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[uplifters]

@ kent landmark, rm. 404 "Hi! This is Clark Kent. Unfortunately, I'm not here right now, so please leave a message at the tone and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Thanks for calling!" text | voice | action | etc.

Comments

[lunchbreaks]

What?

--What year was it?

[ He asks, panicked, because he wanted to go back to 2019 and stop the second coming of the Apocalypse. ]

[uplifters]

[ Clark's head turns just enough to view Aziraphale out of the corner of his eye.

Shortly, he says, ] 2019.

[lunchbreaks]

--Oh dear.

What... what month was it?

[ They died in May - it's possible that something else happened after. ]

[uplifters]

December.

[ Clark frowns slightly, taking in the look on Aziraphale's face. ] ...why?

[lunchbreaks]

O-oh.

[ This upsets him greatly.

He takes a moment. ]

The... apocalypse was supposed to happen in May, of 2019. And my... friend and I.... stopped it; or we paused it for a bit. We always knew they'd try again, but I had just thought... I thought we'd have years.

[uplifters]

[ Clark's chest rises to follow the breath he takes in, a slow motion gasp more than anything. "My friend and I stopped the apocalypse" isn't exactly the most normal thing to hear, and he opens his mouth before shutting it again. ]

I'm sorry. [ The chipper demeanour Aziraphale wore just minutes ago seems so far away, now. Clark raises a hand, and if Aziraphale doesn't show signs of discomfort, will gently place it onto his shoulder for a squeeze. ]

I... I'm sure you and your friend did your best. But I don't think anyone could've seen the, um, apocalypse coming at all.

[lunchbreaks]

Well, it... it sort of was in my case. We thought that Satan would have to start over, have another son. I suppose... I suppose it makes sense he'd have a backup.

I'm so sorry, Clark.

[ He looks down, ashamed. ]

He was right, we should have tried harder to leave this place. And then maybe we could have done something to save Earth.

[uplifters]

Oh... [ He hadn't expected to hear the word Satan. To hear that Satan would have had another son, implying that there was a first one.

There is a weight to the drop of Aziraphale's head that has him pressing his lips together. The hand on his shoulder moves from its spot only so he can give him a gentle rub to the back. ]

You tried really hard, Aziraphale. You did. [ Anyone who didn't wouldn't hold this much remorse. ] I think-- whatever time you bought us humans, that's an amazing gift already.

Thank you for giving Jason and I one more Thanksgiving. [ He means it. ]

But if we move on after this... if we enter a-another realm, maybe you can fight Satan again and beat him for real.

[ Clark nods, determined. ] There's got to be another way to bring Earth back. There're always other ways for everything.

[lunchbreaks]

I-- we will, we will have to do that. Bring Earth back, or... or reverse time, or something.

[ Adam might still be around - he might have the power to do it. ]

I'll do anything I can.

[ He nods resolutely, and stands back up from his somewhat-lean forward. ]

Bit of a stick in the original plan, but no matter.

--Thank you.

[ For cheering him up. For believing he can do good. For comforting him. ]