[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

[contractuallybinding]

[The restaurant they were in was exquisite. Their table, while normally with an impressive wait list, suffered an inexplicable cancellation from the previous party and they were seen right away when they arrived. It was an astounding view, set up on a balcony, the view across was dazzling with low light reflecting through Czech crystal chandeliers and stark against the polished black wood carvings.

Ah, but the real draw of it, the brilliant compromise was not just the padded isolation of their balcony booth, designed to drown out the noise of all of the conversations around them, but the open, clear view to the diners below.

Not to say that it had been easy to lure Peter into it. If it was, he'd have tired of this years ago, frankly. No, Peter Lukas only happened to be in port, and was not easy to find, even for him. But he always watched, if just to enjoy the low fear of someone so in tune of to his hate, his wretched will to be alone.

He'd even let Peter think he'd make it back out to sea without interruption.

It gave the steak he ate (it alone worth more than a week of any of his staff's labor) the flavor it lacked to his palate. A taste to savor when everything else was so flat and unremarkable.

He knew Peter wanted to know why he'd called, as much as Elias wanted to know why he'd agreed to this date at all instead of hanging up as he usually did.

But the first one to ask paid, so...]

Lovely, isn't it? I think the pianist is actually on a world tour at the moment. Quite the little starlet.

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[ He really, really would have preferred to leave without running into you, Elias. He'd been at the dock making final preparations, and checking on an ... odd circumstance when the call had come through. He'd been rather distracted enough to answer the call in the first place, and then ...

Well. Here he was. Seated across from Elias, paying rather more attention to the elegant glass in his hand. Steak was fine and all, but a good bottle of ice wine was just as expensive and twice as pleasant. Besides, he could still taste the misery of the lone worker who'd been tasked with getting the grapes off the vine after they'd frozen a little too early in the season. ]

A shame that she's not traveling with anyone. I expect the strain will get to her soon enough.

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[Elias spends another moment looking down at her, only leaning back in his chair, smug, when her finger slightly brushes the wrong key. Such a tiny little mistake.

She'll think about it for weeks.

He turns his gaze on Peter, instead. Enjoying how the edges of the distant man resolved in his stare.]

Do you think? I think it would just be another pair of eyes on her, judgement pushing her even further. I rather expect she'll get another two months. You?

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[ Fucking rude, Elias. Peter doesn't deign to glare, but the temperature on his steak drops just below what would be perfectly exquisite.

His tone remains perfectly pleasant. ]

Month and a half. The agony of being seen is all well and good, but it's also lonely up there at the top.

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[... Annoying. He sets the fork down delicately.

Elias' tone turns sweet, if perfunctory.]

Indeed, which makes it a source of constant wonder that you have so very little ambition.

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I think I have exactly the right amount of ambition.

[ He takes a sip of his wine. ]

You, on the other hand. Grand plans go smoothly as ever, I suppose.

[ It's distinctly not a question. ]

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[It's not a question, no. But it is a fine bit of line skimming the top of the water.]

Oh, you know how it is. I just like to keep busy.

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So many things to do. People to maneuver about and keep an eye on. But no surprises for someone like you.

[ His tone just digs a little bit more. Give way, damn you. It's painful for the Lonely avatar to be the one riddled with curiosity. ]

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[It just limits ones means of pursuit, doesn't it?

Elias certainly has no such constraints. Though, he doesn't seem as smug as he might be, if it were just a gloating session.]

Now, now, Peter. We both know I'm not omniscient. In fact, you, yourself, gamble on it regularly.

I imagine there's even sport in keeping things from me.

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It's true. You are startlingly blind sometimes.

[ Not ... fully smug. No. Is Elias ... trying to figure something out? Something he doesn't know? But what, then? And why that strange presence in the Archive?

He frowns slightly. ]

It is one of life's simple pleasures. Alas, not something I'm enjoying at the moment.

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No? Well that's a pity. It's not as much fun if there isn't oh, a little resistance.

[Elias picks up his fork again and starts on the honestly now only really good steak.

If one were to believe Peter, the interference isn't direct. Interesting. Well then.]

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[ Peter regards him silently for a moment. Annoyed with himself for giving up a little bit too much already. Damned Eye avatars. ]

You act like you're looking for resistance.

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Peter. Could I not simply wish for your company?

[He picks up his own wine and takes a delicate sip. Still, it wouldn't do to have Peter lose interest this early in.]

Well, we both know the answer to that. No, I was simply delighted to find you'd spent a few extra days in port.

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You could. But I really wouldn't believe it.

[ Because it's never just company with them, is it? Even when they're married. ]

Had to follow up on a few things. Employee payroll didn't match up. You understand.

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[By the way Elias' brows raise at that, expression settling into thoughtful... it's a solid tug on the line.]

Can't say I do. But I just keep a better eye on my associates in that regard. If you need pointers... Well.

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Oh, no. My books are all in order.

[ He settles in to take a bite of his salmon. ]

Yours, on the other hand. Well. I take my funding of the Institute very seriously. And adding a staff member without the proper review process simply isn't allowed.

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[When the waiter arrives, his movements are mechanical and eyes glazed as he refreshes the wine and sweeps away the plates that had been cleaned. They leave without a word or making eye contact with either of them. Desperately so.]

Oh, far be it from me to anger the mighty Lukas family. But I will assure you, protocols are always followed.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He'll forget soon enough. At least one of the two they served will disappear from their memory without so much as a ripple.

Lukas lingers over his glass, his frown deepening. How does he get what he's after without a question? ]

But they haven't been. That's the whole problem. I'm not sure where your new assistant has come from, but he really can't stay.

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[Peter can see the moment it cracks. It tears into the genteel edges of Elias' mask and shows just the tiny, black edges of that ravenous, driving hunger of the Eye. It was what he wanted, but it wasn't enough.

There's an odd twisting of the man's expression, a little too slack in some ways, a little too tight in others, as the monster in the shell ignores the usual graceful operations.]

That would be the issue. There is no new assistant. Merely my Head Archivist not only vanishing from my Sight when he returns home, but I forget about him.

The power seems astoundingly familiar.

So if you'd care to explain... If not you, who of yours has been encroaching.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh that is satisfying. Peter does so seeing Elias crack under pressure like this. The fact that he really didn't do anything intentional just makes the man's expression all the more delicious. Elias's steak might have been exquisite, but Peter is having a feast.

He smiles with all the brilliance of a tundra at midnight. ]

I don't know.

1/2

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[It's just a moment. A bare hint of a snarl acknowledging this loss, but Peter had been watching for it, certainly.]

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Well.

[Composed, and tone turns to that classically business-upbeat.]

If so, I assume you've no problem with me... expunging this little blight, then?

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[ Peter simply grins again and orders another bottle of ... no. Not wine. It's a bottle of vintage iceberg water that costs just as much as Elias's steak, and then some. ]

Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm rather enjoying the effect he's having on you. In fact ... I think I'd rather he keep on doing that.

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Really, Peter? Really?

[It's not just the sticker shock of it. It's how... overt it is.

He gives a small, disgusted sigh, settling back.]

A shame your territory is about to move out.

[He takes another small sip, eying Peter Lukas over the wobbling edge of the achingly dry white.]

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Can't I indulge a little before setting off?

[ Look, the gesture is as much a part of it as the price is. He does so enjoy rubbing this into Elias's face.

But he sighs a bit, forced to concede a tiny sliver of his victory. ]

I suppose that was the original plan, yes. I've stayed entirely too long. But if it means slowing you down a bit, well. Maybe I can spare one more day.