Martin K(nife) Blackwood (
curriculum_fictae) wrote2020-08-23 08:44 am
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[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. ]
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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[ He hesitates. ]
Did ... Elias force you, then?
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It's hard to explain. I think Annabelle Cane actually understood it better than I could until she told me. When I... read statements. It was true when we started in the Archives, and it's even more true now. But when I start reading a statement, I can't... stop. I think at this point if I tried to stop reading one partway through, it might do very real damage to me.
Elias knew that. And forced me through a false beginning statement, knowing I wouldn't be able to stop.
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... You came back to the Institute starving. And - and then Elias tricked you into it.
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[He merely watches the tips of the flames from the top of the bin.]
As barely functioning as I was, I knew whatever he gave to 'help' me wouldn't be help... I just had no idea it would... be the apocalypse.
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[ A pause. ]
... We could kill him.
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But I think the others are still tied to him. It might kill them.
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[Wait hold on. He thinks for a second, really focusing.]
I think I might be stronger than he is right now.
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What - what does that mean?
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[Phew boy, let him. Get the scope of this in his mind before he puts it to words.]
You're all tied to him, through the Institute, he said if we kill him it kills all of you. But-- But if, and I cannot stress it is a big if, but if it's possible... I... might be able to... shift it.
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If - if we're tied to the Eye more than anything, and you displace him - i-it could work. Yeah.
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I don't know, though. It's... Still a big risk. I-i don't even know how to go about it.
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[Such faith in himself.]
The real question is would any of you want to be bound to me instead.
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I would.
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Just... So quiet.]
You're sure?
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Of course I'm sure, Jon. I -
[ His voice cracks just a little. ]
I've missed you. You specifically.
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You... You've literally been living with the me of this time.
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[He kissed you.]
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F-fine, okay. He - he is you on some level. That doesn't mean I miss you any less.
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I... Guess I don't see much of the difference? Except I made horrible mistakes we're going to try to prevent him from making?
[You gotta spell it out for him, he's dumb when it comes to himself.]
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Jon. I just - imagine for a moment that you woke up in Hilltop Road, except it wasn't me standing over you. It was Martin.
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[The thought exercise isn't really welcome, but Algric has been... unnecessarily kind since finding him, so.]
And... I'd want to protect him any way I could. [Okay he's starting to get it.]
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And if it turned out he loved you, even if he wasn't quite on the same page as you? Of course you'd have returned his affections.
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