[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]

...Yes.

[curriculum_fictae]

Well. This is what I want.

[eyediot]

..And I would never deny you that.

[You destroy one world and you can't ever say 'no' to the man you love ever again.]

[curriculum_fictae]

Good, glad we're agreed.

[ He's just going to carry Jon out of the zoo, then. ]

[eyediot]

[Truth be told, Jon can't remember the last time he was good and properly taken care of before he woke up here again. He'd already been dressing his own wounds when he ran from the Institute after Leitner's murder... So probably before then.

It's probably too soon to thank him for not asking what that was about.]

I do want to come back. Earlier in the day. I just... Didn't realize it'd-- I'd do that. Sorry.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ It probably helps that Algric is very soft, and reasonably warm. He'll get them all the way to the tube station, at least. ]

Can I - can I ask what it was you saw?

[eyediot]

[Mm yep. Murphy's law. He sighs quietly, tucking his face into Algric's jumper while he... tries to think of the best way to put this.]

I said that... All the other Entities were summoned through the Water's Crown. They each had their own ...domain. They had their own power there, it was made to their liking. [A slow inhale and he just rests his head against Algric's shoulder, watching and picking at a thread of the blanket.] The Stranger's domain was.... Loud. Screaming, but it was hard to tell if it was from joy or pain in some places. And in the center was... a large... brightly lit carousel.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Oh. Oh god. Stranger is enough to give him an unpleasant picture; the details are ... even worse. ]

I - I can only imagine - god, I hate the Stranger.

[eyediot]

[As much as Jon wishes Martin had been with him during his trek through the end of the world... He's massively glad he wasn't. Martin finding out about what lurked in the Dark would've been bad. Best not to go into detail about what the carousel was made of.]

It wasn't the worst, but... Still...very bad up front. [Ahem.] Anyway, I just-- I saw. Flashes of it, with the lights and all, and I. I definitely. Hate the Stranger as well.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Yes, best not to do that. He can't handle all of it for you, Jon. ]

... I'm sorry, Jon. I - if I'd known, I wouldn't have suggested it.

[eyediot]

No, it's fine. I didn't know either. Can't hide from everything forever.

[curriculum_fictae]

Still. If - if there's something like that, tell me?

[eyediot]

[Jon looks up at Algric trying to gauge that. He really does love this big soft man.]

I will.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He's just concerned, honestly. And paranoid now. What if he sets off Jon? He generates that ice at night, maybe it will be unpleasant. ]

Good. Thank you. I - I just want to help.

[eyediot]

I know. And it's taking everything in me to let you.

[He just wants to do it himselffffff]

Think we could grab that electric blanket?

[curriculum_fictae]

Of course. There's a shop on the way that we can step into.

[eyediot]

Brilliant.

And since we had to cancel one of the agendas on Your Day, did you have an alternate?

[curriculum_fictae]

... Does cuddling under an electric blanket count?

[eyediot]

Of course. As long as you like.

[curriculum_fictae]

Then - then let's do that. I'm tired anyway, and I'm sure you are too.

[eyediot]

Oh, if you're tired then I can- [He starts shifting, one leg up and going to the ground. They're almost at the tube anyway.]

Don't want you to overexert yourself.

[curriculum_fictae]

Now hold on a minute --

[ But it's true, he can't very well carry Jon onto the tube. He reluctantly lets the man down. ]

[eyediot]

You can't very well carry me onto the tube.

[His smile is all fondness up at him. As they wait for it, his mind goes back over a conversation from before.]

....I'm going to run out of statements sooner than later. It might be best if I sneak into the Institute.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ God, Jon. Algric twitches bodily at that. ]

Are - are you sure you can do that without Elias finding you?

[eyediot]

[Jon takes stepping through the doors as a chance to think for a moment.]

You said you have to report to him? I could go then. Once he has eyes on you, it won't matter where I am in there.