Martin K(nife) Blackwood (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
curriculum_fictae) wrote2020-06-16 06:15 pm
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? ]
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? ]
no subject
No. No, it's not all about him. It's about Tim and his brother, and keeping him alive through the Unknowing. It's about Martin, slowly being eaten up by the fog and ice eating away at his existence. It's about Algric, displaced in time and trying to find his place.
What's a pair of eyes compared to that?
His jaw trembles for a breath. Then a weight settles on his shoulders and Jon... stays quiet. Outwardly, it seems like Algric just put him in his place.]
Sorry.
no subject
[He breaths out, a little shaky. God. Good. At least one of them's getting out.]
We're going to make this all work.
no subject
to Tim:]
What's next, then?
no subject
Probably - probably the end of the week first. Deal with Jon and I getting called back to Elias. Go from there.
[ A ... pause. ]
You should - you should be very careful around me. When I get back. Elias may leave a trap in my head.
no subject
Which leaves the question- do we want to do anything to the Institute while this is going on. I've managed to find the original blueprints for the building.
[And watching a great deal of videos on demolition...] But no telling how much there's been alterations in the literal centuries.
... Mostly I'm worried about it being work hours.
[Killing Elias? Sure. The staff. Nooottt so much. He's not that far.]
no subject
[that goes without saying, Martin, c'mon]
There are the tunnels to consider? Maybe there are bits that are underneath the structure of the Institute? If we have the blueprints, we could possibly figure that out...
no subject
no subject
But he tunes back in at talk of the tunnels. He rubs softly at his closed eyes with his thumbs - getting used to... them maybe not being there much longer.]
There are.. Arrows. I left a few. And someone else has left others. Even if the walls have moved, there should still be some to follow.
no subject
Moving. Right... I don't remember it doing too much when I used them before. Maybe those arrows will be enough to keep us generally on track.
no subject
Or we could find Leitner, I suppose, and take his book.
no subject
I suppose so. He has a book that changes the tunnels, then?
no subject
no subject
Right. So where do we find him?
no subject
no subject
no subject
[He sounds so pleased.]
I'm sure he won't mind us invading his hiding spot.
no subject
[a tiny, angry snort.]
Would be too much to hope he'd lend it to us? Or...if we could find common ground?
no subject