[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]

[For just a brief moment, there's silence.

And then a very strange sound. A sound likely no one's heard come from Jon in a very, very long time.

Laughter.

He's laughing.

He hasn't had a good laugh in ages, since... ever, that he can think of, actually.]

Sorry, sorry, I just- I wondered if that would get to you.

1/??

[kayakking]

Listen here you unmitigated chucklefuck-

[kayakking]

First of all. No.

[kayakking]

SECOND of all, I now have a list of shows you are REQUIRED by law to watch.

[kayakking]

[God, it's the laughter, the honest, heartfelt laughter. He can't keep it up. The smile cracks the surface.]

DONE

[kayakking]

[Nope, just absolutely cracking up.]

And- and lastly, how dare you.

[It's wheezed in between wiping the corners of his eyes.]

[eyediot]

[Well, now that Tim's laughing, Jon's laughing a little more.]

You can't make me watch those, you know! I'll tell the world you're a nerd!

[kayakking]

[It's a relief? It's not like a dam burst, but more like getting up off of a limb that fell asleep. A bit off and a little painful but, in the end, so much better now.

Whatever hideous thing had wrapped around Jon called 'being a boss in a fear institute' had cracked and-

God, it felt good. That and the laughter. He leans back in the doorjam, quelling it just long enough to press a hand to his heart.]

You wouldn't sully my good name.

[eyediot]

No, no, I guess I wouldn't.

[Okay. Okay, dial it back, Jon.

The thing that cracked him a bit is starting to come back bit by bit, breath by breath. Okay. All right. He wipes at one eye under his glasses and sighs heavily, but still smiling.]

Still. Never would have guessed it in a million years. Don't- Don't you go kayaking? Isn't that like. The furthest thing from robot models?

[kayakking]

Would it help if I had a basement?

[He snorts.]

Remember when I was out for two days last year? Glued my fingers together.

And no one is going to believe you when you tell them.

[eyediot]

...


I hate that I know this now. Why would you make me know this.

[HE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO USE HIS BABY KNOWING POWERS.]

[kayakking]

[knifecat.jpg]

I think it's fair.

[eyediot]

H-how is that fair?

[kayakking]

[He smirks and saunters back to the kitchen.]

Gundam, my arse.

[eyediot]

It was a joke!

[He follows after Tim, muttering:] Can't believe it, a grown man can't take a bit of teasing.

[kayakking]

[Speaking of, he scoops his phone back up to continue his absolutely straight and narrow conversation with Martin K. Blackwood.]

Uh huh.

[And when whatever he finishes swyping, Jon doesn't actually get to see it before the smartphone is slid back into his pocket casually.]

Anyway, where were we.

[eyediot]

[He takes his seat again, not even realizing Tim's back to texting until the phone is put away.]

I... don't rightly know, to be honest.

[kayakking]

[Tim picks up his beer and settles in with it comfortably. The expression he turns on Jon is... openly fond and a little concerned.]

So, how you doing? Feeling any better at least?

[eyediot]

[The concern is what throws Jon a bit. He'd gone from Tim being a bit distant since he started in the promotion, to beginning to hate him, to whatever the last few days have been, to... Friendship again.

Jon can't help but laugh. Less honest and freeing than earlier, and a little more resigned and deprecating.]

I really don't know. I... It's so much. [Quieter:] It's too much.

[kayakking]

[Both of his hands wrap around the can, and he takes a moment to take another long sip.]

All of it, huh. I uh... think I know the feeling.

[eyediot]

[He takes another slow sip. It's almost empty, but this was something Tim provided so he won't take it for granted.]

...I asked him, uh. Algric. After you both left. I asked if, in his time, I'm a monster.

[kayakking]

[Oh... oh shit.]

...

So, this isn't where you tell me he suddenly turned around and told you some good news and you don't know what to do with it.

[eyediot]

[Sorry, Tim.]

...He didn't say 'no'.

[He looks pretty...broken up about it.]

[kayakking]

[He sinks a little, elbows settling on the table.]

After you- we- die?

[eyediot]

[He nods, setting the empty can by his empty glass in the middle of the island counter.]

Doesn't sound like there's much I can do to stop it. Not without putting my eyes out.