it's a metaphor for consumerism, i think

We stared at each other for a few moments awkwardly. I had jumped in the air out of joy like a freeze frame and was just hanging there, waiting for him to talk again. He, most likely, was just waiting for me to stand on the ground again. That, or he just wanted to know for how long I could hold my pose. Either way, it was incredibly uncomfortable.

Daniil was the first one to cave. "We're going to stop time."

"HUH?" My feet hit the ground with a thud.

"There's this giant hourglass, you see." He started pacing again, more muttering to himself than to me "And, well.. based off of my enlightening conversations with some Tragedians around here, I've come to the conclusion that this hourglass is in control of time. It's the one in the Cathedral, do you know what I'm talking about?"

"I've never been to the Cathedral."

"..Of course not." He stopped pacing to turn and look at me, making a strange face that barely concealed his irritation. "Because you, a local , wouldn't go to a giant place in the middle of town. Makes complete sense."

"Dankovsky.."

"Getting sidetracked, I'm aware." His pacing continued. Was it that he could think better when he was walking around, or was it that this plan of his was making his brain hurt to such a degree that only constant movement could lessen it? "Right.. So the hourglass, it has this giant clock hand, and.. Call me insane, but I feel that if we stop it, time itself may stop. Or slow down, at the very least. I need you to.. God, I know this sounds-"

"Okay sure"

"Let me finish before you throw yourself at something!" He snapped.

"woops yeah sorry."

" Thank you." He stopped pacing, unfolding his hands from behind his back as he held them up, taking a shaky breath before continuing. "You can do anything, even the impossible? I need you to break that thing. I need you to somehow get up there and stop it. Maybe then, if time stops in this town.. I'll have more time to fight this plague. I'll have more time for a vaccine, or Burakh will have more time for his panacea, or- or-" He ran his hands through his hair "I've truly lost it. If I think this will work, I must have lost it."

"I mean, considering all the other events of this week so far.." I vaguely gestured "Pretty understandable course of action."

"You weren't kidding. You really will just agree to anything I say." He spoke, dumbfounded. "Even if it's absolutely illogical . I don't understand you."

"You don't have to." I held out a hand for him to shake "I'm your tool now."

He stared at the hand, an unreadable expression on his face, before he took it with a calculated sort of movement "So you are." His voice was measured. He was quick to let go again, his hand balling into fists and relaxing a few times over before he stepped away from me. "I suppose then we should get going. We've got little time to waste, as ironic as that is."

"Aye aye big dog" I saluted at him, and he sent me a glare before turning away and heading out the door, only pausing to hold it open for me and letting me pass before him (king of chivalry. this will be the last nice thing he does for me this entire fanfic)

We headed out, a fast pace in our step as we made our way to the Cathedral. There was at one point one unwell meaning irrelevant man that tried to rob Dankovsky but my evil alpha mother instincts kicked in and I punched him through the chest so hard I ripped his heart out and splattered blood all over my clothing. Dankovsky didn't say thank you but I'm like 7% sure he appreciated it. Anyway we continued until the next distraction.