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:

eyediot

[How does he... even begin here? It's so juvenile and not the least bit relevant to the Archive or Gertrude's murder or.... anything. It's just... childish.]

You know the officer who's been coming by - investigating everything? Basira?

[Hands on his hips! He's so! Put out by this!]

Tim spoke with her and now he thinks she and I are. Y'know. Outside of work.

[Martin you spend more time with Tim than he himself does, surely you get it without him having to say it.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ It's true. Martin and Tim are reasonably good friends, or at least they were while Tim was alive. It only takes Martin a moment to catch up. ]

Wait. What - you and Basira? Really?

From:

eyediot

Yes. [He sounds so annoyed and exhausted by it.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ A chuckle and a sigh. ]

Well Tim just assumes everyone has his libido.

From:

eyediot

[Just goes to show maybe Tim doesn't know Jon that well after all.

Which... surprisingly makes him a little sad to think about.

He sighs and sort of flops onto the couch next to the folded laundry.]

Whatever. If he wants to think that and it lets she and I discuss the case without interruption, then I suppose it doesn't matter.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Martin sits back down, then, the laundry between them. ]

Mm, I don't recall either way. I think I was mostly consumed with worrying about you and Gertrude at the time. Probably nothing bad comes of it?

From:

eyediot

Possibly. The you in this timeline is... remarkably concerned about my well being.

[If he didn't know the Martin next to him, if he only had his own observations to go by, he'd be suspicious about now of the level of concern. But... It's probably nothing.]

That's all that's happened this week, I think.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ If it's fake concern, then it's persisted for two years and through this ... event. Though Martin has been very tight-lipped about what, exactly, he came from; he hasn't offered any more details aside from what he blurted out already.

He ducks his head a little. ]

Good. That's good. I - think it does end up being quiet for a while, at least.

From:

eyediot

For now, at least.

Basira is trying to get me some of the tapes found with... With Gertrude. They may have something to do with it.

[He leans his head back over the back of the couch; uncharacteristic of the Prim and Proper Archivist, but... He's wishing he hadn't quit smoking before. He knows he quit and he knows it's good he quit but, sometimes...]

How are things here?

From:

curriculum_fictae

O-oh. Yes, that - that should be happening soon. I think the Alexandria tape is coming up.

[ His memory is imperfect, of course, but he distinctly recalls spotting that tape later.

But ... gosh. That posture is more important, isn't it? He finds his face softening at how casual Jon is being. It's nice. He ... well. He can't miss something he never had, but it's strangely nostalgic anyway. ]

Oh, you know. Very quiet. I think your neighbor's starting to wonder who I am, though.

From:

eyediot

Well, that's not really my neighbor's business is it? Unless you make it her business.

[Honestly, he doesn't know how long Martin will be here or if there's some kind of event he's supposed to wait for. Until then, he's Jon's guest.

But.]

...Alexandria? Really?

From:

curriculum_fictae

W-well no, but she sees me coming and going, and ...

[ And eventually he has to figure out what excuse he's going to use. Family member? No way. Friend? Unconvincing. Boyfriend?

Well, that's a bridge to cross later. He rubs at the back of his neck. ]

Yes, really. Something about a mummy in the 1940s. Not terribly relevant, but distinct.

From:

eyediot

[His whole mood and expression sours at that.

Mummies.

Ugh.]

Great. Can't wait to listen to that one.

[But his tone says NO HE DOESN'T WANT TO.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

I mean, you could avoid it? I don't know what that would do, exactly.

[ He curls in on himself a little. ]

I - I don't know how much I should tell you in general.

From:

eyediot

No, no. It's. It's a statement, I'll have to read it eventually.

[It's his job. And while he's investigating.... Elias? Elias now, he can't raise suspicion by skipping one. He pinches the bridge of his nose and rubs a little.]

It's all right. You've already told me quite a bit. It's just... Up to me to put the pieces together now.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ It's true. Doubly so since he's hiding Martin; Elias will likely have some things to say to a Martin Blackwood from two years on. Best not to tempt him. ]

Right. And - and avoid the big things, yeah? Don't smash that table in Artefact Storage. Stop the Unknowing without getting Tim killed.

From:

eyediot

.... [Quietly:] I hope I can get through that without Tim being killed.

[As much as Tim hates him right now, he... still doesn't want him to die. He doesn't understand the table thing yet, but since it's come up he has some other things to look into regarding it.]

...Right. What did you want to eat?

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ At least they have time on the second one. About a year, if Martin doesn't miss his guess? He really needs to finish sketching out the timeline so he can give it to Jon.

But he brightens at the mention of happier things. ]

Oh, I have dinner ready for you. Potato pancakes. I found a recipe close to the one I remember making as a kid.

From:

eyediot

Really? Is that what the smell is?

[If he's not careful he could get spoiled to this.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

Yes. They're just keeping warm in the oven right now. If you want to do the usual--?

[ Meaning Jon gets out the plates and cutlery while Martin serves the food. ]

From:

eyediot

On it.

[yep, he's up and moving, letting his bag with his laptop sit leaning against the couch. Plates come down from their usual cabinet, cutlery out, and glasses of water.]

...Martin, is it... Would it be too much to ask what it's like? Two years from now?

[He's been trying to be respectful and accept what Martin feels comfortable sharing, but he'd be lying if he said he isn't dying to know. He wants to know so badly.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ And meanwhile Martin retrieves the fine little stacks of pancakes from the oven, as well as a bowl with salad from the refrigerator. He'll portion it out into lunches for Jon after.

He slows at that question. It's inevitable, isn't it? He's tried to put Jon off gently, of course, and avoided what he could, but ...

But whatever effect brought him here isn't snapping him back. He ... isn't sure if he can go back. Or if he wants to. But what can he do while he's here? ]

What - what do you want to know, exactly?

[ Faded hands set the bowl of salad down, trembling lightly. ]

From:

eyediot

[Jon watches him out the corner of his eye, noting the apprehension, the trembling.]

...Whatever you feel comfortable talking about.

[The things Martin has told him about are bad but... It must be even worse.]

If you're not - I mean, if you don't want to say anything, that's all right. I won't...

From:

curriculum_fictae

You won't compel it out of me?

[ He laughs a little, like that's a joke. His own private one maybe. Can he stop Jon's descent into the Eye? How can he? Does he propose what future Jon had? Put out their eyes and run away together...?

No. No, that's not happening. All he can do is keep Jon safe, at least, and try to ameliorate the rest. ]

It's nothing good, Jon.

From:

eyediot

[His brows knot in concern at that. That phrasing - "compel it out of him"? And then laughter, like it's.... He isn't sure.

There's so much he doesn't understand. And it doesn't look like he'll get the answers until it's too late to stop any of whatever it is that happened.

His voice softens, but. It's a little sad too.]

Then it's all right. Don't worry about this, forget I asked.