All's well that ends well

[thecastle]

[ So you've wished the dead back to life, but there's still 2 wishes you have to make. Ultimately what happens from here is entirely in your hands, but for the first time in eight weeks everyone is alive and whole again (even that pesky merman). There is that corruption you should deal with, but surely you know what to do about that.

Once you've settled and wound down a bit, maybe you should relax a bit before going your separate ways. You've earned it.

Comments

[buddyoldpal]

Awright, that works for me.

[ He's Nishitani. For all that he doesn't mind sharing, he's still... him. ]

Rosalind-chan. Ya remember how hard ya tried ta keep me from callin' that when we first showed up?

[originallutece]

Not -chan.

But yes. I remember how quick you were to listen when I insisted on a title. One conversation, wasn't it?

[buddyoldpal]

[ He chuckles. ]

Knew ya'd warm up ta me, Rosalind. What can I say? I like a dame who knows what she wants.

[originallutece]

You certainly do.

[Oh, I guess she's pulling back far enough to look up at him. A beat, and then, quietly:]

What happened after you died?

[buddyoldpal]

Ya mean here?

[ he assumes she means here. ]

Woke up in the trial room, the other side was the same, cept the castle was all old an' fucked up. Armory was fulla broken swords, that kinda thing. There were these shadows around, but they never actually went for us. I'm guessin' if time had really run out they woulda finished us off, though.

[originallutece]

[Oddly enough, she isn't as interested in that as she thought she'd be. It is interesting, but . . . no. She doesn't want think about that.]

I'm glad you managed to get a message through. It helped, I think. He was . . .

[A beat. She glances over towards Majima.]

. . . it was good he got to hear from you. And I certainly was pleased to read it.

[buddyoldpal]

Yeah, Emperor-han had a pretty good system goin' at least. Couldn'ta done that shit without 'im.

[ Definitely happier things to talk about! ]

Yeah, I'm glad he got ta read it. An' you too, course.

[ I mean, he saw Majima leave the message in tears because of Tiki's drawing, he knows what she's not saying. ]

Didn't really feel like I was dead, bein' over there. Figured the least I could do was try ta make ya both smile fer a little bit even with all the shit goin' down.

[originallutece]

[That drawing was some grade-A bullshit and Ros is sure not gonna mention it unless she has to.]

. . . you tried to make it filthy, hm?

[That had made her smile, at least briefly.]

[buddyoldpal]

I had all this sweet shit planned, but Emperor-han said he wouldn't write that shit out!

[ Sad, really. He was gonna talk about orgasms. ]

If it'd been up ta me, woulda been like I wasn't even gone.

[originallutece]

Terribly rude of him.

[But now she's thinking ahead, and speaking of filth--]

I'm going to tell you what I told Majima: you have to be nice to Robert at first.

[buddyoldpal]

Awww, course I will, Rosalind! Ya know I could never be too hard on a guy long as he's you.

[ Loving her obviously extends to both versions, I mean this seems natural to Nishitani... ]

I might not be a pro at first impressions like ya are, but I might be able to keep my trap shut for ya, doll.

[originallutece]

[true love is letting him call her that tbh]

You know better than that, Nishitani. Might won't cut it.

[buddyoldpal]

[ That's the truest sign lbr. ]

Aw. Okay, okay. I'll play nice. Long as he plays nice, ya know?

[originallutece]

[Of course he will, she almost says, but then hesitates for a moment. Wryly:]

. . . I'll do my best.

[buddyoldpal]

[ Hey, he could give Nishitani one look and decide he's a ruffian, ok? He wouldn't take well to that... ]

Good. I'm lookin' forward ta meetin' im!

[originallutece]

[She nods. She's still smiling faintly, but she's all right with silence between them for a few seconds. But eventually:]

. . . you love me?

[buddyoldpal]

[ No hesitation, obviously. ]

Course I do! I told ya as much, didn't I?

[originallutece]

. . . I still don't understand how you can bare your emotions like that.

[She's not upset. She's not displeased. It's just . . . wondering, really.]

[buddyoldpal]

I'm just an honest guy. Ain't got no reason ta hide how I feel, ya know?

[ He's got no filter... It's probably not a good thing, but it works out sometimes. ]

[originallutece]

I'm glad.

[They're all but alone here, but still Rosalind hesitates.]

I . . .

[She can't say it. She really can't.]

. . . you know I feel the same for both of you.

[buddyoldpal]

[ Nishitani doesn't fault her for it. He smiles. ]

Ya ain't gotta say it, either. I know.

[ He does. ]