[PSL] time travel, time travel
Jun. 16th, 2020 06:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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? ]
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? ]
no subject
Date: 2020-08-16 09:57 pm (UTC)As always, you are the pinnacle of understanding.
[Yeah, Tim has the right of it. But Jon kinda motions for the papers he gave him earlier.]
Something that might help, some, in the future. He has a mobile now, I'll-- Write the number.
[Jon your phone is literally still on your lap just text to him like a fucking mid-30-year old millennial you old man.]
no subject
Date: 2020-08-16 10:18 pm (UTC)That... Yeah. About time actually.
I can't believe you still have a land line. I mean, I'm thankful you did. But still absolutely amazed.
no subject
Date: 2020-08-16 10:20 pm (UTC)Why does everyone keep saying that? The flat came with one, so I use it!
[But back to writing the number.]
no subject
Date: 2020-08-16 10:30 pm (UTC)[It's a light and easy retort.]
no subject
Date: 2020-08-16 10:38 pm (UTC)We're nearly the same age, you realize that.
no subject
Date: 2020-08-16 10:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-08-16 10:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-08-16 11:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-08-16 11:09 pm (UTC)And yet if Jon didn't like him so damned much, he would've fired Tim ages ago for his inappropriateness. How dare he have that much charisma.]
Thank you, Tim. [There's a deep exhaustion behind those words. Someone who hasn't been emotionally open in years finally getting a lot of it out in such a short time and the energy that it drained out of him.]
no subject
Date: 2020-08-16 11:16 pm (UTC)Tim folds up the accounting- Tim refuses to think of it as a statement, just out of obstinacy alone.]
Hey. We're friends, yeah?
[It seems his way of saying, you're welcome. He pushes himself up, and takes a second to drop a hand on Jon's, with a brief squeeze, before moving past Jon's immediate line of sight.]
I'm going to go check on Martin. But uh, hang out a second. I'll get presentable and see you back to your place.
no subject
Date: 2020-08-16 11:22 pm (UTC)[Not what he expected. He was already mentally planning the best route to take from here at this hour.
He makes a mental note to figure out something he can do to pay Tim back for all this. Nothing in any official capacity - while everyone may think he's underqualified, he's not going to go the extra mile to show favoritism either - but maybe something just. Between them.
While Tim does all that, he'll get his food and get his things back together in as easy-to-carry as he can. When Tim comes back, he'll already be in the front foyer.]
no subject
Date: 2020-08-16 11:32 pm (UTC)Tim isn't long. There's not much that can be done about the generally worn look, but there's a lot that a quick shave and a change into a button up shirt and slacks can do.
He passably looks like a much more put together person than the one who'd been across the table from Jon these hours. He pulls his jacket down and opens the foyer door for Jon.]
Right. Lets get a move on.