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onceuponacomm2021-07-17 09:08 pm
faentasy) wrote in onceuponacomm2021-07-17 09:08 pm
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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In the quietest voice imaginable:] I am never living this down, am I.
[It's exactly what he deserves for doing nothing but dragging Raven throughout the course of their stay here and he knows it, but that doesn't make it any less embarrassing!! Yeager isn't supposed to make mistakes like this. But then again, Yeager was never supposed to get close to anyone else again.
He finally sighs and inclines his head a bit, managing to meet Raven's gaze with a wry smile.]
You'll have to forgive me for being terrible at this. I'm still trying to remember how to open up again. It's been dreadful.
[But one of his hands rises to the cravat anyway, because despite all of that, he wouldn't have offered if he wasn't sure.]
Let's just keep this our little secret though, ja?
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Ta be fair, there's openin' up and then there's this level of openin' up. But comin' from someone with more experience, you're not doin' half bad.
[He is potentially getting a little bit of enjoyment out of this, yes. Sweet, sweet revenge.
Anyway, as he waits for Yeager to undo his cravat, he mimics a zipper across his lips.]
My lips are sealed.
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But anyway, Yeager gets the cravat off and his shirt unbuttoned. It's easier now, after revealing the blastia twice. Raven's already seen it once before, after all, so the hesitance and uncertainty is gone now. Stupidly enough, turning it into a joke has made it so much easier, though that was definitely not intentional.
The blastia is just the same as it was when he revealed it during that trial; it doesn't look any worse for the wear despite the recent battle. He exhales once it's exposed, then laughs.]
Go ahead. You don't need me to guide you, ja?
[And despite how difficult it's been getting to this point, the words are relaxed and his smile is genuine.]
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It's only when Yeager speaks up that Raven realizes he's been watching this whole process very closely, and staring at the blastia a little too intensely despite this not even being his first time seeing it. He blinks back to reality and makes a face at Yeager.]
Hey now, guidin' ya was a deliberate thing. I knew ya didn't need my help ta find it.
[Forced defensiveness aside, he relaxes himself and reaches out to gently place his hand against Yeager's blastia. He's overly ginger with it at firstβit's such a strange feeling, touching a blastia that isn't his ownβbut it doesn't take very long for his curiosity to take hold. He smooths over the red core with his thumb, taking in the difference in size and shape, before spreading his fingers out to explore the casing.]
I still can't get over how different they look, despite servin' the same purpose.
[He murmurs as he traces the arches in the casing, internally likening them to wings of some kind. He can see why the size and placement would be an even bigger hassle to pick out clothing for proper covering, but he still can't help but be a little mesmerized by it. Funny how that works...after going through so much in Aira Niluc, he's come to appreciate these cursed things a little.
As he lingers back on the core, his fingertips lightly brush against the scarring underneath, and he finds himself thinking about what must have happened to Yeager to have caused it. He was probably run through too, huh... It brings back some terrible memories of that day, but in this moment, he's able to cope with a light exhale.]
Sorry, that wasn't...
[Intentional, is what he meant to finish that sentence with before losing track of himself again. It wasn't intentional, but for whatever reason, he feels closer to Yeager than ever for it.]
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He inhales sharply and freezes for a moment, but as Raven apologizes he exhales and shakes his head. He knows it wasn't intentional, and while it was a bit surprising, it isn't as though it's bad. His gaze remains focused elsewhere as he speaks, and there's a slight shift in his tone to something a little quieter, a little less aggressively flippant.]
The last thing I remember is being impaled - the pain didn't last long. I was... terrified.
[Maybe it isn't right to refer to that person as himself, but at this point, what does it matter? Like it or not, that person and Yeager have a connection and he hasn't been able to rid himself of it in the past ten years.]
But I was certain that it would be worth it. If I could buy the others some time, then it was worth it. I died without regrets.
[Then he looks back at Raven, smiling.]
I don't mind, you know. You've been handling it with the care I was expecting you to.
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I had a feelin' ya might've gone out the same way as me. That damn black monster got me from behind, right after it had gotten Casey. [Yeager speaking up helps him reveal the rest of his and Casey's story at the shore in turn. But he doesn't linger on it too long.] It really was worth it, Yeager, I promise ya that. If you and the others hadn't held 'em off, Casey and I never woulda made it as far as we did.
[Hearing about it though, and how Yeager had no regrets going out, helps him understand why he took coming back so much more severely than Raven had. He was at peace, his story was over, and yet...
And yet, selfishly, Raven is glad he's here.
Thus, Yeager's smile is met with one of Raven's own.]
Ya really don't mind, huh...? [He closes his eyes for a moment and lets out a proud hum.] You've come a long way. I'm really happy ta have gotten the chance ta see it.
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[And really, he is. Because even if they only lasted a little longer, his death wasn't completely pointless. It hasn't been easy acknowledging that this second chance at life means just as much, even though it wasn't at all what he wanted back then.]
Oh stop, you'll embarrass me.
[Not nearly as much as he's already embarrassed himself and once that's out there he winks.]
I may have had quite a few struggles along the way, but I've made it this far and I don't intend to stop now. Still, I doubt I would be here were it not for your assistance. Thank you, Raven. For everything.
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[Because as far as he's concerned, there's nothing to be embarrassed about in this case. It's a big step toward moving on, from unshackling oneself from the past. Raven really is proud about that.
He allows his hand to linger against Yeager's blastia for a moment longer, finding it difficult to pull away just yet.]
I'm happy to have helped. If ya ever find yerself stuck, ya know where ta find me. I'll always have an open ear fer ya... 'course, I can't guarantee I'll always have life-changin' advice ta give.
[Wink.]
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I'd be surprised if you did, if only because I can't afford to keep changing my life at this point! I've done entirely too much of that lately!
[In the end, he's chosen to stick with "Yeager" and while that may not be the best decision, it's his. Besides, it's not like he can just leave behind all the attachments in Yeager's life - he's got two very important kids he doesn't want to disappoint any further. And also Leviathan's Claw.]
But... I certainly would be quite a bit disappointed if I couldn't come to you to complain about how horribly difficult my life is. [It's mostly a joke.] So don't ever stray too far, ja?
[I don't want to lose you again might be the more accurate way to phrase it. He inclines his head a bit with a wink of his own, but one of his hands comes up to Raven's - maybe just to keep him there a bit longer.]
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[Though Raven cracks a small grin over it, he really is sincere in that statement. There's no denying that the two of them are a long way from fully cleaning up their messy lives, but they might not have even wanted to try if not for their experiences here. He's thankful to have gotten to meet the Yeager that was hidden underneath all of that darkness.
He was watching Yeager's face, but he peers downward when he feels something against his hand. A contented sigh is quick to follow, realizing it's Yeager's own.]
If I'm not in Dahngrest or hangin' out with the kids in Brave Vesperia, I'm just a stone's throw away in Zaphias. Drop me a note, name a bar, and I'll be there. Goodness knows I'll probably have my own tales of woe ta regale ya with.
[He shifts his hand to clasp Yeager's.]
Gotta say, Yeager, you've really surprised me. I really didn't think I'd be yer type.
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He nods at Raven's offer; Raven's certainly right and it isn't as though Zaphias is all that far away. It's a bit silly that he'd consider just to get drinks with Raven, but getting drinks with Raven definitely helped through some of the worst moments of their time here. For old time's sake, he tells himself, even though there's really no point in lying about it.
Yeager grips Raven's hand back tightly and laughs at the remark.]
What can I say, I'm a man of many surprises~
[...]
Though admittedly, even I wasn't expecting this one... So I suppose I surprised myself as well.
[He's gotten used to that throughout his stay here... It'll be nice to go home where he can stop learning new things about himself!!]
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Ain't that a mood and a half. I sure as hell didn't think I was all that into guys before this, so I guess we've both been learnin' a lot about ourselves.
[He thoughtfully rubs against Yeager's hand with his thumb for a moment...]
I gotta let you know though, in case this is a deal-breaker: Schwann an' Alexei have a thing goin' on too. [Normally he'd make a joke about this, but it's a serious subject.] So...I'd understand if you'd rather not get tangled up in all that.
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[Raven may not make a joke about it, but that certainly isn't going to stop Yeager!!
...But more seriously...]
It doesn't bother me any. I'd be surprised if it didn't happen, really. What Schwann does is his own business.
[Is that the correct way of looking at this...? Eh, doesn't matter to him. He's perfectly fine with it.]
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Hah, ya did, didn't ya? I guess ya saw somethin' I didn't, 'cause it sure came as a shock ta me. "Getting sorted"... That's a good way ta put how it went, honestly.
[And all it took for that process to get going was for the two of them to be drunk and under the influence of Hamelin's song. Amazing.
All right, tangent over.]
I'm glad you're willin' ta stick with Raven here. He's got a reputation fer treatin' his partner right every time, so you've got that ta look forward to.
[...Raven has also always been terrified of commitment, but listen. It'll be fine. His circumstances with Yeager are a hell of a lot different.]
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[He totally called it weeks ago. Yeager's smirking at that, but Raven's next words get a light laugh and he glances away. "Partner", huh...]
You certainly do know how to flatter me. Let's see if that reputation holds true, ja?
[...He'd really like that, in other words.]
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Whatever, he'll try not to internally scream about it until later.]
It better, 'cause then I'd have more pride ta swallow and I've done enough of that lately.
[A wink is quick to follow. Joking, as always.]
Are ya gonna be okay when we get back? Before we meet back up, I mean. I'm nowhere near Dahngrest at the moment, but once I meet with Belius I imagine me and the kids will be headin' back that way.
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Come now, you don't need to start worrying about me~ I'll be just fine! The Don certainly won't be pleased with my guild's actions, but he doesn't have any reason to try to chase me down, ja? He's got more pressing matters to attend to, and I can certainly lie low until all of this blows over!
[He's going on vacation, and by that I mean he's going to stop causing problems for a little while. The Manor of the Wicked will be conveniently empty should the Don or any of Altosk decide to pay a visit. Better safe than sorry!!]
It's kind of you to look out for me, but this isn't the first time I've ended up in a difficult situation~
[And it won't be the last. You know how it goes with Yeager.]
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I ain't worried about yaβI know how good ya are at keepin' yer cover an' allβit's just...I dunno, if I can make this whole mess less of a headache, I plan to.
[And also be slightly jealous of Yeager getting to have a "vacation" while he's going to have so much wrangling to do. Ah well, it'll be worth it in the end.]
Let's figure out a way ta keep in contact, so I can letcha know when it's safe ta come back.
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[There's no harm in bringing up the orphanage now that Alexei isn't holding that over his head, so that's the safest place. It's not like that poor woman has any idea what Yeager's actually doing at any given point in time, so it's fine!!]