[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]

[Oh.

Oh!

Elias. Hm. That's. Hm. Patently not good? To anyone seeing him, it's just his boss coming to pay visits to an injured employee that got hurt on the job. Nothing wrong with that. But something in Elias' voice has his blood steeling and he can't bring himself to even try to move.]

I- yes, they. Probably didn't want to worry you too much.

[contractuallybinding]

Given that it's I monster I was not aware of harming my employees, I do think there's cause enough for me to worry.

[The visiting chair creaks as Elias settles into it, one knee crossing over the other, and hands folded on top of them. From the way Jon is settled in bed, he can't see the man's face, but he can feel the stare.]

And.. feel some responsibility. Naturally, I've cleared your leave- pending you finishing off the requisite paperwork when you return. But... do you have everything you need? Someone at home to help?

[eyediot]

[He can feel it. And he can't bring himself to move, can't even raise his eyes to look Elias in the face. But maybe that's just the pain medication. Which is surely what's causing his answers to seem slower, and not because he's having to think about what to say.]

...Yes, I. I do. And I'll be sure to finish the papers when I return.

[contractuallybinding]

Oh, naturally. I wouldn't bother you with the details here.

And that is good to hear. Who is it?

[That last question sounds so amiable. Like small talk. But the static fizzles and crackles in his ears, and the question seems to slither through the medicinal haze.]

If you don't mind my asking.

[eyediot]

[That feeling, that need to answer is pretty impossible to ignore. What's odd is probably how easily the answer comes. Like it really is just casual conversation. No, Jon doesn't have much control in answering, but he's not lying at all.]

Hm? Oh, Algric. A friend. Had nowhere to go, so I've been letting him stay with me for a short time. Honestly, I've been considering just letting him be a roommate on the lease.

[contractuallybinding]

[Elias is very still for a moment. The soft ticking of the hospital clock filling the air.

Then, Jon will see those hands shift, finger steepling.]

Well. I suppose I'm a little old fashioned, but... I do care about you, in my own fashion.

Do be careful of strangers, Jon.

[eyediot]

[Jon sees it, knows he should probably be wary of it.]

He's an old friend, Elias. I've got nothing to worry about from him.

[contractuallybinding]

[He certainly should be.]

Mm. Well, you would know best.

...

I should let you get some rest, I think. I look forward to seeing your speedy recovery. I know you do have a bit of a problem not burning it at both ends, but do try to take care of yourself, Jon.

[The hands settle on the armrest before the center of that awful gaze that seems to press him into the bed rises further.]

Oh. While you have more than enough time accrued, I would like to see you in when you have the energy. To, well, take the statement.

[eyediot]

I--

[The weight so carefully and masterfully pinpointed to his chest causes him to have to catch his breath for a moment. Must be the exhaustion and all, surely. Not some kind of strange sleep paralysis where he simply can't move.]

R-right. Of course.

[contractuallybinding]

[It's not a friendly clasp of the shoulder. In other circumstances, it might even be charming how awkward it seems. To have a single, light brush of a finger on Jon's shoulder from a man so wrapped up in his image that even that was an almost unbroachable distance.

Except it came with that horrible, paralytic pressure, something that seized every nerve he had and kept him right there. Helpless and supine, supplicant for the next, precisely enunciated words to burn into his mind.]

Don't forget.

[And then it was over, wrapped back up into the comfortable explanations of how opiates affect the senses, how much the pain drives the mind to odd ends. They settle and wrap like a blanket around those simple, clear words rattling in his mind.]

See you soon. Do take care of yourself, Jon.

[And the pressure slides away as Elias turns, taking that first step to the door.]

[eyediot]

I.. Yes. Elias. I will.

[He doesn't move. His chest barely even rises with his breath until Elias moves away. He knows, without a doubt, that Elias just... did that. But he also knows, no matter what happens, he'll make his own statement when he returns. He can't possibly forget now.

To anyone else, Elias was just a visitor checking on his employee out of concern. Jon... Knows, though. He knows that was information fishing.

He's suddenly very glad he'd asked Algric for a different name to call him by. It likely would have cost the game if he hadn't.]