makingthisupasigo | And the stars look very different today...

It was a way out. But it wasn't home.

Truthfully, after Norfinbury, anything would be better than that place, but the cold truth was--there was no way to find his own universe out of the endless multiverse, even if Norfinbury's busted technology had worked properly. He was stuck, here, with a megalomaniac Flynn--granted, a Flynn that managed to open up a portal out of there. Maybe that's what it took to get out of Norfinbury.

Or, Peter thought sometimes on bad days, Norfinbury only released you once you became the twisted version of yourself it wanted you to be. A specially-designed virus inflicted on countless worlds.

Besides, he ought to know something about that.

He didn't stay long on earth, he couldn't. Maybe it had something to do with the mystery of how they were revived in Norfinbury, their bodies recreated or cloned or healed, or maybe it was something that was gonna happen to him anyway, but he could feel the Light burning inside him, inside his head almost as soon as he landed. A desperate need to take to the stars. He'd managed to create a ship and took off.

Time passes, and scientists notice something odd about several exoplanets they're monitoring, especially ones marked as 'earth-like' or other planets in zones that could make them potentially habitable. Bright bursts of light and changes in the composition of the atmosphere or surface, it was inexplicable. Possible evidence of intelligent life? If they didn't know any better, especially with the rocky planets that now somehow boasted extreme changes, it was like something was terraforming them.

There was cause for alarm when Mars suddenly turned blue and green a few months later.

Meanwhile, a small blue-and-orange ship that looked suspiciously like a slightly more organic-looking Milano was racing towards the earth.

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[When Flynn shows up on the random screen in Peter's quarters his eyes are overly bright and shining because he is laughing so hard he's crying.]

Wakey-wakey, eggs and rotten flowers! Oh, please tell me Jones filmed your stupid face when that happened because I will be heartbroken for the next millennium that I missed it!

[Peter is indeed, just waking up and Flynn's annoying happy tone sets his teeth on edge.]

...what? [He rubs an eye.] What are you--

--wait, how did you find out about that!?

Who knows? Maybe you talk in your sleep. Maybe you toss and turn in seething rage 'noo, my flowers, my beautiful little flowers', biting your pillow.

[Flynn is so gleeful he's cackling.]

You know, I was kind of expecting Jones to give you a hard time but this...

So you only call when you wanna gloat, is that it?

You put him up to this, didn't you!?

I actually didn't. Which makes this just so much better, you know? Guess that's just what you get for taking in the world's best thief.

[OOPS did he forget to mention that.]

By the way, he totally destroyed your flowers the first time you guys were eating pizza, too. Just in case you STILL haven't figured that out.

...what?! He's the world's best thief and you sent him here?! Wha...

Flynn, what the hell?'

I didn't send anyone. You wanted to have him.

[He shrugs.]

Hey, don't look at me like that? I didn't think he'd even be able to do something like that. Crafty kid.

You knew it and you didn't tell me, you knew the crafty kid would get up to something even if it wasn't this big--I'm still blaming you for this!

Which means you owe me.

[He hates to do this, but he really does need his help. He can't believe he's doing this...]

I need your help to get my planets back.

[For a moment Flynn's expression changes into something darker, more dangerous.]

I don't owe you anything.

[But it's gone just as quickly, the amused smile returning to his lips.]

You need my help? [Now that is making his day. Thank you, Jones.] You must be really desperate.

[There's an exasperated uuuuuughhhh and Peter rolls his eyes.]

Okay, fine, I don't care--I'll owe you, whatever. I am desperate, so are you gonna help me or not?

[He knows just how bad this might possibly get, but he needs his planets back. He doesn't care what the cost is.]

Maybe.

[Oh, how he loves this word.]

What do I get out of it?

I don't know, what do you want? I already gave you earth, man.

[What does he want? For a moment the possibilities are endless and he instantly comes up with a thousand potential ideas but--

If he's being honest, is there even anything horrible left that they can do to each other or haven't already?]

Mm. Think I'll decide when I know how much work it's gonna be.

For looking into how much work it's gonna be, tell me what you're gonna do to Jones.

[That's gonna be fun to pass on to Stone at some point.]

[There's a pause. He's not sure if this is going to just make it worse, but...]

He thinks like a mortal. I'm gonna fix that.

[There is a pause on Flynn's end as well.]

Really. You gonna build him a little Home, Petey? Gonna make him Run the Gauntlet a little, hmm?

[His voice is snide, sneering.]

That's not gonna work. He's not like Flynny. He'd be out before you know it and he'd probably even enjoy your stupid gauntlet game.

[Why does he say that? Why does he care?]

Contrary to popular belief, I didn't actually like making any of those things! They were necessary!

[And were they going to have this argument until the universe ended? Probably.]

...okay, so...wanna tell me what will get to him?

[He thinks Flynn is just being contrary, so...whatever? It still hurts to hear him refer to...his old self like that, though.]

Yesyesyes, it was all oh so very necessary. [He waves an impatient hand.] Whatever makes you sleep better at night I guess.

[He thinks about that for a moment. Does he want to tell Peter how to get to Jones? There's some resistance to the idea, almost a reluctance.

Which of course is unacceptable, so he doubles down. That will reinforce the lock that holds back his old pathetic self and these stupid memories.]

So here's the thing. The two things Ezekiel Jones loves most in the world are Ezekiel Jones and his freedom. He's the world's greatest thief and you might be able to keep him on your planet but you won't be able to lock him up. So, spare yourself the headache.

You wanna go for a challenge, try his confidence. I don't actually think you can break through his self-assuredness but if you do, send me some proof and I will actually admit out loud I'm impressed.

But in general... Change your angle. Don't try to make him stop caring about the mortals, that's a Flynny approach. Instead, make him start caring what you care about. Maybe some good old conditioning, that might do the trick. Make him want to do something he hates. Until he forgets he hates it.

[There's a whistle.]

Man, you are good at being bad. That's downright malicious.

[Yeah, he misses the old Flynn but this guy was just something else sometimes.]

I like it.

Edited 2018-04-25 07:59 (UTC)

[He shrugs as if to say genius, what can you do.]

Let me know how it goes. I want to keep his friend posted.

[W o w, bro.]

That's even more downright malicious. Cruel, even.

[Now that just gets you a look, Peter.]

You make it sound like such a bad thing. ... Well. I guess it is a bad thing. [He grins.]

And don't underestimate yourself. I know you. When you really get into things? I have nothing on you.

[Worst pep talk ever?]

...no way, man. [Denial!]

You've done pretty well for yourself lately. And by well I mean terrible. And by terrible, I mean great?

[Best pep talk ever?]

And the stars look very different today...

[magic mirror] mention of mind control/manipulation/broken bones/violence/torture throughout thread

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