Multiply, you say? Could you show me an example?

(Theodore widen his eye. Multiply? That's something new.)

Do not worry, I'm not thinking of letting you go any time soon.

You are 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 after all.

I'll make sure that you and Miss Woods are inseparable.

(It doesn't feel sickening to manipulate, despite hating the word 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.)

Desmond. You seem to be enduring this harsh situation better. May I ask if there's a reason why you're staying here? Excluding the indefinitely part.

(There's that 𝘓𝘢𝘺𝘵𝘰𝘯 glint in his eye. He picked something up with him and Shedra.)

(Theodore looks 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵. He doesn't dare express this to anybody, but Desmond is an exception.)

Thank you for clearing that up, Desmond.

(He inhales. Then, he leans forward after seeing how dejected Desmond looks. His voice becomes soft like it had been the first time he reassured Desmond.)

-90 degrees, heading towards the vehicle parked alongside the tree. @agentacids.bsky.social waits on the front.)

However, you'll be establishing your thoughts soon. We'll be transported to the Nest; Targent's headquarters.

(Theodore exhales. His past self really didn't dedicate himself to the Azran at this age.)

The Targent Agency is an organization dedicated to unlocking the secrets of the Azran. It is not in my place to influence 𝘩𝘪𝘴 opinion of it, despite not mattering much.

(He huffs as Theodore does a complete-

-, the victim was presumed dead.

He goes by the name 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭 𝘍𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘢.

Is that who you prove yourself to be?

(Bronev doesn't let up his slight frown, though eases his shoulders.)

No, it is not your turn.

Since you're so insistent about your name, then you must confirm this.

A decade ago, there was a case concerning one of my agents shooting a bystander. Though there was no description about the reason-

(Theodore grips his tequila and gestures his glass to the agent.)

Are you up for the challenge, 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘮?

(Did he just forget to say agent? Anyway, he holds his piercing gaze.)

(The commander pours a pinkish liquid from his shaker. He pushes the tequila towards Callum.)

I shall get straight to the point.

There is a 𝘴𝘱𝘺 among our numbers, Agent Callum.

I've called you here because I believe you are best suited for identifying the spy hidden in Targent.

𝘊𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳.

(Bronev puts a stern look on both of them.)

I will not be considering the information provided by both of you.

Miss Woods, leave the office. I'll have a word with you after this interrogation.

(The commander makes a call to @mourningraven.bsky.social from his radio.)

Agent Callum, there is a matter I'd like to discuss with you about. Please meet me by the back of the mansion. I have a small bar set up here.

(God forbid he said 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 again..

Theodore sighs, looking at Desmond with an unreadable expression.)

..Did you really, give 𝘓𝘢𝘺𝘵𝘰𝘯 your name? ..

(If there was one thing about confronting your fears, it was to face it head on. He had to ask, else he'll forever be haunted by the uncertainty.)

Once they arrive at the Wall of Norwell, there is a humvee hiding behind a tree.)

..Have you ever heard of 𝙏𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩?

(The commander shuts up, realizing his childish behavior. Why did 𝙝𝙚 have to release such a vivid nightmare onto him? It's not like this version of Randall had anything against him in 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 universe. Then again, he had just kidnapped a younger version of himself.

𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘦.

(Bronev feels a pang in his chest.)

𝘔𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥?

(He says it with such disgust too.)

Never once have I considered Randall as my 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥.

He was always standing in my way when I was searching for the Abkaidain ruins. Nevertheless, he found it first..

(𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘴 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘴𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙢.

He still looks skeptical, but he glances to Shedra.)

Do not fret, little sister, this crow can do you no harm. Though, I will need to hear both sides of this.

Do you have any reason to 𝘭𝘪𝘦 to me, other than 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘭, little orchid?

(Their banter certainly made him think twice. Who should he side with?)

..I wouldn't be so quick to assume her dishonesty, Crow. However, you are correct with 'Marshall Pinheiro' not coming up in any records. Instead, there is another name that matches the case file from 10 years before.

-that 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 damaged his mental walls.)

..How do you feel, 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭?

(Why did he use that name? He regrets it immediately, but doesn't let it show.)

(The commander sits silently on the cushions, tea ready on the table.

If there is any emotion on Theodore's face, it is greatly hidden.)

Hello, Desmond.

Please, take a seat. There's tea on the table.

(There's a slight crack on Theodore's steely gaze. Having recently seen his older brother in-

(The hallway eventually leads to Mr. Ledore's office.

As if on cue, the voice behind the door speaks up.)

Thank you for bringing him here, Agent Bluejay. You are dismissed.

(This meeting is not meant for anyone to hear.)

..𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘥. Please enter the premises.

(Christ, he's certainly not hiding the stress that the situation caused him, fear mongering the Layton like this.

As of now, Bronev's taking the path towards the Wall of Norwell, silently brooding.)

-back in Abkaidain.

(Oh yea, this definitely left a mark on the commander. No Layton would add something pointless like that.)

In the mean time, you'll be left under my watch. That 𝘪𝘯𝘫𝘶𝘳𝘺 of yours is certainly related to the Azran, as the telekinesis gives it away.
So, worry about 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 first.

(The distinct voice snaps him out of his focus, twisting around to stare at Hershel, terrified.

Immediately, he tries to recover quickly, glaring at the teenager and tightening his hold on him. His fist is shaking.)

I've handled things far worse than this, boy. Eventually, I'll bury that corpse-

( @lilliana-shedra.bsky.social radio flickers to life. )

Agent Bluejay, please bring @babydesmond.bsky.social to my office. Thank you.

-get the HELL out of here. He can't have the Mask of Chaos, but he can have whatever 'injury' this Layton has.

He stays silent while slithering through the forest, trying to distract himself from his own thoughts.)

A bad hallucination. Nothing else.

It's not real.
‎
‎
‎

𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴.

He realizes he had Hershel in an almost vice like grip, so he lets go just a little, yet still held him in place.

The commander feels too disoriented, but he has a clear goal:

-slow at the same time. What the hell was that? Where was he? Why was there a massive blue wall trying to narrate his presence? 𝘞𝘩𝘰 was that above him?

Clearly, he experienced some drug induced hallucination, and that entity made that happen. That's the only explanation.

‎
‎
‎
𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦
‎
‎
‎
𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦
‎
‎
𝘥 𝘵𝘰
‎
‎
‎

𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘰
‎
‎
‎
‎
Theodore doesn't know how long he's been slithering away, but by the time he fell back to reality he is already past the Edge of Town.

That made him stop to a halt. Everything happened so fast and so-

‎
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎th
‎
‎
ou
‎
‎
‎
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ gh
‎
‎
‎
‎ ‎
‎ ts
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎
‎