[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

[curriculum_fictae]

Right. Worse, like I said.

[ He just hangs his head a bit. ]

There is - there is so much going on. I haven’t even told you about things like - like Jon giving the Boneturner two of his ribs.

[kayakking]

What is with him and ribs? ... Or was that HOW he got the ribs out?

[curriculum_fictae]

Yes, that was how he got one of the ribs out. To. Use as an anchor.

[ Algric makes a face. ]

The other one was in exchange for Jared’s story.

[kayakking]

But we have a statement about him...

[curriculum_fictae]

No, I mean. Jared’s story. About himself. Start to finish.

[kayakking]

So. Literally gave up a body part.

To get a statement.

[curriculum_fictae]

Yes.

Jon’s an idiot.

[kayakking]

...

Algric have you considered your taste is a bit...

[curriculum_fictae]

I know. I - trust me, I judge myself every day for it.

[kayakking]

Long as it's out there.

[There's a small huff of humor from Tim, and then... slowly it settles more sober again as he braces himself to get back into things.]

How did... Jon come back? And when? How long were you going that alone?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Right. That was a nice diversion, at least. ]

Some - some avatar of the End walked up and woke him up. I don’t. Really know why. He was in hospital for six months. And I ...

[ His shoulders slump. ]

I’ve been working for Peter for ten months.

[kayakking]

You didn't stop... He didn't put a stop to it?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric shakes his head. ]

It was - it was more important than ever. Before I was just trying to find a useful way to die. With Jon alive, I ... I at least had a purpose. I had to keep Lukas’s attention on me until I could figure out what he was planning.

And - and if it meant staying away from Jon and not letting him help me, then ... that was fine.

[kayakking]

[Tim's eyes slip down and to the side. And then snap back to his, narrowed.]

.. So I get- I get the reasons.

But you know it's not on here? You're not expendable.

[curriculum_fictae]

...

[ Algric remains relatively sharp and focused, not disappearing. But he doesn’t say anything either, and he can’t meet Tim’s eyes. ]

[kayakking]

[The knee against Algric's pushes, as Tim's expression furrows.]

No, come on. Look at me. At least one of your friends is telling you this. I'm holding you to it. If I make it out, so do you. You, specifically, the Martin Blackwood in front of me, no substitutions.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric turns at that, slowly tilting his head to look at Tim, his expression just ... quiet. And resigned. ]

Tim, I - I’d like to, and I’m not gong to throw myself away, I just -

[ Deep breath. ]

I’m a ghost. From - from a life that’s already over. What would I even do here? Get a job? Settle down with - with Jon? God, I already know Martin’s going to hate me for it.

[kayakking]

I don't know? We're in a world utterly full of people way weirder than you and they make it work?

[The rest though-]

... ... I mean if it's an either/or situation with you and Martin, yeah.

[Because fuck knows Jon probably didn't feel carefully as to Algric's feelings on ... he'd think an open relationship, but some part of his mind cuts in with "anything. Nothing was careful."]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ It ... is true. Could Algric just be a friendly avatar of the Lonely? That seems ... paradoxical. And given how all the other avatars have turned out, he’s not sure that’s a happy ending either.

But the second point is easier to address anyway. ]

Jon - Jon wants both of us. I’m ... I’m okay with that, truly. Having Jon back in any context is -

[ He’ll take it. And count himself lucky for any scrap of affection he gets. ]

But Martin deserves the relationship he wants with Jon, whatever that is. I can’t - I can’t steal it from him

[kayakking]

Noble. But if both of you approach this with the same mindset...

Really, you three should actually talk, negotiate and if Martin's really in the no, only hard monogamy for me. Thennnnn that's a different conversation.

[curriculum_fictae]

I - I guess so.

[ He shivers a little. ]

I ... I guess I should get those sunglasses, then.

[kayakking]

Yeah.

Break down this... whatever it is. [AND BOY IT IS SOMETHING.]

I mean, when else are you ever going to meet someone who absolutely understands without explanation like that?

[curriculum_fictae]

W-well - okay, yes, never, but. Haven’t you ever looked back on something you did two years ago and just aggressively cringed at yourself?

[kayakking]

Ab-so-lutely.



But counterpoint. Apply same statement I just made to in bed.

1/2

[curriculum_fictae]

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