[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 all the fondness in Jon's smile at Tim joining them, his tone is dry as a bone.]

Maybe just you.

[He means well enough. Jon rubs Martin's back before sitting up proper. Even if it's not sharp pains, his back is still sore and he finds himself looking at Martin and Algric.

God there are two of them.

What the fuck is he supposed to do with two of them.

Jon clears his throat, giving both their shoulders a gentle squeeze.]

Should we, I mean. The... whole place is... Like this, but should we at least get out of the water?

[kayakking]

That... is definitely not a bad idea.

[Good lord, if the worms hadn't voided the poor man's deposit, spectral water damage may finish it off. But... not the problem for right now.

It's a gentle question that comes, perhaps a bit of an offer in it. Just in knowing how much Martin defaults to DOING...]

So if I were to look for towels?

[secreteary]

[gulping for air, Martin finally looks up, red-faced and puffy-eyed. color is slowly returning to his whole body, and he's already in sharper relief.]

Closet. In the ha... Hall.

[quiet embarrassment is starting to set in, so he pulls back from Algric and Jon. ...but he doesn't want to let go, so really he's only gone far enough to straighten a bit and give himself some breathing room, nothing more.

one doleful sniff.]

Sorry. I'm. I really am.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Look. Martin is due for a move soon anyway, probably.

Algric can’t return Jon’s gaze, but he seems a bit smitten anyway, even with the scarf around his neck. Clearly, Jon, if life gives you two Martins, you have to hug them both. A lot.

He tilts his head towards Tim, opening his mouth — ]

Closet, in the —-

[ Oh. He ducks his head a bit, embarrassed by accidentally echoing his alternate. That apology isn’t really for him, he thinks, so he remains quiet. ]

[eyediot]

[Jon takes one steadying breath in before resting a hand on both their cheeks before starting to push himself up.

(Surely it's the cold bite of the water making his feet numb to the pain. Surely. Because it is cold and he can feel that but he doesn't want to think about any other possible outcomes there.)

Using the Martins' shoulders as a proper support, Jon steadies himself, then takes a couple steps back to sit on the edge of the bed.]

Glad we're all in one piece still.

[Even if his head's pounding. Too many Knows in too short a time, but stress and immediate worry over Martin and Algric together... He's got to learn how to get a better control over this.]

[kayakking]

No kidding, I thou-

[At THAT, hopefully before disaster strikes, Tim is scrambling up as well as circumstances allow. (It is, at least, so much easier to deal with EVERYTHING that just happened with the mundane little things to handle. Normal transgressions even if from a supernatural origin.)]

Jon! Do not sit your waterlogged ass down. Give me like, one minute.

[GOING TO GET THOSE TOWELS.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Jon please. Algric was going to stay here and cuddle, but - no. No, god, Jon, please. He tugs Jon back to Martin - to at least keep a hand on him, if not back to a full hug. Then he moves to check him over and fuss a little. His feet are ... less bad than he thought? He didn’t see the attack, so maybe they were just not injured quite so terribly. ]

Just - stay here, Jon. For a moment. Let us take care of you.

[ And Algric will help Tim fetch the towels. ]

[eyediot]

[Jon can't help the way he sputters a bit being pulled back down to Mqrtin an dgets one arm around his shoulders to steady himself. The rudeness in this room right now, God!

But he let's Algric fuss. And when he's getting up, he rests a head on Martin's shoulder tired.]

Could you- I mean if there are any here, some pain killers? My head is killing me.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric ... pauses at that. In some way, it really, really is, Jon. But he’s not going to unpack that just yet. (The feet - his head - ) ]

—- Oh, I’ll. I’ll get that.

[ He knows his own flat, after all. So rather than help Tim with the towels, he disappears (in an entirely mundane way) for a moment as he goes to retrieve some paracetamol and a glass of water. ]

[secreteary]

[everyone else is doing Martin's usual job of fussing, and he's sort of at a loss of what he should do now that his usual role has been filled twice over.

and what does he say to Jon now?]

...You're an idiot, Jon. Coming here in your condition.

[there's no actual reprimand in it. it's just a gentle, fond observation.

slowly, he puts his arm around Jon's shoulder. it almost doesn't feel real, that they're close like this.]

We should probably bandage up your feet again.

[eyediot]

[He settles there, its.... admittedly hard to argue when Martin is soft like this.]

I was worried. [And scared, but he won't admit that. But at the comment of rebandaging, Jon nods and shifts so he can get his shoes off. Its all damp and wet and he grimaces getting them off not because it hurts, but because of the squish noises they make. Ugh. But off come the socks and he's down to just the bandages.

Right.

Carefully off those go to, with Martin's help. And he.. sort of stares at his own feet. He was sure it was the icy bite of the waters numbing them, but they're almost healed. Still sore, still some redness and marks still to go, but not nearly as bad as they were a day or so ago.]

...Could be worse.

[It is worse. In its own way.]

[secreteary]

[there's a murmured "I'm sorry" yet again, before a small lapse into silence as Martin helps Jon takes his shoes off and examines Jon's feet.]

Still not great.

[a sigh. Martin is returning to normal enough that the urge to fuss is returning in force, but...Jon is in his lap, and that's wonderful for many reasons.

still...]

As much as I like this setup, I need to get some things for this. [read: this is nice but please get off so I can fuss]

[eyediot]

Um.

[Hm.]

R-right.

[He shifts so he's off Martin's lap and sitting. Back in the water. Where he started. And will instead focus on rolling up his pant legs a few rolls.

Somehow he keeps ending up sitting in water and waiting. Of course now the chill in the flat is starting to get to him.]

[secreteary]

[Martin huffs a laugh and gets up.]

You could've sat on my bed instead of in the water, you know.

[he then heads to the bathroom. pointedly avoiding looking at himself in the mirror, he takes his glasses off to splash some cold water on his face to help with the post-crying puffiness. after, it's just a matter of getting the first aid kit from his medicine cabinet and heading back to the bedroom.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric has headed back by then, and arrives at nearly the same time. He holds out a glass of water to Jon along with the bottle. ]

If he sits on your bed, he’ll get it wet. Tim’s getting towels anyway.

[ The glass is frosty, but the water in it is mostly just pleasantly chilly. ]

[kayakking]

Speaking of, [From the doorway, Tim's voice pipes up.]

The hero arrives! [An armload of towels from the hallway (most of the time really was just getting them arranged with an arm really starting to pang.) He's hanging back in the doorframe, rather than the small crowd of fuss.]

Here. I'm going to also suggest a change of locale. The rest of the apartment's positively toasty.

[eyediot]

Oh- Good. Let's go.

[He'll take it! It only takes a little energy and struggling for Jon to get back onto his feet, ignoring the bits of soreness from numb toes coming back to the waking world. He fumbles a little with the bottle before getting some of the medicine and downs it with the water. Then reaches to grab a towel.]

That arm should be in a sling, anyway.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric follows after, moving to take the heaviest towels from Tim. He can see you straining, okay. ]

Can - can we all stay here tonight? I think that would be. Nice.

[kayakking]

And you should be off your feet, Mr. Kettle. [Tim shoots back, dryly. Moving out of their way to facilitate Jon doing just that.

But he also doesn't mind Algric taking the load off either. Absolutely no complaints here.

Once distributed, he wraps one of the bathtowels around himself, rather than go through the annoyance of getting the damn thing back in the sling yet.]

[secreteary]

Oh-

[as the recently distressed party in this situation, it didn't occur to Martin that anyone would want to stay in his company after all of...that. he had even been debating whether or not to offer tea or to just let everyone get on their way.]

[quietly:] I think. I'd like that. If- I-if anyone's up for it.

[but then there are logistics to consider:]

I have- Well, they're going to be too big for Tim and Jon, but I've got shirts to sleep in and pyjama pants with drawstrings? So maybe you can tie them tight enough to work. And. A-and obviously for Algric, too. Erm. I don't have extra toothbrushes or anything, and maybe not enough groceries for breakfast for four people, but I can pop down the shops first thing in the morning. I have plenty of mugs for tea! If anyone wants any.

[and there's even a little excitement as he reveals:]

My sofa is actually a pull-out bed. I have extra pillows and blankets and an air mattress, so you all could be comfortable out here where it's warm? I'll take my bed since it's...you know.

[he doesn't say that he has all of these things for visitors that he never has. it's a little...exciting, in a way, to actually have a use for such hopeful preparation.]

[eyediot]

[If Jon were someone who acted more his age, he'd likely be making a face at Mr. Tim Pot Stoker. Instead, he finishes the glass of water and sighs; here's hoping that helps the migraine slowly throbbing behind his eyes.

He hadn't even considered staying the night. But staying with everyone... May be nice. Nicer than when they were all staying at the Archives before; somewhat... Kinder circumstances, if still not great.]

I think I'd like that as well. [Though Martin's talking about logistics and one thing sticks out. He sounds so, so confident.] Don't worry about breakfast. I'm sure it'll work out.

[He's going to make sure it works out himself. He starts drying off his arms as he heads to the living room, reaching to tug Martin along.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh, Martin. Algric’s own heart aches for a moment, knowing exactly where those impulses come from. Selfishly he longs for the same, despite the fact that it’s literally happening right now. Jon and Tim both here in his flat, having a sleepover ...

(It’s just not his flat, is it. Or his invitation. That hurts just a little, but it soothes in the same way that comforting Martin had. Old wounds are being bandaged tonight.) ]

There’s enough - enough room for all of us out here if we squeeze in close. That pull out is enormous. Plus it’ll be warmer this way.

[kayakking]

[There isn't the ache on Tim's side, just a brightening at watching the enthusiasm. That's... unexpectedly cute? That's definitely cute.

... And two of them, at least, shouldn't be left alone tonight anyway. And by what he walked into? Probably shouldn't be left alone with each other either.]

You know? [It's mild, honestly fond and a little weary, coming down from... everything that was.] I'm absolutely knackered. If it's not an imposition...

[secreteary]

[for the first time this whole night (and probably in a while beyond that), Martin brightens considerably.]

I'll go get some changes of clothes for everyone!

[back to the bedroom he goes!]

[eyediot]

[Jon watches him go, then sighs once and moves to put the towel he took and lay it on the couch. Then sits on it. He dares you to say something, Tim.. No getting the couch wet, and off his feet. Checkmate.]

All right.

[crap he left his socks and shoes in the other room. But they're also soaked, so they can stay in there for all he cares right now. And he's about to be in dry clothes for the night so these he's wearing can dry. He already ate at Tim's a little bit ago, so... What is there to do?]

Guess this is good a time as any to discuss the other matter.