curriculum_fictae | [PSL-Adjacent] time travel side story

[PSL-Adjacent] time travel side story

[ 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. ]

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Versus not. Right.

[ A deep breath. ]

I'm not going anywhere now. And neither are you.

Couldn't make me go anywhere else.

[He shifts, only so much so he can touch the back of his fingers to Algric's cheek.]

You should rest some more.

[ Algric leans into that gently. ]

I - I will. I am. The rest know I'm safe, so. We can stay here all night.

Good. [That they won't worry about him, he means.

He shifts up a little more for a... hesitant soft kiss.]

I'll be right here.

[ He returns it, shy and gentle. ]

Will you sleep?

I... don't know that I can anymore. But I can still rest here with you.

All right.

[ He leans his head down. ]

Just - if I do anything strange in my sleep, don't be alarmed? It's. Harmless, honest.

... All right.

[Consider his curiosity piqued.]

I will not be alarmed by anything strange that happens while you are... asleep.

Thank you, Jon.

[ He smiles, then, and closes his eyes. Breath slowing. ]

...Of course, Martin.

[Algric, Martin... It's all the same as he watches him slowly drift off.]

[ Another small smile at that. Call him what you like, he supposes.

He drifts off relatively quickly, at least. Quiet. Shifting a bit as he falls into a dream or two. So far so good ... ]

[So far so good... Maybe his being here is good. Help him sleep a little better, a little easier. Jon settles where he is, head on the pillow where he can watch him. It's surreal.]

[ Good. He gets a good look, then, when Algric stops breathing. His body goes still and cold, and his body slowly begins to turn to ice. Literally. All colour fades from him, and frost spreads out along the bed around him. ]

[ . . .

He takes that back.

This is more surreal. His eyes go wide seeing it happening. And he Knows it's safe. Algric has gone through this before, and there's no real danger to him. But maybe some danger to himself. A little.

Jon watches the frost spreading and hesitates before shifting enough to get under the big heavy duvet. Not that it would stop this, but it's... something for himself. God, it's cold.]

[ All the time. Nearly every night. The worst nights are when he wakes up partway through, finding his body dead and unmoving, but awake through it all. Mercifully, being next to Jon has pushed him much more deeply into sleep.

It doesn't do much for Jon, though, no. The cold seeps in from all angles, frost coating the outside of the duvet and reaching icy tendrils for his skin. He is too strong to be hurt, really, but ... it's cold. ]

[Jon keeps watching him, fo any sign of stirring (and there won't be, he Knows) before curling into himself a bit under the duvet. Tucking his hands to his chest and shivering.]

Right... Okay. That's new. [He'll have to figure this out. Because he doesn't want to give up sharing a bed with him, but...]

[ But it's unpleasant, isn't it? The cold, the dead lack of movement in bed nest to him. Don't you want to leave him here alone, Archivist? It's so unpleasant being here next to him. ]

[The cold is down in his veins. Jon lifts his head back up to Algric, seeing that iced over face. Nods once, like he's made a decision.]

I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere.

[A half-hearted joke as he climbs out from under the duvet. There's the sound of a door opening, and cloth rustling before he comes back, a couple more heavy winter blankets in his arms. He spreads them over the bed. Nods. Then climbs back in, fully intent on keeping his promise.]

[ For a split second when Jon comes back, it seems like he's alone there, that there's nobody in the bed and never was --

And then Algric is simply there again, still frozen to the spot while Jon piles on the blankets. They will help, at least. Maybe an electric blanket next time would be better. ]

Need an electric blanket next time.

[That's what he decides. Can he even get one? His current timeline self would definitely notice such a large purchase. He cozies up into his little next, hearing the way the bits of frost on the first duvet crack as he moves it. It is better. And it'll do for now. He intense to keep his promise one way or another.]

[ Very much so. Fortunately, after that initial wave of cold, Algric begins to thaw slowly, until he's breathing again, and the horrible frost recedes slowly. Still cold, but not terrible. ]

[If he were able to sleep like people, he'd be well on his way now. Jon sort of wishes he could. But the Eye is always watching and he can't no matter how hard he tries.

Once the frost starts withdrawing, Jon moves his hand (still under the pile of blankets) over to Algric to take his hand. After a few minutes of watching, he'll close his eyes. Just to... pretend.]

[ Algric instinctively clutches his hand in turn. The closer Jon gets, the more he thaws, until it's simply rather damp in the bed, and Algric breathes easily again.

He sleeps through until morning without incident. ]

[By morning, Jon's... as close to 'asleep' as he can get. A sort of restful trance with his eyes closed. He scoot closer gradually over the night, being right next to him again, but still under the different blankets. But his head is tucked up close to Algric's now, breathing easily.]

[ Algric opens his eyes to see Jon, then, and the last of the ice falls away as he warms. He just ... stares for a long moment, happy beyond words, taking in the sight of him. ]

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