curriculum_fictae | [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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

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.

From:

curriculum_fictae

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

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

From:

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.

From:

curriculum_fictae

That --

[ Might work, actually? Elias won't think to search for a second Jon, and Algric is already planning to make sure the man's full attention is on him. Still, he darkens. ]

That's still terribly dangerous.

From:

eyediot

....I know.

[He's a little too aware of how dangerous it is; he isn't worried about himself, but he would walk right back through the rift and to the apocalypse if anything happened to Algric or the others.

He takes a seat, mindful that he... isn't facing the glass anywhere.]

But it still might be worth a shot. Especially if I can get any information from there. A-about freeing you all.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Fortunately, when Algric sits down, the window frosts over. Problem solved, maybe. ]

Right, and I don't disagree with that, just ... isn't there another way?

From:

eyediot

Unless you or the other me want to risk spending more time there digging yourselves. Or making Tim and Martin do it.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ A full body shudder. ]

No - no. That's. Worse.

From:

eyediot

[O-oh. At the shudder, Jon reaches to rub Algric's arm.]

I could walk in and Know in a few minutes.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Algric looks rather grateful at that. And then, y'know, profoundly worried. ]

And Elias won't Know that you're doing that?

From:

eyediot

I'm not sure. But he may assume it's this timeline's Jon testing himself.

From:

curriculum_fictae

That - that actually might work. Especially if you're not in the room ...

From:

eyediot

Considering I always preferred to record in my office...

[There is the beginningsbof a plan there. He's fairly certain it'll work.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

R-right, then - then we can try it. Yes.

From:

eyediot

[Even he doesn't have to have the Eye to sense that apprehension. He squuezes Algric'sarm before stepping up to get off the tube.]

We'll talk to the others first.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Algric nods at that. ]

... Tomorrow, then. You can come meet them.

From:

eyediot

... Tomorrow. All right.

[Well now he's the apprehensive one.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

Is - is that too soon? We don't have much time before Elias's compulsion drags me back...

From:

eyediot

No, no it's. We don't have the luxury of time. The sooner the better.

From:

curriculum_fictae

Right. Right. I'm - sure it will go fine. Jon has warning, and he might have told the others.

From:

eyediot

I'm... pretty sure he did, yes.

[He'll have to talk about almost all of it. But he look up at Algric, too intense for just a quick glance, but not so much that it looks like he's Knowing anything.]

How... How are you? Holding up in all this?

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ That. Sure is a question. Algric instinctively moves to deflect and downplay, as he always does. ]

What, me? Nothing's happened to me, really. It's Tim and Jon that got sliced up terribly by Not-Sasha. She might still be on the loose somewhere.

From:

eyediot

[Unfortunately, Jon's not having much of it. He moves to take Algric's hand sandwiched between both of his own.]

THat-- That's not good, but. I asked about you.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Dammit, Jon. He seems to stutter a little, still valiantly trying to deflect. It's much harder when Jon's holding his hand like this. ]

W-well - I - you're here now. That means things are better.

From:

eyediot

[He may be broken to hell and back, but it's still Jon deep down. The Jon who stubbornly pushes on.]

Then does that mean you're holding up all right? Do-do you need anything? From me?