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. ]

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From:

curriculum_fictae

[ More than just not happy, more like low-key furious, desperately worried. He sees the logic in staying with Jon and Martin, but he doesn't like it. He spends the entire time nervous and anxious, to the point where he nearly gave away the fact that Tim and Jonah had been off saving the world.

(He'd wanted to go - of course he did - but what could he have done? The Lonely is letting him go, slowly, but it's no simple process. Some days he's as frigid as ice; other days, he's burning up with fever. It's rare to get one where he feels mostly normal, like now.)

But he didn't. And the first instant that door opens, he pulls Jon into a tight hug and refuses to let him go. They can both cling to each other for a while, even if ... even if those burns and wax are concerning.

He drags in a deep, shuddering breath. ]

Tim? Is Tim okay--?

From:

eyediot

[God, and how good that hug feels after all that. Mercifully, there aren't any burns on him, just the clothes.]

Yes, he's-- He's fine. Made it back just as well.

[He squeezes Algric, reassuring and warm, and lowers his voice just for him.]

We made it. It's all right.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ God. That - doesn't make him relax as much as it just means he slumps, letting out a watery noise. ]

Jon, I swear to god, if you do anything like that ever again--

From:

eyediot

I-i know. [One hand curls up into Algric's hair to help ground them both a bit.]

Won't happen again.

[Said by the man who absolutely will do something like this again.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Yeah. He doesn't believe you, Jonathan Sims.

But he just clings instead of arguing, breathing him in. ]

Come on. I've made tea. And - and you're a mess.

From:

eyediot

[The thought of tea is the most perfect thing to him right now.]

Right. I-- Explosion and all. I still have some other clothes here, right? [He doesn't know how many sets they brought to Tim's. Even with the statement Tim gave him, as much as it gave him enough energy to get up and come back, his eyes still sting a bit. Probably just need to rinse them out. Probably.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

Y-yes, of course. And if not, I'm sure Jon will share with you.

[ He reluctantly detaches to go fetch a mug. ]

From:

eyediot

[Oh... Jon watches him go, feeling a little colder suddenly. Algric's having a Normal day, it seems. He rubs at his face, looks at the dust and ash smeared on his hand, then goes to wash himself up a bit. At least Tim's house is bigger so there's more than one bathroom.

Coming out, he's got on clean house clothes and his face and hair look like they got a quick rinse, but not near enough a proper shower would give.]

Everything went well here?

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Better Normal than either extreme, though Algric doesn't yet seem to have found his footing yet. It will be a long process.

He's waiting at the kotatsu with the teapot and the mugs; he looks up at Jonah searchingly. ]

Yes. I - ah, well. I got them to have a bit of a date? Just the two of them,

From:

eyediot

[Long process or not, Jon's determined to be right here with him through it. Jon, at least, looks all right, if a bit tired. But fed.]

That-- Huh. [A wry smile.] Might be the best thing for them right now.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Fed, huh. Fed is a different kind of concerning. He'll take it for now, though, and nudge over the tea. ]

I thought so, yeah. Good distraction either way.

From:

eyediot

I think so too.

[He did say he'd get something from the ritual, didn't he? Jon smiles seeing the scene in front of him before moving to take his spot next to Algric and reach for the mug.]

What'd you set up?

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Algric instinctively leans in closer. He hasn't forgiven you yet, but he's accepting this peace offering. ]

A - a picnic. At the zoo.

From:

eyediot

[He stops with the mug halfway to his lips to look at him. Then a bit of sadness creeps into that smile as he takes a sip. What he couldn't do, huh.]

They'll like that.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Well, yes. But. That wasn't quite the point he was trying to make.

Algric sighs, shoulders slumping. ]

Yes, I think so. Which is good because what on earth were you thinking.

From:

eyediot

[Oh boy. His thoughts stop dead in their tracks at that tone.]

I-i was-- I was destroying Nikola, and keeping my promise to Tim!

From:

curriculum_fictae

And also throwing the two of you into mortal danger to stop a rite that was going to collapse on its own!

From:

eyediot

Again, keeping my promise to Tim.

[He's quickly losing this.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

And potentially leaving me - what, alone with Jon and Martin? With both of you dead, again?

From:

eyediot

[He sputters a bit, setting his mug down.]

We weren't going to die--

[Wait does Algric know he can't really die? Tim, sure, that was his concern, but - Jon can't.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Clearly, he missed that part. ]

You could have! You could have, Jon! And I couldn't even help you!

From:

eyediot

But I wouldn't have because I literally can't--

[Breath. Breathing and. He doesn't want to yell or fight with him about this. It was the right thing to do for Tim.]

You remember, Nikola took Tim's brother? He would never have forgiven me if I hadn't taken him.