[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. ]

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[eyediot]

[It was over.

Jon had gone to the Lonely looking for Martin, for answers. Destroyed Peter Lukas but for what? Martin's whispers faded in the air to nothing. He was gone.

In the end, Elias had won, hadn't he? The man, Jonah, always knew he would win. He had held almost every card and only showed them when Jon was at the lowest and had nothing else. Everyone was either dead or scattered and Jon had nothing. The modified ritual worked, of course. The only time he could do something right was to effectively destroy the world.

He knew everything now. And he knew there was nothing left for him here. So Jon wandered. He wandered the domains, ignoring Helen the few times she said hello. Spoke out the horror into words as he experienced them from place to place. Even the petty revenge of destroying Jude Perry hadn't done much to ease the pang of loss and regret he felt. It was empty.

Maybe that's how his feet found him at Hilltop Road. How or why this particular place was still standing was beyond even him; the Web was always harder for him to see somehow. The steps creaked under his weight. He couldn't tell if he was carrying himself through the door or if he was being controlled. At this point did it even matter? The basement was... as horrifying as he expected. The cobwebs sent his age old phobia spiking, as did the faint whispers of long legs skittering around behind him. Maybe that's why he didn't notice his body moving. Too preoccupied with the mental image of a giant eight legged monstrosity possibly behind him to make sense of falling through the world.

It's dark when he opens his eyes again. His body aches in a soreness of someone who's been laying still and uncomfortable for many hours.]

Okay... still Hilltop. That's... still here.

[It feels off, though. Jon starts sitting up to his knees on the basement floor and rubs at his head like waking up from a very long nap. And something about the eorld shifts for him. It's 2016. Late fall of 2016, to be precise. Lord.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ [ Late fall of 2016, and someone is moving around upstairs. Very cautiously, very uncertainly - frankly terrified of every tiny creak and noise the old house gives off. If Algric manages to ruin everything by dint of his own damned curiosity, he isn't sure what he'll do? Disappear, probably.

(But is that so different from his original plan? No. The thing that's changed is him, he realises. He ... wants to be here. He wants to be happy, with Jon and Tim and Martin.)

As he shuffles around upstairs, he thinks he hears something. A voice? Too quiet to determine an owner, but loud enough that Algric is certain it's someone and not something. He freezes for a moment before calling out: ]

H-hello? Is someone there?

[eyediot]

[He manages to get himself to a seat leaning against the wall. He needs to sort his own head out before doing anything else. The first big question being why did he end up here? That Anya statement comes back to his mind. He had originally dismissed it but it seems to have real merit. Which makes him question if he himself existed in whatever universe this is.

He doesn't want to think too much about it.

But someone Is H e r e.

He cranes his neck upward at the floor above him.]

Hello?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ That's definitely a voice. It ... seems almost familiar? Still too faint to be sure, but pronounced enough that Algric's heart leaps into his throat. It sounds like - almost like -

Against his better judgment, Algric slowly heads down the stairs into the basement. More fog clings to him the more nervous he gets, and he is powerfully afraid the further down he gets. What will he find at the bottom? Something good? Something terrible? Will he fall back through and into the Lonely somehow--

For Jon, a blurred familiar steps slowly into view. He's foggy, translucent in spots. But the greyed-out hi tops are familiar, as is that bluish grey jumper, and the smudge of roan curls at the top of his head.

He freezes as he looks down at the floor, realising who's lying prone on it. He knows that face. He knows that face specifically. Similar to the Jon that's here, but also not the same, more scarred, more hollowed out.

For a moment, he can barely breathe. He just stares down at Jon with wide eyes, not sure if he should hope or flee. ]

J - Jon?

[eyediot]

[Jon had to force himself to steady his breathing when he hears the steps creaking. Whoever it is is coming down and he has no idea what to expect. And after traveling through that rift, he knows he isn't in any condition to try and fight (and when did tat happen? When did he start to become sure of himself enough that he can take care of himself like that?).

The fog has him on edge. Until he starts looking closer. Its too familiar, too heart-achingly hopeful an idea. But rhe voice has his heart stopping and his great catches in his chest. His dark eyes are wide looking up from where he'd sat on the floor, knees drawn up and elbows resting on them.]

M.. M-martin?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ It is Jon. A different Jon? Surely a trick, but -

But in the moment Algric doesn't care. He looks so much like the Jon that Alcric left behind, except sadder and more miserable somehow. He considers the thought that this might be some horrible monster trick for about two seconds before he leans down for him, drawing him into a bruisingly tight hug. It's Jon. It's Jon and Algric doesn't know what that means, or what he's supposed to do, just -

He just sobs a little, his arms cool but warming fast as he clings to Jon. ]

[eyediot]

Mart-oof.

[He gets pulled into the hug and he Knows then its Martin. There's no doubt in him. Jon trembles a moment before moving to return the embrace, face burying into his jumper.]

I searched everywhere. I-i looked... everywhere for you.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ It's his Martin, which is perhaps the most important. The Martin that suffered in the Lonely, who vanished inside of it without Jon ever finding him. The Martin who saw Jon's conflict with Peter from a distance and assumed the worst.

More tears stream down his face helplessly as he just keeps clinging, determined to - what? To make this real? Because this can't be real, it's impossible. If he'd thought there was even a remote chance that Jon was still alive, then he'd have to have gone back. To find him, or - or something. He'll deal with that guilt later. ]

I - I found a door. You were - you were dead, Jon, so I. I took it.

[ A few more sobbing breaths. ]

Peter Lukas - he - I thought I saw him kill you --

[eyediot]

[A door?

Helen.

Jon squeezes him, clutching at his jumper with a shaky exhale.]

No. I... other way around, that. I was there, and I confronted him, but. [Somehow, the words "I killed Peter Lukas," can't seem to properly form on his tongue.] He's gone. For good.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ If that's true - and it must be - then that means -

Algric makes a strangled, miserable noise. ]

I ... I left you. I left you behind, I - oh god, Jon, I'm so sorry. I didn't know.

[eyediot]

You didn't know, it... it's all right.

[The world there isn't though.

Jon pulls away, just to look at his face, carefully placing both hands to his cheeks. Martin is here. Martin is real. Thats what matters here. Though there is a prickling at the back of his neck. He doesn't want yo move so soon, but..]

We.. we shouldn't linger here.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Right. They're, you know, in Hilltop Road. Algric nods and rises quickly, offering a hand down to Jon. ]

Come - come on then. We can sit somewhere else and talk.

[eyediot]

[Yeah the spiderwebs around this basement are becoming more prominent in his vision the longer he sits. The Web and Annabelle aside, he still doesn't... like it.

He takes Martin's hand andhefts himself to his feet. If nothing else, something in how he holds himself feels more sure than the last time Martin saw him.]

So. 2016, there should be a few places still safe, right?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ How strange that is. Algric isn't sure what to think when he looks down at Jon. Is it a good thing that he's more confident? But the way that power sits on him ... it makes Algric worry, too. ]

There's - there's plenty of places. I thought we'd just. Just go to a park or something.

[eyediot]

[God... when is the last time he saw a proper park? Jon realizes he has no idea. Time in that hell scape was... it wasn't entirely right.]

That sounds perfect. [He squeezes Martin's hand before heading up the stairs, carefully listening for anything he should worry about.]

What were you doing here anyway?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ God. How does he even begin to explain? He focuses on getting them back out into the sunlight first, away from this horrible place. ]

Trying - trying to change the future, mostly. Figuring out how to keep you and Tim alive without the Unknowing ending the world.

[eyediot]

Tim?

[The same strangled sound Martin had in his voice when he first arrived worms its way into Jon's at that.

Christ. That early into 2016...

He scrunches his eyes when they get outside. One might think its been ages since Jon has seen daylight. They wouldn't be far off.]

That's... quite an undertaking.

[God. There's so much even Martin didn't know there in the end.]

How much time?

[curriculum_fictae]

Y-yes. Tim - Tim is alive. And other you only stalked him a little? It - it took some time, but we're all working together. Trying to figure things out, get everyone free of. Of the Institute.

[ How, he still doesn't know, but. He looks down at Jon when he squints at the sunlight, worried. Not even sure how to ask what happened to Jon. ]

Months still, I - I think. If nothing's changed.

[eyediot]

Good. I think that's doable.

[Jon takes a deep breath of the fresh air. But at the glance, he looks up a Martin and... well. Its clear it wasn't the darkness of Hilltop that was making his eyes so dark.

He squeezes his hand again trying to be reassuring.]

It's.. I'm fine. I'll explain everything when we're somewhere else.

[curriculum_fictae]

O-of course, we'll just. We'll find a nice shady tree and...

[ And Algric looks down, getting a good look at Jon for the first time since coming out into the sunlight. He stares for a moment, his own eyes going wide as he sees how black Jon's sclera are.

Deep breaths. At least it's worry that makes him pause, not horror. ]

We can talk. I'll tell you everything if - if you do the same.

[eyediot]

[He smiles gently at that. He would apologize if he had any control over it, but he still doesnt like making him worry.]

Deal. I think... [Jon pauses for a moment like he's listening for something, the faintest green going over his eyes before it's gone in a blink.]

Should be an empty park about four blocks from here.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Ah. That's. Not unexpected, and yet. It's so strange watching Jon use that casually. He's already adjusted to a Jon who only Knows by accident.

But he nods, squeezing Jon's hand as he starts walking. ]

Right then. We'll go there.

[ And then, after a pause: ]

I'm so glad you're alive, Jon. I thought I'd lost you again.

[eyediot]

[Jon walks easily with him. There's palpable relief in his face at just. Having Martin here, where he can see and touch him.]

I was really ...sure you were gone too. I wish I could've let you know at the time what was happening.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric manages a soft, brittle laugh. But the park is coming up quickly enough, and there's a sunny little bench with no people around that seems to be waiting for them. ]

Suppose that - that is what the Lonely does. Isolates us, right?

[eyediot]

...Yes. Yes, I suppose it is.

[He sounds more quiet about it than anything. He wandered there for... so long. If he hadn't been marked by it already, that surely would have done it.

As brittle as it sounds, Jon is still enamored by Martin's laugh. Like it's the best sound in the world. He sits on the bench, gently tugging him down to sit with him.]

I'm... [God.] Where... should we start? [Jon's being especially careful of his questions. Even if he can just. Do it, he doesn't want to do it. Not to Martin.]