[PSL-Adjacent] time travel side story

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Is this part of the other PSL? MAYBE ... tbd.

But - this is the Martin who went back in time to the second season, before everything really started going to hell. It hasn't been the most pleasant ride - seeing himself, accidentally triggering Not-Sasha's attack, the confrontation with Elias - but it's been better. He'd begged Michaelen not to take him back for multiple reasons. Yes, he thinks help more here, but ... he also doesn't want to go home to die. Not when there's a Jon here who's willing to love him, when Tim is blossoming into a new best friend, and even Martin is slowly moving towards self-acceptance in a literal sense.

For the first time in months, Martin - no, Algric - sees the shape of what a peaceful life could be. This could be a world where he lives in Jon's flat for the rest of his life, where he doesn't only have to be a helpful ghost. The Lonely is still too strong in him, but he feels it weakening in spots, where Tim and Jon and Martin have all helped him remember what it's like to have human connection.

That's why he's here at Hilltop Road. He dares to hope now; he dares to consider the possibility that he might get to keep all of this. And if he wants to keep this, he has to make sure there's no way back to the hell he left. Michaelen's appearance had scared him more deeply than he wants to let on.

As he mounts the steps to the rickety old house, Algric takes in a shivering breath. It's fine. It's fine, this is fine, he's just - just going to look. And if there's a creepy basement with a crack in the world, he's not going to go through it! He's just going to. See if it's there or not. If he thinks his timeline is on the other side or not. ]

Comments

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Better Normal than either extreme, though Algric doesn't yet seem to have found his footing yet. It will be a long process.

He's waiting at the kotatsu with the teapot and the mugs; he looks up at Jonah searchingly. ]

Yes. I - ah, well. I got them to have a bit of a date? Just the two of them,

[eyediot]

[Long process or not, Jon's determined to be right here with him through it. Jon, at least, looks all right, if a bit tired. But fed.]

That-- Huh. [A wry smile.] Might be the best thing for them right now.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Fed, huh. Fed is a different kind of concerning. He'll take it for now, though, and nudge over the tea. ]

I thought so, yeah. Good distraction either way.

[eyediot]

I think so too.

[He did say he'd get something from the ritual, didn't he? Jon smiles seeing the scene in front of him before moving to take his spot next to Algric and reach for the mug.]

What'd you set up?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric instinctively leans in closer. He hasn't forgiven you yet, but he's accepting this peace offering. ]

A - a picnic. At the zoo.

[eyediot]

[He stops with the mug halfway to his lips to look at him. Then a bit of sadness creeps into that smile as he takes a sip. What he couldn't do, huh.]

They'll like that.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Well, yes. But. That wasn't quite the point he was trying to make.

Algric sighs, shoulders slumping. ]

Yes, I think so. Which is good because what on earth were you thinking.

[eyediot]

[Oh boy. His thoughts stop dead in their tracks at that tone.]

I-i was-- I was destroying Nikola, and keeping my promise to Tim!

[curriculum_fictae]

And also throwing the two of you into mortal danger to stop a rite that was going to collapse on its own!

[eyediot]

Again, keeping my promise to Tim.

[He's quickly losing this.]

[curriculum_fictae]

And potentially leaving me - what, alone with Jon and Martin? With both of you dead, again?

[eyediot]

[He sputters a bit, setting his mug down.]

We weren't going to die--

[Wait does Algric know he can't really die? Tim, sure, that was his concern, but - Jon can't.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Clearly, he missed that part. ]

You could have! You could have, Jon! And I couldn't even help you!

[eyediot]

But I wouldn't have because I literally can't--

[Breath. Breathing and. He doesn't want to yell or fight with him about this. It was the right thing to do for Tim.]

You remember, Nikola took Tim's brother? He would never have forgiven me if I hadn't taken him.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric's mouth drops open. Hang on - that first part - ]

What - what d'you mean, you can't die?

[eyediot]

[Blink.

A beat.]

It's... Um. Well... Kind of. The whole.. Having done the ritual as an avatar thing? A-as far as I Know, I... can't really?

[curriculum_fictae]

Oh. Oh, I didn't - I didn't know.

[eyediot]

...Right. Right!

Yes, that's. Something I should've mentioned sooner. Sorry.

[curriculum_fictae]

Y-yes, Jon! I- I would have worried less. A little bit less.

[eyediot]

I am sorry. [Genuinely. Truly.] I thought I had told you.

[curriculum_fictae]

No, it's - it's fine. I just.

[ He puts his head in his hands. ]

I just. I had visions of having to go to that wretched place after. O-or worse, back to the hospital.

[eyediot]

I wouldn't have let it get to that.

[How could he possibly have avoided it beyond sheer stubbornness? Another sip of his tea.]

Something did happen with Tim, though. Right at the end.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Yeah, Jon, he doesn't believe you. ]

What - what happened to Tim?

[eyediot]

[His gaze is focused on the wall other side of them, like he can see Tim through it talking to Martin.]

I think the Desolation.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh.

Oh god. He's not - surprised? Not really, just ... horrified. He'd seen the hints, sure but Tim had always been so human-- ]

No.