[PSL] time travel, time travel
Jun. 16th, 2020 06:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
[ 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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Date: 2020-07-27 09:57 pm (UTC)Sorry, anyway... What did you need?
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Date: 2020-07-27 10:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-07-27 10:08 pm (UTC)He's fine. He's... fine for right now. A tension Tim didn't know he'd been holding in his shoulders unknots.]
Yeah, so... some wild shit's come up. And I am not exaggerating in the slightest.
[He looks at the other two in the room, studies Jon's face in particular and decides, no. Nope. He's making this call.]
Skip work tomorrow. You, me.
[A beat. JUST enough time for the first squeak of protest/questions so he can talk right over it.]
Call it a date.
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Date: 2020-07-27 10:48 pm (UTC)Tim, this is a really bad joke!
[there's no way this is real! how dare you!!! why are you like this!!!!!!!]
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Date: 2020-07-27 11:03 pm (UTC)Whoa, whoa. I am serious in that I need to see you. Not playing at all.
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Date: 2020-07-27 11:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-07-28 01:28 am (UTC)Please tell me what this is really about. It's no date.
[...]
Right?
...You're not my type, anyway.
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Date: 2020-07-28 01:41 am (UTC)God would it be too much if Jon stayed out of work tomorrow too? Would it be too suspicious? If what Martin said is true, then Elias would know anyway.]
Tim, don't be mean to him like that.
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Date: 2020-07-28 01:44 am (UTC)I am not being mean and he just pre-emptively dumped me.
[There's a heave of a put upon sigh on the line and Tim's voice is much clearer when he turns back to his phone.]
Right. No, and I know. I know.
No, you've got it. It's... ah... So, you know how Jon's been a million times better this week, right? Well, I found out why.
I need your help and your silence on this.
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Date: 2020-07-28 01:47 am (UTC)Instead he puts his head in his hands and makes another choked noise, whispering as loudly as he dares: ]
You - you can't just bring him here!
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Date: 2020-07-28 01:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-07-28 02:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-07-29 12:32 am (UTC)So...this is about helping Jon?
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Date: 2020-07-29 12:50 am (UTC)He settles on a simple:]
Yeah. And consider work worm-level dangerous at the moment, at least until we can get our heads together and talk. Okay?
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Date: 2020-07-29 01:04 am (UTC)He keeps his mouth shut, but makes the most incredible face. ]
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Date: 2020-07-29 01:06 am (UTC)A-alright. Just... just text me the details, yeah?
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Date: 2020-07-29 01:18 am (UTC)I'll send you the precis. [His voice pitches low, serious and intense.] Promise me. I want to hear it. No going in, and don't ring anyone else on this yet.
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Date: 2020-07-29 01:31 am (UTC)Wha- I- Yes, of course. I mean, you know me- [a small chuffing laugh with a hint of self-deprecation] -the office secret-keeper.
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Date: 2020-07-29 01:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-07-29 01:36 am (UTC)God this is weirder and more confusing than Jane Prentiss and Gertrude's murder.
Should he even say anything else? Wait. He looks at the Martin next to him.]
Should he bring a tape recorder?
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Date: 2020-07-29 01:38 am (UTC)Isn't - isn't there one here already? I thought heard it click on.
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Date: 2020-07-29 01:39 am (UTC)[He- He didn't hear it but there shouldn't be one here? He thought he left them all at the Archive.
EXCUSE HIM HE'S GONNA FIND THIS THING.]
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Date: 2020-07-29 01:41 am (UTC)[ And he gets up to help Jon look for the thing in much the same way one would a wayward cat. ]
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Date: 2020-07-29 01:42 am (UTC)Counting on you. See you tomorrow.
[And thumbs the hang up on the call.]
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Date: 2020-07-29 01:49 am (UTC)[Tim if he had it in him, he would throttle you tomorrow when he sees you]
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