kayakking | (no subject)

[He goes stiff in the shoulders, clutching his mug for its warmth.]

Algric.

Hey. Um - how are you doing?

[ He hovers closer. Tentative. ]

Not sure yet. Still trying to sort through what happened and determine how, exactly, I feel about it all.

Right, ah. It was a lot. And you …

[ His voice softens with concern. ]

How much do you remember? About that … that dream in your head?

Not much.

[Scurrying through fiery wreckage, he had no legs-]

Mostly just... impressions of feelings.

… What. What sorts of feelings, then?

Loneliness, heat... Fear. A lot of it, right before I woke up.

[ Ah. Algric’s eyes drift down to his legs and fingers. ]

Do you remember being in some webbing…?

[He takes a moment to sip at his tea. It's too hot still but. It won't matter, not when he keeps his eyes down.]

No.

[A cocoon of webbing, keeping him down and wrapped up tight...]

[ Algric hesitates at that. wants to be relieved? But... ]

A-are you sure? I'm - I'm really glad if so, I just ...

Does it matter?

[If anything, his voice sounds more tired than angry.]

[ That's almost worse? No, it is worse. ]

Of course it does. I don't want you hurt, Jon.

That's something you should have thought about before.

[ Ah. Algric flinches at that. ]

I - I know I promised, but it really was safer for you to stay home--!

I don't disagree.

[He takes a breath, another sip. But his tone is becoming firm. He's already tired of this.]

But the deal was you promised to tell me when you left, and I stay behind. You broke your promise.

Well -

[ There's a flicker of heat under the cold somewhere. ]

Well you didn't hold up your end of the deal either, so doesn't that even it out?

No. No. [He finally turns to face him, trying to keep that anger in check.]

When you broke your promise, there was no deal anymore.

That doesn't mean you should have come to the Institute! I needed you to be safe!

And I needed to know you both weren't dead!

You could have Known that from here, Jon!

Not if it happened in the Tunnels! I can't- I can't See in there.

That -

[ Ugh. Algric rubs at his face. ]

That's true. Yes. But. If you're going to yell at me for not trusting you, then - then I get to do the same for you not trusting us.

I trusted you to keep your promise. We see how far that went.

[ Another small flinch. ]

Jon, I - I'm sorry, all right?

Are you? Do you actually mean that?