curriculum_fictae | [PSL] time travel, time travel

[ 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? ]

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From:

curriculum_fictae

[ That’s fair. Algric winces a bit, apologetic. ]

R-right, right. That’s. Yeah.

[ An awkward pause. ]

I like to believe you’d find a way to believe me, though.

From:

kayakking

Yeah...

[He... doesn't know though. He really doesn't. The last few months have just been... he hadn't felt the same, like some backslide into the worst possible version of events.

What would he do with confirmation that all of it's real, it's going to get worse and he needing to be the point to change it...?]

I.. think believing you would have been real easy. I'm just not sure I'd... do the good things with it.

[No, he's gonna pick that scab.]

...

Do I? Does it get ANY better knowing the full scope of it?

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Oh, Tim. You didn’t have to do that, but ... well, here they both are. Self-destructive in their own ways. ]

No. No, it really doesn’t. A-and - and even with what I do know, I’m pretty sure I’m still missing something.

From:

kayakking

[Practically a required job skill.

He rubs a hand over his face...]

Do we even know what he's ultimately trying to do? Just... make more Eye monsters or mean girl ruining other rituals or get power or... what?

From:

curriculum_fictae

God, I don’t even know. Making Jon into an Eye monster, yes? Maybe ending the world? Maybe saving it. I - I don’t know.

[ He fusses with his fingers, wringing them lightly. ]

I tried to find out and ended up in the Lonely because of it.

From:

kayakking

Right.

...

At least that probably means you were on the right track.

From:

curriculum_fictae

Maybe? Probably. Not that it did my timeline the least bit of good. And Jon ...

[ He goes rather quiet for a moment, withdrawing mentally. The couch seems empty for a flickering second - and then he reappears, snuffling into his jumper sleeve and trying to keep a few wayward tears from freezing on his cheeks. ]

My Jon is - is probably dead. Permanently, this time.

From:

kayakking

[It comes with a chill of fear, a bone deep loneliness, even for a moment. Though it's hard to say if the lancing sensation of being alone in crisis, the sudden disappearance, or the wrenching sob when he returns is more of a twist to his system.

He opens his mouth a moment and feels everything he might say be dust. In the end, despite the threat of that biting, changing chill, he simply sets his arm across Algric's shoulders and pulls into a half hug against his good side.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Algric jolts at that, startled by the touch. But there’s no painful jolt of cold this time, no transparent frost leeching all the colour from Tim’s arm. Instead, Algric turns a bit towards Tim and carefully completes the hug. A few more tears roll down his cheeks as he lets himself cling for just a moment. ]

S. Sorry. Sorry, I just ...

From:

kayakking

Hey..

[His voice is soft, rough with his own rising emotion, and while he doesn't bring his other arm in, he turns a bit into the embrace, good arm squeezing tightly around Algric's shaking shoulder.

It's not that he can't understand, it's that he does, far too well.]

No, it's okay. Take your time.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Thanks, Tim. Algric sobs quietly a few moments more, sniffling and shivering as more tears wet Tim’s shoulder. He’s grateful, Tim. Desperately. ]

There’s - there’s nothing left for me in that timeline. It all went horribly wrong. I - I’ll give anything to make this one right.

From:

kayakking

[His hand takes to small, soothing patterns on Algric's back, and expression clouded with though. He has talked to Algric too much to be comfortable with 'anything.']

It's... You're not alone in this one. We'll make this one better with you.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Algric nods, slowly, and so too follows his breathing. ]

Right. Right. Can’t... can’t fix it without you.

[ A shiver. ]

Start by - by not dying, please?

From:

kayakking

[There's a sharp breath and a quieter exhale. It's... such an odd thought to deal with...]

Can you promise the same?

[It's... a more legitimate question than he'd meant it to be.]