open to all | questions and apologies

[tresemme]

[ if you’re lucky, you’ve never heard this voice before. if you have, you’ll probably notice that he seems considerably less grouchy than he did making his greeting rounds in springstar and highstorm. tony has had time to settle in, and more importantly, he’s made some big decisions about what side he wants to support here.

…for now, at least, which is the quiet motivation behind his demanding communion. he seems utterly at home invading people’s minds, and there’s the sense of him stretching out like he’s been here the whole time and was just waiting for you to get home. ]

People here are from all different worlds, right?

[ rhetorical question, and he continues. ]

I want to hear from whoever’s been to Terra. The third planet in the Sol System. I know some of you call it Earth—the fact that you have a name for it means that you know about it. [ a pause. ] I’ll torture the knowledge out of you if I have to, but it’s easier for everyone if you just cough it up.

[ that seems to be the end of that, unless you’re a zenite, to which he then narrows his focus. ]

…sorry if you heard me say I want all the humans to die. I know we have to work together.

Comments

[tresemme]

[ thanks bud. he absolutely knows how to keep them from dying since he’s been doing fucked up evil things since he was literally, physically a toddler. ]

Huh… so people really were born there. [ he’s quietly contemplative, but then there’s sort of a frustrated turn in his thoughts. ] I don’t care about all that stuff. What does it look like?

[escardos]

[ wow, he can’t say he hasn’t seen that.

on the other hand, flat doesn’t seem to be remotely bothered by tony’s thoughts. his mindscape seems devoid of anything, in comparison. ]

It looks beautiful! But the scenery changes depending on where you go. But imagine 71% water and the other 29% being varying landscapes. Deserts, mountains, grassy plains… that sort of thing. And, of course! Large cities full of people.

[tresemme]

[ the answer is surprisingly helpful, considering he wasn’t sure what to make of flat before and still isn’t now. it would make it easier to peer into his heart and just read him from there, but… he’s not ready to make enemies he doesn’t have to. ]

…

[ tony is quiet, sincerely imagining what flat describes. his heart, to his annoyance, aches at the description. ]

What are the people like?

[escardos]

[ if tony wanted to, he could. there’s not much that the other could do to flat that would make him consider tony an enemy. and even if he were one, that wouldn’t ruin the friendship that flat has single-handedly declared.

without any regard to tony’s mood shifting, he continues all too chipperly. ]

The people are… fascinating! Each one of them is different, like a world of their own. They’re all so inefficient and clumsy, but seeing them overcome their own faults and do great things is amazing. Even just one person alone can change someone else’s world, whether for better or worse.

[tresemme]

[ this doesn’t sound anything like the humans that tony knows. granted, he doesn’t know any, and all his knowledge is both second-hand and biased, but it still doesn’t seem at all like the species that has antagonized the mu for so many centuries.

is this what they were, on terra? what changed? ]

I don’t get it.

[ he admits this as if defeated, troubled—and annoyed—by the idea. ]

Humans haven’t done anything “great” where I’m from.

[escardos]

Haha, the great things they do don’t have to be good. They can be cruel, but that’s just how things are sometimes. I just told you they were inefficient, didn’t I?

[ somehow, tony’s questions give flat a sense of nostalgia. it’s nice. ]

What are humans like, where you’re from? In fact, I never did ask, what are you? I can tell you’re not human, but I gotta know what you are!

[ he sounds genuinely curious. if tony could see, he’d see flat grinning from ear to ear and everything, like a child in a candy shop. ]

[tresemme]

[ tony is completely unsure what to make of flat.

at first he thought he was being made fun of, but there’s a more genuine tone to these answers now—and the fact that they’re speaking in their minds, tony’s playing field—that makes him realize flat may just be like this naturally. ]

I’m a Mu. [ having already done this once before, he knows he needs to explain more. ] Some humans call what we can do “ESP,” but it’s more than that. I guess their knowledge is out of date.

[escardos]

Ohhh!

[ interesting, interesting! perhaps the nostalgic pangs that this conversation was giving him were not so unwarranted.

with his attention fully on tony, he continues questioning him. ]

So you’re like…a superhuman? Or no, that term would probably make you mad, wouldn’t it? [ for someone who can’t keep himself still, telepathic conversations with flat are more like a disorganized stream of consciousness than anything else. ] I’ll just think of you as a “Mu” then. That’s incredible! You’re like another friend of mine— I like you! I really do! [ he really does. ] What else can you do?

[tresemme]

[ this is weird. this is weird, isn’t it? no normal person just decides that they like someone else—but then again, tony has no experience meeting new people. everyone on the shangri-la has known each other for decades. ]

Well, uh…

[ now he feels awkward. ]

I can fly.

[escardos]

What? For real!?

[ in contrast to tony’s awkwardness, flat will… simply continue to barrel through the conversation with unadulterated excitement. ]

Ah, perhaps by manipulating the gravity around you, you can hover and fly? Unless you actually have wings? I’d love to see it one day, if you don’t mind! I’ll tell you more about Earth—Terra, in your words—if you want!

[ because doing favors for your friends is what any good person is supposed to do, surely. ]

[tresemme]

[ it’s something like that, but even if he explained it, there’s no way flat would be able to do it. tony’s unique combination of abilities as a type-blue mu makes him one of the rarest among his race. ]

It’s not a big deal…

[ although he’s bragged about it to others, he feels a natural need to downplay it in the face of flat’s enthusiasm. ]

I don’t have wings or anything. I don’t look any different from a human, but on a genetic level, we’re completely different species. [ in his opinion, anyway. ] It’d probably be easier to show you than try to list off everything I can do.

[ in other words: yes, he’s accepting flat’s offer to exchange information. ]

[escardos]

[ yaaaay! flat beams upon hearing about this and, even if it's not visible, perhaps tony can still feel it, as flat makes absolutely no effort in hiding his enthusiasm. ]

Of course! You didn't look like you had wings when we first saw each other, so if you're able to do all of that then you're definitely different on the inside. I can't wait to meet up again!

[ it would be a great study, he thinks! and what are friends for if not to use them for the occasional research study? ]

Oh, how did the torture threat go? Did people take it well?

[tresemme]

Are you kidding?

[ now tony knows flat must be making fun of him, and even if he isn’t, tony feels strongly enough about it that there’s a defensive posture between them even through communion.

even so, it’s a sign that he doesn’t hate flat that he complains instead of taking it out on him. ]

Everyone’s acting like it was a weird thing to say, but how was I supposed to know Terra’s not a secret here?

[escardos]

[ flat would readily admit that he was in fact making fun of tony just there. but even if he is, there was absolutely no malice about it and doesn't even try to pursue it any further. ]

I guess it's because most of us are from there? [ he hums in thought, for a few seconds, wondering if there's any equivalent. maybe finding out a spoiler for an old movie...? ] Though it's dangerous to make assumptions— we're all aliens, after all!

[ what. ]

[tresemme]

…huh?

[ against his will, tony has been drawn into the rhythm of flat’s conversation. instead of shutting him down with a comment about how that’s stupid, or even trying to figure out what that means, he leaves the space open for flat to deliver the punchline. ]

[escardos]

A lot of us that are here have come from other worlds, haven’t we? Even if most of us are from Earth—Terra, in your words—they’re probably from different versions of it.

[ the punchline is a short explanation— one that will perhaps only make sense to flat. maybe it’s for the best if tony doesn’t fight too much against the current of it. ]

Therefore, if we’ve all landed in this new world, that means that, to this world’s citizens, we’re all extraterrestrial beings! [ a pause. ] Of course, you’d also be included in that group.

[tresemme]

…

[ tony gets it, but he thinks it’s so stupid he’s left without anything to say for a moment. just because they’re all technically off-worlders doesn’t mean anything, except perhaps for how easy it is to ingratiate with the people who are native to this land…

…who matter considerably less to tony than the other shardbearers. ]

Right… but there’s definitely no one else from my planet here, so that doesn’t leave me any better off than before.

[escardos]

Well, that is true...

[ flat's thoughts wander off as he thinks about what to say next. it sure would be lonely to be in this world without knowing anyone...not that he would get it, considering that he's found gray (and rin, technically, though she's from the past).

so, if he considers what he would do if he were in tony's situation... ]

I think I'd probably take that as an opportunity to get to know other aliens, then? I mean, that's probably more efficient than having to to live all alone, but I guess that's an option for you too.

[tresemme]

[ flat is trying to help, and tony gets that, but the more flat poses the possibility of tony being lonely… the more tony is forced to think about it. being all alone here is not something he wants, but he’s not good at making friends. he’s never had to, not when he was born with a set of companions and bonded through their trauma.

he’s quiet for a moment, troubled now by the reflection flat has forced upon him. ]

…I’m okay. I have Grandpa with me.

[escardos]

[ see, this would be a touching moment, for sure but...

unfortunately for tony, he's talking to flat. ]

Didn't you just say you were alone? [ he tilts his head to the side. ] I don't see anyone else with you.

[tresemme]

He’s not…

[ there’s a little wibble in their connection, like tony is afraid to say or even mentally acknowledge the present reality of jomy’s condition when he’s already been brought a little down by this conversation. ]

He’s just a Shard right now. From Yima.

[escardos]

Ohhhh.

[ meanwhile, flat, as usual, continues barreling through the conversation with the usual lack of decor that tony has surely grown accustomed to.

so tony chose zenith, huh… ]

It’s good that you have someone to fight for, then. [ the sentiment is genuine. ] You should keep him safe— maybe they should make iron safes for this?

[tresemme]

[ it would probably be better if tony did try to keep him safe somewhere, but he’s honestly afraid to put jomy anywhere for long. he doesn’t want to be separated from him for even a moment, no matter how foolish that might be in the long run. ]

I can keep him safe myself. It’s no problem. I just wish he’d wake up already.