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forestcovered
[All parts of the message are at an unfortunately high volume, due to the fact that Tempus has no indoor voice.]
Hello various humans and non-humans! You have reached Tempus! ...Or, you have. Not reached him. Because I am not actually present right now to listen to your call.
Regardless!
Please leave your messages here, and I will get back to them as soon as I possibly can! And then I will actually be present to listen to you. Yes.
Nyeh-heh-heh!
Hello various humans and non-humans! You have reached Tempus! ...Or, you have. Not reached him. Because I am not actually present right now to listen to your call.
Regardless!
Please leave your messages here, and I will get back to them as soon as I possibly can! And then I will actually be present to listen to you. Yes.
Nyeh-heh-heh!
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[He has a bad feeling it has to do with how Serif's double mentioned how many time Tempus died... The mention of the other time traveler makes Tempus frown, but he can't think of anyone else around who could have done anything.]
How do you know there's another one?
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[He stops and sighs for a second, because talking about this is hard. Even if it's not what happened this timeline, even if technically it didn't happen to him, it's really, really hard.]
That... there's been at least one timeline where... a whole lot of monsters ended up dead. And I mean... a lot. [He doesn't name anyone. But he probably doesn't need to. The way he looks away from Tempus for a moment basically gives away at least one person in that list, anyway.] ...I dunno how things would've ended up if they hadn't given up. Only reason they reset everything is 'cause apparently they, uh... couldn't manage to kill me. Heh.
...'S that timeline I've been getting the most dreams of.
[He supposes it's good he managed to make them quit, but mainly he just hates the whole situation.]
I know there's another time traveler because they pretty much came out and told me. That, uh, jerk that was writing to me that one night? That's the one. I dunno their name, but they've definitely been messing around with timelines. Say they're an old friend, because I guess they think they're funny.
[He's got sympathy for Grit. Not so much for his pen pal.]
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[He really doesn't. It's too much for him to comprehend. He doesn't know what has and hasn't happened, and how many times it's happened before. He doesn't remember dying before he came here, but... from the way Serif is talking, and the way he refuses to look at Tempus, proves it has happened. He doesn't know how Serif became stronger than a human, but they did... and...]
...Do you know why they did it? Why they wanted to kill everyone? That... doesn't sound like something Grit would do.
[He frowns at the mention of the person who had been bullying his sibling.]
That's terrible. I can't believe there's someone else with that power... I just wish I knew who it was.
[If he knew they'd be getting the sternest talking to. He doesn't believe in hurting anyone, but he can't stand by while Serif suffers either.]
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[He's still not sure if not remembering all the timelines is bad or good. Probably good. He's not sure how he would've ended up if he could clearly remember every single time Tempus died. Or if maybe... that's something he would've gotten used to over time.
...The second option scares him way more than anything else.]
...I dunno. Not sure wanting to factored into it all that much. More like... feeling they had to, maybe? Still haven't really asked them much about their reasons...
[He knows what Buttercup told him. He knows what the shadow told him. But it's... not something he's been eager to talk about with Grit themself.]
Yeah, same here. I'd love to have a chat with them face to face. [Serif's voice sounds maybe a little too cold at that, but he can't really hide how he feels about this right now. Too much effort.] Heh... They've got a real problem with me, whoever they are.
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[How would he handle it? If he could remember bits and pieces of an uncountable number of timelines, a large amount of them involving the death of the most important person in his life?
...He doesn't want to think about it. He wants to tell himself he wouldn't lose hope... but he's just not going to think about it.]
I... I see. They must have had a reason. I just can't imagine what it would be.
[He notes that coldness, but his own voice is slightly stern. He's angry about this too.]
They shouldn't have a problem with you. And even if they do, sending you cruel messages is just... cowardly.
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[Remembering what actually happened and what didn't is something that shouldn't be so hard, when he clearly remembers one timeline and only has scattered fragments of all the others, but it happens anyway.
It's never a fun experience.]
Yeah, they're... they're not the type to do something like that for the hell of it. I could start thinking up reasons, but... Think this is something I shouldn't go making assumptions about.
[Maybe after everything's calmed down, he'll ask them about it. Maybe.]
S'a lot of history there. Just, uh, wish I could remember it.
...Can't say all their points were wrong, though.
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[As horrible as it would be to remember dying, wouldn't it be easier if the two of them could help each other cope with remembering?]
Serif... please don't say that. What in the world could someone so thoughtless say that was true?
[He wants to know, just so he can prove it wrong. His brother should never have to take those messages to heart.]
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[He's glad his brother never knew. It made things hard for Serif, maybe, but it could've been worse. It could always be worse.]
Eh, they just...
["No one could do this but you. All the other saps could never do it. They'd roll over and die for friendship and love, but not you. You'll do what has to be done."
"You and your brother are both skeletons. But you're the only one who's dead inside."
"You just ran and left them to rot."]
...
I dunno. Guess they said some stuff I was already thinkin' anyway.
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[If only wishes came true somewhere other than Koriko, then this problem may have been solved a lot quicker.
As things are now, it's still going to take some time. The answer Serif gives doesn't seem to satisfy Tempus, who's expression darkens. There's no way he's going to let that go so easily.]
And what exactly were you thinking already?
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[And maybe eventually he'll actually feel the same way about that. After resigning himself to dealing with everything on his own, for such a long time, it's hard getting out of that mindset.
...And of course Tempus isn't satisfied with that answer. Well, he thought as much already, but he'd kind of been hoping keeping it vague would work. But... he's not gonna lie about it, now that his brother's pushing.]
...
They, uh... heh... [He already knows Tempus won't be happy to hear this, but, well... Too late now, huh?] They said I was dead inside.
Couldn't really fight 'em on that one.
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[Or at least cast it aside, ignore it so he doesn't feel bad about telling the truth. Maybe Tempus is just reading the situation wrong, but regardless of Serif's reasons, it's concerning.
...And it's more concerning to hear how he really feels. For a moment, Tempus is frozen in shock, before he pushes on with a added level of ferocity.]
You shouldn't feel that way. I know I can't convince you to change how you feel so easily, but... you're a good person, Serif. You're smart, and caring, and you've done a good job of looking after Grit and myself... There's lots of people who care about you. I... I wish they could help you realize how lively you really are.
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[It's like the one thing that keeps him going most days.
...
He should be listening properly to this. He knows that. His brother's just trying to help and trying really hard at that. And Serif knows all of it's worth listening to. But one thing about it just stands out to him, especially after what his pen pal said in their last conversation.]
Tempus, you and the kid both ended up dead. I don't think that qualifies as doing a good job.
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[And he's worrying even more with Serif's next words. He flounders for a moment, trying to think of something, anything to make this right.
But even the great Tempus fails once in a while.]
...I know. But we're back now, and we forgive you. And... that was honestly out of your control.
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I ever tell you 'bout the promise I made to Fal?
[He did vaguely mention it, right after his shadow vanished. But that was about it.]
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[Maybe it's meant to be a secret, so he doesn't want to pressure Serif.]
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Even though I hate making promises... I just didn't have the heart to tell her no, y'know?
[It seems like so long ago now. Back when they only talked with a door between them. When Serif didn't even know what Falon looked like.]
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[Honestly, he's just amazed Serif made a promise to someone. Even Tempus doesn't always get promises right off the bat.]
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