The End...

[strangerpeople]

THE END...

[When the Titled wake up next, it's to void darkness.

There is nearly nothing left after what has happened, save for the blackness. Save for themselves, the Dragonborn and Serana as they hold each other, the Thalmor prisoner (who is clearly in shock), the body of the dragon they had attacked in the distance, the tower in the even further distance...

and an old man, sitting on nothing, clapping wildly.]

Bravo! Bravo!! Encore!! That was just amazing.

[Confetti starts to fill the air. It catches fire mid-way to the..ground. Whatever counts as ground now.]

Nothing like a good old world-ending riot, I always say! You all deserve an award for ending the universe as I knew it. Have some bread!

[Bread that looks like Papyrus' pops into their hands. It smells like chicken and god only knows what it tastes like.]

Go on, have a bite!

[This was probably not what anyone was expecting when the world ended.]

Comments

[pursuitofbeauty]

He hears voices. Familiar ones. It makes him run forward into the shadows, past McBurn, his throat clenching with a feeling he can't name. He calls out before he even clears the violet fog, his voice echoing.

"Futaba!"

Yusuke bursts from the portal, eyes wide, hair rather disheveled, panting from exertion and emotion. Instantly his gaze darts from person to person, wondering if this is a dream or if he really is alive.

"Futaba...," he breathes. There's brightness in his eyes that might be tears. "Rubedo... everyone... you're all still here...."

[carries_war]

[That voice. The voice he never thought he'd hear again, after condemning him to death. He doesn't even think to correct Yusuke about his name. He just runs forward over the nothingness to lunge forward into a relieved hug. Futaba's idea worked...they're all going to make it out of this.]

[pursuitofbeauty]

"Rube-- oh!"

The redhead slams into him with what feels like the force of a small car. Yusuke reflexively hugs back, still wearing that quietly stunned expression. He doesn't even care that he's being squeezed like there's an anaconda trying to crush him.

"This is the second time I've been brought back from some form of alternate existence. The warm welcome is rather nice, though."

[carries_war]

I was so afraid...I'd let all you guys down.

[Hope Yusuke doesn't mind a bit of dampness on the front of his shirt...]

I...I took care of Futaba, just like I promised.

[pursuitofbeauty]

"I knew you would. Thank you, Rubedo."

Hugging is so strange-- Madarame was never affectionate-- but it feels so good to know he was missed. Though he'd only been with some of these people a couple of weeks before his death, the bond they share is strong.

"But I'm just as glad to know you survived as well."

[carries_war]

You've got the rest of these guys to thank for that. I don't think I could've made it without them.

[pursuitofbeauty]

"You kept them together, didn't you? And in turn, I know they supported you when you needed it. Even though there was no way for me to see what was happening here, I know you all survived because you helped one another."

It's sappy and sentimental, but where else would they find the strength to thwart this morbid game if not within each other?

[carries_war]

Yeah...

[His grip loosens somewhat, enough for him to pull back one arm to wipe his eyes.]

We all looked out for each other. And when they tried to make us vote for Maglor...we'd had enough. I'd had enough.

[pursuitofbeauty]

"They tried to deceive you into voting for him?" That's a frown darkening Yusuke's face. "I'm assuming the one responsible is dead, though I must say I'm sorry I missed the chance to help in the fight."

Yusuke's anger cools as he examines the redhead's face, the sight of those tears and the emotions shining clearly through both words and expression finally reaching the artist. "Rubedo? You seem different. More... human."

[socialhacktivist]

Her eyes are burning before she even realize there are tears there. Yusuke's here. He's okay. Her legs are frozen in place, shock plastered all over her face for a long moment before everything just snaps. She runs across the distance and jumps on him; arms tight, squeezing him for dear life.

"...Inariiiiii..."

She's wailing, tears streaming down her cheeks, but it's the happiest she's been since they saved her. "You idiot..." She mutters, weakly pounding his chest. Of everything they've done this... this is the best. They were able to save them. All the uncertainty, all the scares... it was totally worth it.

[pursuitofbeauty]

And then there's Futaba's tiny arms around him and her weight hanging from his torso. At least she can't squeeze as hard as Rubedo, his ribs are still protesting a bit. Yusuke smiles down at her, one arm around her back and the other stroking her hair.

"Yes, I am rather idiotic, aren't I? But you still saw fit to help bring me back." His voice cracks and his vision blurs. Is he... crying? But he never cries, not when Madarame revealed his true colors, not when the uncertainty over his future weighed on his shoulders, not when Akira returned home after all they'd been through together.

But this... it's okay if he cries over a happy miracle.

"I missed you, Oracle. Forgive me for being absent for so long."

[socialhacktivist]

Everything's instantly forgiven in a rush. It had never been a question in the first place. The thought of facing the others after letting him die had plagued her this whole time. Admittedly she'd wished that she could have died instead. Maybe... in the end she was able to make a difference after all. "That's right. A big idiot. But..." Futaba shook her head.

"But you're here now. That's all that matters."

Feeling that too-thin frame in her arms-- that hand on her hair-- it was more comforting than anything else could have been. Any worries she had about rebuilding the world were gone. She'd take on anything now that she had Fox back on her side.

"The team got a little bigger while you were away. I even gave Papyrus and Jr. their own nicknames. Although... I don't think I ever told Jr. about that." He just automatically came into honorary Phantom Thief status on his own. She's just... so glad she can tell Yusuke these things now.

...maybe not the part where she got stupid drunk.

[pursuitofbeauty]

Hugging the tiny girl like this, comforting her... is this what it must be like to have a younger sibling? Yusuke will never know for certain, but this is as close as he can get to it. It's a good feeling.

"I'm certain Akira and the others will accept them readily." Yusuke's smile fades ever so slightly. "Although... Futaba, how much do you remember from our world? Everything came rushing back when I awoke in a dark realm parallel to this one." I have a feeling my memories might extend further than yours now."

[defriendestration]

[SKELEHUG INCOMING]

YOU'RE BACK!!!!

[pursuitofbeauty]

Oh that is a bony hug.

But it still feels really nice. Yusuke smiles warmly at Papyrus, returning the hug before leaning back to look at the skeleton.

"Yes, I am. I am glad to see you're well, Papyrus."

[defriendestration]

[They are the best hugs!!]

I...I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!! YOU FELL BACK DOWN AND NOW YOU'RE BACK UP AGAIN!!

[pursuitofbeauty]

"Thanks to something the rest of you did, I imagine. McBurn told me there was a fight against the dragon... am I to believe you all just accomplished something equally remarkable?"

[defriendestration]

NYEH-HEH-HEH! INDEED! WE DESTROYED THE WORLD BY FIGHTING!!






BUT I THINK WE'RE GETTING IT BETTER???

[pursuitofbeauty]

"... why am I not surprised?"

Of course they destroyed the world. This group is completely, absolutely insane. And Yusuke wouldn't have them any other way. (Though he does wish Eric could find some chill.)

[defriendestration]

NYEH-HEH-HEH...YEAH OUR FRIENDS ARE...KIND OF PSYCHO, AREN'T THEY??

[bythewaves]

Welcome back, Yusuke.

[ A hand on his shoulder, Maglor smiling gently ]

You have been missed.

[pursuitofbeauty]

"Maglor...!"

Yusuke reaches up and settles his hand over the elf's, offering a gentle smile. He hasn't smiled this much in ages, and honestly he never wants to stop.

"I missed you as well. Your singing lived in my thoughts every day I spent on the other side."

[bythewaves]

"I am glad that it was some comfort to you, then. But you were badly missed here, also."

(And I just found out a few days ago: Yusuke's VA can SING.)

[pursuitofbeauty]

"I know." Sadness breaks through his smile. He knows how much pain the others must've felt, seeing him die in such a horrible way. "If it could've been helped, I never would have left all of you."

EXCELLENT

[bythewaves]

"I believe you." He smiles at him fondly.

"But you gave us courage, and for that, I am grateful. You would have been proud of how Futaba held up, I think. She wanted to fight for you."