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? ]
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There are other concerns, though. ]
Are - are you sure? How are you even going to explain me?
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Martin swallows thickly. ]
Right. Okay. Bring - bring Tim then.
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[And if Tim can't see this Martin, then maybe it's just further proof Jon is losing his mind. It'll be fine. He pulls his phone out because, crazy or not, he did say he'd get delivery after cutting the cafe short.]
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And - and if he can't see me. What then?
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[Elias, probably. But he doesn't want to go that far. Not yet if he doesn't have to.]
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Martin shakes his head quietly at that. ]
If - if he can't see me, I'll go. I don't want you to believe that you're going insane, Jon.
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We'll figure it out when we get to it. [Back to 'we' instead of 'I'. Jon's a pushover sometimes.]
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Sure. I just - please believe me. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. Mentally or physically.
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[If there's nothing else in the world Jon believes, it's that Martin wouldn't try to hurt him.]
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Good. All right. Glad that's - that's settled, then.
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[Food ordered, all they have to do is... sit. He hesitates, then grabs for his laptop. Work never ends, you know.]
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I'll - I'll answer any questions you want tonight. Even things I've been avoiding.
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I don't... think I have anything to ask right now. But. [Small sigh, but he smiles, unpracticed, at him.] Thank you, Martin.
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Of - of course. I don't mean to - I'm not hiding anything, I just ... well, there's not really a good time to bring up the fact that most people can't see me.