[ Connor…whats all of this? ]
Timekeeper couldn’t find the mortal nearly all day, despite their ‘all seeing’ abilities. He managed to slip through the cracks and completely disappear, one of the many reasons they were so entranced. Timekeeper had hoped not all humans were like this so they could brag about having the best one.
“Just you wait, I have a whole night planned”
[ Night doesn’t exist here. ]
Timekeeper let out a small giggle and rested their head in their arms on top of the platform Connor had been standing on. Connor had went on a quest to find the best music for him and Timekeeper, he had been planning for what seemed like days. Time wasn’t truly a thing in the parable, so he had no way of knowing. Not that it mattered, all he needed was Timekeepers gaze on him.
Connor had managed to…convince…Narrator to lend him one of his many records he had collected over the years. It took nearly all day, but he managed to walk away with music perfect for waltzing. Another win for begging.
Timekeeper watched as the human put the record on, the space filling with the sound of a violin. They didn’t know where Connor was going with this, but they were very intrigued, watching his every move carefully.
Connor cleared his throat and held out a hand to Timekeeper.
Timekeeper blinked and stared down at the man for a considerable amount of time.
They were silent aside from the music that continued playing. Connor slowly lowered his hand, and chuckled nervously.
Timekeeper snorted, then burst out laughing at him. Connors face went completely red.
[ Connor, you know thats impossible ]
Connor fumbled over his words for a minute before taking a deep breath.
“You don’t know until we try, give me your hands”
[ The tip of my finger is the size of your entire head. ]
Connor placed his palms on the bend of Timekeepers hand. They went silent as they slowly closed their fingers around his tiny hands.
Timekeeper didn’t say anything else as the mortal began to sway back and forth. Neither could guide the other, only try to mimic. It took a while before they had a rhythm going because of their massive size difference, but they each figured out how to really get into it. Timekeeper spun Connor around a few times with their fingertips, laughing softly each time because of how clunky it was. Neither of them cared about that now, each too into the dance and each other.
They were each tortured souls in one way or another, who managed to intertwine by pure chance. Maybe it was fate, maybe it was luck, but here they were in this moment. Timekeeper was slowly beginning to understand Narrator.
Connor was just happy he was able to break the curse, even if momentarily. Timekeeper wasn’t full of dread, or trying to keep an invisible wheel turning. They were happy. They were truly, and genuinely, happy.
Connor couldn’t tell if he were hypnotized, or if Timekeeper had become smaller, but they seemed much closer. It got easier to hold onto their hands, despite still being massive.
Timekeeper felt it too. They assumed it was raw adrenaline, the pounding in their chest they had never felt even once before. Connor confused them greatly, Timekeeper thought they’d never understand the feelings they felt toward him. Perhaps, that were true. Perhaps, they’d spend the rest of eternity wondering what it was about this one human that had Timekeeper hooked. It was like a drug.
Maybe it was how eccentric he was, how he was always trying to prove a different theory and explain himself purple. Maybe it was how much he stood out. Timekeeper would drive themself insane trying to pinpoint it.
Timekeeper began to falter as they thought more…these feelings, they only meant one thing. They still weren’t sure if they liked it.
They had already spoken to Connor about it, and they had agreed to just take it slow. Figure it out one day at a time. Timekeeper had expected the feeling to wear off by now, for it to just be interest in a new person. But that wasn’t happening. If anything, it only grew stronger as the days passed. Their waltz wasn’t helping whatsoever.
Connor noticed Timekeeper deep in thought, and paused.
Timekeeper didn’t answer for a long moment. They were too scared to face what they were thinking, let alone say it out loud.
But oh…those eyes. Connor had always been so understanding despite his…unique sense of sanity. Timekeeper felt as though they could tell him they just killed someone and he wouldn’t see them any differently.
[ What do I do when you die? ]
They both froze right where they were like a picture. The music played on as Timekeeper awaited desperately for a response.
[ You have to die Connor. ]
The tension in the air was so thick that you needed an axe to effectively cut it.
[ You don’t want this. You don’t want to be immortal. ]
Connor narrowed his eyes at Timekeeper, he was very frustrated with this conversation they seemed to have over and over again.
“You’re acting like I’d be completely alone”
Timekeeper stared. Connor placed his hand on top of their finger and smiled warmly.
“I’d have you, no matter what. What better way to spend eternity?”
Doubt creeped its way into Timekeepers mind. No, nothing lasts forever. Not even the parable, as was proven in the epilogue. Someday everything will be dust, and Timekeeper will remain. Connor will just end up lost in the sands.
“Look at me, I won’t go anywhere, I promise with my whole soul”
The words were sweet…but Timekeeper couldn’t help but laugh at them. This was it. This is why they were so infatuated, without a doubt.
[ What a stupid thing to say. ]
Timekeeper smiled as they put their hands back in the position they started in, and began right where they left off.
Not immediately. Timekeeper wouldn’t immediately grant Connor immortality, if thats something they could even do. They agreed to take it slow, and so they shall. They needed to be one hundred percent sure both ways. That may seem ridiculous to some, but this was so alien to Timekeeper that rushing in would be the death of them. One day at a time.
That feeling of closeness slowly but surely returned, it was almost like Connor could hold-
Timekeeper found themself on the platform alongside Connor. Yet another moment of silence, except this time it was pure confusion.
Timekeeper momentarily stepped away from Connor to gain their bearings. Connor was completely frozen as he stared at them. They noticed his jaw agape and rolled their eyes, gently grabbing his hands again and leading them into a proper waltz.
Connor believed he had gone to heaven, as one of Timekeepers hands found itself placed on his hip. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world to him.
Timekeeper had decided right then and there that they wouldn’t waste a second of time with Connor, as he spun them around and around. Every day had to count, every day needed to be better than the last. Not for them, but for him. If he truly wanted to spend eternity with them, then it was up to Timekeeper to make it the best eternity possible.
As the song came to a close, Timekeeper gently dipped Connor, and leaned down to finally close that gap.
