curriculum_fictae | [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? ]

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From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Martin nods, then. Finishing up his plate. ]

Do you want to go back to the board tonight? Fill in a few more things?

From:

eyediot

No, I... I think it's all right to take a night off.

[Martin already gave him so much information that he needs to parse and process. It doesn't feel like the right time to dive into his board.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

Oh.

[ That's fine too, and frankly a bit of a relief. Confessing that he'd come from a literal death sentence had been exhausting.

But it did leave a question. ]

What do you want to do instead?

From:

eyediot

Hm.

[There are always books, but that doesn't feel right at the moment either.]

I don't have a television, but I do have my laptop...?

[They could always watch something.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Martin would very much enjoy sitting next to Jon while they both read, but that is nice too, isn't it? ]

Put something on, then? All right.

From:

eyediot

Yes, I... I think so.

[He sounds tired. He's a little concerned for both the Martins in his life now, and what the future brings.

He gets his laptop set up on the coffee table and pulls up some... documentary. Egypt and pyramids and things he already knows and fully expects to be correcting them on from the comfort of his sofa.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ It's nice. Even if Jon does have a million corrections, that ... is nice. Although it is a bit hard to see? Martin has to scoot in close to see the screen properly, bowing his head a little.

Without really realising it, his shoulder makes the slightest contact against Jon's. And from that minimal point of contact ... colour blooms, hesitantly. His dismally grey jumper shows a hint of blue spreading from the spot, like a drop of ink on ice.

Martin doesn't notice; he just watches, quiet. ]

From:

eyediot

[It is nice, all things considered. While he'd only really hung out with Martin and the others at work functions, it's... all right like this. And he's sure Martin is only indulging him and his need to correct a pre-recorded program, likely because there's nowhere else for Martin to really go. But all the same it's... nice.

When it's over, he starts carefully picking and cleaning things up from dinner and where they inevitably brought their tea to the couch.]

Martin. Are you sure you're all right, just sleeping on the couch?

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Martin, in turn, relaxes into the programme. Though honestly, his focus is more on Jon than what he's watching? How close he is. How comfortable it is to sit next to him, in his home, safe and warm and together ...

(That's not fair to Jon, he thinks bitterly. He can't project his own feelings onto the Archivist.)

He stands too, after, tending to his own mug. And gives Jon a nervous laugh. ]

Yes? I mean - I could sleep on the floor, I suppose, but the couch is much better.

From:

eyediot

Hm. No, that's not much better. [He mumbles it to himself. He's gotten into the habit of mumbling to himself a lot since the Prentiss attack. These days he does it without even thinking.

He cleans the few dishes they dirtied by hand while he thinks.]

You're not going to sleep on the floor, Martin...

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Martin hovers close, then, unsure of what to do since on is taking care of the dishes. ]

Right. So the couch is perfectly fine.

From:

eyediot

[-and it's not like he could just get a bigger place because he can barely afford this one bedroom as it is, and Martin can't work because of the whole time travel situation and really what did he think he was asking with tha-

Oh.]

Right. Good. Okay.

[Maybe a fold out bed or one of those inflatable mattresses people use when camping or-]

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Martin can tell you're trying. Which is nice? And yet, also rather confusing. What did Jon expect? ]

You don't have a second bed. And I'm not kicking you out of yours.

From:

eyediot

No, right, I-I know.

[He really did do this to himself telling Martin to stay with him.]

I just.. .wanted to check since it's been a few days.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Sure did, Jon. Not that Martin has anywhere else to go, but you could have kicked him out. ]

... Are you worried about me?

[ That's so cute. ]

From:

eyediot

[He sputters a little, almost dropping his tea cup.]

I-- well. [God.] Yes? I mean, you're here, and you've been giving me warnings and information and. I just. Thought I'd be polite.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Cute. Adorable. Martin can't help but smile. ]

I'm very comfortable here, Jon. Better than I've been in a while.

From:

eyediot

Well... Good. I'm. Very glad to hear that.

[Let him go die in peace.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Nope. Sorry, Jon. ]

Are you uncomfortable with me being here?

From:

eyediot

Not... really.

[He can't properly express it, hilarious given what he does all day.]

It just... It feels nice. Having someone here and know that I'm not... crazy.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Oh. Martin's expression softens for a moment. He raises a hand as if to put it on Jon's shoulder and ... stops himself. Hesitating. ]

No. You're not crazy. Most of the things you think you're seeing are real. And the rest still make sense.

From:

eyediot

[Of course there's always the chance this Martin is a hallucination or delusion brought about by paranoia and intense seclusion and the nature of statements he's been reading as well as the mystery of Gertrude's murder and Basira not contacting him anymore to bring anymore of Gertrude's tapes and Tim hating him now and Martin at the office being jumpier than usual and Sasha being... not... Sasha...

Who knows. The cups go on the drying rack and he dries his hand.]

...Thank you, Martin.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ He is terribly translucent in spots, after all. Maybe he really is a figment of Jon's imagination. It's not like they've really touched each other, right?

Though ... Martin hesitates again. And this time he closes the gap between them, laying his hand very lightly on Jon's shoulder. His fingers are icy and cold. ]

Of course. We're - I - I like to think you're my friend, Jon.

From:

eyediot

[That feels real and solid enough. But Martin's words catch him a little off guard, a little... out of breath.]

...Yes. yes, I'm. I think that too.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Solid. Cold, but absolutely physical. Not a ghost or a hallucination.

He manages a small smile. ]

I'm so glad, Jon. I -

[ He swallows thickly. ]

I thought I'd never see you again.