[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

[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.

[eyediot]

Unless I imagined the scorched hand prints on the back of my shirt...

I-i don't know if he. Chose, but. It got to him right in the end.

[curriculum_fictae]

......

[ God. Algric grips the table a little too hard; it generates a thin, weak layer of frost there. ]

How - how many of us are monsters now?

[eyediot]

I... think all of us.

[He still isn't sure what entirely is happening to Algric. But for now? He's counting him. Jon does... reach over to put one hand over Algric's.]

As far as I can tell, we're still ourselves at least.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Ironic; Algric had arguably started this the least human, but between Jon showing up and his rejection of the Lonely, he might be the most human.

He turns his hand up, squeezing Jon's hand. ]

R-right. Right. Traumatised, of course, but.

[eyediot]

Don't think any of us were getting out without that.

[He squeezes that hand back.]

...I'll be honest, I'm not sure what the next step should be here. Obviously stop Elias but...

[curriculum_fictae]

But after that, then what? We're just four monsters living in a house together?

[ He says it rather wistfully, honestly. ]

[eyediot]

...

[He leans in a little close, whispering just for Algric.]

Is that what you want? A-after everything?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Damn, Jon. He shivers a little. ]

Y-yes? All four of us together. And if we're all - you know, monsters, that's - that's okay.

[eyediot]

[He smiles, squeezes his hand again.]

With the occasional holiday? Stop some other ritual as it comes round?

[curriculum_fictae]

I mean - that actually does sound really nice?

[eyediot]

[After endless months of wandering alone, staying in one place with people he loves and cares about sounds... nice. Jon smiles, almost warm at him.]

Then. Then let's do that.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Good. Okay. That's enough to make him relax, finally.

Mostly. ]

You need a shower, Jon. A real one.

[eyediot]

[He leans away.]

Wow, thank you, Martin.

[It's just the two of them, he's allowed. But no, he knew, he was just. Wanting to smooth things over first.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric seems officially smoothed, at least. He manages a small smile. ]

Look. I'm just being honest here.

[eyediot]

No, no, you're right. [He lets go of his hand and moves his mug closer to the center of the table so he can get up.]

Iiii will see you in a little while.

[curriculum_fictae]

Right. I'll - ah, I'll get dinner out.

[ Human dinner, he means. ]

[eyediot]

[He lingers for just a second, but decides no he won't get close in smelling like this or getting ash or anything on Algric. The shower is nice though. A soothing warm, better than the explosive heat from before. But even with the eye rinse Tim provided and the shower, his eyes still sting when he steps out and dries off. Like a layer of angry, low grade sandpaper is over them. It's probably just the lingering remains of the smoke from before.

Coming back, he's got a set of pyjamas on and sits again.]

Martin, can I ask something?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric's set out dinner, as promised. It's a pleasant little casserole, nothing too special. Probably he's the only one who needs it? And even that is, well. A bit questionable.

He notices that Jon's eyes seem a bit red? Which is weird, considering his sclera are black. ]

Sure, Jon. Of course.

[ He warms a bit at being called Martin. ]

[eyediot]

[He tucks himself under the kotatsu blanket, completely, mostly relaxed.]

Did it take you a while to adjust to Tim and the me here not fighting? Because it's... I'm still on guard for it, you know?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Good. Algric settles in next to him. ]

Oh god, yes. I kept expecting a fight to break out.

[eyediot]

I'm not so sure it will here.

[Mm cold tea.]

I think you managed to salvage that friendship.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Look, he'll get you hot tea if you ask him. He blinks at that. ]

I did?

[eyediot]

Yeah, you did. You got them all talking. I never did that in our turn.