Considering ink_city , mun and muse both have feels

[cheesemaster]

....

I had a daughter at that place? Or rather a me had one? Was it that girl I spoke to a few months ago?

[A version of her]

I...had a daughter there...

[Doesn't seem to want to ask anymore questions, stunned in silence.]

Comments

[phantomdanny]

Oh no... You have a daughter?

[cheesemaster]

As I have said...a me had one...not me specifically.

[This Vlad has seen and interacted with so many Dannys, he doesn't even question anymore.]

[halfspooky]

On the bright side, that means you got over mom!

[cheesemaster]

[Ignoring that comment. But oh boy Danny, Vlad will be in for a surprise if and when he is there]

Supposedly, you, or a you was there too. You got along very well with my...his daughter.

[girlfriend_beyond]

I am so sorry for her.

[cheesemaster]

[Ignoring that comment. Still is just amazed by this news dropped by his mun. He sounds more breathless than anything now.]

...I wonder if she's still there...

[girlfriend_beyond]

Ohhhh no. Even if she is still there, you are not ready to be a father.

[cheesemaster]

Nothing's more precious then the bond between a parent and their child.

Who knows, maybe he was an excellent father. And if he was...it's something I need to live up to.

[girlfriend_beyond]

Except you won't be her father. Not yet, and maybe not ever, if you continue being like you are. Whatever he was like, you're not him, and you'll never make her forget him, or renounce him in favor of yourself. Whatever he was like as a father has nothing to do with how good a father you'd be.

[cheesemaster]

...

How dare you.

Why in all of the greatness of Ray Nischke would I even consider "renouncing" myself...or...a version of me?! We would ultimately be the same person in the end, it would not matter whether or not if this other me was slightly altered in some way...she...she would accept me! I would make certain of that. She would have everything, love, power, money, everything Jack could never bestow upon his children.

[ghostofthesparklelizards]

...

You sound so happy about it. [Her tone is rather guarded. Forcefully neutral.]

[cheesemaster]

[Looking at this young woman in different light now. He remembered her speaking in regards to him being a father. Some things in Nautilus have made him softer than before, so when he sees her, he can't but express a certain expansion of his chest and a desperate longing in his gaze.]

I simply did not expect something of that nature. Anything in the grand scheme of things is possible, but...still...

Tell me my dear, the Vlad in your timeline, you stated before that you did not want to speak of him, what...what was he like? To you?

[5dontlie]

Are congratulations in order, Mate?

[cheesemaster]

I...suppose so. Thank you. I appreciate that.

[adarkfallenstar]

Is that something you've wanted?

[He cared for his own father very much. He doesn't think he'll have any children, things being what they are, but had things been different, he would not have minded.]

Congratulations, then.

[5dontlie]

No worries, Love.

So, what's your next move? Have you met the little angel yet?

[cheesemaster]

[Since Darkstar fed off him in his first storm, he always he had a very small, slight parental feeling towards this particular young man, even if he was caught up with Danny. So many emotions were impacting this elder halfa all at once.]

It's...all I ever wanted honestly. A family. Everything else, they really are just bonuses to what is really important.

[adarkfallenstar]

[Well, that certainly explained Vlad's obsession with Danny.]

Well, you've managed to secure an abundance of bonuses.

Maybe you can get what you really want now? Maybe there's a chance here.

You going to take it?

[A part of him is admittedly fond of Vlad as well, thanks to the same storm. No matter what happens, he would like Vlad to get what he wants...he just won't admit it out loud.]

[cheesemaster]

...I met a her here, she's older, grown into quite a young lady. I...I hope to find her in Ink City as well.

[5dontlie]

Well, that's good.

Do you two get on, then?

[ghostofthesparklelizards]

... [Meanwhile, her own expression remains mostly the same. Perhaps...a bit more sadness to it, but otherwise...]

That's a dangerous question to ask. I have a lot of reason to be angry, after all. I've made some of my best life decisions because of him. But slowly fixed amnesia and seeing a lot of broken people made one thing clear to me, even as a little girl.

Vlad was a sad, lonely, broken man who couldn't see things in front of himself anymore. He had a goal, one he'd do anything for, and it was only that goal he could see.

I didn't fit that goal.

[theghostkid]

...You know, Vlad, even though you were a good guy way back when I was there, it's still really weird to see you looking like you actually care.

[cheesemaster]

These days, I'm willing to take those chances.

[Listening with genuine interest, though there is an uncertainty in his expression.]

Fit a goal...

My dear, tell me, what is your name? It can help this old man piece it together.

[cheesemaster]

[Slang obviously and the expression is crooked with a sadness, though he tries to look professional]

I'll let you know when we do "get on".

[cheesemaster]

[So this was the Danny there. And "good guy"?]

If I was a "good" guy by your standards at the city, it is because I finally was able to obtain what I wanted.

And, I'm sure it would be strange for you, me being the "bad" guy and everything.

[Maybe a bit hurt that his efforts to show that he did care about having a family, a half ghost family, plus Maddie, seemed to be overlooked by this teen in particular. Why couldn't either Danny he met just get it?]