[PSL] And the Time of Times (for a bunch of people really)

[cahooted]

[After going backwards for such a long time Flynn is surprised when the artifact sends him into his own future. And not only that; according to the place it's going to be the future of the Library, too. He sure would love to know why but the Periapt of the Horae doesn't give that kind of explanation. It helps him track Nicole through time and space but it doesn't provide answers; it allows him to make the jumps between the years (or decades, or centuries) but won't let him choose where or when to go next. The artifact gives him one time and place at a time and he has to take it.

He is... 93% sure that once he finds Nicole and the tracking is done, it will allow both of them to jump back to the initial spot where he began his search. Maybe 87% sure. But he'll get to that when the moment arrives.

In the current "now", there's a whooshing sound and then Flynn finds himself in a room that he is, surprisingly enough, completely unfamiliar with. He stumbles through something that looks like a door, but it's connected to a globe and some strange wiring. This isn't the Library, at least not its regular entrance. It looks more like a study, with several desks and stairs leading up to a row of bookshelves.

Walking around he turns in astonished circles. He immediately realizes that he likes it; this is a place he would love to work at and he makes a mental note that once he goes back with Nicole to set up a study like this for himself. Really, that would be so much more convenient than sprawling his notes all over the tables in the main entrance hall and have Charlene berate him over the mess all the time...

There doesn't seem to be anyone here and he explores the room, wondering about the current Librarian. On one desk he spots some books he immediately finds interesting but, curiously enough, there is another table with lots of weird gadgets and experimental setups which makes him think that his successor might be more scientifically inclined than Flynn.

Eventually he moves up the stairs to poke around some more on the balustrade above.]

Comments

[cahooted]

I wasn't going to use these words... [But from what he's seen of his other self he can hardly argue against them either.]

It really did. At first I didn't even know why the Library would choose me. I mean, have you seen all those guys in the gallery? They even wear robes! And then there's me and suddenly Judson tells me I have to guard all these mythical artifacts and before I know it the Serpent Brotherhood steals the Spear of Destiny and I'm on a plane to the Amazon jungle? I never even left the city!

[His hands come up to gesticulate and emphasize his point.]

And suddenly all these people are trying to kill me and then Nicole kicks me off the plane and we climb giant trees and the Himalayas and I have to fly a helicopter and explore Mayan death chambers – though that one wasn't exactly planned – and I punch my former professor which really hurt my hand...

[hengeandkey]

And you didn't. I did. [ Perhaps she's being a little too honest with him about her thoughts regarding his other self. She likes him very much, but everyone has faults, and his are incredibly frustrating. ]

You know, I said the same thing when I got that letter. Why would the Library want me as its Guardian? [ Flynn didn't even want her as his, though she's keeping mum on that subject. ] I didn't really think very much about magic before I got this job.

[ She can definitely relate to him, at least to some degree. ]

It sounds like you've seen a lot of things, Flynn. How do you feel about the job now?

[ Why does this sound vaguely like a job interview? ]

[cahooted]

[He flashes her a small smile.] Sooo you want me to change that note do "don't be cagey" then?

[He doesn't seem too bothered by her assessment of his older self. Which might have to do with the fact that he already met his older self.]

Why wouldn't it? You're military, you have combat experience and you can adapt quickly to situations outside your comfort zone.

[Flynn doesn't even mean to read her. It just sort of... happens.]

The job? [What can he even say? His arms come up, then fall back down at his sides as he tries to come up with words to explain.] I love it. It's the best thing in the world. [He smiles.] It's like... I finally found a place where I belong.

You know it's great to be back, even if it's the wrong time. I missed the Library a lot.

[hengeandkey]

No, you can keep the note to whatever you want. "Don't be frustrating" and "don't be cagey" boil down to the same thing in the end. I'm not here to tell you what to do.

[ She reserves that for his older self. ]

Well- That's just it. I'm military. I'm too used to thinking of people as soldiers, and too used to just barking orders.

[ On some level, she thinks maybe a civilian would have been a better choice, not that there's any arguing with the Library. Or Charlene. ]

And it's hard to think about things in the context of magic existing. [ She didn't even believe in Santa Claus before the Library took care of that. ]

You know, I feel the same way too, except for one thing: the desk. Your desk. Or what will be your desk one day.

When Flynn's not around, I use it, but it keeps resetting itself to how he has it organized. It's so frustrating. [ But at least now she can chuckle about it. ]

The Library's unlike anywhere else I've ever been, and I've been to a lot of places.

[ But she turns her attention back to Flynn. ]

How long has it been since you were here?

[cahooted]

Resetting... He has a magic desk, too?! Come on, now my future is just showing off.

[However, at her question some of the humor drains from his face and he rubs the top of his head.]

... I don't know. It's hard to keep track when you jump around so much? At some point everything gets fuzzy... [Translation: way too long.]

But that's okay. Once I find Nicole I can bring us back to exactly the moment when I left. [He sounds convinced but also a little tired when he says it, like this is something he's told himself many, many times.]

[hengeandkey]

He does that, you know. If we're being honest, it almost turned me off working with him, because he acted like he was nothing more than a bit show-off. [ But she tempers that with a smile. ] I realize now it was mostly a defense mechanism, and we got along a lot better after he stopped trying to do that.

I've never really time-traveled, so I can't relate, but I imagine it's hard. You must have seen a lot.

[ She picks up on that tired note, and finds she doesn't like it. ] If it helps, you can stay here as long as you need. It's not the most comfortable place for resting, but I can pull out a cot for you.

[cahooted]

It's not really up to me. [He holds up the chain with the Periapt, grinnig a bit ruefully.] When it says jump, I jump. But I... I wouldn't mind staying here until that happens.

[That's a bit of an understatement. Sleeping at the Library sounds wonderful. He can hardly think of a place he'd rather be.]

It brought me to many places. The Roman Empire, Victorian London, the Wild West... The Vikings were horrible? Everything was loud, and cold, and look at me, I'm so violent... really hung up people I gotta say.

[hengeandkey]

You jump? [ She glances at the Periapt warily, as if not sure of its safety. ] What, does it open a portal where you're standing for you to jump through?

[ Eve can tell from looking at him that he really is happy to be here, and happier still at the prospect of staying here for awhile. ]

Is there anything I can get you? Tea? Coffee? Water? You've come a long way; you must need something.

[ Playing hostess to a version of her Librarian seems strange, but to not do it would be wrong. ]

That all sounds fascinating. Of course, I'm happy where I am, but to see the places I've read about in history books- I can't even begin to imagine.

[cahooted]

Something like that. I get a bit of a warning before it happens, it's not just whoosh and blinding light. Usually I feel a, a kind of pull one or two days before it happens. And it gets stronger over time until it lets me make the jump.

[He smiles at her apprehensive look.] Don't worry, you can't accidentally get pulled along. Only... only the one I'm looking for can come with me. Coffee would be wonderful? Thank you.

Oh, it's fascinating! All those moments in time, all the adventures... If I had Nicole with me, it would be perfect. [Wait, is that a rude thing to say to your alternative timeline future girlfriend? He blinks, holding up a hand.] Which I'm absolutely sure the other me would say about you? [A beat.] Would think about you.

[hengeandkey]

Oh, really? That's helpful. It gives you time to prepare, instead of just swooping you off to who-knows-where. And I wasn't worried about being pulled along, just- All right, I was a little worried.

Just a second, I'll have coffee right out. [ There's always a pot on, and it's fresh, too. A few seconds later, she's back with a mug of steaming coffee. ]

Sorry, I don't know how you take your coffee. [ Her Flynn is never around long enough, not that he needs the boost in energy, given how he's always running around. ]

Well, you seem very determined to find her, and those who are determined usually get results. [ If she's offended by any of his statements (she's not), she doesn't show it. She understands that Flynn and Nicole had something special, and she doesn't begrudge him one bit. ]

He would say the same, I'm sure. [ If he weren't always away chasing down leads. But she knows it's important to him to do what he does, and her wishes have to come second to that. ]

[cahooted]

It does. But that's also a day of feeling really strange. Everything gets a little fuzzy, it's... it's a bit weird.

[He takes the mug and smiles, warming his hands on it.] Thank you. I usually take sugar but this is fine. [This is more than fine, actually, the coffee smells heavenly and Flynn takes a small sip because he can't wait for it to cool off.] God, I missed coffee.

[The subject of determination gives him pause and he hums thoughtfully.]

I really hope I'll find her this time. It's the first time the Periapt sent me to the future. That has to be good sign, right? [He looks up from the rim of his mug, face bright with a new hope.]

[hengeandkey]

Well, I don't know anything about periapts or time travel, but I'd imagine it must be a bit weird. And that's probably understating it.

We have sugar if you want it. [ Somewhere. Ezekiel keeps moving it to random places. ] We have plenty of it, if you want more when you're done with your first cup.

And yes, I'd call that a good sign. [ She can't help but smile warmly back at him; he has that effect on her, regardless of when and where he's from. ]

[cahooted]

Well, I won't say no to that.

[He takes another sip and hums contentedly.]

This is really good, thank you. ... So hey, uh, how did you get here? [A beat.] Do you think it's okay if I ask about you? I guess I'm already in the future, but...

[hengeandkey]

I wouldn't let you say no either. [ She winks at him, because while she's teasing, she won't begrudge him a few cups of coffee. ]

Here, as in the Library? Well, that's a quite a story involving a German steam tunnel and some kind of artifact that was rigged to explode. [ And a literal bomb that needed to be defused, but that's neither here nor there. ] And I think it's fine if you ask about me.

[cahooted]

[He chuckles as he listens.] Sounds just like another day with the Library if you ask me.

How do you like it?

[hengeandkey]

Well, there was also the part about how some of it was orchestrated by another agency who wanted to get access to the Library.

[ That's something she still feels terrible about, and some of that probably shows up on her face. ]

But honestly, I love it. I know I didn't always, not at first, but it's something that sneaks up on you when you're not looking.

[cahooted]

Now that sounds like an interesting story?

[If she feels like telling it. He can definitely see the reluctance and emotional response there but it's a little hard to read just what exactly is bothering her here.]

I'm glad you like it. [It's not often he can share what he does with other people and to have someone who enjoys this place as much as he does... This future doesn't sound so bad.

For another version of him, that is. Flynn already has someone he wants to share this place with.]

[hengeandkey]

It is. Interesting, and frustrating, and upsetting all wrapped up into one neat little package.

[ The truth of the matter wasn't really so neat, but that's neither here nor there. ]

Are you familiar with the organization DOSA? And do you like it?

[ Referring to the Library, not the organization. ]

[cahooted]

Never heard of it. That sounds like a made-up name?

[He's really more used to evil insect names these days.]

I love it. There's just... nothing like it. I really should go to the reading hall once I find the books I want to look into, I just... I was afraid I might get a little too emotional and I didn't want the other me to see because that would be totally embarrassing? He's really cool.

[Flynn, stop fanboying over yourself.]

[hengeandkey]

I wish it had been made up. They caused a lot of problems for the Library. Of course, they also didn't know that we knew, and had a plan of our own.

[ Somewhere along the line, evil insect names stopped being common. Whether that was because their enemies wised up, or because of something else, no one knows.

Eve smiles fondly. ]

I don't think you have to worry about that. He has his moments of getting emotional too.

[ Maybe not to extremes in every occasion, but he's prone to his moments of excitement and babbling too quickly about obscure facts and details. ]

[cahooted]

What did they do? Did they attack you?

[It would be so nice to just once run into an organization that doesn't turn out to be evil.]

Yeah? Alright, but you gotta promise not to tell on me.

[It's a bit hard to picture his older self getting emotional. Flynn doesn't doubt that he is capable of it – it would be horrible if he wasn't, really – but still, he just seems a little too... distinguished for that. At least to Flynn.]

[hengeandkey]

In a way, they did, but it was all part of a plot that Flynn and I thought up. I let the head of DOSA think I was handing over the Library and its artifacts, when all along, the point was to get a very vengeful spirit into the Library and trap him there.

[ It makes no sense when said that way. ]

So, there was some possession going on, and some not-so-small doses of what appeared to be betrayal and deception. But it worked; Apep was defeated along with pure evil, and the Library was saved.

[ And she's just not going to mention the fact that there would have been a human sacrifice if Flynn had seen his own plan through to completion. ]

[cahooted]

Huh. That... sounds like something I could come up with, I guess.

[It makes sense to him. Then again, she thought up this plan with his future self, so if he doesn't get it, who would, really?]

... Wait, Apep? Like Egyptian god of chaos Apep? Because that sounds a little bigger than 'very vengeful spirit'.

[hengeandkey]

[ Of course he'd know about Apep. Some things don't change regardless of the timeline. ]

Yes, that's the one. [ In hindsight, trying to obscure parts of the story makes no sense, not when talking to someone like Flynn. ] I never imagined that I'd end up meeting an Egyptian god, but- Well, I never imagined I'd work for a magical Library either.

[cahooted]

Wow.

[He's speechless for a moment because yes, he's dealt with artifacts but that... that's a little more out there. It's a little hard to imagine himself in the middle of it all. And coming out of it alive.] That must have been quite the battle.