[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

[curriculum_fictae]

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

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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?

[curriculum_fictae]

You're - you're giving me everything I need. I'm so glad, Jon, I was planning to disappear before you came --

[ Ah. There it is. He winces at that little admission. ]

[eyediot]

[Didn't even compel for it.

Jon finds himself unable to look away, a small pang of hurt behind his eyes. But it isn't hurt for himself.]

...You might've broken him, if you had.

[There it is, really. Algric... can't go with him.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric just stands there for a moment, head bowed. He knows what Jon says is true. He knows it, and yet. He'd planned to disappear anyway. Hoped that present Jon would manage a way through it, despite the pain. That Tim and Martin would be enough, and that he can simply fade out of their happy ending.

He sucks in a breath. ]

I - I know, but I - I don't belong here, Jon. And every amount of - of affection I get from him is stolen from Martin. How could I have stayed?

[eyediot]

[He carefully, so so gently reaches to cup Algric's cheek.]

You say you don't belong, but... They made a place for you. And if you left, just disappeared? He'd always leave that space empty. I-in case you came back.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He leans into that, suddenly forced to choke back tears. ]

I don't deserve it.

[eyediot]

Yes, you do. After everything... You deserve to be loved.

[Hey, no... Jon shifts so he can pull Algric in, on arm around his shoulders protectively.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He leans in, then, clinging to Jon a little as tears start to roll down his cheeks. ]

B-but I'd - I'd hurt them eventually, i-it would have been better to leave them to - to be happy. Martin would be happier.

[eyediot]

Everyone gets hurt, Algric. Whether we... mean it to happen or not.

[He pets through Algric's hair softly, keeping him there.]

Have you told Jon you intend to disappear?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He slumps a little at that. ]

No. Of course not.

[eyediot]

[Jon holds him. Keeps his voice a whisper.] ...They want you here, Algric. They love you here.

[curriculum_fictae]

I - d-do you know that, Jon?

[eyediot]

Yes. I do, Martin.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric - Martin - sucks in a sharp little breath. ]

That's - that's not my name. I'm Algric now. I don't belong here.

[eyediot]

[That bit of wall that started to close before is closing even more now.

He doesn't even have his own Martin anymore.] Right...

[Jon pulls away to wipe Algric's tears from his cheeks.]

You do. Algric's your name and... You belong here. With them.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric just leans into Jon's touch gently, unaware of the reaction he's causing. ]

Jon ...

[eyediot]

You all still have a chance. [Thumbing his cheek softly.] You can all still make it.

[curriculum_fictae]

... You're not including yourself in that.

[eyediot]

...Little late for me to unmake that choice.

[curriculum_fictae]

That - that doesn't mean you can't have a place too. E-everything you just said about me applies to you too.