Yes hello I know most of you don't care about agender!Clockwork. However, I still have a lot of feelings about them. So now you get to suffer with me!

That, and writing child Clockwork is always fun. Also dicky Observants who didn't get the memo of they're like five give them a break.

Your Gender Can't be Time

The Observant known as Coli didn't know how she got stuck in these situations. She was a member of the Council of Time. She monitored the Time Stream! That deserved her attention, not… this!

"Let me go outside," The little ghost in front of her said. Clockwork, he had insisted on being called. Coli thought there was another name which would fit him much better. "I want to go outside!"

Coli sighed, wondering exactly how she got stuck as a glorified babysitter. She doubted the ghost in front of her was even an Observant. They certainly didn't look like one. "No."

"Well why not?!" They crossed their arms and stuck out their bottom lip. Coli strongly considered smacking them, but decided against it- Olia was watching. And, unfortunately, Olia was on the High Council.

"Because I said so, now stop talking." Clockwork opened their mouth, and Coli reached out a hand to shush them. "In fact, just stop making noises in general."

Clockwork stuck out their tongue at her.

"Coli," Olia called, "I know you're busy babysitting, but could you come here?"

Coli pointed at Clockwork. "Stay." She floated over to her superior, "Yes?"

"You know," Olia said, "Clockwork's just a child. You could be nicer."

"If you've come to tell me how to deal with that annoyance, then you're wasting your time." She scoffed, "Olia sweetie, don't get attached. That little runt isn't a proper Observant. It's only a matter of time before the Head Observant comes to their senses and-"

"Coli!" Olia hissed, "One more word of that tone and I will report you."

"Of course you will." She likely would. "Now, what disastrous thing has happened?"

"Pariah," Olia spoke softly, constantly looking back at ghost behind them. Clockwork watched the two with their head tipped slightly to the side, fiddling with the edge of their cloak. "He's becoming a problem."

"You mean to tell me a ghost who wants to rule over everything and has no trouble with killing others to reach his goal wasn't already a problem?" Coli placed a hand on her chest, "I see the High Council really does have their priorities in order!"

"What's the High Council?" Clockwork asked, coming up behind Coli. "Can I be on it?"

"I think you'd be more suited for the Council of Time," Olia said, reaching down to mess with Clockwork's hair. Clockwork made an annoyed noise and pushed her hand away. "The High Council is meeting right now to discuss it. Sio needs someone to cover for them. Could you do it?"

"Them?" Clockwork frowned. "How many are there?"

"Only one," Olia replied.

"Now stop talking," Coli added on. "I don't suppose I have a choice, do I?"

"Oh, you do. I just hope you pick the right one."

Coli was silent for a moment before motioning to Clockwork, "And him?"

"I can help!"

"He can help," Olia said. Clockwork looked away, muttering something Coli didn't care to catch.

"If I'm going to be working, I'm not babysitting."

"You don't have a choice in that matter."

Olia sounded so smug. Coli didn't bother to waste her breath arguing pointlessly, and teleported herself- along with Clockwork, unfortunately- to the necessary room. She set off to work, Clockwork right behind her.

"I like them," Clockwork was saying, "Can I be them?"

"I don't know or care what you're talking about," Coli replied. She approached the time stream Sio would be monitoring, "Amuse yourself, would you? And don't break anything."

"Why can't I be them?" Clockwork continued, "Everyone keeps talking about me like I'm a boy. But I'm not. I'm not a he and I'm not a she. I'm nothing."

"Oh, if only," Coli said. "If you're talking about your gender, I don't care. You can be whatever you want."

"Can I be time?"

"No."

Clockwork probably stuck out their tongue at her, not that Coli cared. "I'm not a boy or a girl, so I'll be time. And because I'm time, I'm going to help you fix it!"

"Your gender is not time you little brat! And we don't fix the time stream, we monitor it. Observants do not interfere."

"What if someone's dying?"

"We don't interfere with the time stream."

"What if-"

Coli turned, one hand raised. "Stop talking, or I will remove your cheek with my fingernails."

Clockwork made a face and floated up to her eye level. "Ew. Can I help you monitor it?"

"Will you stop talking if I say yes?" Clockwork eagerly nodded, and Coli moved to the side. "You have one minute. Please, amuse me with how horrible you are."

Clockwork nodded eagerly, floating up so they could see the time stream. Coli could almost swear she heard a faint ticking noise coming from them. For a moment, Clockwork rested their right hand on the time stream. Fifteen seconds slipped by before Clockwork flicked their wrist, and the Time Stream froze.

Coli's eye went wide, "Okay, that's enough, you're done-"

Clockwork cut her off, "Time in."

Smaller portals shot out from the Time Stream, curving around Clockwork. The smaller ghost was coated by a dome of possible outcomes- some bad, some good, some absolutely horrible, and some absolutely amazing. They were imprinted into the ectoplasm around them. Clockwork touched one with a finger, examined it for a moment, then flicked it aside. A minute moved by as Clockwork continued, eventually finding one outcome they liked.

"This is the one that needs to happen," They said. "In this one, the village is protected and one of the children in it will-"

"Okay, that's enough." Coli pulled them back, the little scenes they'd brought up falling away. "Let's get something straight here; we are Observants. We do not interfere, we observe. We watch and never act."

"But-"

"You may not look like one of us, but for some reason the Head Observant wants to keep you around. That means you will follow our rules." She pulled Clockwork close, "You do not get to pick and choose what happens."

"But I want to help!"

She shoved them back, "I don't care what you want. You had your minute, you had your fun, now let me work."

Clockwork narrowed their eyes, "Then I'm going outside."

"You are not going anywhere," Coli hissed. "The knowledge of our existence must be kept a secret. I realize you're not as smart as some of us, but that is common knowledge."

"You can't stop me!"

Coli raised a hand, coating it with violet energy. She waved a hand, wrapping Clockwork up in ectoplasmic binds. "Are you sure? Now, please," She covered Clockwork's mouth. "Never speak to me again."

Kill Coli 2k15.

But until we reach the appropriate murder time, thoughts?