[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]

[ Algric winces at that, but - well, he suspected already. He would feel the same, after all. ]

Y-yes. It's - I hate it, but - what am I supposed to do? Let it go to waste?

[eyediot]

No, I... suppose not.

[Jon's still watching him before carefully reaching for his cheek.]

At least you have something. [And that small, immediate pang of panic that he was going to be alone in his monster-dom... lessens just a small amount. It's not good for Algric, really; if he wants to go back to being a human, then this must be something causing some mild distress, however minute. But there's some relief for Jon that he isn't completely alone in this.]

[curriculum_fictae]

Yeah. I - I'm not knocking it. If I didn't, I'd be. Wandering about, probably.

[ Eating people. Which is - awful, of course, but. It's true that Jon is not alone. This version of his ... partner is absolutely a monster. ]

[eyediot]

Probably. Until you wouldn't be.

[He doesn't fully understand the Lonely, can't just by nature of his patron, but he can guess at a few things based on what he saw.]

I think I'm... good.

[curriculum_fictae]

Right.

[ He hugs Jon a little closer. ]

I'm glad, Jon. Truly. I don't want you to suffer.

[eyediot]

You don't have to either.

[And he means that.]

...I don't know when you'll. Make your decision. But make sure you make it for you. Don't worry about me.

[curriculum_fictae]

Jon. Of course I'm going to worry about you.

[eyediot]

[HE'S TRYING TO BE SELFLESS HERE. He lifts his head to stare upward, like he can see his neighbors, and sighs.]

I know. I-it's why I'm telling you not to. Not about that.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ He just laughs a little and shakes his head. ]

I'd rather drop dead than stop worrying about you.

[eyediot]

I'd rather you not.

[curriculum_fictae]

Then I suppose I'll just have to keep worrying, hm?

[eyediot]

[Jon sighs heavily, leaning forward to put his forehead to Martin's and close his eyes tight. He wants Algric making that decision solely for himself. Not with any worry of what it means for Jon, or for the trio waiting back at Martin's flat. Everything else can be worked out after, but that decision.... It's so.. Big and final. Algric has to make it for himself and not for the sake of others.]

I suppose so, then. Like asking your scones not to be delicious.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Good luck with that. Martin will always be profoundly affected by what he thinks other people want from him. All he can do is get sort of close to deciding on his own.

He laughs a bit at that. ]

Right, exactly. I could burn them on purpose, but ... why?

[eyediot]

It would be a waste...

[Speaking of burning.

Jon pulls back to get that ritual statement out of his pocket. He's careful not to get it where he can read it but stares at it for a minute.]

...Should take care of this. [No sense risking destroying some other timeline's world again.]

Is my metal bin still around?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric blinks at that, then moves to go fetch it. ]

O-oh, yes. Over here. Let me just get it for you.

[eyediot]

Oh - [Jon watches for a moment, then starts digging through his bag for that damned lighter.

Once the bin is close by, Jon looks at the statement. Exhales heavily and carefully lights it before dropping it into the bin.]

Can't keep that here.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric watches it burn with grim satisfaction. ]

No. No, I'd - I'd rather you not end this world.

[eyediot]

I think most everyone in the world would appreciate that too.

[curriculum_fictae]

I mean, yes. I do generally assume that.

[ He hesitates. ]

Did ... Elias force you, then?

[eyediot]

...Back there? He... [Hm.]

It's hard to explain. I think Annabelle Cane actually understood it better than I could until she told me. When I... read statements. It was true when we started in the Archives, and it's even more true now. But when I start reading a statement, I can't... stop. I think at this point if I tried to stop reading one partway through, it might do very real damage to me.

Elias knew that. And forced me through a false beginning statement, knowing I wouldn't be able to stop.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Algric's eyes widen. ]

... You came back to the Institute starving. And - and then Elias tricked you into it.

[eyediot]

...Yes.

[He merely watches the tips of the flames from the top of the bin.]

As barely functioning as I was, I knew whatever he gave to 'help' me wouldn't be help... I just had no idea it would... be the apocalypse.

[curriculum_fictae]

R-right. It's still - still a long way from what he'd done so far.

[ A pause. ]

... We could kill him.

[eyediot]

We could.

But I think the others are still tied to him. It might kill them.

[curriculum_fictae]

-- Oh. Right, that's - god. That might kill me too, come to think of it.