i feel the love, and i feel it burn, down this river every turn

[oyashiromama]

[The trial, as usual, was taxing. It's for different reasons every week, but what it all comes down to is there are fewer of them than there were, and that keeps on happening. The note comes, as it always does, earlier than last week, but still with some delay. There's a note slipped under everyone's door. ...One under Gold's door because of course Silver will be staying there, she knows.]

Please come to the dining room, if you would like not to be alone. There will be food, and there will be some cards and board games if you need a distraction.

- Hanyuu & Elda

[True to that, there are a variety of foods. It's nothing too fancy. Rice, grilled fish, eggs in various styles. ...No creampuffs this time, it seems Hanyuu thought that would be a little in poor taste. Also a bunch of fries? ...Really spicy fries, like incredibly so.

On a far table, board games brought from the games room have been left out, along with many decks of cards.]

Comments

[feistytrader]

Yeah.

[He pauses for a moment; it takes a while for the words to come to him. But eventually:]

It wasn't an easy journey, but Killia had the strength to endure hardships and turmoil. He endured the losses of his friends, he endured the battle that waged on inside of him, and he managed to get his revenge. And once he was done, he was finally free of the tragedy that bound him. He felt a little lighter, and turned back to look at his friends that never stopped believing in him.

Christo's horns were a little crooked, but that's alright.

[It's in better handwriting, at least, both due to taking care in writing it and his hand feeling somewhat better.]

I'm no Varric, but I think this is okay.

[He holds it up for Watanuki to read.]

[foundfate]

[Watanuki reads it, and he smiles a warm smile.]

That sounds perfect.

[feistytrader]

I'll leave Viktor and Varric to you. Especially Varric. You know him better than me.

[His expression is pretty calm, but the way his eyes wander hint that something might be on his mind. But who wouldn't have something on their mind after all of that? Either way, he's quick to move onto something else. Namely, Watanuki.]

Are you gonna be okay?

[foundfate]

[And there's the question he was expecting. At least with Silver, he can be honest.]

Not really, no. I...

[Crap, how does he explain this?]

I already told you about my family, right? About how they died when I was little, and how I don't really remember them much.

[feistytrader]

[...He can already see where this is going.]

You considered him family.

[Is that it?]

[foundfate]

Sort of. I mean, I didn't call him dad or anything- [Except that one time as a joke.] -but he...if I had a dad, a real dad that was alive and everything, I think having one like him would be pretty great.

[feistytrader]

...He was a really good person. A little stubborn, maybe, but he always tried to keep everyone together and keep their spirits up.

[He never gave the guy enough credit. At the same time, it's a little late for regrets, isn't it?]

He'd make a pretty cool dad.

[foundfate]

...he would, yeah. Maybe he will in his next life.

[feistytrader]

...Next life?

[Wait, wait-]

You mean when he's a ghost-type or something?

[foundfate]

No, I mean when he's reincarnated and gets born again.

[feistytrader]

...Right.

[He says that, but his face screams hopelessly lost.]

[foundfate]

[WELL THEN]

In some worlds, when you die, you linger as a ghost for a while. But eventually your soul 'passes on' and is born into the world again as a new person. You don't remember your previous life, but you still exist.

[feistytrader]

[...You know, he's still kind of confused, and he's not sure if that happens in his world or not, but it's a nice, comforting thought, and besides-]

So I could-

[...Uh, let him try again-]

-We could meet everyone that died again?

[foundfate]

Sort of, yeah. But he wouldn't remember you.

[There's no point in beating around the bush, Watanuki knows exactly who Silver is thinking about.]

That's the pain you would have to carry: knowing that he's there, and he's alive again, but that he is a different person and that you have to befriend him again.

[feistytrader]

[...Despite the disclaimers, there's a large amount of relief on Silver's face.]

He better hurry up and get reincarnated again, then. I'm gonna have to wait for years before I can beat him up without it being weird.

[#priorities]

[foundfate]

By the time he's old enough for that, you're going to be dad-aged.

[He already knows Silver's thoughts on having children, but dad-age is a thing all men reach, whether they have kids or not.]

[feistytrader]

...Maybe I can just train him instead.

[Being a dad is a huge no, but being a cool mentor is awesome.]

I wonder if I'll have a cool cape by then.

[foundfate]

Technically you could have a cool cape now, if you wanted.

[No to the dad-ing, but Silver would definitely be a 'cool uncle'.]

[feistytrader]

No way. Master Lance said I'm not ready for a cape yet.

[...Watanuki did not sign up for any part of this conversation, god damn.]

[foundfate]

[He absolutely did not, and he is raising an eyebrow now.]

How can someone not be ready for a cape?

[feistytrader]

You have to be a really strong trainer first. You also have to be dramatic enough, I think.

[Lance is super extra, dude.]

Don't worry. I'm sure you'll get a cape someday too.

[foundfate]

I don't need a cape.

[The way he says it, it's not like he's trying to disrespect capes or anything. He just personally does not need one.]