[ Fabian's a whole year ahead of him... normally, this would be worth a not-insignificant amount of brooding. They're here, kidnapped in this strange place and told all these strange things, his friend is from the future and can't even properly give him any clues as to how they manage to solve the quandary that Riz still feels stuck in, they have no way of getting home, and now Riz is the only one who could be compromising their safety due to Kalina's presence that lives deep within him, has lived deep within him since birth.
But right now? Absolutely none of that feels like it matters, not even a little bit. Instead, he's practically vibrating with excitement, not bothering to hold back the wide grin that threatens to split his face in two, chest aching in a way it has been ever since he caught a glimpse of his Dad tied to that chair. For so long, he's lived with his Dad as nothing more than a spectre cast over his life, a few memories he clung to with all the ferocity that he could, a lingering emptiness, a hero that he couldn't possibly live up to.
And in the last twelve hours, his father has suddenly coalesced from an idea into a whole person. A whole person who loves him, beyond a shadow of a doubt, a whole person he'll get to see again. ]
Whoa. [ He looks down at his wrist, a little awed. ] He never mentioned that about the watch! He just said it was for cool spy stuff!
[ He can't even worry about a time paradox right now. He doesn't even give a shit. This won't matter to Kalina, or to the Nightmare King; this is all about Riz and Fabian and their Dads. ]
I just, I just -- [ he has to pause for a second the way he has to when he gets a little overexcited, too many words trying to spill out all at once, back to pacing the floor. ] I just got back from seeing my dad for the first time in -- so long! Like, literally, I got here just as he was teleporting me back to you guys. And we get to talk again?
[ In a year's time? That's so soon! He can't wait to tell his mom all about it. ]
That's awesome. And you get to talk to your Dad too! [ Fabian and The Ball: not even death can separate them from their fathers. He can't pretend he's not touched by Fabian's declaration of destined friendship either, the memory of the way Fabian used to just brush him off freshman year nothing more than a distant shadow. ]
That's so cool, dude. Generational solidarity. [ What would they even talk about? Whatever. If anyone can hold their own against Mr. Seacaster, it's his Dad. They must even get along. ] How did they even start talking? What, like, some sort of afterlife PTA?
[ Life had felt so... bad, when he was younger. He'd been so lonely. But everything Fabian is telling him means that they defeat the Nightmare King, they all stay the best of friends, and they even still get to talk to their dead loved ones. It's been hard to keep sight of everything good during their endless Spring Break trek, but he can feel vigor returning to him, a reminder of just how lucky he is. Everything's coming up Gukgak. ]
no subject
But right now? Absolutely none of that feels like it matters, not even a little bit. Instead, he's practically vibrating with excitement, not bothering to hold back the wide grin that threatens to split his face in two, chest aching in a way it has been ever since he caught a glimpse of his Dad tied to that chair. For so long, he's lived with his Dad as nothing more than a spectre cast over his life, a few memories he clung to with all the ferocity that he could, a lingering emptiness, a hero that he couldn't possibly live up to.
And in the last twelve hours, his father has suddenly coalesced from an idea into a whole person. A whole person who loves him, beyond a shadow of a doubt, a whole person he'll get to see again. ]
Whoa. [ He looks down at his wrist, a little awed. ] He never mentioned that about the watch! He just said it was for cool spy stuff!
[ He can't even worry about a time paradox right now. He doesn't even give a shit. This won't matter to Kalina, or to the Nightmare King; this is all about Riz and Fabian and their Dads. ]
I just, I just -- [ he has to pause for a second the way he has to when he gets a little overexcited, too many words trying to spill out all at once, back to pacing the floor. ] I just got back from seeing my dad for the first time in -- so long! Like, literally, I got here just as he was teleporting me back to you guys. And we get to talk again?
[ In a year's time? That's so soon! He can't wait to tell his mom all about it. ]
That's awesome. And you get to talk to your Dad too! [ Fabian and The Ball: not even death can separate them from their fathers. He can't pretend he's not touched by Fabian's declaration of destined friendship either, the memory of the way Fabian used to just brush him off freshman year nothing more than a distant shadow. ]
That's so cool, dude. Generational solidarity. [ What would they even talk about? Whatever. If anyone can hold their own against Mr. Seacaster, it's his Dad. They must even get along. ] How did they even start talking? What, like, some sort of afterlife PTA?
[ Life had felt so... bad, when he was younger. He'd been so lonely. But everything Fabian is telling him means that they defeat the Nightmare King, they all stay the best of friends, and they even still get to talk to their dead loved ones. It's been hard to keep sight of everything good during their endless Spring Break trek, but he can feel vigor returning to him, a reminder of just how lucky he is. Everything's coming up Gukgak. ]