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

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.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Martin doesn't want to deny him the truth. He doesn't. And he wants Jon to avoid as much of this as he can, it's just ...

Martin bows his head a little. ]

I just ... if I tell you, you'll try to save the other me, and I'm afraid that that will put you in danger.

From:

eyediot

[He focuses on keeping his hands busy. Bringing their plates to the table, their bowls. Save the current timeline Martin... That already has wheels turning, mental notes to keep a closer eye on him. Maybe some time after work hours to... To what? He's already been told by Elias that they don't want him spying on them.

He doesn't know what to do.]

I don't know if you noticed, Martin, but I'm pretty good about putting myself in danger without it being to save anyone.

[His own... kind of stupid joke.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Oh Jon. It does get a weak chuckle. ]

God, that's true. If I listed off all the ways you leapt into trouble...

[ Or died. Hell, Jon's death had set off so much. Those six miserable months without him. Lukas taking over the Institute, Martin's deal ...

Wait. That - might be a way to help his alternate self and Jon? If Jon knows what kinds of terrible things result from his death, maybe he'll try to avoid it more. ]

I - I made a deal with Lukas. I think I mentioned that.

From:

eyediot

[He was going about his business! Getting their glasses of water and sitting down to a nice meal! That Martin made!

But he pauses when he says that. He hadn't... expected Martin to say anything after what they just said.]

...Y-yes. You did. You also said he takes over the Archive.

From:

curriculum_fictae

He does, yes. After I get Elias arrested. You - you might consider stopping me from doing that.

[ Maybe Elias will do something worse, though. That's a distinct possibility and he doesn't know the right answer here. ]

It's ... it's a long, miserable story. But Lukas wanted to install me in the Panopticon. Take it for himself, away from Jonah Magnus. And when I refused, he shoved me into the Lonely and left me there to die.

From:

eyediot

[Hey were they going to eat?

Because now they're not.

Jon stares at him, eyes slowly widening.

He doesn't know what the Panopticon is (he does, he knows the name, he knows about its history but nothing about what it currently is) or what the Lonely is, or what any of that means.

But being left somewhere to die.... ]

Martin... I.

I-is that. Is that where you were? When you saw the door?

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Sorry, Jon. You were the one who asked this right as they sat down to eat. He's just answering your question.

Martin nods, slowly, looking down at his hands. The fingertips are nearly translucent in spots, and horribly grey and pale everywhere else. ]

Yes, Jon. I don't know how long I'd been in there.

[ Not long in actual time, maybe, but subjectively? A minor eternity already. ]

From:

eyediot

[In his defense: he didn't think it'd be that.

He keeps eyes on Martin, watching him.

Then nods, like he's made a decision.

In fact, he has.]

You're not going back.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Martin jolts at that, sitting upright. Pinking just a little? Does Jon know what he's implying--? ]

But - but I can't stay here, Jon. There's already a me here.

[ It means Martin has to stay with Jon permanently. ]

From:

eyediot

I'll- I'll figure something out. But if the alternative for you is going back to - to whatever 'The Lonely' is and dying?

Then you're not doing that.

[And then stuffs a big bite of salad in his mouth.]