On deciding on a canon point

[luckyseven]

You had me worried there for a while - I was starting to think you'd never pick one. You're absolutely sure about this though, right? Depending on where you send me, you might not get to change your mind.

And if we ever do see Alicia... there'll be so much she and I won't have experienced together. Just keep that in mind, alright?

For both of us.

Comments

[flower_tank]

You worry too much, Welks. No matter what point they take you from, I'm sure you'll do great.

[luckyseven]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Is. I'm just hoping I wind up somewhere where there's at least some nature to explore.

[flower_tank]

Heh, leave it to you to worry about finding new kinds of bugs to study instead of the prospect of talking to people from different worlds.

[You big goof. Your sister has missed you.]

[luckyseven]

Well of course I'm excited about that! I can be excited about both, can't I?

[Totally not busted at all, nope. He missed you too, sis]

[flower_tank]

Sure. Says the guy who was studying fish so intently he was mistaken for a spy.

[Never gonna let you live that one down, Welks. Ever. Also, have sister latched onto your arm.]

...It's good to see you again, Welks.

[luckyseven]

They were heading upstream early! I couldn't pass the chance to draw them up.

[Alicia's the one that made the mistake. Guy can't catch a break, but he smiles warmly]

You too, Is. It's been too long.

[flower_tank]

Whatever you say.

[She gives his arm a squeeze, not showing any signs of letting go.]

Yeah... is... Is Rosie okay? [...Since her mun's a jerk and she doesn't know anything about what happened after being shot.]

[luckyseven]

[Well, good thing he's not one to hide things from his sister]

She misses you. We all miss you. Rosie - she even wrote a song for you. You really had a big effect on her, Is.

... on all of us.

[flower_tank]

[She goes quiet for a while, using her free hand to wipe at her eyes. She's not fighting back tears. Seriously she's not. ...Okay, maybe a little.]

That's... that's great... I wish I could've heard it... I'm sure it's beautiful...

[luckyseven]

[He's not sure what to say while she wipes at her eyes, so he opts for silence, keeping her close]

It is, Is. You'd love it.

Maybe we can find Rosie out here - I'm sure she'd be glad to sing it to you.

[flower_tank]

[She takes a deep breath and forces a smile.]

Good. I'd like that...

[She wipes her eyes one last time before releasing her deathgrip on Welks' arm and forces a smile. SUBJECT CHANGE TIME!]

So, have you been taking good care of Dad's tank?

[luckyseven]

[He wishes he were better at this, but he's grateful for the subject change. Isara keep being the best sister ever]

Well, yeah! You'd yell at me otherwise, right? Kreis has been a big help though - I don't think I could manage it without him. I wish I knew how you did it all, Is.

[flower_tank]

[It just comes natural after dealing with the whole 'darcsen' thing for all her life. That and she knows how socially inept her big bro is, and hates seeing him fidget like that.]

Good. Kreis is a good mechanic. Of course he can only do so much... you've stopped eating Alicia's bread in there, right?

[She shrugs a bit.] It's... the Edelweiss is family, in a way. As much as it meant to both our dads, and everything... I don't know, maintenance felt like catching up with an old friend.

[luckyseven]

[It's safest not to comment on the bread. At all. Ever. He will at least give a vauge deflection]

After watching someone give birth in it, you're worried about bread? Still?

[He nods]

I think I get it, yeah. I don't think I ever felt closer to dad then when we were in that tank.

Still, it doesn't compare to actually catching up with someone. Your mun's been treating you well, right Is? Or do I need to talk to them?

...this time with the right account. >.>

[flower_tank]

[And hands on hips and scoldy-face is go.]

Don't you bring Martha into this. She had towels and an apron. You barely used a napkin. You try getting crumbs out of those gears.

[She shakes her head.]

Aside from a lack of information regarding the war, it's nice here. It's not perfect, but it's nice not being shot at each day.

I saw nothing =P

[luckyseven]

Lack of information? Well, I think I can help there.

[He gets a big grin on his face]

We won, Is! Gallia is safe, and the the Imperials are back behind the border.

Good. Let's keep it that way. *shifty eyes*

[flower_tank]

[She giggles a bit, but gets the idea he's deliberately leaving some of those holes unfilled. ...Like the whole Alicia being a Valkyrur.]

That's great! Rosie can go back to her singing, Largo can get back to his veggie garden, and Alicia can get back to her bakery...

[luckyseven]

[Even when he's hiding things from her, he just can't hide things from her. Still, Alicia is just Alicia - at least to him. What does it matter that she's a Valkyrur?]

Yeah, life's slowly going back to normal. It'll take time, though. Not everyone was happy to find out that the Princess was actually a darcsen.

[flower_tank]

[Is knows him far too well to let anything get by her. And that's exactly what she would say if she knew.]

[Blink blink blink.]

...She is? [She did not see that one coming.]

[luckyseven]

[Well, might as well catch her up on all the Darcsen related happenings of the world]

She is. Turns out most of what we know about history is completely wrong. You were right about the Darcsen Calamity being a lie - everything history said about darcsens was a lie.

[flower_tank]

[She closes her eyes for a moment.]

That's good to know... but even if it wasn't, it shouldn't matter. Whoever was responsible for whatever happened is long gone. Nobody should be held responsible for something their ancestors did...

[luckyseven]

Of course Is, you're right. But now that people know, everyone else is starting to come around. It's slow, and it'll take a while, but... I really do think one day, the discrimination can come to an end.

[He smiles]

And if it doesn't, I'm sure Rosie will deal with everyone who hasn't come around.

[flower_tank]

[Suddenly, an image of Rosie grabbing random strangers by the ear and lecturing about how stupid their pops into Is's head. That causes a snickerfit.]

Oh, I'm sure she will... Wish I could be around to see it, but it's good to know she's let that hate go.

[She closes her eyes for a second, a peaceful smile on her face.] Hate only hurts the person holding onto it. I'm so glad Rosie's free of it.

[luckyseven]

Like I said, it's thanks to you, Is.

Helping Martha with the baby, Rosie, the Edelweiss... you sure left your mark on the world.

[flower_tank]

Don't be silly, Welks. You were the one calling the shots. You're the one history will call a hero.

All I did was help you. That's all I ever wanted to do.

[luckyseven]

[Jeez way to make your big brother blush, Is]

History can call me whatever it wants, but I'd never have made it without everyone supporting me and giving it their all.

[flower_tank]

[It's part of the little-sister job description.]

And they would never have been able to do anything near as profound without you. You're a great leader, Welks. And I'm not going to let anyone belittle you or your achievements.

[She playfully elbows him in the ribs.] Not even you.

[luckyseven]

[Not helping that blush, Is. But he can do the same thing back! Probably not as well, but he'll try!]

I could say the same to you! Not anyone can help someone give birth in a tank right after a battle, you know!

[avid_historian]

And what point in time have they chosen to take you from?

[luckyseven]

Assuming they stick to it, it'll be from right after we take back the Great Vasel Bridge. It's early in the war, but they're concerned about using a later point.

[He hesitates]

They're... not exactly optimistic I'll see Alicia, wherever I go. So the thought is earlier might be better.

[avid_historian]

I see. These possible time differences can be problematic.

[luckyseven]

Yeah, no kidding. All it takes is for anyone I know to show up from farther along, and suddenly I've lost a lot of my history with them.

It's... a lot to wrap my head around.

[avid_historian]

As troublesome as it might be, there are some possible advantages as well.

[luckyseven]

[Well, there is one day in their history that he wishes could be taken back. The prospect of their relationship as it once was...]

... yeah, that's true too.

Still, if it were up to me, I'd take the later point and everything that goes with it. The good and the bad.

[avid_historian]

It figures you'd say that, but I can't really disagree. It seems wrong to have those memories taken away. [Or escape responsibility for your actions in his case.]

[luckyseven]

Exactly. Everything we've been through helps make us who we are - I don't want to lose a single thing.