beneath the stains of time

[hellacold]

Who: jon and max(xie)
Where: "alpha force" headquarters
When: 2024
What: jon goes over the plans to save celestia with max and asks for a personal favor
Warnings: discussion of time travel (everyone hates time travel)



[jon is in his office sitting at his desk, fiddling with a pocket knife that probably belonged to his dad or whatever. about an hour ago he received a message from the enclave, informing him of a way to retroactively prevent the collapse of civilization. unfortunately this involves reopening old wounds. he's called max in to discuss this with him because that's absolutely what you do with your close platonic friends.]

Comments

[hellacold]

[part of him wants to tell max to stay, that he doesn't want to be alone with the memories this has dredged up. but that would be irresponsible and self-indulgent. he sighs.]

We might run into Peony.

[notahobby]

[He frowns, looking away, finding some point on Jon's desk to look at instead of at Jon himself.]

I know.

[He winces before he looks back up, as if he's imagining seeing her again for the first time - facing how much it hurts to think of what's happened since then.]

Like I said, it'll be hard for all of us. And if we can do this, she'll be... she'll be fine.

[hellacold]

[jon nods briefly.]

She can't find out what happens--in our timeline.

[he catches max's eyes again.]

We have to protect her.

[notahobby]

[Deep breath.]

Course not.

[hellacold]

[jon leans forward to grab Max's shoulder, looking at him pleadingly.]

I need to know you'll stop me if I try to call--or email, anything. Anyone who won't be around in the present.

[notahobby]

[Max puts his hand over Jon's, meeting his gaze.]

If that's what you need me to do, that's what I'll do. I promise.

[hellacold]

[jon allows his hand to linger for a moment before withdrawing it to push his hair away from his face.]

I spent years wishing I could go back to before it all happened. And now--

[he thought he finally put the past behind him.]

[notahobby]

[Max crosses his arms over his chest, sinking a little in his chair. He has a lot to think about. He hasn't reminisced about those times very much recently - it just seems a bit futile - but now he's trying hard to remember what it was like before. He was just a kid and he didn't have much perspective, but nevertheless it was a far brighter time.]

[He realizes that he's still in Jon's office, lost in his thoughts.]

Do you need to be alone?

[hellacold]

[a little too quickly:]

No.

[he pauses.]

If there's something you need to do...

[notahobby]

[He watches Jon, not sure if he can do this right now, while he's trying to process all this other shit. Sighing heavily, he shakes his head.]

No.

[There's another pause, in which Max frowns. He's had a thought, and it's almost too unnerving to articulate, but he's going to do it anyway.]

What's going to happen to us, if we change things?

[hellacold]

[jon raises his eyebrows at max.]

I'm sure Dr. Goldpaw would have a better idea than I do. My guess is, either we're reabsorbed into the proper timeline, or we create a parallel timeline where this never happened.

[jon hopes it's the former, but he'd still feel better knowing there was a universe where his family got to live.]

[notahobby]

[Max bites his lip, frowning.]

What if it's neither of those?

[As in, what if we just erase ourselves in the process?]

[hellacold]

[he frowns, confused.]

I'm not a scientist, but I don't see a lot of other options.

[notahobby]

What if we just...

[He shrugs, looking down at his lap.]

...disappear?

[hellacold]

[jon looks down at his desk for a moment.]

Then we die heroes, knowing some part of us lives on.

[it's more than most people get]

[notahobby]

[Max frowns, pressing his lips together into a tight line. He stays like that for a moment and then stands up slow and deliberate.]

I gotta go, alright? I'll let you come up with a plan. You need someone to talk to, just call me.

[He looks at the door, as if he's about to turn toward it and walk out, but he pauses. There's a ghost of a smile at the edge of his lips. Is this inappropriate? It's probably inappropriate.]

I'm not interested in dying with regrets, yeah? Just keep that in mind.

[hellacold]

[jon raises his eyebrows and exhales heavily through his nose. of course it would be too much to expect max to sit around while he brooded. this whole thing is ultimately his decision and his responsibility. he's known for a while now he might have to lead the only family he has left to their deaths someday, but he hoped it would never actually come to that. he could use a drink. he could use someone to talk to, but he doesn't want to put any more of this on max than he already has. he affects his most deadpan expression.]

To die by your side--well, the pleasure, the privilege, is mine.