets out a soft sigh against Algric's shoulder. He is getting a little uncomfortable - just only because of his back. He grimaces a bit where Algric can't see before gently pulling away, but keeping a hand on him.]

I'd like that.
eyediot: (in the end we come right back)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-14 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
Uh... I. Yes. We have.

[An understatement for the two of them.]

Oh, that reminds me, I got something that I think will help. [He shifts to rifle through his bag and offers a cell phone.] Thought this might help you some. I already put in some of our numbers for you.
eyediot: (with a backwash swill)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-14 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
The flat came with one, so I didn't see the need to change that.

[But okay. Things are... working out. And Algric is looking a lot better... Maybe his theory is on the right track.]

It came in handy anyway.
eyediot: (I'm gonna be the man who gets drunk next)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-14 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
...I'm glad it didn't come to that as well.

[Yeah he would not have been happy about that. Algric would've not only walked into a mess, but Elias....]

Tim told me you talked him down from destroying it.
secreteary: (pic#14180201)

[personal profile] secreteary 2020-08-14 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
[Martin sees and hears that.]

...Sorry.
eyediot: (but I don't know just what I'd do)

[personal profile] eyediot 2020-08-14 02:02 am (UTC)(link)
There's nothing for you to apologize for, Martin. I'm... Thank you for listening.

[And he means that. Even if he isn't sure where to go but...]

...I'm also sorry if I make a mess of things while we figure all this out.