duologs | SEMI-OPEN 🔧 different eyes to see the same old things

[ He has no way to know what’s going though her head at this moment, but he hardly needs to be a mind reader to see the wonder on her face. He’s glad for it. It’s always been his goal to make wondrous things to better the lives of others, to create something precious for a friend. One day – in the far flung future, if Barovia doesn’t have its way – he won’t be here anymore. But these things will be.

And the joy that they inspire is more than enough to keep him company in the next life.

Juni is on him before he really has a chance to react. The bag of buns drops from his arms as his feet leave the ground, swept up in her embrace. They don’t spill everywhere, at least, but the poor bag is going through it. ]

Junebug– you don’t– [ have to thank me. Is what he wants to say, but the words catch and die in his throat. Surely he heard that wrong. She… she loves the weapon. That much is obvious but… ]

… What?

[ Goodbye, bag of little meat buns.

She remains as she is, arms tight wound around him, swaying herself and him both side to side in her glee and excitement. It's not until his words fall short that she sets him back down onto his feet, although her arms only slightly loosen from the embrace. Just enough to be sure that she's not fully about to snap him in half with love!

Though... She's not sure what he's asking "What?" about. Maybe her hug was so powerful that it cut off circulation to his brain, so he couldn't hear properly. (Sidenote: she is not a doctor) ]

What what?

[ Slow blinks... ]

I said I love you!

[ His feet find the ground again, though it’s almost automatic the way he settles back on the floor of the workshop. His mind is clearly elsewhere, lilac eyes sweeping over Juni’s face like he’s waiting for some further clarification, some sort of “gotcha” – even if logically he knows that Juniper doesn’t have a cruel bone in her body. It’s just what he expects at this point.

For years, all he was ever told is that no one cares, no one could possibly love him. A foundling left on a doorstep as an infant. A burden. An afterthought. Someone only worth checking on after a full decade and a half of terrible torture and abuse.

Even after his rescue, there was always a careful distance in his mother’s letters. She’d heap praise and encouragement on him at the drop of a hat, but always, always, there was something missing.

I love you.

And then, easy as anything, Juniper just up and says it again, and he’s not sure if it’s the embrace helping them along, or the fact that he’s already had his fair share of emotional healing recently or what, but some carefully built barrier in his heart just… breaks. He tries to laugh it off, but it comes out more like a sob. Tears stream unchecked down his cheeks and all he can think to do is throw his arms around Juni, burying his face against her shoulder. ]

[ The lilac of his eyes meets the evergreen of hers, and where he searches her countenance for some sign of doubt, he will find none. What he might find is an earnest questioning and curiosity; Juniper isn't privy to the nature of Uncle Declan's childhood beyond that it wasn't entirely wholesome, and his apparent reaction is not one she's ever received for those three words said in the spirit of familial love.

But what he will most certainly find is a concern tinging that steadfast evergreen as she watches tears well up in his eyes and then stream down his face. ]

Ah— Uncle Dee—

[ And then soon he is leaning into her, sobbing against her shoulder, and only then do her arms finally loosen fully from him. It isn't entirely bewildering to think that someone could be moved to tears from an I love you, but still, she can't help but want to make sure that he's not... suffering, somehow, from this. ]

W-What's the matter...?

[ It takes him a moment or two to gather himself enough to answer, his arms still wrapped tightly around her. Long fingers curl into the fabric of her clothes, as if holding on might somehow make it easier to speak.

One shuddering breath, then two, then, so very softly: ]

No one’s ever told me that before.

[ There might have been a time where he’d feel stupid for such an admission, where he’d feel stupid for the way it’s upturned his entire demeanor. Even now, some small, terrified voice in the back of his head is telling him that he’s being a burden right now. He clings a bit harder and silently tells it to shut up. Juniper would never think that about him. Not for one moment. ]

[ He's right to think that she would never, and she doesn't. Although she can be such a spitfire, a force to be reckoned with, and sometimes she gets way, way ahead of herself... She learned some modicum of patience from her druid mother, for moments like this. Moments when somebody's spirit and heart need care. And so she is still and silent as she waits for his answer, allowing him that moment to shore up his will.

And when she hears the answer, her arms tighten around him once more. ]

Oh... Uncle Dee...

[ She squeezes him in turn, as if that would quell the aching in her heart that she feels for him. ]

It's okay. I... [ what would her guardians say to something like this...? ] I'll say it as many times as you need it to, until it hearing it makes you smile!

[ He’s glad for her embrace. It’s affirming in a way, solid and tight and real, and he knows that this isn’t some dream cooked up by a small boy alone and starving in the dark. She is here and real, and her sentiment is just as solid. She loves him. Like an uncle, of course, but he has never wished for more than that.

A family. Who loves him.

He heaves a shuddering sigh, trying to reconcile how his heart feels at once light and heavy and like his ribs are too tight, and finally lifts his head to look at her. The smile on his face isn’t as big and bright as his usual, but there’s no denying that it’s genuine and warm and fond. He scrubs a hand over his face, trying to wipe the trails of moisture from his cheeks. ]

It already does, Junebug. It… it already does.

[ When at last she can see his face again, she knows that this truly, truly is a special moment. She's sure that if Dad 1 or Mom 1 were here, they would be promptly requesting a group hug. She knows they would welcome Declan readily into their strange, chaotic little family, but... She knows, too, that Declan is forging his own, with his own adventuring friends!

But in the meantime, while it's just the two of them here in this world of two skies... She'll happily be the Best. (And Only.) Niece. Ever!!

To that end, her face brightens as he slowly begins to gather his composure once more, and though she pulls her arms away she is soon resting her hands upon his shoulders with a firm grip. ]

Ahaha! You realize what this means, right...?

[ :D ]

Now you have to say it back! To me, your favoritest niece!

[ The brightness slowly seeping into Juni’s expression makes his own small smile stretch a little wider. He’s not sad, he’s said as much, but it’s hard not to brighten a little when Juni is around.

Then he blinks at her. No, he clearly has no idea what this means. ]

Oh… oh!

[ HE DOES GET TO SAY IT BACK. It’s not even a matter of “have to”, though he knows Juni doesn’t quite mean it like that. He wants to. He wants her to know how precious she is to him. A family he didn’t know he needed. ]

Of course I love you, too. My favoritest niece.

[ HE'S GONNA CRY AGAIN. ]

[ She watches the realization dawn upon his face proudly, and at once her ears stand attentively, ready to receive the magic words!

Of course, with how many guardians she has and how many siblings and whatnot they all have collectively, Juniper is a niece to a few other folks (actually it only comes out to, like, three). But Uncle Declan is different even from them, because he's just like her!

~~A half-elf.~~ Someone for whom the bonds of family are not necessarily forged by blood, but by feelings. By the love that they've put words to, now. When she hears it, she can't help but clap her hands together in her delight. ]

Yay! Now we really have forged an unbreakable bond!

[ And then she blinks at him. ]

Ah, are you going to cry again? Here!

[ OFFERING HER SHOULDER AGAIN!! ]

So what if I'm going to cry again!

[ He declares, crying again. They're tears of joy, and he doubts they'll stop anytime soon. Instead of taking her up on her offer to sob on her shoulder, he decides rather suddenly that it's his turn to pick her up!

And with a very miraculous 19 (+0) on a strength check, he does just that. Looping his arms around her waist to lift her feet from the floor and twirl her around. ]

My dear, I could build you a whole armory in exchange for the gift you've given me today! But I hope you will take Titania as a first offering.

[ (Juju's Bizarre Adventure voice) OH?? YOU'RE LIFTING ME?

She's not going to contest this strength check, because why would she ever! ]

Whoa! Uncle Dee, the Power of Love gave you a strength boost!?

[ Up and around she goes, not at all anticipating being the liftee and twirlee this time around, though her surprise soon gives way for a joyous laugh to bubble up out of her.

The moment that it dawns on her yet again that she's been given such a special weapon, one so special that it has its own name, she offers an awestruck gasp. ]

Titania! After the Queen of the Seelie Court! The Summer Queen! What a perfect name for a perfect weapon! You're so brilliant, Uncle Dee!

It must have!

[ What else could possibly give a beanpole like him the ability to lift literally anything, honestly. Once he has her back on solid ground, he finally loosens his grip, stepping away a little to take a look at the weapon laid out on the workbench. ]

I thought it fitting. I’m glad you approve. Now, go on. Pick it up!

Oh, spirits! I can’t wait!

[ This is the moment of truth! There isn’t even a hint of a shadow of doubt in Juniper’s heart - she knows that this weapon is destined to be wielded by her by Declan’s design, but still… The first time hefting such a special weapon is significant.

Striding over to the workbench, Juniper stretches her arms for a moment before firmly planting her feet and at last taking Titania up in her hands. Already, the grip is just right, the balance feels perfect and most of all… It’s so beautiful. ]

Uncle Dee, this… This really is a masterpiece!

[ Putting some distance between herself and Declan and anything else in here that might be important, she gives a slow swing of the axe and then strikes a pose! ~~A... G-Pose, if you will.~~ ]

How do we look!?

[ ~~God you have truly played just enough FFXIV to be dangerous haven’t you.~~

Declan stands back to watch her go for the weapon – though he does find the wherewithal to also pick up the bag of buns that have hit the floor and place it on a nearby stool.

He’s touched at the reverence she shows his creation, the respect. It fills him with pride… as an inventor and uncle both. The smile curving his lips is subdued; a softer, more genuine sort of expression now that he’s unwittingly let his cheerful-all-the-time façade drop. ]

You look perfect. I’m truly glad you love it so.

SEMI-OPEN 🔧 different eyes to see the same old things

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