[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

[eyediot]

[He gives her his order - a simple black tea and a sandwich - before really looking at Martin again.]

...You could, you know. Maybe this is a chance for you to.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Martin requests a rooibos and a nice focaccia, and the waitress whisks away promptly.

He blinks, slowly, at Jon. Not comprehending. ]

What do you mean?

[eyediot]

I mean...

[Martin had mentioned that if they try to leave the Institute, they'll die? Or something? His memory's a bit hazy from that night. So much had happened.]

The you, this you. You aren't working for the Institute. You don't... have any obligation to it.

[curriculum_fictae]

No, Jon. I don't.

[ But the look he gives Jon is ... very soft. A little sad, too. ]

That doesn't mean I want to leave.

[eyediot]

...You... Still want to be connected to it all?

[That seems so... strange, to Jon. A chance to get out, to live without all this happening, to not... have to deal with Tim's anger or Elias... being Elias or Not!Sasha...]

You could be free.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Martin laughs a little at that. It's a quiet, strange sound. ]

I don't care about all of it. I care about - about you.

[eyediot]

[There's a metaphorical pin dropping somewhere in the back of his mind as he watches Martin. He's unmoving, waiting for his tea and sandwich to come, but he cannot look away from him. It feels like.... Like the world's paused for just a moment, holding its breath.]

...What?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh god. Was that the wrong thing to say? This Jon doesn't know him that well yet, does he? Martin goes even paler than he already is, looking stricken. ]

I - it's just - look, I just mean - we're friends and - and that involves caring --

[eyediot]

No... [His tone is calm and questioning, more curious than anything else. But there's an understanding there. Something Martin said before that he'd left alone but comes back up.]

You mentioned before... Back at the Archive when you turned up. 'The man you love'.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Shit. Jon's figured it out, hasn't he? Martin goes very still at that, ashamed of himself. He shouldn't have brought this up at all.

But it's pointless to lie now. He just ... hunches in on himself a little. ]

Yes. Yes, I - I did.

[eyediot]

[Jon watches him carefully for a few moments, before a quiet sigh. Nothing horrible! Just an exhale of some relief.]

Well. I suppose it's flattering to want your boss to meet the person you love. [Like making holiday office parties less awkward, or the fact that Martin's been staying with his boss instead of this mystery man!! Phew.]

I'm sorry, I probably... That was. Likely inappropriate to bring up.

[Since he realized he was spiraling and everything, he's trying to cut back on being creepy and invasive of others' privacy.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Martin just stares at Jon for a moment, mouth open. Did he really - did he just -

Why is he in love with someone this stupid?

His mouth works for a moment as he tries to figure out what to even say to that. Correct him? Pretend to have a - what, a boyfriend? Who? Who on earth would even be believable. ]

N-no, you're - you're fine, I don't. Mind the. Topic.

[eyediot]

I see.

[Stupid? Or just completely blind to the idea that someone, anyone, could care about him in some capacity outside of work? Especially with Elias using him and Tim... well. Jon's feelings regarding himself and how much he deserves anything positive is complicated so he just ignores the idea completely.]

All the same... I do hope things work out.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Sigh. He'll try not to take it personally. And just love this stupid, blind idiot who can't seem to figure out that someone would love his stupid arse. ]

I - I do too. I mean. It's tougher here? He, ah. Doesn't remember anything close to the relationship we had.

[eyediot]

Right. I suppose that would be an issue considering...

[A perfect time for their tea to be brought. Jon carefully moves it from wherever their server set it down; has to be just so and all. Shouldn't be too long now for their food.]

Either way, I'm. I'm hopeful for you both.

[curriculum_fictae]

R-right, the - you know -

[ The tea arrives, indeed ... for Jon. The server sets the lone cup down with not so much as a glance towards Martin.

Martin stares at the lack of tea in front of himself and tries not to look resigned. ]

[eyediot]

[Jon sees the problem immediately.]

Didn't you order a, what was it? Rooibos? You would think they'd bring them both together.

[HE'S MAD FOR YOU.]

[curriculum_fictae]

Yes, you. You would.

[ He just drags a hand down his face. ]

Would you mind getting her attention?

[eyediot]

[Jon was already ahead of it, raising a hand and - Excuse me? Miss, my-

Oh god what is Martin. Not his coworker or employee because this Martin doesn't work for him, but roommate is presumptuous in a way he can't explain-]

My friend ordered a roobios tea? And a meal - What was it, Martin?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Aww. Martin likes being referred to as a friend; it makes his cheeks burn a little. ]

The focaccia, please. Yes.

[ Meanwhile, the waitress glances vaguely in Martin's direction. Back at Jon. Clearly judging him. ]

"If you wanted double, you should have said so. No need to order for your imaginary friend."

[eyediot]

My... what?

[Something sinks in Jon's chest, a weight pulling everything down. No. No, no no no, this... Jon doesn't look away from her feeling something akin to slow rising panic building.]

You really don't see him there? A person.

[He looks at Martin, then at the table. Then carefully slides his cup to Martin.]

Martin, pick it up and give that tea a try?

[Surely she'll see there is clearly a person there and lifting the cup.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Sorry, Jon. Martin doesn't even look surprised. Just ... defeated, and a little more see-through than he was a moment ago.

He picks up the cup naturally enough. It all seems perfectly normal, and his fingers don't pass through it or anything. He even takes a sip, and the level of tea left in the cup dips accordingly. But the waitress stares with utter blankness, not seeing anything the least bit unusual. ]

"This is a real funny joke to you, isn't it?"

[eyediot]

It's.... It's not.

[There's the sneaking of an idea, a thought he hasn't wanted to entertain since Martin showed up. He showed up immediately after an encounter with Michael, the Spiral. The entity of madness. Ostensibly, surely, Martin had to talk to and interact with others to get the food that's been in their fridge, the neighbors watching him come and go. He hasn't... He hasn't just imagined coming home to meals already freshly cooked.

But someone not seeing his friend here, plain as day, so clearly, is sending him... well. Spiraling.

Jon swallows thickly, then takes a bit of cash out of his wallet and sets it down, almost double for a large tip.]

I think. I should be leaving.

[He hopes Martin doesn't hate him for this. He hopes Martin comes with him. If this waitress thinks he's crazy, being as old as he is with an 'imaginary friend', he doesn't want to make it worse asking the 'friend' to leave with him.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Did he have to interact with other people, though? Self checkouts are everywhere nowadays. And if he were unscrupulous, he could simply steal what he needed, or leave the money on the til and go. He had always been so insistent on cash, after all ...

Martin jolts with surprise as Jon stands, moving to match him. ]

-- Jon? Wait, you haven't even - what about dinner?

[ He moves to catch up with Jon, not wanting to be left behind.

(The waitress brightens at the tip and sort of waves the crazy guy off. Whatever.) ]

[eyediot]

[He does slow when he hears Martin calling after him.]

We can - I'll order delivery or, or something.

[Now he feels bad, Martin likes this cafe, right? It's not too far back to his flat, but he just feels dread in the pit of his stomach.]

...She couldn't see you, Martin.