[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]

No, I-- I understand. That was... his place.

[He sighs, the breath coming out right by Algric's ear.]

...I was really angry. [Really, Peter didn't stand much chance at that point.]

[curriculum_fictae]

On - on my behalf?

[ He seems dimly awed. ]

[eyediot]

...He'd spent months hurting you. And... And then took you.

[Jon sighs, one hand curling up into the curls on the back of Algric's head. Almost protectively.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric leans into that. ]

Yes. Yes, he. He did.

[eyediot]

So... Yes. I was. Really angry on your behalf.

[And then Peter didn't have much more to say on the matter.]

I'm not leaving you again.

[curriculum_fictae]

I'm - I'm not going anywhere. I mean, I'd sort of planned to after everything was done but ...

[ This is clearly different. ]

[eyediot]

[He pulls back to look Algric in the eyes, thumbing along his jaw.]

But... This is different now. I don't... Want to go back.

[Sure he was well fed and all, but. It didn't matter. The world was over.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric nods at that, leaning into Jon's hand. ]

Then you won't. We'll - we'll figure out a new life here. You and me.

[eyediot]

We will.

[He keeps up the gentle affection, watching Algric's face warmly.]

....I guess one way to stop everything repeating is. Keep the current timeline me from the rituals. Could go stop them ourselves?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric pales a bit at that. ]

A-are we strong enough for that?

[eyediot]

[There's a long, thoughtful pause.]

... I might be.

[He doesn't... Want to go over the details of his... almost-sort-of-murder-spree of the other Avatars while he wandered. But he's fairly certain.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric leans back just enough to really look at Jon for a moment. ]

It's - it's better than risking the others. But only if you're sure.

[ His voice cracks again. ]

I can't lose you again.

[eyediot]

You won't.

[Said quick and with the sureness of someone who has. Definitely run and/or fought for his life already. And won.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ What a strange thought that is. He can sense that confidence, but it's so different. ]

... You're really strong now, huh.

[eyediot]

[Oh. He...sort of withdraws into himself just a hair, looking down a little.]

I... Yes. I'm. An Avatar.

[curriculum_fictae]

Of the Eye, yeah. I - I figured as much.

[ There's no surprise, only quiet sadness. He reaches out for Jon's face gently. ]

I - I guess I'm more monster than human myself.

[eyediot]

[He leans into the touch, closes his eyes.]

...I'm sorry. You-- don't.. Deserve that. [Martin shouldn't have had this foisted on him.]

[curriculum_fictae]

No. I don't. But neither do you, Jon.

[ He smooths Jon's cheek with his thumb. ]

[eyediot]

... I chose it though. I can't... explain it, but when Oliver Banks spoke to me. I made the choice.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric blinks at that slowly, confused. ]

What do you mean?

[eyediot]

[He literally just said he can't explain it dang.]

When... [hm.] There's a point where... you reach the crossroads. And you.. i think you have to be on the verge of death. That plays some part, but you have to choose. To become a full Avatar or... stay more human. And... somewhere in that, I.. chose it. Before I woke up. Oliver is the... Avatar of Death. So ....

I may be entirely wrong. I'm not sure how it works exactly. I just know I unconsciously made the choice. I thought it'd be better than dying.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh. Oh. That sends a chill through Algric for multiple reasons. It all makes sense? It matches with what he'd known already, and with Jon being actually powerful once he'd returned from being dead.

But it means something rather dire for himself, doesn't he? He'd turned down Peter's choice, but made a different one when actually faced with his own death. ]

And now you're - you're fully aligned with the Eye. I thought so.

[eyediot]

[Somehow, hearing it from Algric makes it... worse than he'd gone on thinking about it on his own all these months. He feels a little ashamed about it, ducking his head further from his touch.]

Yes. I-i am.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh, Jon. That's not what he meant at all. He leans forward again, cupping one hand under Jon's chin. ]

I'm so glad, Jon. I - I'm so glad you're alive, and that Peter didn't kill you, and. And that you found me again.

[eyediot]

[He doesn't move his head or lean into the touch. Just his eyes shifying to look up at him.]

... And we're here now. We can... try to change things a bit. Make sure they don't go through the same things.