Epilogue

[lesmodsalouette]

EPILOGUE

Your stopped time has restarted. Whether you were in the grassy field or fighting for your life on the castle grounds, you'll suddenly find yourself in an untouched area of the gardens. Ish is back, and so are the items, and the dead.

You return to Chateau Ambregris with the certain knowledge that come Monday, you will greet a new week, in a home of your own choosing. No longer will the chime of the clocks hunt you down, no longer will the oppressive scent of roses haunt your senses, no longer will you be forced to watch the death of those you've come to love and hate.

Parting is such a bittersweet sorrow, isn't it?

Make merry one last time, in this castle of illusions. Ironically, your memories of this stolen time that never existed are the one thing that will truly remain to you.

END NOTES

🔮 All dead are revived as tsukumogami! Congrats on your immortality(?)
🔮 Any other contracts made with Ish will be honored
🔮 Characters may choose to leave for any world they desire.
🔮 Time has not passed while you were stuck in this loop!
🔮 There will be no cross-dimensional world travel, except for on Samhain (Witches New Year October 31st/November 1st). On these dates, Ish will enable everyone to visit each other's world freely.
🔮 Universal Communication will be possible, courtesy of Manba and Ish. Everyone who wants one will be given a small fox that can communicate with other foxes through voice and video; the foxes can talk and are fairly simple creatures, enjoy them and give them fried tofu once in a while.
🔮 Powers are on for the finale, but Ish will step in and yeet anyone who gets too out of hand back to their homeworld, so play nice! (or relatively nice. )

[OOC: Welcome to your epilogue! The timeloop is ended, the evil has been defeated, and you have some time to catch your breath in the castle before the rest of your life begins! ]

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[siffriend]

Yeah. I've got a few new ideas, thanks to talking to others here.

[ Some of them, they don't like.

But...

...

They'll keep them in mind, anyway. ]

As long as I've got a lead to follow, I've got something to do. And I've got plenty.

[ ... ]

After, um... if you'd like to visit Dormont, it's a nice place. The people are kind and welcoming to everyone, they're the honest sort that'll take whatever answer you give them too. So they won't pry.

[ (All Vaugardians are like that, really.

You're thankful, but at the same time...) ]

[allrounder]

[ That's a difficult question, isn't it? Never seeing Hwylryn again was a different sentiment when he was still mortal. But he no longer is, once again having the life of a long-lived thrust upon him.

...Something he had done his best to correct.

And yet, here he is, with the dragon before him the reason why.

Despite himself, however, he's curious. What could Hwyrlyn even do? What would count as closure to him? ]

What closure would you offer?

[coldseep]

( Hmmm~mm placing a kiss to the corner of his lips, his jaw . . . )

The tiger does wonder if the Witch is as handsome and as charming as the rumors say . . .

( The corner of his jaw, the space by his ear . . . )

. . . And if the Witch is doing well, when all is said and done.

( me: oh my god he wouldn't not flirt but i *grabbing the bull by the horns* BACK ON TOPIC FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE )

[allrounder]

[ Why does he keep finding people who have Secrets and Things He Doesn't Want To Know? ]

If the season is later when I return... what if I managed to summon the two of you to Etheirys? Time flows strangely between stars, so there is no reason why we cannot look to see if the timing is right for me to bring you over.

[ But even that's a gamble. ]

Even so... I will have the Warrior of Light travel to the First as we originally planned. Now that we have a means of communication, I can update you promptly.

[allrounder]

[ He's patient because he does trust them in spite of many, many things. It's why his eyes are closed when Siffrin returns, and he only slips them open when commanded.

The light weight in his palm was difficult to discern, so when he spots the flower, a smile blooms across his face, surprised and delighted in equal amounts. ]

A flower, as you promised.

[coldseep]

I was hoping that you knew.

( Honest, as ever.

He settles on his forelegs and (further back) haunches, the way a cat does when parked in place but not too permanently. He hasn't been banished yet, so it seems he's here for now. )

You have a different attitude now than when it happened. ( Hwylryn too, but he doesn't know how to parse G'raha right now. ) I thought it'd help you at least to yell, if you didn't want to hurt me.

( And maybe he does, now that it's already happened. He does suspect G'raha's patience extended up until the act was finally done - and after that, the line was crossed, and there was not much returning from that. )

I don't know if you have it in you to remain understanding of me. But, if so, I don't think you have to be.

( AKA he's saying G'raha at least deserves to cuss him out, )

[arbalestrier]

[He positions himself behind Ish and shoots him in the back of the head--

Okay no, he's not doing that. Maybe in another timeline, or if things had happened differently. Even so, there's a part of him that really would prefer if Ish was dead or gone--not because of any particular animosity on his part, but because Ish is a threat. Even with Norna gone, the man has found someone new to cling to, and what will happen if he deems it necessary to repeat this process again? And if there is another time, who would be drawn in? If it was Kaname, if it was his comrades, if it was his school friends, he'd wonder if it was the right decision to not do anything when he could've permanently ended it here.

Nevertheless, he saw how Ish revived after Siffrin stabbed him two weeks ago, so he knows a bullet to the brain might not even do anything except incense people.

Even so. He'd still feel safer if he just killed Ish right here and now. Call it risk management. But all he does now is walk over, with none of those inner thoughts showing on his face.]

Would you do this again?

[coldseep]

( An unfamiliar dragon of a modest size calls out to Tiamat in the garden - and she hears his jovial voice first— )

Tiamat!

( —before the winds suddenly whip around her in a frenzy, and that Extremely Long dragon is circling around her like a joyous whirlwind, the scent of the air sea breeze. )

Tiamat! Tiamat! You're back! You're well!

( Those big dragon eyes miiiiight just be crying big ol dragon tears, )

[siffriend]

I do try and keep them, my Raha.

[ Throughout any and all the bad... that's still true. Siffrin does try and, as it turns out, succeeds.

(You're happy you can make him smile. You know... you aren't the only one who can, and... there's smiles that aren't just for you, but...

...

Maybe, someday... there will be. One just for you, and no one else.) ]

I'll make you a ring sometime, if you'd like. I'm not half-bad with metalwork, and... it'll last longer, too.

[ Even if they can't always remember the parts of a forge, ]

[allrounder]

[ He would be right about that—G'raha was patient until the very last moment, when Junior put the bullet in his head. The threshold for his forgiveness and his patience had been crossed afterward.

There is a lot of pain that he can endure, but after a certain point... he has to determine whether he wants to risk such pain again.

Ever since that first week, he's run into the same problem again and again and again—he's humanized Hwylryn in his heart, even though he shouldn't have. ]

I cannot, and I do not know if I can forgive you again.

[ Or if he can, how long it might be before he calls Hwylryn to a location across the land he hates so much compared to the ocean. ]

You know that I was once immortal, or I am certain that you were able to hazard a guess as to the situation between my souls and my own age. As a result of your actions, you've undone the mortality I worked towards. How... can I possibly forgive that?

[allrounder]

[ They do and he's seen proof of that now, what with their determination to escape the other garden and all, but...

...

Give him a moment. ]

A ring?

[coldseep]

( A beat as he seems to reflect - though, he's reflected much and more already - before he presses his dragon cheeksie against the side of Junior's head, nuzzling him. )

... Yes.

( He puffs out his chest with a great pride, and an affectionate trill escapes his throat - a sound he can't easily make as a human. )

Yeah. I can. Thank you, Junior. Thank you... so, so much.

( It's not the most want to hear, likely. But what Hwylryn did did help him - did give him strength; did force him forward. He lost a lot, and his heart aches for it. He's hurt many, and his heart aches for that, too.

But he think he can live with this ache, instead of letting it shatter him, as he would have let it before. )

... And I'm sorry, too. I'm sorry it was hard. I'm sorry I could not protect your heart as well as I'd hoped. But... I mean it when I say I'll never let anything hurt you again. Whether it be me, or anyone else.

( He nudges Junior's head again, eyes closing happily!!! If there is one thing he does regret, it is Junior's hurt. He wishes he could have done all this - just without harming him. )

Thank you. I'm sorry. I love you. And If there's a way I can atone, I will. Okay?

[siffriend]

Yeah.

[ What? ]

[allrounder]

[ Oh. So it's...

He gazes down at the flower thoughtfully. ]

You would not craft a bracelet or an earring instead?

[siffriend]

[ (...?) ]

Would... you like a bracelet more...? We're already doing earrings, so...

[coldseep]

( In some ways, he did understand what endless time has done to him. And he had enough, before his change of heart over the course of his time here. So he is not in full ways surprised by G'raha's displeasure - but he did not make the connection, until now, how harried he'd be by it.

Mmm. Hwylryn makes a vague sound at the back of his throat, in thought. It's a deep sound, sort of like how a horse horfs, from his true vocal chords. His head rotates to the side, inclining an angle or two toward the earth. )

... May I assist in working to undo it?

( "May I," as assisting G'raha in this thing may be a privilege he may not be afforded, nor would he protest if G'raha's pride would prevent him from accepting the aid of something who had so terribly brutalized him.

A moment of consideration, and he adds: )

Not for forgiveness.

( He doesn't think he should be given it, given he'd have done the same thing again, even knowing the outcome would be as it is. )

[diel]

A part of me wishes we could stay here forever, just these rooms.

[ but it is pretty ugly.

yoru had like the idea of them. in reality they had been gaudy and mismatched, too tall or too short and only extremes in between. he still thinks of them as his. ]

Or maybe not. Hooooow about… a memory we could walk into? That’s nice.

[diel]

Ayaka, hello. I think I’m at that to-be-decided stage.

[ this is how he’s changed: she reaches out with words, but he reaches back with an arm toward her, hand spread in a request. could she take his hand? it doesn’t have to be for long.

he just wants to confirm something. ]

Can we?

somewhere between all three

[uiscebeatha]

[ Cain is...exhausted after everything (he still hasn't slept since waking up next to a corpse), and he wanders, in a daze. He's looking for someone. But after seeing him almost every day for the past few weeks, his tired brain can't quite comprehend that this isn't the same as normal.

He finds himself on the steps of the palace, hand over his eyes and squinting out over the gardens. The door to the palace sits open behind him. With his magic back, he can make out presences more accurately; and while he can make out several, he realizes he doesn't actually know what he feels like.

Where are you? ]

[spotsalone]

Oh, Urianger. Hello.

[ It's a bit weird to suddenly see everyone again. It's only been a week, sure, but then again... has it?

He looks down at his wound. ]

I'll be alright. Supposedly, fixing my cigarette case will patch me up too. I'm eager to give that a try.

[siffriend]

[ Heheh. ]

I like that more. The colors... are a bit much, for me.

[ Colors, colors, colors. Not shades.

Though, Siffrin's glad to see that Yoru is the same as before. They hold out their hands wordlessly. ]

[spotsalone]

[ He grins when he sees Andrew. His appreciation for her is almost definitely one-sided, but sorry, girlie, he's quite fond of you now. He taps a cigarette out of his case, handing it over. ]

The both of us ended up quite lucky in that regard, didn't we?

[ He ignores her question for now. In truth, he hasn't decided. ]

I've been told I owe you an apology.

[spotsalone]

Stranded on some miserable island now, actually. Nothing but rocks and wind... I may as well go back now, though. It's not as if death is waiting for me.

[ He grins. Really, though, where the hell else would he go? Immortality changes everything, anyway. ]

What sort of side trip do you have in mind?

[spotsalone]

That I am.

[ A big smile for Brad! He offers a cigarette. ]

I'm good as new, actually. Fixing up my case here was all it took.

[ He tugs up his still-bloody shirt to reveal the spot where the gunshot wound once was. Check it out, his skin is injury-free! ]

The shirt's done for, but I'll make do.

[arbalestrier]

[He does recall the mention of guns on her plaque, so he doesn't blink an eye at her asking. Even so, it is worth some degree of scrutiny if someone is asking to buy weapons off him.]

That depends on what you're asking for. But why do you need it?