[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]

[He crosses his arms and leans on the doorjam. The texts that initially brought him here are definitely still heavy on the mind.]

Right now? ... Sort of realizing you've got the shit end in all of this, this go round.

[secreteary]

[Martin opens his mouth to argue, but decides against it and takes a second to frown at the wall like everything is its fault.]

Yeah, well. I'm used to that.

[he shrugs, even adding a half-hearted grin and chuckle.]

Maybe not this intensely terrible, but.

[kayakking]

Right? We've blown right past run of the mill terrible.

I've, you know, I've been worried. Like a lot worried.

[secreteary]

It's really hard to not be.

I'm. I'm worried about all of us. You, too. Not just the arm-- That you got caught up in all of this.

[kayakking]

I'm not entirely sure there was a way to not be involved.

[There wasn't MISSING Not!Sasha.]

[secreteary]

Well. ...Yeah, true.

[Martin sighs.]

I just. I dunno what to do. I don't know how to keep everyone safe, but also do what we have to. With The Unknowing, with Elias...

[he swallows thickly, raising his left hand to look at it.]

And...what's happening to us.

[kayakking]

[He watches what he can see of Martin's hand move, expression clouding.]

We've at least got time with the Unknowing.

The rest we just...

You seem better? [It wasn't going AWAY... but it wasn't anywhere near it was last night.]

[secreteary]

Yeah.

[there's a bit of fidgeting on Martin's part.]

I'm sorry. Ab-about last night.

[kayakking]

[He shakes his head.]

You weren't doing it on purpose.

[secreteary]

[muttering darkly:]

Still embarrassing.

[kayakking]

You realize you have seen my ass. Literally.

[LITERALLY high on fumes and in the middle of a worm invasion. NOT HIS FINEST MOMENT.]

... Not to mention that one Christmas Party.

[secreteary]

That's a little different, Tim.

[he can't help but grin just a little bit even turning a bit pink.]

Not a bad arse, though.

[kayakking]

[His chin ticks up and he gives Martin an UNABASHED grin.]

I mean yeah. It's bloody world class in my entirely humble opinion.

[secreteary]

[SNORT]

I haven't had that broad a range to judge

[kayakking]

I mean, that's fine. You've been ruined anyway.

[Not even he can say this with a straight face.]

[secreteary]

[Martin just laughs]

Don't change, Tim, please.

[kayakking]

Never would. Never will.

[secreteary]

Tim Stoker, the anchor holding this whole thing together. Who knew?

1/2

[kayakking]

Me! I have always been aware of my integral nature, thank you very much.

[kayakking]

More seriously though.

I am here if you need me.

[secreteary]

That goes two ways, you know.

[it's a fond admonishment, paired with a small smile.

but then Martin too gets serious.]

...I feel like. Anything you need is getting...I don't know. Forgotten about? With all of the- [waves a hand, as if he could manifest the word he's looking for out of thin air.] -insanity going on with the rest of us.

[kayakking]

[It's.. nice? Hearing it. He lets out a long breath and for just a moment there looks about as tired as he feels.]

I'm just... overwhelmed. I will get over that. [A wave of a hand.]

...

[It's a moment, looking down at the bathroom floor between them.] This was, uh... good though. Don't think I realized I needed it.

Not the reason, mind, but. Company.

[secreteary]

[quietly, but warmly:]

All you have to do is ask, Tim.

[kayakking]

See, here's the problem there:

I'm daft.

[secreteary]

[Tim is getting the most bewildered look...]

You're surrounded by three people who might be turning into monsters. We're all going a bit... [motions a spiral next to his head] ...loopy.