[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]

None, as long as I stay off them and take it easy so the stitches hold.

[Tim it's so hard. It's so hard to stay off his feet.]

Follow up in a week or so to get a better look.

[kayakking]

...

So, how tempted IS Algric to tie you down?

[eyediot]

Please don't give him ideas.

[kayakking]

Oh no, from that, I guarantee that no suggestions are necessary.

[eyediot]

Tim, I-- I swear.

[He's too exhausted to finish the thought, but GOD.]

...How's the arm?

[kayakking]

A mess but should be fine if I leave it alone.

[Rrrreadjusted the sling to actually hold it.]

So about the same.

[eyediot]

[Hey, he won't tell if you don't. He's not even watching, he's digging for his phone.]

Better than 'bad recovery', I think. I'm.. Really glad to hear it. It's... Honestly, I needed some good news.

[kayakking]

[That does get brows raises and a careful, wary look at Jon.]

As much as I am fond of being the good news.. is that, ah, bad news new and recent or just the general collective of holy fuck how did it get this bad?

[eyediot]

Recent as of my A&E admittance.

[He sighs, rubs his forehead a bit.] Elias came to see me while I was there. I, um. I have to make a statement. When I go back to the Institute.

[Something about his tone says he'd rather much not like to do that.]

[kayakking]

[Tim scowls at the name alone. And the rest really just seals it.]

That's a trap. That sounds absolutely like a trap.

[To do what or for what, he has no idea... but....]

So, lets not. Apparently my record in the future is three weeks. That's enough time to get a plan together.

[eyediot]

Normally, I would agree, but.. [There is always a 'but' these days, isn't there?]

He got to Algric first. While I was asleep. [There's obvious concern in his tone sure, but now... an undercurrent of... a different kind of worry. Like worry of losing something important.] He has to go in before the week is over.

By that effect, there's no point putting off my going in. [Jon rubs and pinches at the bridge of his nose under his glasses with a sign.] He knew exactly how to win this.

[kayakking]

[There is always a but.

It takes a second, a deliberate reminder that what Elias could possibly want from Algric would be incredibly, severely different reminder than what it could or would be from Martin.

Even removing all of the occult from it, they know the man's a murderer, and Algric is meddling in his plans.

He lets out a long breath.]

How can I help?

[eyediot]

I don't know.

[He runs an unsure hand through his hair, looking around the room instead of at Tim, settling to just. The window, aimless and not really looking. Just setting his eyes somewhere.]

He and I agreed to go in together. See if we could mitigate anything, but I don't... I don't know what Elias will do.

[kayakking]

[There's a long, loaded moment.]

When are you planning on going in?

[eyediot]

[Jon carefully shifts his eyes to Tim, just. Watching him.]

Haven't decided yet.

[kayakking]

[Tim's expression is a certain quiet, angry intensity. Moreso than anything Jon has actually seen even focused on him.

As Tim decides that if he's going to do something drastic it has to be real soon.]

I suppose there's no wiggling on just... doing things on a technicality?

[eyediot]

[Something about that sits... Wrong with Jon. He can't put a finger on it. He shifts as best he can in his chair to look directly at Tim.]

...Not that I know of. I... What are you thinking?

[kayakking]

[He gives Jon a long look.]

I'm... thinking we should get all four of us together and use the time we have effectively. I'm not sure why he'd even give us time to plan, but the fact we have it... if you just go to him obediently- What comes back out?

[eyediot]

Who even knows. Nothing good. That's all I can say for sure.

[He wants to get up and pace around SO BADLY. Instead, he taps one finger on the chair's arm rest idly. Just... Thinking.]

It's-- It's not even obediently. [Sorry, Tim, this is a pedantic thing, but he cannot abide letting you think he's doing it by choice.] He... He did something. Algric called it compelling, a Compulsion. A thought or, or idea he puts into your head. You can't... ignore it. So this isn't, "Oh my boss said I have to do this thing so I'd better." It's more "there is a supernatural thing in my head that is literally forcing me to do this and I don't want to find out what happens if I try to ignore it."

[kayakking]

I know.

[He says, with the confidence of someone who DOES.]

The shit he did to mess with Algric's head is absolutely monstrous.

[eyediot]

Yes, the-- Making him come in by the end of week to do who knows what to him.

[Said with the confidence of someone who doesn't know the depths of horrible, awful things it's capable of. Jon is still thinking in the literal action sense. He never even considered anything more conceptual or mental.]

[kayakking]

No, the - Okay, yes that, but also, the whole can't look at Martin thing.

[eyediot]

[A beat.]

The what.

[kayakking]

[Good god, he sees the warning rattle in that tone and expression. He.. hadn't had that conversation. (But then, there's SO much ... and just the way Algric prioritizes and...)

Fuck.

He resettles carefully, hand out half in a 'okay stay calm' and half in a 'okay let me explain' motion.]

So.. apparently, Elias forced a compulsion in Algric's head in the... in his past but before coming here. [... That's where we are. Those are words he just strung together.]

It forces him to see ... someone he hates when he looks at himself, I think, is what he said. It's bad in mirrors, but apparently, looking at Martin was next level terrible.

[eyediot]

[Jon watches Tim, eyes focused in that very determined, unwavering stare. Then he breathes in very deliberately through his nose and holds it a moment.]

Christ.

[Like, sure he'd noticed Algric avoids his own reflection, but he never thought to ask. Figured it was something just... He didn't know. He didn't really think about it, more to do with the Lonely and how he can blur or disappear altogether. But the way he'd just dead fainted when Tim shoved him in front of Martin and had Tim's tie around his eyes that whole conversation. It should have been some kind of clue. But he didn't push, too many other big things that needed his attention.

He should have asked. He should have figured it out.

He's only ever truly hated one person in his life, but he's finding it easier and easier to hate a second.]

So our boss is truly, unquestionably, a bloody monster.