Isn't this where.....

[strangerpeople]

REUNITED AT LAST

[Living and dead have reunited. That is all well and good. However, all these trains and cars and starships mean nothing by themselves - many of you may be wondering precisely where they are headed, and the answer presents itself soon in the form of a yawning portal in the middle of space. Yawning, calm, so as not to be mistaken with the writhing and twitching of the wefts - it seems to belong, or at least to be accepted as a cosmic inevitability. And this is what all of the dubious spacecrafts sail into for now - it is just barely large enough for all of them to go in one at a time, and to come out on the other side of the wormhole.

That appears to be some kind of airspace. Those curious about the place they're going may want to open the stained glass windows of the trains to get a much better view of the scenery they're descending on. The landscapes are mostly gorgeous, looking from a distance as though they were painted with watercolors, although some may think it also looks a bit, well, haphazardly patched together. For the trains, there is a floating dock above the land that looks brand new, and an elevator to take down to the ground. All other ships can find an easy landing space in the meadow, like the weird UFOs they are. Nevertheless, there is a path to follow from there, leading to a castle in the distance. It is a path lined with wonderful flowers and trees... and also a chaotic smattering of other trees that don't look like they quite belong. Sheets of dry lasagna make up the bark of the spaghetti trees, their inexplicably cooked pasta hanging like a weeping willow as marinara drips from their meatball fruit. The smell is overpowering, but don't let that ruin the trip. "In fact, it would be better if you let it work up an appetite", the cheerful voice of 707 suggests as he leads the pack up the trail like a hyperactive boy scout leader.

Finally, the doors of the castle open up. The halls are full of doors, each glowing from within - some of you may recognize the names of your homes, and others may not. But going past them, there is an enormous arch that is named The Hall of the Beginning as indicated by the carvings on it. Inside is a table that will be familiar to one of the strangers. It is the table that the original 15 Titled met at the beginning of Nirn, and it's overflowing with a feast even more grandiose than the last time. All of the drinks and cuisine you've been missing for so long is here - from sugar-spiced coffee and bubble tea, delicious scones as good as an aunt's, ridiculously spicy takeout wok, popcorn, philly cheesesteaks and the most perfect star shaped peanut-butter-jelly sandwiches known to man, a big toblerone on a long silver platter, three types of ramen, beer, so many grapes, melon bread, something labeled "dead chicken" that is obviously just a regular roast chicken.... it definitely seems like there were too many cooks here, but cooks with their heart in the right place. Some other favorites of the strangers will also be among the chaos if they look hard enough, but certainly, somewhere, it was deemed that they should have a celebration feast.

But then, you are not strangers any more, are you? Everyone here is a familiar face now, and there are even more familiar faces waiting around the table. The ones who wrote the letter, 707, Halley, Maka, Alexis, and Cardia are already there coming and going, but occasionally many others will stumble through one of the many doors. People from the games who had not fallen to IT. People from home, people you love. What we have here is a nexus and a party all in one. Here, there will be as much time for goodbyes as you like - or, as the hall suggests, new beginnings.]

Comments

[relieable]

[a sigh... that's what he likes to hear. he pulls back to scrub at the tears in his eyes. to hell with being strong. Franciscus has seen Osomatsu at his weakest already, so it's fine]

You better not. We're gonna take it easy from now on. I wanna go home and rest for a million years!

[silvertongueheir]

Oh, I definitely agree. After letting everyone know we're alright... [He sighs a little. Hopefully they won't be too panicked about it.] But after that...I think we've definitely earned some relaxation time.

And...I finally remembered properly. The way things were between us in Cartesio... [He definitely feels more secure around Osomatsu now. Things have finally clicked into place.]

[relieable]

[eh? Osomatsu doesn't understand at first. but then he remembers how much the Mansion played with their memories. for that whole round, he thought Sakura was a murderer!

at least now he...

ah.

Osomatsu takes a step back]

You remember everything clearly, huh?

[silvertongueheir]

[Ah. Franciscus reaches a hand out, but it stops halfway.] I do. But...it's simply made things more clear. I already remembered you...killing me...but I didn't recall the true circumstances, or any of our talks after that. I...I kept thinking I'd ruined my chance at your friendship.

[He was so happy to learn that wasn't the case apparently in the mansion, but that worry was always there.]

1/2

[relieable]

[Osomatsu relaxes a bit. he reaches up and snatches Franciscus' hand]

Look. The Mansion was... crazy, alright...? But the only thing that kept me going was the hope that I'd get to see you again.

[a squeeze, and he looks down. his voice is softer]

Our confessions weren't made under... ideal circumstances.

2/2

[relieable]

[then, when he looks up again, into Franciscus' eyes, he looks determined. are you ready for a confession, buddy? you're about to get one]

But they happened. And they helped me, so much. Just knowing you were out there, somewhere. Either watchin' over me, or thinkin' about me. It gave me the strength I needed. To finish that "game," and to keep going into the next one.

Frankie... Franciscus. You're so important to me. And maybe I was scared about jumping into a relationship before, but I'm not now! I wanna take things slow, but I wanna be with you, for as long as I can, as long as you'll let me!

[silvertongueheir]

[Ah, here he is, getting his own words turned back on him. Franciscus responds to the hand-squeezing by lifting his other hand to grip Osomatsu's as well, blushing at the confession but smiling at the same time.]

I'm very glad to hear that...that you had something to hold on to, even when I couldn't be there for you myself. [And oh, how he still regrets that.] And...I feel the same, of course. Especially with my proper memories...I want you by my side forever. And I'm happy to know I'll never be rid of you. [He smiles, teasingly.]

[relieable]

[Osomatsu is... a little surprised that he got that all out! he'd had a lot of time to think about what he wanted to say, of course, but it all bubbled out so suddenly! he had literally all night to say this, but he just blurted it out prematurely. like... well, never mind.

now he's flushed from embarrassment, looking down stiffly. someone wants him, a stupid clone, to be by their side. it's so... wonderful! he's starting to get glassy-eyed again]

Uuu...

[silvertongueheir]

[It's okay, they can just both blush over it for a while. Franciscus thinks that he's the lucky one here, of course, with Osomatsu's willingness to forgive and give him a second chance. After a bit, he nudges Osomatsu's chin so that he's looking at him again.]

That girl was more vocal about it than I'd prefer, but...I definitely do want to kiss you again. [With his living, breathing body, this time.]

[relieable]

[oh. right. that girl! Osomatsu doesn't even know her name. but that's fine. he blushes a deep rouge, then nods. kiss, then food, would be good. apparently there's a feast waiting for them! with food! that doesn't taste like sand!

he steps a bit closer, taking a deep breath to relax himself . then he stretches his neck out a little, waiting for Franciscus to come down the rest of the way so that they can kiss]

[silvertongueheir]

[Franciscus bends down as well, moving to capture Osomatsu's lips with his own. It's only been about a week since their last kiss, technically...but it feels different, now that he's got blood pumping through his veins and breath moving through his lungs. He can feel their heartbeats, beating together yet slightly out of tune at the same time. And simply the sensation is more complete, more full, than what they had during their temporary visit.]

[relieable]

[thank goodness. it was a good reunion kiss after all. their last one had been so hurried and sad, when Franciscus was sort of dead, and Osomatsu was upset. now, things were different, they were celebrating. and Osomatsu was never happier to be alive.

all the things he'd gone through, all the grief and torture. was it really worth it? he doesn't know. he's still a clone, after all. but, at least, in this world, he has people who love and cherish him, and that matters so much.

he finally has to pull away to breathe, but he doesn't linger too far. they're going to stick together probably all the time now]

[silvertongueheir]

[Franciscus pulls away, but keeps a hand on Osomatsu's shoulder.] Ah...I suppose there's other people I should greet. [Still, he seems reluctant to separate.] Well, you have Gerard with you, right? We can start with him.

[relieable]

[he nods, wiping his eyes again. he set down his towel-bag on the ground. there are a few items in it, like the little plush that Franciscus found in the carnival. and the picture of his brothers, and then the pokéball, of course.

he gives it back to Franciscus]

It's been hard getting him to eat, for a few reasons. But he's okay.

[Osomatsu did his best. it wasn't his fault the food all tasted like sand]

[silvertongueheir]

If the food tasted anything like what we were given, I can't say I'd blame him. [He presses the button gently, and Gerard appears in a flash of light, shaking his head in confusion as he looks around at the scenery-then buries his face in Franciscus' chest with a loud squawk, nuzzling into it. Franciscus smiles, stroking his stony crest.]

There, there...you can feel it, right? I'm back, for real and for good.

[relieable]

[Osomatsu lets out a sigh of relief. it's too bad he could not find Hydrangea. maybe it would get returned to them later.

seeing Gerard nuzzle Franciscus makes Osomatsu a bit envious, though. she he tries to hug them both. of course, his arms aren't very long, but he does his best]

[silvertongueheir]

[Gerard does notice, and extends a wing to pull Osomatsu closer as well, chirping happily. Franciscus laughs a little, wrapping an arm around Osomatsu too and leaning over to kiss his cheek, which makes Gerard chirp even more excitedly and lean in to nuzzle the top of Osomatsu's head.]

Don't worry, Gerard, there's plenty to eat now.

[relieable]

[yay! snuggles! and... oh, that was Osomatsu's stomach growling. he pulls away again]

Right, food! We should get in there, huh? I'm dying to remember what not-sand tastes like.

[silvertongueheir]

Oh, certainly! There was a dining car in the last place we ended up, but despite the appearances of the delicacies it contained, everything tasted of nothing but sand.

[He was so disappointed after actually finding caviar.]

[relieable]

Right? It's such a let-down! We even got food in the sock-exchanged, but it was all sand! Even the imagawayaki!

[silvertongueheir]

Really. How disappointing. Let's hope they have some proper imagawayaki at this feast. [As they start towards the food area, there's a cry of "Min! Min!" and a green-and-white blur comes flying towards them at high speeds, immediately slamming into Franciscus' shoulder and nuzzling at him.]

Hydrangea! There you are! [Franciscus lifts a hand to stroke her fur as well, while she snuggles tight into the space between his shoulder and neck.]

[relieable]

[oh. hey. Osomatsu lets out a gasp as he moves back, just a little, so as not to get rammed by tiny plant hedgehog. once he sees what it is... who it is... his expression becomes soft. thank goodness, Hydrangea is here, too. this really is a reunion, isn’t it?]

Hydrangea... You’re safe!

[silvertongueheir]

Min! [Hydrangea nuzzles into Franciscus some more, but finally spreads her ears and flies over to Osomatsu's side, circling him a few times before landing on his head and lifting a paw to pat him slightly.]

Ah, that's such a relief...we were both so worried about you, you know. But we won't leave you behind again.

[relieable]

[Osomatsu is so happy. he reaches up to pat the Shaymin’s paw]

We’re all gonna stick together, no matter what!

[silvertongueheir]

[Hydrangea lets out a contented sound, settling in on Oso's head.] Indeed. We're all...well, family now, I suppose is the best word.