duologs | [OPEN] Library Shenanigans + May Catch-All

[Roland chuckles lightly. He appreciates how enthusiastic she is about everything.]

Whatever you decide, allow me to treat you when it's time.

[He's got the money to spare. More so now that the allowance that would've ordinarily gone to his other self's brother no longer has a destination . . . ]

[ meryl is nothing if not independent, so it's hard for her to just allow that so easily, especially with someone she feels she owes quite a bit to herself. ]

Hey, no need for that! I can pay for myself, you know. You've already done plenty for me.

[ even the flowers she's holding were an unexpected gift from him. ]

[Unexpected, but deserved.

Still, he nods. He can understand the desire for independence, no matter how little the way. If that's what she wants, he won't intrude.]

Very well. However, know that I will always do more if you ever find yourself in need.

[ she sighs softly. ]

Yeah, yeah. I figured you would. [ glancing down at the flowers, then back at him. ] Just don't wear yourself out with all these good deeds, okay?

[ she really does appreciate them — a lot — and it shows in the tone of her voice. but she's also not in the business of taking advantage of peoples' kindness, or letting people like him run themselves ragged. vash does enough of that for the whole planet. ]

[He chuckles.]

I wouldn't dream of it.

[Good deeds are energizing, as is Meryl's company.

They soon reach the park, where their seating options are the benches scattered across the grounds, the swings, and a small dome with holes for climbing. Between the children and their chaperones with the occasional leashed pets, there's enough traffic for people watching. Roland angles his head toward Meryl.]

Where should we go?

[ that's probably code for 'i'm going to keep doing good deeds until i collapse' but she'll let that feeling go for now. they're having a relaxing day out.

the children are generally playing on the dome and around whatever jungle gym is present near it, most of them interacting with each other in some kind of unexplainable children's game, so the swings are free.

and meryl could use the bit of distraction that comes with pushing yourself gently back and forth as you sit. ]

It's been a while since I've been on a swing, and they're not occupied right now. How about we head there?

[Imagine if they're the toddler swings with diaper-shaped seats.

Those will stay with the imagination, because Meryl deserves the fun distraction. Roland nods, then holds his arms out once they're by the swings.]

I can hold the flowers.

[She needs both hands free in order to swing effectively. Roland doesn't have the true memories to lend him much fondness in the way of swinging, so he can sit on his side with the flowers.]

[ she blinks at that. ]

Oh, uh — sure. Thanks.

[ that's a harmless little thing to let him do for her, even if she feels a bit bad about it, handing them off to him. only a little, though, because she goes ahead and sits on the swing nearby her, getting comfortable and smiling softly at the feeling of it.

she's not one to normally indulge in childish things, but she can't deny the comfort it can provide. it's not like she's going to go all out and swing high, or jump off it at its apex, or something. just some light back and forth.

which she starts, her legs juuuust barely reaching the ground (she's not short!!!!) with her the tips of her toes, as she rocks herself forward and backward a bit. ] I didn't have a chance to ask earlier — how've you been? Are you still... remembering things?

[ she remembers what he told her before, and internally flinches in anticipation of what he could say. ]

[She's average-sized.

Flowers cradled in his arms, Roland takes his place in the next swing over. His feet find easy purchase on the sandy ground, and he remains stationary while Meryl sways in her half of the set. He angles his head toward her.]

I am.

Most, if not all, of my recent memories have returned to me. Much of Norzelia is still shrouded in mystery, but I believe I now recognize everyone to whom I've previously spoken here.

[His easygoing smile suggests that this is good news, and it is. At the very least, he doesn't have to worry about offending someone with lack of recognition anymore—excepting those from his false life, that is. That's another story entirely.]

[ the tension she was holding in anticipation of his answer releases, and she exhales softly and smiles back at him in turn. it's a relief to hear that, and see that he's gotten something good out of his memories to hopefully balance the bad, even if he's still missing some of this "norzelia" place. ]

That's good. I'm glad to hear it. Sounds like you're doing better now, then.

[ she thinks, since he's had good things to put his mind on now. and friends he can now recognize. ]

I'll bet your friends must be relieved too, right? I can't imagine how I'd feel, if someone I was close to just... forgot about me.

[ and boy was vash close, before. ]

[He can't, either. Such a pain would be unimaginable . . . and he knew it when he made the choice to give everything up. He knew, yet he chose to learn it all over again in the aftermath.

This is what of which he's capable. What else can he do? Still, there's no sense in burdening Meryl with any of that.]

Though it pains me that they have to feel relief at all, I'm happy that I've remembered.

[His smile widens a smidgen. They're still getting to know each other, but he can say this much:]

I promised Athanasia that I won't take such risks again. Come what may, I will remember you, Meryl.

[ oh— wow, that gets her to pause and maybe even blush a little. what a thing to tell someone.

she ends up stammering a little, caught completely off guard by the comment. ]

I-I mean — you said you wouldn't do it again anyway, right? S-So it's fine, no need to tell me something like that! [ aaaaaahh...

averting her eyes to calm her little heart down, looking down at the ground below the swing. ] It's just... good that you won't do it again.

[ for the sake of everyone, including himself. ]

[Meryl is looking a little red there. Perhaps he was a little too forward, but there was no falsehood in what he said.]

Knowing what it does to those left behind, I would seek another path if presented with the choice again.

[It may even be a similar decision. But he won't make it again without letting the others weigh in on what they think. He won't go at it alone and let the rest suffer. Someone as pure as Meryl doesn't deserve that.

His fingers wrap a little tighter around the flowers. The wrapping crinkles softly against their stems.]

So I say this as a promise to you, too. So long as it is within my power, I shall stay.

[ he's so... serious. and clearly some kind of broken up about what happened. maybe it seemed like the right decision at the time, but seeing how the decision affected people may have changed his mind on that, she thinks. it's a rough situation, for sure.

she doesn't know if she could do what he did. and she doesn't think she'd be happy if someone close to her did it, either. she'd be pretty broken up about it.

after a moment, she reaches over to place a hand on his shoulder, the redness of her face fading as she takes on a gentler expression. ]

Hey, it's okay. You've remembered everyone, right? So, as far as I'm concerned, it all turned out all right in the end. Maybe you should try to focus on that part, now.

[ instead of dwelling on everything bad about it. ]

[He angles his head toward her at the touch. Her hand on his shoulder is warm, and the tension in his face eases as he leans back. Hearing her words, he can say with confidence that Meryl is a truly good person.]

You're right.

[When she says it like that, the true end feels close, yet it's so far. He wants to believe that everything will turn out all right then, too—to lean on the hope she gave him when they first met.]

Now that I've remembered this place and the people in it, there's no better time than now to walk hand in hand together. [He watches the children in the distance chase one another with an abundance of laughter.] Then, one day, perhaps the rumors will prove true and we'll be rewarded with a way back to our respective worlds.

[ hearing that bit about going back to their worlds puts something of a knot in her stomach. she knows she's decided that she'd take whatever chance she has to go back — it wouldn't be right of her to escape here and remain here, while everyone back in no man's land suffers. she'd miss everyone she knew there, too, and it just... well, it just wouldn't feel right to ditch the planet.

but she can't argue against how much easier it is to live in the place. there's the odd curiosity here and there, but there are so many luxuries. consistently running water, plentiful delicious food, weather other than "hot" or "sandstorm". not to mention how much safer it feels here.

so, she hesitates a moment, before agreeing with him. ]

Y-Yeah. If we came here, then there's a way to go back, too. At least, that's what'd make sense.

[ she has half a mind to ask if he misses his own world, but she doesn't want to dredge up those bad memories she knows he recovered. ]

[The hesitation doesn't escape him. In fact, he's about to ask when she gives her answer. There's hope in it, but it makes him wonder what was running through her mind before she settled.

He does remember, though, the inherent hardship suffered by the people of her world. It takes him back to their first encounter in the ON world.]

Have you given thought to what you'll bring back?

[OPEN] Library Shenanigans + May Catch-All

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