01; voice/action

[axeofoath]

A-ah...I didn't finish all of the laundry...The kitchen needs to be swept, too...

[It's the hushed voice of a young man, sounding both longing and peaceful. Gremio, sitting against the side of a building near the fountain, doesn't register the change in scenery quite immediately. But several seconds later...]

E-eh? C-could this be-?

[He's not sure what he expected to see upon dying, but this...probably wasn't it.]

Comments

action!

[axeofoath]

Well, if it does, we'll be ready!

I expect I will, if we are here to stay...Though I would much prefer to find you a way home, Young Master.

action!

[stargathering]

Yeah. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, though.

We'll both find a way home soon enough... [ He pauses before adding: ] My friends have an idea, so hopefully it's just a matter of time...

action!

[axeofoath]

[Both of them? There's no way Gremio can go home, really, but it's not like Tyr to humour him over something so serious...Maybe he underestimated just how much the young master was affected by everything.]

...That's a relief to hear. I certainly hope it works, whatever it is.

action!

[stargathering]

[ He might have, but Tyr is trying... ]

Me, too... It'll be nice to see Gregminster again and not just a miniature copy of it...

action!

[axeofoath]

[He supposes he appreciates it, though it makes him worry about Tyr. As always.]

Will you...Or should I say--Did you return to the capital after the war, then, Young Master?

action!

[stargathering]

... Briefly. [ He can remember the night they left well still, even though it was over three years ago now. ] It's been three years since the war ended for me, and we were staying in Gregminster when I ended up here...

action!

[axeofoath]

[It doesn't occur to him that he's included in Tyr's use of "we".]

With Pahn and Cleo? Oh, they'd be worried sick if they knew about this...

action!

[stargathering]

Yeah, they were there, too. Pahn even came back around the same time. ...Actually, we met Riou just a short time before we returned, too... [ This is actually a pretty happy memory for Tyr, when he looks back on it. ]

action!

[axeofoath]

[Gremio sees that and returns to feeling both relief and happiness. Tyr's getting along just fine, he reminds himself.]

That's right, you've mentioned Riou a few times. Another good friend of yours?

action!

[stargathering]

Yeah. Back home, we helped each other out... And I guess we are here, too, in a way...

action!

[axeofoath]

I'm glad to hear that, Young Master. I'll look forward to meeting him...Does he like stew?

action!

[stargathering]

I'm sure he does, but he's never had anything like yours before.

action!

[axeofoath]

Good, then I'll make sure I cook enough for him. Oh, and...Luc too, is that right?

action!

[stargathering]

That's right. Luc lives with us, too... ...You know, he's actually from your time...

action!

[axeofoath]

Is he, now? So during the war...Th-this time business is very strange.

action!

[stargathering]

It is... It's been an annoyance for all of us, but we should get it out of the way now.

action!

[axeofoath]

Yes, I suppose...Wait, Young Master--Have you told him about the future? W-what if that changes things?

action!

[stargathering]

He won't remember anything. If something was going to change, we would have seen the effects already.

Besides, I've been telling you about the future and you don't seem to mind that.

action!

[axeofoath]

B-but how can we be sure--Why wouldn't he remember?

[Really, this is odd. Of course he wants to know about a future he can't see.] ...Young Master, I'm certain there's no way I could change the future.

action!

[stargathering]

Like I said, time doesn't matter here... If that was the case, people would notice our absence, too, and they don't...

What sort of thing is that to say, Gremio? [ There's humility, then there's that statement. ]

action!

[axeofoath]

Yes, but...You'll both have to return sometime.

Only what I know is the truth. Young Master...I've done all that I can for your future.

action!

[stargathering]

And I doubt we'll remember anything... When Luc came back here, he forgot all about the first time...

That's not true. [ Tyr turns around to look at him at that; he doesn't like those words >:| ] In the future, you're always beside me... And you always will be important to me.

action!

[axeofoath]

...He-he came back?! And forgot?

[Gremio stares right back with a mixture of confusion and worry--for a second, then his face softens...Assuming Tyr is speaking metaphorically or spiritually. Whoops.] ...Thank you, Young Master. You're right--I'll always be supporting you by your side.

action!

[stargathering]

Yeah... He was actually here for a few months before I arrived, then disappeared for a month... When he came back, it was like he had never been here at all.

[ And Tyr doesn't fully understand yet. ] I know... Even though the war is coming to an end for you, and I doubt we'll have to fight again... we can still change things together in the future...

action!

[axeofoath]

A-ah...That's...Y-Young Master, what should we do about it?

[It still seems an odd way to word it, but Gremio doesn't really linger on it. Maybe he's worrying too much.] That's a relief to know. We still have a long way to go before the war's end, as I remember it, so I'm glad it will bring peace.