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[tearsofademon]

[On this mild first afternoon of November, the feed opens to a porch, where a Clefairy, who can usually be seen wearing a rose ear clip but today is wearing a whole bouquet of roses arranged in a flower crown, is seated on a table, eating dango to her heart's content.

There are multiple empty boxes next to her, and more on the other side that haven't been touched. Where does she put it all, the world may never know. She'll probably be here a while, though.

From behind the camera, though, Ryner starts talking.]

...You know, since it's been seven years today and all, I should probably have some kind of inspirational speech prepared about how far we've come or something. But I dunno, I'm not really any good at that stuff. So I don't really have one, sorry.

I guess what I will say, though, is, ahh... I don't regret it, being here. And if a even a useless guy like me can do enough to make Rose happy, and the others...

[The Clefairy, finishing her latest stick of dango, blinks at the camera before sweetly giving it the most adorable smile she can muster.]

Even if it all changes tomorrow, if I can do this much right now... Maybe that's enough. You know?

...Ahh, sorry, I'm probably not making much sense, huh. I'm way behind on sleep... But I guess what I'm saying is, I don't know what tomorrow will bring, and if you told me I could choose where I'd be tomorrow, I don't know what I'd decide...

...But I'm glad I'm here today.

Comments

[tearsofademon]

And... ahh, well, I mean, if it comes down to that, if it's just about me, I wouldn't really mind either way, you know? You know me.

But I think... if things were to continue so that 'the Hero devours the Demon' comes to pass again, I think that even putting aside everyone else who'd be upset... I think you'd take it worst of all. And I don't think you'd recover.

So if it comes down to that... I've decided I won't let it happen.

[Ryner please stop rambling and awkwardly talking around things...]

[dreamsofahero]

*... sigh :/*

You should already know that if I felt I could do that, I wouldn't have tried to spare you that fate.

[tearsofademon]

I'm not saying it'll be easy. It'll probably be a huge pain in the ass, honestly.

But I'm not going to let it happen. I'm not going to leave you alone like that. I might not be able to do much, but I can at least be here. I don't care what fate or the goddesses or the world or whoever has to say.

And if that guy has a problem with it, then too bad.

['that guy' of course meaning The Hero, because clarity what is clarity]

[dreamsofahero]

... It's not that simple, Ryner.

*he doesn't mean just altering the fate of the world, either*

[tearsofademon]

I know that. There's a lot I don't understand. Hell, there's probably a lot that I wouldn't even have the first clue is even something to start trying to understand.

But that's what I've decided, anyway.

[dreamsofahero]

.....

Is that all you have to say about it?

*his tone is, well, perfectly calm and controlled*

[tearsofademon]

[...he pauses, briefly, before he responds]

...Yeah. That's all right now.

[dreamsofahero]

*he says nothing for a moment.... then abruptly turns and walks back into the house.

.... at least he didn't slam the door, but then again, he's not the type to slam doors, anyway*

[tearsofademon]

[He doesn't chase him. Not immediately.

Instead, he just sort of slumps forward onto the table, ignoring the questioning look that Rose is giving him. She paused eating her dango a while ago.]

...Haa, I really have no idea what I'm doing, do I.

[dreamsofahero]

*well, should Ryner decide to come inside, there's no immediate sign of Sion.... but the door to the library is quite firmly closed, with Dusk standing just outside looking some combination of concern and uncertainty.

... the door to the library is also locked, incidentally*

[tearsofademon]

[It's about 20 minutes or so before Ryner finally gets up, finally deciding that if nothing else, he should check on Sion.

The library would have probably been where he'd look first even if Dusk wasn't right there. So he gives her an apologetic smile before knocking on the door. Doesn't even try to open it right away.

And he quietly calls out.]

Sion?

[dreamsofahero]

*there's no response*

[tearsofademon]

[Yeah, he more or less expected that.]

...Look, I just... I wanted to apologize.

[dreamsofahero]

*still nothing*

[tearsofademon]

I know I've never really been that great a friend. And I guess... even when I try to do better and actually try for once, I still have no idea what I'm doing, and all I end up doing is getting you upset and making things worse, as usual.

I'm sorry.

[dreamsofahero]

*sorry, Ryner, there's still nothing from Sion's end....*

[tearsofademon]

...so, yeah. If you want some time by yourself, I'll leave you alone for a while. I just... wanted to tell you that.

[dreamsofahero]

*yeah, still no hint of any response or reaction from Sion, though Dusk's giving you a questioning look*

[tearsofademon]

[...okay yeah he probably deserves the lack of acknowledgement, but for his own peace of mind...]

...You're at least alive in there, right?

[He already knows what the answer to 'are you okay' would probably be.]

[dreamsofahero]

*nope, still nothing*

[tearsofademon]

[...well if he was dying or something Dusk would know

and he doesn't want to piss Sion off even worse by storming in there]

...I'll... go, then.

[He'll just go... do something, then. Maybe do the dishes, those probably need doing, right...?]

[dreamsofahero]

*well, Dusk isn't panicking, that's for sure, but you might get a questioning 'sol?' when you turn to go*

[tearsofademon]

[He glances at her as he turns from the door, and, in a lower voice,]

...If you sense something bad, come get me, okay?

[dreamsofahero]

*that.... doesn't seem to sit entirely well with Dusk, and she glances at the door again before looking back at Ryner*

Absol sol absol.

[tearsofademon]

[...She's probably worried, huh.]

Ahh, I kind of said some stuff and brought some stuff up that I shouldn't have and pissed him off.