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

Like the best thing I've had in ages.

[Everything about this moment is soft. He'd missed him so.... so much.]

...I heard you. B-back then. In the Lonely.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ He - heard? What is Jon -

Oh. Immediately, all of Martin has gone red, completely overwriting any blurriness. ]

You - you did?

From:

eyediot

I did.

...The last thing I heard was... you loved me.

[Past tense. He doesn't know if that's still true now.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Well, the way that Algric's face is currently on fire might give you a hint, Jon. He gulps for air for a moment, trying to centre himself. ]

Yes. Yes, I - I did? I do.

[ Then, all in a rush: ]

You don't - you don't have to return that. If you don't want to.

From:

eyediot

I do.

[Jon gets it out before Algric even finishes the last thing he says. His eyes are focused so intently on Algric's face, but he's... soft. He spent so long alone in the Archives wishing Martin was there. And then countless days in the Lonely and the Domains regretting having never gotten to express himself.]

I do... Love you.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Jon loves him. Jon - loves him, and is saying it out loud, and. Algric turns back towards Jon, awe and absolute besotted lovesickness shining in his eyes. He might cry? He is crying, a little. ]

I - I love you too, Jon. God, I love you so much --

[ His voice cracks. ]

From:

eyediot

[Oh-- Oh no. Oh no, he's crying and voice cracking and Jon is on the other side of the table. He only lets go of his hand enough to get up and come around, kneeling to cup his cheeks.]

I-- Hey. [He thumbs some of the tears away.] I'm here, all right?

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ He's so close, and touching Algric's cheeks, and ...

He laughs a little, crying even harder. ]

You are here. You're - you're here, finally, Jon, I've missed you--

[ And he leans forward to kiss him. ]

From:

eyediot

[Crap crapcrap he didn't want to make him cry harder! Mission abo-Oh.

His eyes go a little wide but. That's fine. After the initial surprise, Jon wraps arms around him and leans into it.

This is all right.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ It sure is all right. Algric is perhaps not an amazing kisser, but he is sincere, and warm, and - and he holds Jon's face tenderly with one hand while the other loops around his back, pulling him in closer. ]

From:

eyediot

[It's all right because Jon's not very skilled at it either. But he does have to break away to get his breath, leaving him to just press his forehead to Algric's.]

...I'm not leaving you.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ This is just heavenly. All he'd ever dreamed of having those long months with Peter, hoping to find Jon on the other side of his hell. Now he finally has it. ]

You - you promise, Jon?

From:

eyediot

I do. I promise that.

[He clings to Algric, settling for kissing his cheek before resting his chin on Algric's shoulder.]

After I... When I couldn't hear you anymore, I... gave up. I'm not giving you up here.

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Wherever Jon has made skin contact, colour blooms on Algric's face. It's like Jon is painting with his lips.

He still shivers at that comment though, guilt painfully apparent. ]

I - I'm sorry. I thought ... that Peter must have killed you. That you were gone.

From:

eyediot

No, I-- I understand. That was... his place.

[He sighs, the breath coming out right by Algric's ear.]

...I was really angry. [Really, Peter didn't stand much chance at that point.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

On - on my behalf?

[ He seems dimly awed. ]

From:

eyediot

...He'd spent months hurting you. And... And then took you.

[Jon sighs, one hand curling up into the curls on the back of Algric's head. Almost protectively.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Algric leans into that. ]

Yes. Yes, he. He did.

From:

eyediot

So... Yes. I was. Really angry on your behalf.

[And then Peter didn't have much more to say on the matter.]

I'm not leaving you again.

From:

curriculum_fictae

I'm - I'm not going anywhere. I mean, I'd sort of planned to after everything was done but ...

[ This is clearly different. ]

From:

eyediot

[He pulls back to look Algric in the eyes, thumbing along his jaw.]

But... This is different now. I don't... Want to go back.

[Sure he was well fed and all, but. It didn't matter. The world was over.]

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Algric nods at that, leaning into Jon's hand. ]

Then you won't. We'll - we'll figure out a new life here. You and me.

From:

eyediot

We will.

[He keeps up the gentle affection, watching Algric's face warmly.]

....I guess one way to stop everything repeating is. Keep the current timeline me from the rituals. Could go stop them ourselves?

From:

curriculum_fictae

[ Algric pales a bit at that. ]

A-are we strong enough for that?

From:

eyediot

[There's a long, thoughtful pause.]

... I might be.

[He doesn't... Want to go over the details of his... almost-sort-of-murder-spree of the other Avatars while he wandered. But he's fairly certain.]