onceuponacomm | EPILOGUE

Epilogue

After all is said and done, in the wake of the void and sprinting through one final door.

You come out into light. Sunlight actually, a backyard in what appears to be a typical suburban town, if you're familiar with those. The sun shines cheerfully overheard, blissfully unaware of what everyone has went through. And this is everyone, as faces you haven't seen in weeks tumble out in one pile from a basement door.

Happy Saturday, everyone.

There's plenty of reunions and catching up to do, but you've utterly left Aira Niluc behind you after seven long weeks. And through the window of the house which looks like it has seen a better seen better days is one wall mural that reads "And they all lived Happily Ever After".

[[ Happy Golden End everyone, you've earned it! There's still the matter of sorting out where to next, but everyone is whole and alive and without button eyes. Using the knowledge from the object Phil had and the beldam's magic, they can also now world hop only one side effect...the portal that opens to everyone else's worlds here? Is made entirely of pixie dust. Everyone's powers will also restore fully over the course of the next few hours. ]]

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[ She sort of wasn't looking forward to this, admittedly, given how things left off and how they ended up going, but there was no avoiding it. Especially with how he seems to gun for her when she pops out from the basement and –

Ah. She goes rigid as he pulls her in for a hug, probably a little bit longer than she would for anyone else. ]

You aren't mad?

[ She hasn't been able to wrap her head around it, not since watching the last murder trial. ]

[ Makoto's not letting her go yet if he can help it, but he does pull back enough to look at her properly so she can see his expression. There isn't an ounce of contempt in his eyes before he shakes his head. ]

No, not anymore. And... I never thought you were a bad person. Besides, what matters is that we're all here now, right?

[ She visibly flinches at the 'not anymore,' breaking eye contact as her gaze goes downward. She knows she deserves at least that much, to some degree, but... ]

Mm. We are. [ She shivers slightly, as she raises a hand to wipe at her eye. ] We were able to see you all fighting at the end. You all did so well.

[ Makoto pulls her back in at the shiver, mainly because he's about to be honest again. Happier things are easier-- ]

Yeah. I mean, it was mostly the guys that could fight --they were pretty amazing.

[ And now he pauses, hold on her loosening but he doesn't want her seeing his face. Being more honest is something he promised himself he would get better at if they survived. Maybe not to the whole world, but a few people are a good start he thinks.

Still, his voice dips lower because this isn't meant for anyone else. It's hard enough to get the words out knowing Morgan will hear them. ]

Back then, you could've talked to me, you know? I thought if I'd been a better friend, maybe you wouldn't have needed to... [ A self deprecating a laugh, just a short rush of a sound. ] stupid, right?

No, it's not.

[ It's when he talks quietly that she finally reciprocates the hug, loosely putting her arms around him as she leans her head against his shoulder. Hearing him say it hurt, way more than she expected. ]

What happened wasn't your fault. You don't need to blame yourself. It... There was nothing you could've said that would have helped. Everything that happened was because of me.

[ She pauses, as if she's realizing something. Then, quietly: ] I'm sorry.

[ It's only once she moves to return the hug that Makoto relaxes into it fully. He's quiet as she talks. Even if he refuses to believe there isn't anything he could've done, there's no changing things now.

The apology is a surprise. Makoto tilts his head against hers and tightens his hold just enough to get his sincerity across as he speaks. ]

Don't worry, I forgive you.

[ And then he relaxes, suddenly tired from the long struggle followed by unexpected relief. ]

And I'm still happy to see you again.

[ She lets out a sigh that she didn't know that she was hold onto as he tells her that he forgives her, and her grip tightens a bit. She's not sure if she really deserves it, after everything, but... she'll take it, for now. It's hard not to. ]

You have a good heart, Makoto.

[ His shoulder is definitely wet at this point. ]

I am, as well. I'm glad you're not hurt.

[ And especially glad he didn't have to wake up in jello hell featuring the one bloody jello plate, but that's probably a given. ]

I think you do too, but ... thanks.

[ It's all he can get out, because his own tears are welling up and it's tightening his throat. Does he have a good heart? Sometimes he isn't so sure, with all the things he's done in his life. But he isn't going to give up on being a good person either, not with a new life within reach.

For a moment, this is the only place he wants to be. The lull is truly peaceful for once, her presence a grounding comfort; a reminder that this is all still real. ]

You know... [ This time it feels more personal, takes him a second to find the words since he's actually asking her instead of just making the offer, but -- ] I'd like it if you came with us, stay a while. Only if you want to.

[ Her wings shift slightly as she pulls back, slightly. Not enough to break the embrace, but enough to look at him again. Well, to wipe her eyes and then look at him again. ]

With Tenn and Riku, right? [ pause ] You're still going with them?

[ Makoto tries to blink his tears away when she pulls back, keeping his hold on her as long as she lets him. ]

That's right. There's... not really much left for me back home.

[ What would he go back to --he has no family, no friends. The Director... he's sure she'll be fine even if he might still miss her sometimes. After everything, he can't go back to doing that kind of work.

What he has now with Tenn means more to him. And Morgan doesn't deserve to be alone. ]

[ She makes a small noise in acknowledgement. She hadn't forgotten what he had told her, about his friends dying and his mother passing, but she wasn't sure if things had changed at all in the last few weeks. But it seems that it hasn't, as he's pretty sure of what he's leaving behind.

She had thought about it, when he first offered it – if she had succeeded in killing and getting away with it to the end, she would've went back to see things through, before taking Makoto up on his offer and going with him. But obviously it didn't come to pass, and with it still on the table... there isn't really much left for her, either. But...

She pauses for a moment, before nodding. ] I suppose I still owe you some time on the ice rink.

[ Makoto smiles at that response, still content to pretend it's just the two of them here discussing their futures. ]

I'll say. I never got the chance to show you my skills either. [ A laugh before his gaze is sliding away again. ]

... So, does that mean you'll really come with me? [ Oops, he means-- ] Us?

[ She nods again, laughing quietly at his correction. ]

There most likely isn't anything left for me where I'm from, either.

[ They probably have contained most of the virus in Yggdrasil and Belldandy by now, so the plan she was supposed to be acting on is most likely dead at this point. So she'd just be going back to what she had, which wasn't a whole lot. ]

So... if you'll have me, then I'd be happy to go with you.

EPILOGUE

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