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Published:
2026-06-23
Completed:
2026-06-28
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The Timekeeper and The Spacewalker

Summary:

Frank is the Timekeeper: master of every second, forbidden from stopping the clock. Melissa is the Spacewalker: keeper of every distance, forbidden from staying in one place.

They are also forbidden from each other.

But in the spaces between time and distance, they find each other's letters: arriving out of order, answering questions not yet asked, building a bond that exists outside of sequence and raising the question: were the rules created to protect reality or to prevent it from healing?

Notes:

have you ever wondered what a langdonmel (what inspired me to write again) x this is how you lose the time war (one of my favorite books of all time) would look like? i present you this!

this story will be a little different, so here's something i consider important: if sci-fi and fantasy aren't your cup of tea, then this one is probably not for you (if you wanna give it a chance, though, i promise it was planned and written very lovingly! it's good to try new things! <3)

everything about this fic is very different (for me and for you!): i made a playlist for this!! (i almost never make playlists because music distracts me when im writing [im an asmr/frequency girlie]); the title is different for me (i personally prefer titles with no capital letters), the fact that it's a chaptered fic (my first!), the name of the chapters! (they're a little quirky and not 100% correct) the way the chapters were planned and written and overall designed. this was all -> intentional <- i tried to make it immersive so you could feel connected to the story (sci-fi can be confusing, i'd know! it's my favorite genre!), fun and a little peculiar in order to fit the theme.

it's my first time stepping out of my comfort zone so much like this, but it's an interesting change of pace! at first i was reluctant to write this because this is so self-indulgent that i couldn't think of a target audience for this but then i remembered that none of this matters and i should write what i think is cool and what i'd read and i'd absolutely read this. this isn't perfect, but what matters is that it's FUN and despite a few setbacks i had fun writing it and it's the closest to what i envisioned very messily in my head for THREE MONTHS (this is the longest i've ever worked on anything ever!!) i put a lot of myself and a lot of personal experiences in this. aaaaaaand im rambling. im rambling so much. did y'all even read this. anyway. english isn't my first language, so in case there any cllunky or wordy or weird bits in this, that's why :)

written for day 2 of kingdon week, the prompt being time and space!

Chapter 1: Authorized Personnel Only

Summary:

The following dossiers are classified under Bureau of Cosmic Affairs Protocol 7.1: Personnel Files — Active Mantle-Bearers. Access is restricted to Senior Archivists, Registry Officials, and personnel with Clearance Level IV or above.

If you are reading this document without authorization, you violate BCA Information Security Protocol. Your access has been logged. Continued reading constitutes acknowledgment of potential disciplinary action, up to and including memory adjustment.

These files contain sensitive biographical data, psychological assessments, and operational restrictions for the subjects designated TIMEKEEPER (TCR-BCA-DC-2026-TK-115) and SPACEWALKER (TCR-BCA-SM-2026-SW-116). The information herein was compiled at the time of mantle assignment and may not reflect the subjects' current status.

Unauthorized distribution of these materials is strictly prohibited.

Classification: PERSONNEL — HIGHLY RESTRICTED

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

 ⟡܁.THE CELESTIAL REGISTRY.܁⟡

BUREAU OF COSMIC AFFAIRS

_________________________________________

EARTHLY IDENTIFICATION

NAME: FRANK ALEXANDER LANGDON

DATE OF BIRTH: DECEMBER 10, 1993

AGE (AT TIME OF RECRUITMENT): THIRTY-TWO YEARS OLD

 

EARTHLY RECORD [Altered to fit the Celestial Filing Standards - TCR APPROVED]

SEX: MALE

BLOOD TYPE: B POSITIVE

HEIGHT: 5'9''

EYE COLOR: BLUE

DOMINANT HAND: RIGHT

PLACE OF ORIGIN: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; NORTH AMERICA; NORTHERN HEMISPHERE; PLANET EARTH

FORMER OCCUPATION (BEFORE COSMIC INTERVENTION): EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTOR

MARITAL STATUS: MARRIED

EMERGENCY CONTACT: ABIGAIL JANE LANGDON (SPOUSE)

DEPENDENTS: TANNER LANGDON (SON), PENNY LANGDON (DAUGHTER)

EARTHLY STATUS: MISSING - NO FURTHER CONTACT PERMITTED

PERSONAL BELONGINGS RETAINED FOR INSPECTION (UP TO FIVE ITEMS): (1) WEDDING RING (2) COLORFUL BEAD BRACELET (3) HOSPITAL ID BADGE (4) ANALOG WRISTWATCH.

FINAL DOCUMENTED HUMAN MEMORY: LEAVING THE HOSPITAL AT 8:12 P.M.; ADJUSTING HIS BACKPACK ON HIS SHOULDER; LOOKING BACK ONCE AFTER HAVING THE IMPRESSION OF HEARING HIS NAME BEING CALLED

 

PSYCHE EVALUATION

EARTHLY PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION:

HISTORY: SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (IN SUSTAINED REMISSION; CLEARED FOR MEDICAL PRACTICE) 

DIAGNOSIS: ATTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER

Diagnosis does not impair mission capability and has been assessed as contributing positively to analytical performance in the current realm.

COLLECTION OF PRE-RECRUITMENT BEHAVIORS ANALYZED:

  • SUBJECT FREQUENTLY REMAINED BEYOND SCHEDULED SHIFTS;
  • SUBJECT DEMONSTRATED PERSISTENCE UNDER STATISTICALLY UNFAVORABLE CONDITIONS;
  • SUBJECT CONSUMED COFFEE LONG AFTER IT HAD BECOME COLD IN 87% OF DOCUMENTED OBSERVATIONS;
  • SUBJECT SHOWED LIMITED INTERPERSONAL SKILLS;
  • SUBJECT WAS KNOWN FOR SAYING "SOMEONE IS NEVER OUT OF TIME"

LIKES:

  • RAIN;
  • TERRIBLE DAD JOKES;
  • HISTORY;
  • OLD ROCK MUSIC;
  • THE SMELL OF GASOLINE;
  • BEING NEEDED 

DISLIKES:

  • INSUBORDINATION;
  • BUREAUCRACY;
  • CIGARETTE SMOKE;
  • STAYING STILL;
  • WATCHING CHILDREN GET HURT

QUIRKS:

  • CORRECTS MEDICAL INACCURACIES IN MOVIES;
  • CAN FALL ASLEEP ANYWHERE;
  • COLLECTS COINS FROM COUNTRIES ALL OVER PLANET EARTH;
  • SINGS WHILE TAKING A SHOWER;
  • KNOWS HOW TO PLAY FOOTBALL AND SWIM VERY WELL

FINAL RELEVANT OBSERVATIONS:

  • SUBJECT DEMONSTRATES ELEVATED SELF-CONFIDENCE;
  • SUBJECT EXHIBITS SHARP COMPETENCE, CLEVERNESS AND INGENUITY, RESPONDS WELL UNDER PRESSURE;
  • SUBJECT SHOWS LOW TOLERANCE FOR FRUSTRATION;
  • SUBJECT REMAINS AN EFFECTIVE LEADER DESPITE OCCASIONAL IMPULSIVITY

RESULT: CLEARED

 

COSMIC DESIGNATION

COSMIC MANTLE: THE TIMEKEEPER

CASE CODE: TCR-BCA-DC-2026-TK-115

FILE STATUS: ACTIVE

CLEARANCE LEVEL: III (ALLOWED TO MANIPULATE REALITY)

REASON FOR SELECTION: SELECTED AFTER REPEATED DEMONSTRATIONS OF EXTENDING LIFE BEYOND STATISTICALLY EXPECTED SURVIVAL WINDOWS

 

COSMIC ASSIGNMENT

PURPOSE: PRESERVE THE NATURAL PROGRESSION OF TIME; TIME MAY ONLY PAUSE, NEVER STOP

RESPONSIBILITIES: (1) PREVENT UNAUTHORIZED TEMPORAL COLLAPSE (2) STABILIZE FROZEN INTERVALS (3) MAINTAIN CHRONOLOGICAL CONTINUITY

OPERATIONAL DIRECTIVE: LOCALIZED TEMPORAL SUSPENSION

OPERATIONAL ABILITIES: (1) TEMPORAL PERCEPTION BEYOND ORDINARY LIMITS (2) RECOGNITION OF FRACTURED TIMELINES (3) PARADOX RESISTANCE

RESTRICTIONS: (1) NO TEMPORAL REVERSAL OF DEATH (2) NO ALTERATIONS FOR PERSONAL GAIN (3) SUSPENSION MUST RESPECT THE MAXIMUM LIMIT OF EIGHT MINUTES

SIDE EFFECTS: (1) INSOMNIA (2) RECURRING DÉJÀ-VU AND JAMAIS VU (3) LOSS OF CHRONOLOGICAL MEMORY

 

AUTHORIZED BY

⋆˚࿔𝓓ℂ༄.°꩜℘

Head of the Department of Continuity

Bureau of Cosmic Affairs

 ⟡܁.The Celestial Registry.܁⟡



 ⟡܁.THE CELESTIAL REGISTRY.܁⟡

BUREAU OF COSMIC AFFAIRS

_________________________________________

EARTHLY IDENTIFICATION

NAME: MELISSA ROSE KING

DATE OF BIRTH: FEBRUARY 4, 1998

AGE (AT TIME OF RECRUITMENT): TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS OLD

 

EARTHLY RECORD [Altered to fit the Celestial Filing Standards - TCR APPROVED]

SEX: FEMALE

BLOOD TYPE: O NEGATIVE

HEIGHT: 5'5''

EYE COLOR: HAZEL

DOMINANT HAND: AMBIDEXTROUS

PLACE OF ORIGIN: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; NORTH AMERICA; NORTHERN HEMISPHERE; PLANET EARTH

FORMER OCCUPATION (BEFORE COSMIC INTERVENTION): EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTOR

MARITAL STATUS: UNMARRIED

EMERGENCY CONTACT: NONE

DEPENDENTS: REBECCA MARIE KING (TWIN SISTER; CARE RECIPIENT)

EARTHLY STATUS: MISSING - NO FURTHER CONTACT PERMITTED

PERSONAL BELONGINGS RETAINED FOR INSPECTION (UP TO FIVE ITEMS): (1) A PAIR OF GLASSES (2) HOUSE KEY (3) A PHOTOGRAPH OF TWIN SISTER, DECEASED MOTHER AND DECEASED FATHER (4) A HAIR TIE.

FINAL DOCUMENTED HUMAN MEMORY: REMOVING GLASSES TO WASH FACE AFTER CRYING; FORCING A SMILE IN THE MIRROR.

 

PSYCHE EVALUATION

EARTHLY PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION:

HISTORY: CARETAKER FATIGUE

DIAGNOSIS: AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER - LEVEL 1

Diagnosis does not impair mission capability and has been assessed as contributing positively to analytical performance in the current realm.

COLLECTION OF PRE-RECRUITMENT BEHAVIORS ANALYZED:

  • SUBJECT WAS ACCUSTOMED TO SIT BESIDE PATIENTS WHO HAD NO VISITORS (IMPECCABLE BEDSIDE MANNER);
  • SUBJECT MAINTAINED HANDWRITTEN NOTEBOOKS DESPITE ELECTRONIC RECORDS;
  • SUBJECT FREQUENTLY CARRIED AN UNUSED SECOND FOUNTAIN PEN;
  • SUBJECT WAS KNOWN FOR SAYING "THERE'S NEVER ANYONE WHO'S TOO FAR GONE"

LIKES:

  • BUBBLE TEA;
  • HISTORY;
  • PUZZLES;
  • JOURNALING;
  • STATIONERY ITEMS

DISLIKES:

  • BRIGHT LIGHTS;
  • CROWDED ROOMS;
  • SMALL TALK;
  • EGGS AND ASPARAGUS;
  • FEELINGS OF JEALOUSY AND RESENTFULNESS

QUIRKS:

  • LIKES TO LEARN BOTH USEFUL AND USELESS FUN FACTS;
  • EATS THE SAME MEALS FOR WEEKS;
  • WRITES IN EXTREMELY NEAT HANDWRITING;
  • USES SONGS AS MANTRAS;
  • WEARS MISMATCHED SOCKS WITHOUT REALIZING MORE OFTEN THAN NOT

FINAL RELEVANT OBSERVATIONS:

  • SUBJECT CONSISTENTLY PRIORITIZES THE EMOTIONAL STABILITY OF OTHERS ABOVE PERSONAL NEEDS; 
  • SUBJECT SHOWS UNUSUALLY HIGH ATTACHMENT TENDENCIES;
  • SUBJECT POSSESSES ABOVE-AVERAGE EMPATHETIC REASONING;
  • SUBJECT DEMONSTRATES LIMITEED SELF-AWARENESS;
  • SUBJECT IS EXPECTED TO EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY WITH PROLONGED ISOLATION

RESULT: CLEARED

 

COSMIC DESIGNATION

COSMIC MANTLE: THE SPACEWALKER

CASE CODE: TCR-BCA-SM-2026-SW-116

FILE STATUS: ACTIVE

CLEARANCE LEVEL: III (ALLOWED TO MANIPULATE REALITY)

REASON FOR SELECTION: SELECTED AFTER REPEATED DEMONSTRATIONS OF INITIATING AND MAINTAINING HUMAN CONNECTION DESPITE CONSISTENT ABSENCE OF RECIPROCITY

 

COSMIC ASSIGNMENT

PURPOSE: PRESERVE THE STRUCTURE OF SPACE; DISTANCE MUST NEVER CEASE TO EXIST

RESPONSIBILITIES: (1) PRESERVE SPATIAL CONTINUITY (2) REPAIR FRACTURED PATHWAYS (3) MONITOR DIMENSIONAL CROSSINGS.

OPERATIONAL DIRECTIVE: SPATIAL TRANSLOCATION

OPERATIONAL ABILITIES: (1) PERCEPTION OF INVISIBLE PATHWAYS (2) DETECTION OF SPATIAL ANOMALIES (3) SPATIAL SENSIBILITY (4) MASTERY OF RESIDUAL SPACES.

RESTRICTIONS: (1) DO NOT OCCUPY TWO LOCATIONS SIMULTANEOUSLY (2) DO NOT CREATE PERMANENT GATEWAYS OR SHORTCUTS (3) FOLDS MUST RESPECT THE MAXIMUM DURATION OF FOUR MINUTES

SIDE EFFECTS: (1) OCCASIONAL DISPLACEMENT OF PERSONAL BELONGINGS (2) GEOGRAPHICAL DISORIENTATION (3) PLACE MEMORY LOSS

 

AUTHORIZED BY

⊹ ࣪ ˖ ໒꒱꒰ ꒱୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ𝒮ℳ𓏼

Head of the Spatial Matters

Bureau of Cosmic Affairs

 ⟡܁.The Celestial Registry.܁⟡

 

 ⟡܁.THE CELESTIAL REGISTRY.܁⟡

BUREAU OF COSMIC AFFAIRS

_________________________________________

 

JOINT ASSIGNMENT

FILE CODE: TCR-BCA-DCSWTA-10224775

ISSUED: 06202623

STATUS: ACTIVE

SELECTION AUTHORITY: THE ARCHITECT - HEAD OF THE BUREAU OF COSMIC AFFAIRS

THE RECRUITED PAIR: APPOINTEE I IS TIMEKEEPER TCR-BCA-DC-2026-TK-115 AND APPOINTEE II IS SPACEWALKER TCR-BCA-SM-2026-SW-116

 

MISSION DETAILS

IDENTITY: PROJECT BALANCE

GLITCH: THE UNIVERSE IS EXPERIENCING PROGRESSIVE INSTABILITY ALONG THE TEMPORAL-SPATIAL WEAVE. MICROSCOPIC FRACTURES HAVE BEGUN TO APPEAR THROUGHOUT REALITY, CAUSING ISOLATED INCIDENTS (MISSING TIME, IMPOSSIBLE ARCHITECTURE, REPEATED DAYS, FORGOTTEN CITIES, INDIVIDUALS EXISTING IN MORE THAN ONE LOCATION SIMULTANEOUSLY, AND UNNATURAL ACCIDENTS)

OBJECTIVE: IT IS THE DUTY OF TIMEKEEPER TCR-BCA-DC-2026-TK-115 AND SPACEWALKER TCR-BCA-SM-2026-SW-116 TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE TEMPORAL-SPATIAL WEAVE BY LOCATING, STABILIZING, SEALING, OR ELIMINATING ALL EMERGING FRACTURES AND ANOMALIES BEFORE CONVERGENCE. BOTH ENTITIES ARE REQUIRED FOR THE SUCCESSFUL RESTORATION OF THE TEMPORAL-SPATIAL WEAVE

ESTIMATED COMPLETION: UNKNOWN

 

PAIR ASSESSMENT

SYNCHRONIZATION: 99.982%

OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY: OPTIMAL

EMOTIONAL COMPATIBILITY: EXCESSIVE

RECOMMENDATION: DO NOT ENCOURAGE FAMILIARITY

SUCCESS RATE: EXTREMELY HIGH

REASON: (1) THEIR JOINT QUALITIES AND RESULTS DURING EVALUATION AND TRAINING ADDED UP TO AN ALMOST PERFECT PERFORMANCE IN THEIR RESPECTIVE MANTLES. (2) ACCORDING TO STUDIES DONE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CONTINUITY AND THE SPATIAL MATTERS, THEIR COMPATIBILITY INCREASES THE STABILITY OF REALITY BY 99%

RISK ASSESSMENT: EXTREMELY CRITICAL

DIRECTIVE: WHILE EXERCISING THEIR APPOINTED MANTLES, THE PAIR SHALL NOT OCCUPY THE SAME TEMPORAL-SPATIAL COORDINATE BECAUSE THEIR MANTLES OCCUPY INCOMPATIBLE LAYERS OF REALITY (TIME CANNOT EXIST WITHIN SPACE MAINTENANCE, LIKEWISE SPACE CANNOT EXIST WITHIN TIME MAINTENANCE)

THE VIOLATION OF THIS DIRECTIVE MAY RESULT IN THE FAILURE CONSEQUENCES OF: (1) PERMANENT COLLAPSE OF TEMPORAL CONTINUITY (2) SPATIAL DISSOLUTION (3) INCREASE OF THE PROBABILITY OF UNIVERSAL COLLAPSE BY 99.7%

FINAL NOTICE: THE UNIVERSE DOES NOT APPOINT COMPANIONS, IT APPOINTS BALANCE. EVERY TIMEKEEPER EVENTUALLY WISHES FOR MORE TIME. EVERY SPACEWALKER EVENTUALLY WISHES FOR SOMEWHERE TO STAY. NEITHER WISH HAS EVER BEEN GRANTED NOR WILL EITHER EVER BE.



AUTHORIZED BY

ᥫ᭡.ִֶָ𓂃𓍼Ṭ𝒜

The Architect

Bureau of Cosmic Affairs

 ⟡܁.The Celestial Registry.܁⟡

 

DOCUMENT END

Notes:

those symbols on the right and at the end of each dossier are supposed to be the entities' signatures lmao i tried okay.