R e t r o s p e c t • PSYPHY

Chapter 6: C a r p e D i e m

"Look I don't care what you two think. Where's midlife crisis?" Casey finished her donut.

"Awfully judgmental, considering your life has hardly begun," a smooth but aged voice says.

The aforementioned person steps into the alleyway. The vibrating air around them finally ceases. Silence greets him. His presence undoubtedly has the respect of this strange group of individuals. He's the most well dressed of them all. A deep black suit, one of those unknown brands that inexplicably seem expensive. Shoes to boot. Wrinkly skin that was presumptively chocolate, richer in the past, but has lightened and paled through time. There's thick and ever-present gray facial hair, with a trimmed beard. His brown eyes are tired, with bags behind his horn rimmed glasses. His fedora blocks the view of who he's looking at. But he's holding three hats, that aesthetically match each of the groups fancy outfits. 

He walks up to them, and nods to each of them. They correspond and nod back one at a time. He passes each of them the hat that clearly belongs to their get ups. Then reaches in his suit, pulls out a cigar, and a gold zippo lighter. He takes a puff, exhaling smoothing. The others wait patiently, without saying a word.

"Now that we're all here. I want to make this explicitly clear. We are here for one purpose. You all know what that is. We are not, to abuse our power. We are not to infringe upon the stability of this timeline. Isaac did not educate or involve his son with Chains Of Fate at all. Leading up to this point, he is a novice. We are to treat him and those of his world, with the same compassion and consideration." The elder said.

"You're saying they know not what they do?" Julbe said.

"Correct," he replied.

"That's crazy. It's amazing that he inherited it anyway," Casey said.

"Not really, he's only three years behind me, after all."

"Syeef, that's exactly the kind of talk we have to avoid. Slipping up just to answer a question, no matter how small, is of detrimental consequence." The old man said.

Syeef put his white hat on, adding the last piece that his Armani suit needed. Then replied casually.

"Oh well, Caasi already screwed things up, not me. Your passive aggressive methods of discipline aren't needed here, honestly." 

"Don't test me. You know how serious this is. It was your idea. Act like an adult," the elder replied.

"Let's get on with the debrief shall we? There's really no room for tangents right now," Julbe stated.

"Exactly. Julbe, you are to find any and all participants of the train ride with memory of the event. Then erase it," he said.

Julbe nodded, then put on his indigo hat and promptly turned from them and left the alleyway.

"Casey, you are to find Caasi, approach him with caution. Be friendly, but candid. Explain things to him so that he can digest them. Make sure he's alone, and wait for our arrival."

"Gotcha foxy grandpa, ha-ha." she twirled on her heel, then went back to the dumpster for another donut before leaving.

The elder then sighs, and continues smoking.

"What about me?"

He looks at Syeef, and pauses.

"You are to stay with me and await further instructions," he says.

"The fuck I am,"

"Watch your mouth."

"Ha!" Syeef begins walking away.