[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]

[Elias' face stays placid, though the eyes are ravenous. He sets his fork down, finding a far better meal here.]

Take your time.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ It's a rare treat; Peter doesn't especially like doing this at all, and he especially hates doing it in front of Elias.

But he can't help it, now can he? ]

... Mm, well. As much as I hate going to see for myself, I think that's going to be necessary.

[contractuallybinding]

[... The mark of the Lonely could be useful. But so would the information. Nothing to be lost here letting it play out naturally.]

You're welcome to, I suppose. But do keep in touch.

[curriculum_fictae]

Fine. I'll stop in before I go.

[ He drains his glass. ]

[contractuallybinding]

Oh, and Peter?

[He waves the check over.]

[curriculum_fictae]

Hmm? What is it?

[ He pushes it to Elias upon arrival. ]

[contractuallybinding]

[It's only the smallest of frowns to betray the roiling annoyance that the check symbolizes. A tasty little show, before...]

I just wanted to say how much I enjoy your company.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Ugh. The disgust that boils up from Peter is the perfect digestif, isn't it? ]

That's the senility talking.

[ He stands a little more quickly than he intended. ]