WELCOME

[umbralant]

EPILOGUE

As the world they've been living in so long quickly dissolves around them, the oppressive air from the Gate fades away from their senses and their vision turns turns completely white. It only takes an instant for their sight to return, but when it does, they'll find themselves in the same dim, dank chamber that they were in a moment before albeit with several main differences: the Gate and the machines that were clustered near it are now gone.

However, you'll only be able to take in this sight for a few seconds before the scenery blurs and suddenly there's the scent of the cool December air brushing past your face, blinding sunlight assaulting the eyes.

It's been six weeks since you've seen anything but the night, so it may take a bit of adjustment before realizing that there's a number of very, very familiar faces before you, as well as one who might not be so recognizable. Either way, one thing is for sure: that long, long Night is over, and it's the start of another Day.

Witamy w Krakowie.

[[Everyone will find themselves in the Main Square. Furthermore, those who had body horror will find that all traces of it are gone!]]

navigation

profiles

rules

locations

shop

location changes

full navigation

Comments

[reanbeans]

[ ...

He couldn't. It wasn't something he could say easily. Usually he had something with him that'd help, but without it...he was at the mercy of it. ]

I usually have something with me that helps. But otherwise...I can't, not easily.

It's...a long story, but I'm not sure if it's one you want to hear before we're about to part ways.

Still, I'm happy I was able to get to know you well, Raven. Even if all of that wasn't something I'd never want any of us to go through in the first place.

[ And at least she didn't see him differently in the end. ]

[raventhaw]

[ ah. she's about to say something in response, but once he mentions parting ways...

there's a strange feeling in her chest. it hurts. she looks at him for a brief second, only the slightest hint of emotion on her face -- her eyes are slightly widened and her lips are slightly parted, as if the realization's only just hit her. ]

Give me a moment.

[ she reaches for her notebook and her pen. (they're still here, in tact!) and she sits down, writing something very intently. he's welcome to sit next to her if he wants while she...writes a thing, i guess. ]

[reanbeans]

[ He watched her expression, and he felt bad for just bringing it up like that. But, he knew it had to be said.

Rean knew he had a rough time ahead of him as well, but...it's fine. He'll deal with it as it came.

Though, he's not expecting her to say what she did. ]

Ah, oh... okay.

[ Rean will then move to sit right beside her, folding his hands neatly in his lap, wondering what she was writing. ]

[raventhaw]

[ yeah. yeah. it definitely needed to be said. maybe she'd gotten too comfortable being around these guys... god, when did she get so soft. she hates it! but it is what it is, and here she is, writing...whatever this is.

moments pass, and finally, raven's finished. she rips out two papers from her notebook and folds them both in fourths. then, she reaches for one of her beaded necklaces and wraps it around the papers, securing them.

she hands the entire bundle to him. ]

You can read it whenever you want. Keep it, dispose of it -- whatever you do with it is up to you.

[reanbeans]

[ Rean blinked and then reached out to take them. ]

...I'd never dispose of it. I'll cherish what you've given me for as long as I can.

[ His expression softened into something undeniably, remarkably gentle. He seemed to appreciate her kindness and hadn't even read what she had written yet... ]

Thank you, Raven. You've...really been so kind to me in my stay here. I'll never forget the time we spent together—your company meant so much to me, after all.

[ He couldn't help but say how he felt. Though, there was a pause, debating on what he'd say next, but maybe just leaving it simple was fine for now. ]

...I'll miss you.

[raventhaw]

[ and once again, rean gets one (1) genuine smile from raven branwen. he seems to draw those out of her, somehow. who knew that a pessimist and an optimist would get along as well as they do?

she looks up at the sun for a moment, tucks her notebook back in her pocket, then lowers her gaze to look out into the city. straight ahead, still with that same smile on her face. ]

You might be surprised to hear that people don't tell me I'm kind very often.

[ a beat. ]

I'm...fortunate to have met you here, Rean. You've surprised me in many, many ways that I wasn't expecting.

[ she's starting to realize that she's learned something from him, too. ]

Take that strength and fortitude of yours wherever you go, and you'll be unstoppable. I'm not talking about your "other self", either.

[reanbeans]

[ ...It's a nice smile, and he couldn't help but watch her for a moment as she look out at the city. Then, he too turned his gaze forward, letting her words sink in. ]

Haha...I'm actually not. You're a little rough around the edges, and I could tell that from a majority of our conversations. But, it's like I said before—I see things for what they truly are, so I know you can be kind, and so much more than anyone might think you appear.

What lies beyond the surface, and the potential that people can become. Though, I can't say I imagined we'd...get to know each other the way we did.

[ His voice cracked a little here, as he felt his heart ache. It's strange, in how so many few months that he could manage to care so much about someone else. People might say it's just because of how he was, but Raven was one of the most important people to him here right now.

He'll turn to look at her again. ]

And...thank you, Raven. There's...honestly a lot going on back home, that I've been worried about. I've been thinking maybe things will turn out okay once I arrive and helped straighten thing out.

[raventhaw]

Now that sounds more like me. Rough around the edges.

[ which is a descriptor that gets used with her quite a bit, really. ] I'm selective with whom I share my kindness with. You've earned it.

[ so yes, she's still an asshole, but with some people she isn't. rean is one of those people. she still doesn't think she's as...wonderful as he's making her out to be, but she'll take it. if he can leave here with a positive impression of her, then she's content with that.

she hears his voice crack a little, and when he looks at her, she puts a hand on his shoulder. ]

This is grossly optimistic of me to say...but you have what it takes to make things right.

trails of cold steel 3 spoilers abound, tread with care other folks!!

[reanbeans]

I'm grateful that I've been able to see this side of you, then.

[ ...Like, that could not be stated enough, as far as he was concerned, really. He felt like he was in such a privileged position, and honestly rather lucky to have gotten as close as he did with her.

He'll smile when she does, and then he'll move a hand to rest lightly on hers briefly. ]

Somehow hearing that makes it feel less daunting, in a way, and gives me hope that whatever I do this time will have an impact. Though, I know it'll be hard—big chances for the good have never really come easy.

[ He wasn't kidding that there was a lot going on. He'll move his hand, eventually, though. ]

cries!! they're so good!!!

[raventhaw]

[ she moves her hand after he does, letting it fall to her side before she decides to lean back on her hands. she looks out at the city again, basking in the sun's warmth. ]

You managed to wrangle all of us to meetings every week, which is a feat in itself. I think we would've been a mess had it not been for you.

[ a little snicker. ]

All that talk you did about us working together...funny how things worked out that way.