victory_road | So you want to be a Pokemon Master?

Maybe it was an intentional screw-up.

[we surpassed golden ending and screwed over all rules of death parade— lmao nah]

But I'm really glad I get to spend more time with you.

[if we can screw death parade's rules over but ONLY so it's pokeworld forever i'm down with another round of it--]

You'll regret indulging me so much, you know. It's only going to hurt again in the end.

[It's factually said, but it isn't like Ferid's moving away; if anything he's simply going to rest against Isaac, laying his head on his shoulder.]

... I really did miss you. I missed more people than I thought I would, really -- but you most of all. It's almost as if... [A pause, thinking.] As if a lost part of me has returned with you simply being nearby. I'm terribly sorry for my first reaction to seeing you again.

[He'll easily adjust to that before reaching up to toy with Ferid's ponytail while his boyfriend talks.]

...It's okay. I'm not bothered by it. It didn't even really occur to me that it would've been longer for you. You've had to adjust to things back there and time's passed for you. It hasn't for me. So it's only natural you'd take that sort of thing badly. Besides, what if I didn't recognize you or something? It could've gone pretty badly.

[fun fact: i actually considered giving you route!isaac before i decided that would be too mean]

It means so much to me that I could have such an impact on you though. Not that I like that you've been upset, obviously, but... Knowing that I could do something so important is just... It's a wonderful feeling.

[He's definitely not good at putting it into words, but it means the world to him.]

[redd, you are too mean, how fucking dare]

It's too bad I can't have a similarly upsetting effect on you. I know I'm simply the second most important thing in the world to you -- the first being your research, of course, which I'm certainly busying myself committing to memory -- but you won't feel that same ache I do. It's very unfair.

[ferid bathory, two thousand year old child]

[He'll laugh at that, alright.]

I'm really glad you're still working on it. It really is important to me. It's... Well, it's been my life for the past... I don't really want to think about how long it's been.

[really long]

But it's kind of unfair to compare you to my research. There's only so much I can do with that, you know. And uh... I haven't tried to use my alchemy here, so I don't even know if I can.

[.........HE REALLY SHOULD CHECK but not right now. This is comfortable and he doesn't want to move.]

You definitely mean a lot to me, Ferid. And even if you don't make me ache like that - which is cruel of you to want, really - you're the most important person in my life.

[.... Oh my god, he hopes you can, because he is dying to see the dangers he was warned about the first time they ever spoke.]

I should still be the second person in your life, you know, after yourself. Not that I'm complaining~.

[Ferid will always love being someone's number one. It makes him very content. So does the ponytail playing.]

I never said I wasn't cruel, though. In fact, I might be one of the crueler people that was granted reincarnation. [...] The most, maybe. I'm still not entirely sure how thankful I am for that, though I know that whenever Ginti points out I could ask for the Void any time it's the last place I want to be.

[being soaked in his own bad mojo is just not his cup of tea, who knew]

[wow. who would have guessed.]

You know Aligula would never let that happen to you anyway. And besides, everyone fought so hard so you'd get a chance to reincarnate!

...I do think you deserve it, though.

[It's tough to explain, but he's certain of that much.]

How do you like working for Ginti anyway?

[is this the whole "you can redeem yourself in another life" bullshit kyouko talked about. because if Everyone believes that he can turn a new leaf in another life he thinks they are Sorely Mistaken.

Ferid shakes his head, sighing.]

There's more off days than you'd expect, considering that it's the afterlife. But it's very fun despite that~. Watching people be pit against one another to determine if they'll have a second chance at life or be put in the shame corner for all of eternity is really my calling, Isaac. I almost regret not asking Decim to take you in.

[... Because that was something that crossed his mind, yes, he just thought that Ginti wouldn't allow it.]

I don't know if you would have enjoyed it... but it's very entertaining to watch. Humans die and kill over such trivial things. I think we may have gotten off easy with our mass-judgement, too, considering the games I've seen played.

[jesus christ can you imagine decim and isaac trying to talk, this is actually the most horrifying thing i think i've ever imagined, why did you do this to me]

...I don't think I'd enjoy it. I'm sure it'd be interesting, but... Well, I'm not too upset that I didn't stay. I don't think I'm really cut out for things like that.

[He's bad with people to begin with, but he's also so bitter and paranoid from seven years of being a mess that this would probably kill all the faith in humanity this game restored. After he killed two people. Uh. Look, the point is that this would have probably been a bad idea for several reasons.]

But I am kinda sorry that I didn't get to stick around to see you more. It just didn't feel like enough time.

[...]

But we've got here and now! I don't know how long we'll be here, but it's better than nothing!

[HE'S TRYING, OKAY...]

[because it's hilarious to think about!!!! ferid's two favorite "people persons" in the same working area.... wonderful.....]

I know, I know, and I'll take up every minute you dare to offer to me.

[You thought he was clingy after they arrived in Quindecim??? boy,]

... Why do you think I deserve to be reincarnated, anyway? Even I can admit that there's a handful of people who received that blessing that didn't necessarily deserve it, yourself included. I simply didn't want you to be alone with your thoughts.

[ferid's a sucker in love news at eleven]

[you're terrible]

...Yeah. I think... I think I agree with what Ginti was saying. There are just some people who aren't going to get it right on their next life. A lot of your arguments - and the ones the others made - were really good. But I had seven years to come up with another solution and I had plenty of opportunities to stop what I was doing. I didn't. So something went so fundamentally wrong in my head that led me to that decision...

[He pauses, then shakes his head.]

I don't know. I do regret it, but regret isn't going to bring back the people I killed.

But I think the problem I have when it comes to you is that... well, you were being held to human standards. Ginti was judging all of us equally, when we weren't all equal to begin with. It's a little difficult to judge a vampire the same way you judge a human. What might be terrible for people like me isn't necessarily terrible for you. The things you've done are terrible, yes. There's no denying that. But I'm not sure the way it was set up was fair to you.

So at the very least you deserved a second chance because of that. None of us should have been sent to the void because of that game anyway, but especially not you, when your experiences have been completely different from most of ours.

...Besides, you're remembering how to feel things again, and it'd be a shame if you lost that so soon.

[... Wow.]

I'm impressed. I didn't think you had the capacity to wish emotional harm on anyone, Isaac, but you've so blatantly said you want me to continue remembering how to feel things.

[It's easy to latch onto that one thing and tease about it, and for a lack of anything to do with his hands (Kitligula is still making a game of those Bergmite, bless her) he wrings them idly as he thinks over the rest.

It wasn't like the game was rigged against him. He still doesn't regret the people he killed, both in his vampirelife or his afterlife. It played exactly as it should have in his mind, though maybe if he didn't have two thousand of years of apathy and a loose moral compass things would have been different?

...]

You'd think that man would have foreseen the issue, being non-human himself, though it isn't like they receive visitors like myself and Aligula very often if at all. I suppose I'll bring it up to Miss Nona as a just in case measure.

[Work. He pats Isaac's cheek, smile a little soft.]

Thank you for your words~. I may have age on you, Isaac, but that doesn't mean I understand every little thing. Having a pair of young fresh eyes is always nice.

Yeah, I know. I'm not usually cruel, but I guess sometimes I make an exception.

[He's smiling though, so at least he got that it wasn't meant seriously!! At least there's that.]

...Ginti's not human, yeah, but his experiences are also a lot different than yours. He was supposed to be impartial and while he's definitely got emotions, he isn't supposed to have them. That's completely different than growing apathetic towards everything over a very long period of time.

[Besides, the Arbiters were also like, five. They were kids, how could they do this perfectly.]

I'm glad I got the point across well enough, at least. I'm not good at arguing stuff like this, especially in a high-stress situation like that, but it's interesting to think about.

[Especially now that Ferid will be reincarnated. Someday. Hopefully not for awhile so he can enjoy his feelings some more!!]

[interesting.......................]

Yes, I... suppose it is interesting.

[in ter res ting........ how has a word become so meaningless...]

Well, when I'm not so wary [terrified] of that whole reincarnation business, forgetting everyone and everything, possibly never to meet anyone I once knew and came to cherish, I'll meet you again with a full rainbow of feelings~. Probably.

[who knows he might be fucked up a little in that department still. like can you honestly look at ferid and tell me he probably wasn't a little fucked up somehow as a human? he definitely was.]

[i'm not sorry at all.]

Heh. I'll be looking forward to it.

[...as much as he can given he won't actually remember ferid but that's not the point.]

You don't have to worry all that much about it right now though. We've probably got some time before someone fixes whatever happened.

[i hate you and dal both for ruining that word for a solid two months]

I'm going to find more Aligulas and take them all back with me~. We'll have so many cats, Ginti'll be pleased no matter what he says~. He does have a soft spot for animals after all~.

[if it makes you feel any better i still can't type it without rolling my eyes]

Oh my god. Well, you'll definitely have fun with it and I'm sure he'll only be slightly annoyed that his bar will be overrun with pink cats.

[that makes me feel so much better!!!]

... Perhaps I'll take one of your parents, too. It'd be nice to have an Isaacle around.

Don't call them that.

[.............]

Isaacle is fine, though.

[HE'S TRYING SO HARD NOT TO LAUGH, OKAY]

And maybe you should, though I'm sure Ginti wouldn't appreciate it.

[If he has their permission, then let them get--

... oh.]

I'm sure. Do you think, [very casually,] he or Aligula would appreciate my coming back a married man?

[. . .]

Are you actually asking or is that a joke?

[LISTEN HE'S REALLY BAD AT THIS.......]

[so bad at this.............]

That depends entirely on your answer, Isaac.

[ohhhhhh man]

But I don't even know if you're serious or not! How am I supposed to answer?

[ohhhhhhhhhhh man]

By saying yes or no, of course~!

[ferid, if you just said you were serious, this could be avoided..!]

B-But if you're just joking you'll make fun of me!

[oh my god how old are you]

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