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.

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[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.