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

[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.]

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I know. What I don't know is what this grave has to do with Nicole. We know she's not dead. She did say she had graves in locations all over the world, but- something tells me there's something different about this one.

Why would this show up now? [ He turns and startles just slightly when he sees those glasses. ] Hey! I forgot that I used to wear those. I mean, right, the location of this grave.

It's in- No, that can't be right.

You what? [Flynn looks up to frown at his older self.] How does one forget to wear glasses? How does that even work?

[But his attention is immediately diverted and returned to books.]

What? What's the matter?

It was a long time ago! Either I lost them while on a mission, or they broke, and I just never got around to replacing them. [ He's trying not to sound too huffy or defensive. They're just glasses in the end. ]

It says the grave is located here, in this city. Why would one of her graves be here?

So do you just really squint or did the presbyopia balance it out? [Yes. You are now officially getting sassed on by yourself, Flynn.]

It's here? That's great, we can go there right now! That must be why the Periapt let me come here and-- Wait, what do you mean "one" of her graves? How many does she have?

Well, if I'm going to be honest, I- [ Of all the things to be cagey about. ] They broke and I haven't had the time to get new ones.

[ He has the whole business of being the Librarian to deal with. ]

I don't know the exact number, but let's just say it's more than five.

[Oh come on, older self, you're supposed to sass back. Otherwise where's the fun in that? But he drops the glasses situation when his attention returns to the task at hand.]

That's not very exact.

[His gaze is drawn back to the news clippings and he looks troubled.] What does that mean, did she fake her death? ... Her deaths?

[ Sorry, younger self, he's just a little distracted by all this talk about Nicole. Even when she's not physically present, she still has that effect on him. ]

Basically. Every so many years, she created a grave for herself and moved to a different country, so people wouldn't get suspicious.

So that's where she must have been last. Maybe she just set it up and that's why the book is showing it to us. She must be here!

[Which is exciting and his face lights up with hope and impatience.]

We should go right now!

But why would she set up one here? That's the part I'm not understanding. Looking at her pattern, she never came to a place where she was known, because the wrong person could find out she was there. [ Exactly who that would be, he's not sure, but if Nicole is anything at all, she's careful. ]

I don't think she'd take that chance unless she had a very good reason.

[ But the lightbulb goes off, and he raises his eyebrows. ]

Unless she's doing it to send us- or you, specifically, a message, because of course she'd know you'd be looking for her!

No, she wouldn't, she's way too careful for that, I mean she--

[But his voice trails off and he freezes at the second part. A message. Of course she'd know you'd be looking for her. For a moment his face is completely unguarded, fear and hope and excitement and love and disbelief all coming together like a giant storm.]

You mean, you think she knows? [One hand reaches out to grip the table.] Y-you think she's waiting for me?

That's exactly what I think. I never thought about it myself, but maybe that's because I didn't have the right person to point me in the right direction!

[ He gives his younger self a pointed look, like this is his chance and he better not let it slip through his grasp. ]

What else do you think she'd be doing, besides moving mountains to try and find you? If she couldn't find you herself, then she'd try to make it so you could find her.

I--

[Flynn slips off the table, stumbling and banging his hip painfully against the edge. Pulling a face, he comes back up, trying to pretend that did not just happen.

He points two fingers towards the door.]

I guess that means I'll better be going.

Yes, that's probably a good idea, and that also means that I should probably stay here and get back to what I was doing.

[ But the look that's currently on his face might suggest that staying here is the last thing he wants to do, even if it's probably the smart thing. Two versions of the same man going off together is probably asking for trouble, right? ]

[Right. And a lot of trouble at that.

But he can feel the reluctance and underlying wish as if it was his own (which, in a way, it probably kind of is) and he hesitates.]

... We should probably come back here. You know, once I find her. Shouldn't use the Periapt out on the street to go back. Better to do it here? Right?

Of course. It's absolutely better to do it here.

[ He's quick to answer, and not just because it's the best place to do what his past self intends to do. He'd like to see Nicole, even if there's a possibility that doing that might break some law regarding timelines.

When it comes to her, he'll always want to see her, timeline laws or no timeline laws. ]

[He smiles, briefly, knowingly, and nods.]

We'll do that then. I'll see you soon. And, uh. Thanks.

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

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