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

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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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Ezekiel blinks and shrugs. "Uh, okay, so first of all? It was really good pizza. You should have seen the cheese, it was just right? And second, the guy has never played a modern video game, the last time he got to play was like in the 80s? Man, I'd be super cranky too."

Flynn watches the exchange, chin propped up on one hand and slowly, he smiles.

Hit him.

It's not an active thought that he sends into Jacob's mind, nothing to detect as a command but a push at the already rising agitation and anger over how he apparently sold his soul out for nothing.

Edited 2018-04-15 14:13 (UTC)

"That--that's what you were doing all this time then, just eating really good pizza, with just right cheese and helping out some guy play new video games because boo-hoo, all he's played is Pong!?"

This is unnaccceptable. After all he did for him, he had a great time!?

The push boils over his rising agitation and his anger--

--he did all this for him, he gave up everything for him and he had fun up there!?

Without warning, Jacob attempts to roughly shove Ezekiel with both hands, with enough force to knock him back or off his feet if he lost his balance.

"I can't believe you!"

"Whoa!" He's nimble enough to sidestep a bit but the attack comes so out of the blue that Ezekiel stumbles, a flash of surprise on his face. What is going on?

"Calm down. What is your problem? He's actually a pretty great guy. I mean, if he wasn't so insane and trying to kill everything in sight but apart from that..."

Flynn is uncharacteristically quiet in all this, just watching the two intently. This is weird. What's happening?

"You're actually upset he didn't do anything?"

Don't tell him to calm down, bro.

"Are you even listening to yourself? Do you wanna go and be friends with the guy who's insane and trying to kill everything and turn every planet into himself? Because that's so normal, right!?"

A long pause. He snaps a finger at Ezekiel.

"No. He did--he did do something to you, he did and we just can't see it, right? He was nice to you so you'd come back here and tell us how great he was, and then he'd win us over."

So--he didn't give up his mind and heart to Flynn for no reason! Right?

"That's a good point." Flynn leans forward, delighted at the startled expression on Jones' face. The thief chuckles, a little nervously, trying to play it cool as usual but Flynn can read his growing unease.

Wiping that insufferable smug grin off his face once and for all is going to be so satisfying.

"We should really try and draw out what he did to you," Flynn muses. "If that is even really you."

"What are you guys talking about, of course it's me. He-- he didn't do anything. He probably just wanted to keep me for bargaining? Come on." Ezekiel's eyes dart back and forth between Stone and Flynn and Flynn almost laughs out loud. This is going to be so much fun.

Hit him. Again, stronger this time. We need to find out what he's hiding. At ANY cost.

Well, now that's actually a terrifying thought. Could planet-guy replace Ezekiel like that?

There's no way it could be this easy, right?

Flynn's prompting drives the paranoia, anger, and worry up, and the stronger compulsion fits far too well with his thoughts already building. He notices nothing wrong, as he suddenly balls a fist up and launches it towards Ezekiel's face.

"Quit lyin' and tell us what really happened!"

Ezekiel is quick on his feet but he's focused a little more on Flynn at that moment and... he doesn't expect Stone to hit him. Doesn't expect Stone to ever hit him, actually. Shove him around or into bookshelves, grab him by the neck, punch his arm, whack him over the back of the head, yes.

But not hit him. Not like this. Not for real.

The fist connects right under his left eye and suddenly pain explodes behind Ezekiel's face. This time he falls and hits the ground hard and what!? He clutches his face, staring up at Jacob in shock and confusion.

"W-what are you doing!?"

Ezekiel's face and voice bring Jacob back from his spiraling thoughts. Without the push, his legitimate anger starts to fade and he looks back down at Jones, then to his fist, then back to Jones.

"I...I don't...that was too much, I didn't mean to, I--"

It was Flynn.

FLYNN.

He doesn't have words in any language for how pissed off he is. But he has to take the pendant off now before he can hurt Jones again--

--he quickly reaches towards his neck to attempt to yank it off--

Edited 2018-04-15 15:11 (UTC)

STOP.

This time Flynn doesn't try to hide the command as he takes hold of Stone's mind. For a moment he holds him like this, lets him feel his smile, allows him one horrible moment of clarity, of what's about to happen.

We're just getting started.

He keeps him immobile, showing him a mental image, glimpses of what they – what Stone is – about to do before he tears into his thoughts and feelings.

You don't want to let go of that pendant. Ever. You love that pendant, you don't ever want to take it off.

You love that pendant and you hate Ezekiel Jones.

This is all his fault. All your pain and suffering, it's all because of him. Look how he sold you out to the enemy. Look how he's mocking you with his lies. He doesn't deserve your friendship. He doesn't deserve your love.

You hate Ezekiel Jones and you will not stop before he tells us everything we want to know.

You hate Ezekiel Jones and you will not stop before I tell you to.

Now hit him again.

Jacob freezes, the horror dawning as he hears Flynn's voice in his head, as his body ceases to obey his own commands, as he realizes with sheer, unbridled terror what's about to happen.

NOOOOOOOO!

His mind lashed out, in the few precious seconds of autonomy he has left but it's too late--it's too late and he can't grasp his own will anymore because he really, really doesn't want to take the pendant off anymore, why did he ever even want to? He loved that thing, what a stupid thought--

--his terror sank into anger, as he stares at Jones, hands clenching into fists.

This was because of him, wasn't it? Typical Jones, always putting himself first, after everything he's done for him and this is how he repays him?

No. Enough is enough. He's done with him.

He's done.

And after everything that's happened? He hates him.

And suddenly Jacob leaps into action, he starts pummeling Jones, over and over again, punch after punch--

"Quit lying and tell us the TRUTH!"

"Stone! What are-! Stop--!"

Ezekiel manages to roll out of the way and evade the first two punches but then Stone is all over him, giving him one hell of a beating. At first he's desperately trying to fend him off, but Jake hits him again and again and eventually all he can do is curl up and bring his arms up in an attempt to protect his head, muffling his surprised cries. He's too stunned by the turn of events to even feel the hurt at this point.

He doesn't understand.

"Okay! Okay alright, I'll tell you, I'll tell you!" he eventually cries out.

"Wait." Flynn's voice breaks through the haze of pain. "Stone, give him a break, I want to hear this."

And then the punches stop and Ezekiel crawls backwards, trying to get some distance between himself and Jake. He's panting, eyes wide and panicked and this time when he brings his hand up to his face it comes back red. "I-I used the video game to distract him! To get to the flowers! I destroyed at least a dozen of them!"

There's a moment of silence and a flash of rare surprise on Flynn's face before his eyes narrow. "Why didn't you tell me right away?"

Right, the tattoos. Suddenly terror washes over Ezekiel because with what is happening right now (what is happening right now?!) Flynn can't-- Stone can't-- they can't know they're not working on him. "I-I just wanted to brag, you know, make a big reveal." He points at Stone. His hand is shaking. "What did you do to him!?"

"Me?" Flynn's eyebrows shoot up. "I didn't do anything. Maybe you should take some responsibility for your actions? Really now, Jones." He tsks, sounding almost disappointed. "Did you ditch Stone to go hang out with your Celestial friend? Did you think working for him is maybe more rewarding? Or... maybe that's not it? Maybe you wanted to wait until Stone is gone to tell me how you destroyed more flowers than him?"

"I would never!" Ezekiel yells back, real anger making its way through the pretense. His eyes drift back to Stone, his voice turning softer, more pleading. "I-I would never."

"And yet you just lied to us again. Ezekiel Jones, always lying, always looking out for himself." Flynn's eyes dart over to Jacob. "You know, maybe it's no surprise he got along so well with the egomanic being that's trying to destroy our planet."

Okay, that actually hurts. "I was distracting him!"

Flynn ignores him. "Maybe we should teach him a little lesson. Show him that we don't take kindly to people who try to hurt Earth."

"I wasn't trying to hurt Earth!!"

When Flynn gives the command to stop, Jacob pants, looking down at his fists. He's used to fighting, but his knuckles ache, fighting bare-handed like this, he should grabbed his gloves or a wrap. Stupid Ezekiel, now he's gonna have to tend to that later.

He's getting more and more agitated as Flynn suggests that maybe Jones became actual friends with that megalomaniac--it made sense, didn't it? So much sense.

"You probably liked him better than us. You would be friends with him, wouldn't you? Since he gave you pizza and all. Is that what it takes to get your loyalty? Pizza?!" Jacob's so infuriated he can hardly stand it. He hates Jones so much. It shows on his face, and the way he's clenching his fists tightly still, his stiff body language. "That's your price? After everything we've been through?!"

"Now I see what a lying traitor you are," he growls. "I never saw it before, but now it's so obvious, isn't it?"

He nods at Flynn. Who actually cares about protecting the damn planet!

"I think we should. It's the least he deserves"

He doesn't know what's more exciting - the unrestrained hatred Stone is radiating or the effect it is having on Jones; the way his usual obnoxious mask of self-importance crumbles. His smug attitude has been bothering Flynn for a while now and it's about time he did something about it.

He can read Ezekiel like a book, the way his eyes dart back and forth between him and Stone, so confused and afraid. 'No, he doesn't mean that? He can't mean that! It's Flynn, somehow it's Flynn, it's the tattoos. But the tattoos are dark and inactive.'

Flynn smiles. Jones has no idea what's coming for him.

He isn't stupid. He knows these two have been plotting and planning against him. Would keep doing so and he has no interest in letting them go on with their notions of a mutiny. No, no, today is going to mark the end of their dumb little friendship, once and for all. Flynn is going to shatter it into a billion little pieces.

"I think you're right." And because he can't wait to see what that will do to Jones' face, "What do you think we should do to him? What's appropriate for a traitor like him?"

What do you think we should do to him? What's appropriate for a traitor like him?

"Well, treason usually results in execution." Stone says this a-matter-of-factly. "Thing is, it'd be a waste. We want him to know exactly what he's done, and regret it."

He fixes his gaze on Jones, his face revealing all too well exactly how furious he is with him.

How could you do this to me? To us? To the earth?

"It needs to be somethin' bad. Somethin' that'll make him regret every single decision he made leading up to this."

He scratches his chin.

"I think we should break his hands. Break 'em so bad he can't ever pick a lock or pickpocket ever again."

"What!?" Ezekiel's voice hitches in horror and agitation. "Are you insane?! You can't!!"

"Break his hands!" Flynn's expression, on the other hand, brightens at the suggestion and he pats Stone's back amiably. "That's amazing! Who knew you had it in you?"

Ezekiel watches them, heart pounding in his chest, face pounding from the beating and Flynn is smiling at Stone like a proud parent and Stone is staring at him with so much hatred and suddenly he realizes they're serious about this. This isn't a joke. They are actually serious about this. "Y-you can't!" he stammers, trying to keep the hysteria from his voice. "You need me! And my hands! I've been to his planet and I've managed to break through his locks and-- you need me!"

"Ah, how predictable," Flynn muses with a little sing-sang. "Now comes the self-serving."

"Uh, you are literally planning to break my hands here, it's more than warranted," Ezekiel interjects. There has to be a way he can get out of this. To talk his way out of this. Think, think, think... "And I'm pretty sure at least you hate the guy up there?" He looks at Flynn as he points upwards to the ceiling. "More than the guy down here." Pointing at himself.

At least that's what he hopes.

"You need me to get the UFO back up and running. And to implement a stealth mode. And to get to the flowers. This is a space battle and it's technology and you need me!"

Please don't break my hands. Please don't break my hands.

"Maybe you shoulda thought about how much we needed you when you decided to join team Take-Over-The-Universe!" There's no sympathy there, there's nothing but the feeling of raw betrayal and how much it hurt.

He glances over at Flynn. Honestly, as much as he's hated the guy for so long, he really doesn't seem so bad at all right now--even though there's something disconcerting about being praised by him.

Well, it didn't matter.

Jones deserved this.

"You were my friend, Jones," he growls. "We don't need you."

Even if they probably did.

This is so much better than he anticipated. Stone coming up with the hand breaking idea himself is going to crush that big, big heart of his completely. And Jones being so... Jones-y about the entire thing and keeping it together - but Flynn can see just how much, how deeply this affects him.

It's in the details. Like the little wince when Stone says We don't need you. Really, he's on a roll! Flynn should have put that pendant on him a lot sooner.

"Hear that?" He points at Jake. "He's right. Can't let you do that again. You know in the Middle Ages they used to cut off a stealing hand? And all the things you did to us, to Stone - we really can't let this go unpunished."

But the thing is, Jones has a point. Flynn hates Peter a lot more than he hates him and they might end up needing him eventually.

"But you're right. An Ezekiel Jones without his hands is worth nothing." Another wince on Jones' face. Ah yes. He figured Ezekiel Jones thinks that about Ezekiel Jones, too. "Besides, you have a lot to make up for, don't you?"

He starts pacing up and down, musing, half to the room, half to Stone.

"Now what does Ezekiel Jones love even more than his hands? It's his freedom, isn't it?" He clasps his hands together and turns back to the two. "I know. I'll heal your hands when we need you. And only when and if we need you. And only for how long and for what we need you. And then Stone can break them again. Until you learn your lesson." He looks over at Stone, smiling. "After all we should make sure he can't go steal for anyone else. And we should really make sure that he never betrays us again."

That he never betrays and hurts you again.

That he never betrays and hurts you again.

Good. He relaxes a little, shifting his feet, and nods at Flynn.

"I think that's a good plan." He glances back over at Jones. "It'll keep him in line, and it'll guarantee his loyalty. Which is the problem here."

Maybe...maybe this way they could be friends again.

Nah, what was he thinking? He hated Jones. They could never truly be friends again. Not after that betrayal.

But working together? He could do that. And this guarantees their safety, too.

And Jones will never hurt him again.

"Freedom and his hands. That's the price of what he's done."

Edited 2018-04-17 10:22 (UTC)

Ezekiel listens, mouth agape with growing horror as they're discussing something so unspeakably terrible in such an unfeeling way.

Freedom and his hands. That's the price of what he's done.

No! They can't!

"S-stop it! I didn't betray you! Stone, don't... don't listen to him, this isn't you!" He points at Flynn. "It's him! He's done something to you! We're friends, don't you remember?"

Flynn shakes his head. "And he won't even say sorry. Honestly, Jones, not even that?" He looks over at Jacob. "I think we should make him apologize."

It's him! He's done something to you! We're friends, don't you remember?

...Flynn has done something to him. The pendant? But that didn't count. Cause he loved that thing, he wanted to put it on, even if it did do...things. He didn't mind, though, even if it did affect him. He loved it so much. He liked having a connection with Flynn, since this pendant was so great and all.

Something in Jacob's gaze falters, there's a nervous, flitting look towards Flynn before he focuses on how much he loathes Jones once again.

"How can I believe a liar like you? You'd say anything to save yourself! You think any of us can ever trust you again? And yeah, we used to be friends, but not anymore. Not after this. Not after everything I've done for you and how you've betrayed us all."

He glances back over at Flynn again, nodding. "Agreed." He punches the palm of one hand with his other fist. "What did y'have in mind? Round two?"

Edited 2018-04-17 13:35 (UTC)

Flynn smiles, watching Stone's thoughts and feelings closely, and he gives him a happy little mental nudge. He likes having a connection with you, too, buddy! Isn't it great and unique, being so close?

There's the most wonderful upset look in Jones' eyes when Stone tells him they're not friends and Flynn wonders if he's going to cry. Jones has never cried in front of them and his eyes do look overly bright for a second.

But then he presses his lips to a defiant, firm line and stumbles to his feet, backing off. Good. If it were easy it would be boring.

"Yes. I'll leave it to you. You're the one he really hurt, you're the one he should be apologizing to. And it looks like he'll need to learn a little respect before he can take his punishment."

Ezekiel grits his teeth but Flynn can see the growing despair and panic he's trying to keep under control. "Oh my God, will you guys stop talking like complete psychopaths! Who are you, the Bates brothers?"

It is great and unique being so close! He's downright happy about it too, man. It's a weird sort of connection being this close, but Jacob wonders why he hasn't thought about doing it sooner. It's super effective, too. Look how well they were working off of each other! Such great teamwork.

"Got it. One apology coming right up." There's a pause, though, cause seriously, Jones? "You'd know all about psychopaths, wouldn't you, Jones? Since you're best friends with one and all?"

He takes a few steps forward, gaining speed and reaching out to see if he can grab him by the shirt and give him another round of punches.

"I was doing my job!"

The beating left a mark and he's panting but he's still quick enough to dance out of the way. He can't let Jake get to him, he just... can't.

"You want an apology? Fine! I'm sorry the crazy space megalomaniac didn't horrifically torture me like you two are apparently super into! I'm sorry I did the whole Librarian thing of actually using my head to stop him from destroying more planets because Flynn here--" Angry finger pointing? Angry finger pointing. "--is a jerk and can't get his head out of his own crazy!"

He tries to keep on his feet and out of reach, keeping an eye on Jake's movements. If only he knew what Flynn did to him! Maybe if he can knock Flynn out...

Jones is infuriatingly fast and agile, but he tries to lunge for him again. Stone is telegraphing his body language quite obviously, his lack of calm making his movements obvious, his training falling to the wayside. He's keeps trying to lunge for and grab Jones's shirt if he can get close enough.

"There is no way you woulda gotten out of there unscathed if you didn't promise him something, if you didn't betray us! At least that jerk--" he points to Flynn. "Actually cares about protecting this place! Something you apparently don't know a thing about!"

"What? Are you even listening to yourself!?" He's getting tired. Ezekiel knows his own body inside out and he knows that he can't keep this up for long. He needs to do something NOW.

With every sidestep he tries to position himself closer to Flynn and then, suddenly, lunges at him. Flynn laughs, clearly having anticipated the move, and the tattoos glow -- but this time Ezekiel ignores them and throws a punch. There are two seconds of utter satisfaction when a baffled expression crosses Flynn's stupid smug face and he stumbles back, clutching his nose with a surprised yelp.

But Ezekiel is tired and there's not enough power behind the punch. It didn't hit quite right, too, and then cold fury explodes on Flynn's face and no, Ezekiel has to hurry, he has to knock him out before Stone gets to him and--

"Excalibur!"

--and then suddenly there's Cal, with a sad whine and trembling unhappily but obeying Flynn's command, his blade at Ezekiel's chin. He freezes. Oh no.

Oh no, oh no, no.

For a moment, everything is dead silent.

"Well, well, well," Flynn then says with a voice that makes Ezekiel's blood turn to ice. He wipes at his bleeding nose and steps in close, staring Ezekiel down, his eyes burning, an unspoken promise passing between them. I'll make you pay for this.

Then the corner of his mouth lifts, and Ezekiel would never, ever have thought he could look so cruel. Flynn moves away from him, leaving an opening for Jake. "Isn't that interesting. Looks like there's another thing Jones forgot to mention to you, Stone."

With Cal at his neck, all Ezekiel can do is clench his fists in helpless rage. "It's not... like that."

Edited (adding more details to the pain 8D) 2018-04-17 16:09 (UTC)

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cw violence for the rest of this thread sob

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