Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

“It will not do anything to him. It is safe in a chronomancer’s hand, if that is your concern.”

 

Tenebrae takes the crystal, before the pair depart through the rift.

A day or so later, Temporus receives the crystal, checking it over.

 

It seems to hold both an item and a link, though appears entirely inert while Temporus isn't touching it.

 

Temporus tries to retrieve the item from it, though keeping a version of himself a minute behind to go back to should things go wrong.

 

“I assume by the way we got in, though maybe that option’s closed.”

 

"Are you able to check?" Scurn asks, seeming a bit annoyed with the uncertainty.

The item winds up being a small, fragile and complex device that crumbles upon Temporus touching it. The link may offer some insight on how to get it out without breaking it, if he's willing to talk to whoever's on the other end.

 

After stepping back in time to repair the item, Temporus listens in to the link; his presence felt on it.

 

“Sorry for the lack of an explanation. I hoped to speak with you sooner rather than later.” The Golden Queen says. “A matter we both seem to have kept from the others, at that. I saw it from those gears. Tweaked to the specific time, with the fallback point just before the meeting began. You foresaw everything that went down with this reality’s Xlentia, didn’t you? Her fit, Praecantatia tripping the ward, Gaia walking in at the end of it. No... you saw more than that. You saw our meeting, too. You were the fray I saw, and I the fray you saw that made you prepare a backup of sorts.” She asks. “How far off am I?”

 

"Not too far from the truth. I can only see so far into your reality, especially since yours lacks control over time. However, I can see everything that has, and could have been, and everything that may be in this reality. It's from that, I can figure out how certain events in your reality may proceed. One of which was my original creations not being enough and you erasing two of our gods, creating not only a great paradox but destroying core parts of our reality," Temporus explains, "The necklaces original purpose is simply to allow some of our gods to visit your reality, however. Due to the power they hold in this reality, if they were to die or - in this case - leave, their very essence in this reality would go with them. Thus, they never truly leave this reality when they go through the rift. As soon as they re-enter, they're sent back to before they left, so there is no period of time where they are not present."

"I, however, cannot do this. Not only would traversing the rift have a greater effect on me, but in doing so, the loop could never be created. As soon as I left, the timeline would cease to exist, along with all of my magic within this reality. I wouldn't be able to come back and step back, as there would be no thread to step back through; I'd have destroyed it upon leaving. I fear the same may happen to Caelia should she try." Temporus adds.

 

"Reminder, this is not my reality. Furthermore, I will say that this conversation is for us two and nobody else. Do not try to discuss it, lest I have to erase the thought rather than singe the rogue threads. If you are willing to accept that, I will continue." Golden says.

 

"When referring to 'your reality', I meant the reality you reside in. We needn't get into semantics." Temporus responds.

 

“Why act so miffed if you knew the armor incident would end the way it did? You can’t hide everything from the rest of your high gods. You also knew this reality couldn’t pay you back, yet most here are led to believe you don’t care. You do, I can tell it in the frays you leave. Paths you refuse to go down. It only took one fray of your reality crumbling, all others are subverted from conflict with this one. All the tension between your reality and this? We both know it could be gone with your word. What’s in it for you? You never look far enough to see any certainty of an outcome bar a dangerous end, surely you have motive?”

 

"If viewing my reality is like looking through a window, viewing yours is like a keyhole. I saw possibilities that what did happen would happen, however I saw many others where it didn't happen. Time is like a fast-flowing river, and you're in a boat. You can try to steer your boat down the path you want, but you cannot force the river to flow in another direction without causing problems. In your reality, I have not the oars to steer the boat, just a sail," Temporus explains, "There is a force greater than I that in part chooses the actions I take. I could remove all tension from our realities with one wave of my hand - go back and fix every mistake made and have everything go right from the beginning so the hive master is never even given power, but that would splinter us into doom. Managing the timeline is a careful thing; if you take the wrong action, everyone dies."

 

“You know you cannot do such a thing. The rift disallows it, especially in a reality as lawless as one without one true keeper of time. Yet, this reality lives on. Despite the countless splinters, splices, and loops. You can’t change them, but you may achieve more by dropping the facade than you think. You still have that luxury available to you.” She says, seeming a bit cautious with her words. “Unless... perhaps you don’t want them to owe your reality anything? Give and take just enough that no matter how tense things may be, no debts are built and no war is declared?”

 

"As much as I wish that were true, it is not. Caelia and I have jobs that are far more important than that of the other gods, and this rift and your realities have caused a lot of unknown variables to be introduced into our reality. Simple debts and conflicts are to the internal affairs of an ant's nest to us. Maintaining the timeline and making sure the rift doesn't get worse or loosen the fabric of our reality any more has been a serious strain on us both. Should we decide to seal it too, it would kill both of us - though only our physical forms," Temporus explains, "Each time something uses that rift without one of my necklaces, it scrambles the timeline. With mortals, their lack of presence for a time has little to no effect, it's like they're simply taking a vacation. However, as the power and importance of a being increases, so does their effect on the timeline."

"I fear the day the hive master steps through that rift, and for the good of both our realities, I've been making sure I'm not the version of myself that sees it." Temporus adds.

 

“If the rift is closed, you will have to close down your party. Not to be a hypocrite, but I’m usually the gaudiest one in a conversation. You’ll get there with time, though.”
Pause.
“I suppose you know what I hide underneath The Golden Queen, though. I suppose you’ve earned the privilege of calling me by name, then. Go on, I won’t erase anybody for you saying it.”

 

"Xlentia, I would assume." Temporus says, sounding more casual than usual.

 

The Golden Queen pauses.
“...A shame. You truly do have much to learn. You don’t seem to be bluffing, either.”

 

"I don't see how you'd expect me to know such information. I may be a god of time, but as previously explained, my view into your home reality is like looking through a keyhole of a door the other side of the room the keyhole I'm looking through sees," Temporus explains, "I do not expect to be looked up to, but I do not expect to be looked down upon by those of a similar status to I either. It appears we both have much to learn."

 

“You have everything you need to know to discern who I am, yet you permit your keyhole to obstruct your view. You are not the first to tell me to show some respect - and you won’t be the last. My gift will not be of use to you yet, but I advise you keep a hold of it lest you wish to remain locked behind your one-way mirror.” She sighs. “And remember - this remains between us. Do not even speak of this to Caelia, lest I revoke the gift and this memory.”