[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]

[Jon leans a little to look at him, smiling.]

Mr. Blackwood, are you suggesting we possibly break in after hours?

[It's all joke.]

[curriculum_fictae]

I would never.

[eyediot]

Noooo. Of course, not.

[curriculum_fictae]

How dare you accuse me of that.

... But we probably should go at least early enough to get in normally, or else the carousel won't work.

[eyediot]

I'm sorry for impugning your honor.

And that is an excellent point. [He finishes his lunch and starts packing everything up.] The lights on it after sun down are nice.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh. Oh. That seems beautifully romantic. ]

I would like that very much.

[eyediot]

Then that's the plan.

[He hasn't thought about it that far yet. He gets it all packed up and the blanket folded over the food as a kind of lid.]

Ready?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric helps pack up too, still beaming down at Jon. ]

Yes. I am, Jon.

[eyediot]

[Its just a little smile, more to himself as they pack up and start walking. The box and leftovers and blanket are a little heftier than he'd like but its all right.]

I know we've talked about broad strokes, but... what do we do? A-after everything with the Institute, if we succeed?

[curriculum_fictae]

I ... I guess I'm not sure. We're not going back to our timeline.

[ That's firm. He won't, he won't, dammit. ]

But - but we should probably leave London. Give our past selves some space.

[eyediot]

Might not be a bad idea.

[Where would they go? Jon still doesnt know what will happen if they destroy the Institute itself, or the panopticon.]

Maybe the country?

[Jon would hate it.]

[curriculum_fictae]

Mm, maybe, but. I feel like that wouldn't actually work out.

[ Yeah, he can't picture it. ]

[eyediot]

Then we'll figure it out. Look at some places together.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric abruptly goes rather red. ]

What, like - just move in together somewhere?

[ It sounds terribly nice. ]

[eyediot]

[OH. He immediately looks apologetic.]

W-was that not what you were thinking?

[curriculum_fictae]

N-no, but - but it's not bad Jon, I'm just. Thinking about how we pay for something like that, and. And all of that.

[eyediot]

Logistics, right.

[He isn't about to suggest being squatters or grifters. Still, it is something that has to be worked out.]

Maybe a goal for after we save the rest.

[curriculum_fictae]

... Yeah. Yeah, I - I like that.

[ He reddens again, leaning closer. ]

A little place just for us. After we're done saving this timeline.

[eyediot]

[Algric leaning in close and words like that get to him. His face goes dark and hebturns his head away, seeing the entrance of ths zoo in front of them.]

R-right. For us.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Aww, Jon. Algric will take a moment to just look at him then. ]

That's - that's for later, though. Carousel?

[eyediot]

Right. Yes, carousel, then the.. rest of the zoo.

[What's the point of coming if they don't see all of it? The line getting in isn't so bad, and there are some small crowds leaving with the sun starting to go down.]

... What is your favorite animal? And don't say spiders.

[curriculum_fictae]

I mean. I do really like spiders, but I understand why you don't want to see those.

[ He thinks for a moment. ]

Birds, maybe?

[eyediot]

[He looks a little surprised by that.]

Would nnnnot have guessed birds. Huh.

[curriculum_fictae]

W-what's wrong with birds? They're colorful and - feathery.

[eyediot]

Nothing wrong! Just not what I would have guessed.

[Dogs.

The music of the carousel is carrying over the small groups of people in front of them now.]