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.

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[divertimento]

[Not quite.

Ayumu does not get the vice grip that Machias and Jansen did, but he is getting a hug all the same.]

[godinsolitude]

[ ????!!!

Elliot what. Ayumu's noodle enough that he gets tugged into the hug easily enough, though he's frozen for a moment before reaching up to tentatively pat Elliot on the back with a flustered look.]

[divertimento]

[He can't control his gay friendship, okay? Deal with it, noodle boy.]

...I'm really gonna miss you, you know? Even with everything... you've been a really great friend, Ayumu.

[godinsolitude]

[Elliot don't go getting a crush now--

But aah.... it was still so rare for him, to have people see him as him, that the words actually have him ducking his head a little to hide how touched he's feeling by them.]

That.... means a lot to me, Elliot. More than you know. I'm going to miss you, too.

[divertimento]

Wherever life takes you from here... [which is to death but Elliot doesn't know that, ssh] Always keep doing your best, okay?

...And quit shying away from music. You don't have to play for anyone else, but at least for yourself.

[godinsolitude]

[....Ayumu can't quite resist smiling at that.

No one but himself, hm....?]

I will. I think.... it's time I stopped comparing myself and my brother for good. We're different enough, where it counts.

And I don't want to live my life avoiding my passion.

[Not when he had so little left of it.]

The same goes for you though, you hear? Believe in yourself. You put your heart into your music.... and it shows.

[divertimento]

I'm glad to hear that. [And it shows in his warm smile.] No matter what's going on at home... you'll always be Ayumu Narumi to me. Yourself. And I'm glad it's you I got to know.

As for me... I'll do my best, okay? I don't think it's gonna be an easy thing, but... I'm gonna try. For you, for everyone else, and... well, for myself, too.

[godinsolitude]

["you'll always be Ayumu Narumi to me. Yourself. And I'm glad it's you I got to know."

.....Ah.

The barefaced surprise is clear on Ayumu's face. He actually seems a little-- sad? Wistful? Emotional... no, touched, for certain, and after a moment he smiles, genuinely.]

...You really are one of a kind, Elliot. Thank you.

[Really, he could count on one hand the amount of people he could call 'Friend' precisely because.... few people saw him as Ayumu over 'Kiyotaka's little brother'.

Elliot had added himself to that number.]