[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

[eyediot]

Depends on why you're crying, I suppose. It's not for anything wrong, is it?

[He sets Algric's plate of food over closer to him.]

You're fine, Algric.

[curriculum_fictae]

It - it is happy crying. I swear.

[ He takes the food gladly. And starts to eat. ]

[eyediot]

[He smiles softly before settling down to eat with him. He didn't get glasses or anything, so they still have dinky to-go cups but... It's nice. They're a bit on their own, between the park being empty and Algric's blanket-of-forget around them.

It's nice.]

You've... really never had anyone do something like this for you? O-or with you?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Certainly no one is approaching them now. It's just them and the trees and the grass, with Algric gladly tucking into his meal. ]

I think ... once? When I was five or six. My dad took me to the zoo.

[eyediot]

Hm.

[Jon listens, distinctly doesn't let himself Know anything else about it. Martin - Algric - has never spoken of his dad, so he doesn't want to ruin that here.]

Zoo's nice. ...Like the carousel there.

[curriculum_fictae]

[ That's probably a good idea. Algric brightens a bit. ]

You know it?

[eyediot]

Iiii do, yes. Spent a fair amount of time there when I was... It was before the Institute.

[It was a weird time.]

[curriculum_fictae]

At the. Zoo?

[eyediot]

[Well now he just sounds embarrassed.]

I was in a weird place.

[curriculum_fictae]

I wasn't judging, it was just - odd to hear from you.

[eyediot]

Hm.

[Is it that odd? He takes a bite of his korma and thinks on that.]

But... Yes, the zoo would be a nice place to do this too.

[curriculum_fictae]

We - we could go, if you like. After this. Ride the carousel together?

[eyediot]

[Lord. He stops and just. Looks at Algric, an unsure half-smile on his face.]

You'd want to do that?

[curriculum_fictae]

If it's with you, then yes.

[eyediot]

[That catches him off guard. It keeps happening, Algric making these direct statements about his feelings for Jon. He's not used to positive attention.]

Th-then. Perhaps after this.

[Ignoring how warm his face feels or how dark his cheeks are as he goes back to his food.]

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Aww, Jon. Algric just ... watches him for a moment, pinking in turn. ]

Thank you, Jon. I - I needed this.

[eyediot]

...Of course.

[And he means that.]

I'd... I would be happy to do this with you. Any time.

[curriculum_fictae]

Yeah? As many times as I want?

[eyediot]

As many times as you want.

[curriculum_fictae]

That could get dangerous, you know. We'll be out here every night.

[eyediot]

[Jon makes a show of looking around them - the empty park and empty sky.]

Besides stopping the other rituals, I don't have anywhere else to be.

[curriculum_fictae]

I mean, I do want you to meet the trio at some point.

[ Food finished, he moves to sit closer to Jon. ]

[eyediot]

[Jon's not quite as fast an eater, but he'll set his aside to enjoy simply... sitting. With him.]

Right, I.. That'll happen.

[And probably make a mess of things with Tim.]

...Algric, did you really call me an 'unrepentant romantic'?

[curriculum_fictae]

[ And Martin will be strange, and other Jon, but --

He flushes at that, going quite pink. ]

Y - yes. I did. Because it's true.

[eyediot]

Y-you can't just say that to people.

[His reputation!]