[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

[curriculum_fictae]

[ HA HA. Not quite. ]

Y-yes. You - described as being like a ghost or something? I never met him, just heard about it later.

[eyediot]

Good lord...

[He sounds... really tired. This has been an emotional roller coaster of a few hours. Surely nothing else will surprise him.]

I guess I'll look into it. See if I can find anything out how to find it.

[curriculum_fictae]

Right. Sorry, I - just rest, okay?

[eyediot]

[Is... Is he allowed to. Do squeeze his hand? Is that allowed?

Jon hesitates, then.. Does that. Just a little squeeze, night even be mistaken for a muscle spasm or Jon shifting or something. This was painful. Being vulnerable again, that was painful. Now he just. Needs to have this same conversation with Martin oh god he'll just die.]

...Right.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Sorry Jon. But - as he squeezes Algric's hand, something a little bit nice happens. The spot under his fingers solidifies back into real flesh, pink and healthy. Not transparent.

Algric, meanwhile, ducks his head. ]

I'll be here. And - and I won't tell Martin.

[eyediot]

[He doesn't see it. His eyes are focused on Algric's face.]

I'm going to talk to him. A-about. Him too. Everything in the open.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh. Oh god. Algric swallows. ]

If - if you work things out with him, I - I won't get in the way.

[ And then, in a rush: ]

That doesn't mean I don't love you, or. Or that I don't want whatever - whatever this might be. But I won't make him suffer.

[eyediot]

[Was Martin always this dramatic?]

Back when Elias first made me start the Archive's twitter account, there was a, a meme going around. [Like it's the most painful thing to say. You better appreciate this.] Of people getting mad about relationships and. Everyone having "two hands".

[He raises his other, free hand that's hooked up to the IV drip.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Hang on a second while Algric just. Absorbs that little tidbit. Two hands. Two hands? ]

Are you. Are you saying you'd - be involved with both of us?

[ He's not horrified, just bewildered. ]

[eyediot]

It's... Not conventional. But if the feelings are the same... why not?

[Addendum to his previous thought: this is more painful. God. Fucking memes.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric flushes deeply. He still has a lot to unpack here, but for now he focuses on-- ]

Y-you have feelings? Romantic ones? F-for both of us?

[ He gulps in air. ]

Me specifically?

[ Because obviously if Jon has feelings, Martin should get all of them. Right? ]

[eyediot]

Well... ['Romantic" feels a bit too early to be used, but he'd be lying if there wasn't something there. Those few days of... domesticity were... Nice. In a way he hasn't had in a long time.]

I mean, yes.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ God. He's not sure what to do with that. Sure, he knows what he wants to do, but -

He hyperventilates a little for a moment, hands gripping the chair he's in. Get a grip, Algric. And for the love of god, don't accidentally rebuff him again. ]

I - I have feelings for you too. Romantic ones.

[ A beat. ]

I don't - I don't know what that looks like for us. With - Martin. Or. If it should look like anything. I guess I don't know. But it's mutual and I ...

[ Now he ducks his head, a blush bringing colour back to his cheeks. ]

I am glad, Jon.

[eyediot]

I'm... Not sure what it looks like either.

[Gulp.]

But as long as you're here, those feelings are... Are yours.

[Beat.]

I'm going to... Tell him, too. That I know. And... they're mutual.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric relaxes slowly. And manages a small smile. ]

Yeah. Yeah, that's - that's good. I think that's a good plan.

[eyediot]

...Thank you, Algric.

[He smiles a little back at him. Then rubs his palm against one eye, like something's irritating him.]

Just don't let me forget, I have to make a statement when I go back.

[He says it so casually, but the words are like a grain of sand behind his eye. Irritating and everpresent until he can get the statement out. The words themselves are likely haunting to anyone that heard his boss before.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Yeah, um. Algric immediately stiffens with alarm. And recognition. Those were the exact words that Elias-- ]

No - no, Jon, you can't - don't do that. Elias asked you to do that, didn't he?

[eyediot]

[Jon's gaze falls on him seriously at that. Even without his glasses, he can tell this is... about to go sideways.]

...Yes. Yes, he did, just before you came in.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He knows. Oh, he knows. And he felt that compulsion land. ]

Think about it, Jon. Who do we least want to know the truth of what's going on right now?

[eyediot]

No... I-i know. [He does. Jon so badly knows.]

But I... [The more he tries to think about not doing it, the worse that grain behind his eye irritates.] I have to.

[Is this what Elias does? Is this how he's gotten where he is now, gotten what he's wanted? Just... Makes people do things?]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ God. He - he has to think of a way out of this. There has to be, right? ]

Just - just delay it, if you can. Maybe we can figure out a way to. Defuse it.

[eyediot]

...I can delay it a bit. He only said when I go back. He didn't... Say when I have to go back.

[What if he never goes back.

He knows he will. He aches for the knowledge that place can give him. But he may take a little longer than he needs to.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Ha. Ha. Algric already knows the answer to that. Even without a compulsion, Jon can't really resist, can he? ]

Then - then try that. Maybe we can figure out a way for Elias not to hear that tape.

[eyediot]

... We'll find a way.

[He may not be able to get out of recording the statement. But he can at least try to obfuscate it.]


I'm sorry, Algric.

[curriculum_fictae]

It's - it's fine. Probably inevitable anyway.

[ It's inevitable now, in fact. ]