PCs with Gerome

[swordhandled]

[ some threads are nsfw ]

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[maskarang]

[ A pause as he considers this. ]

... Very well. I'll give you three questions, all of which I will answer with as much clarity as I can muster. [ Another beat. ] Do not make me regret this.

[swordhandled]

I'll stick with my previous question as my first one: you haven't accepted the Uncle Frederick and Aunt Cherche that we met in the past as your parents, have you?

[maskarang]

It's complicated. [ Immediate regret. He wants to leave it at that, desperately so. Unfortunately, he made a promise of sorts to answer clearly. He shifts his gaze to the tree behind Owain. ] I accept they are the same in many ways. ... No, perhaps it is more than simply "many". They—are identical.

[ Saying that does seem to pain him. ] We are the ones displaced in time, the trespassers on a history we had little choice but to disrupt. My thoughts on this remain in discord, but there is one thing I know. Fate was averted for them. Lucina, Robin, Chrom, everyone... even you, played a part in that. I have no choice but to accept it as reality. ... Gratefully accept.

[ He opens his mouth as if to say more only to close it a second later. ] Next question.

[swordhandled]

[ owain is quiet as gerome speaks. he nods along, finally glad to have a clear answer from him on this subject. it's... somewhat strange to him, all things considered, but knowing gerome, it's starting to at least make a little sense. he's a little more careful with his question. ]

You don't want to intrude on their lives anymore than we already have?

[maskarang]

[ this question is easier. since he doesn't see a need to elaborate, he relaxes considerably. it may be difficult to tell because of the armor and his typically rigid posture but, yes, he was extremely tense. ]

That's part of it.

[swordhandled]

[ owain knows that he's going to regret wasting his third question on this, but he just has to know ]

And you don't plan on being a part of their lives at all, after we return home, do you?

[maskarang]

I am a solitary man, Owain. No matter what my feelings for them are or what theirs are for me, nothing will change that. ... Nor will it change that as I am now, I am a mere year younger than my mother. [ She can't raise him and he can't ask her to play a part for him that doesn't fit. It's better for her and his father to dote on the child they do bear.

For him, that would be more satisfying than trying to dote on him. He's already a lost cause. ]

[swordhandled]

--I know you said only three questions, but I am going to ask another.

Would you listen to what I have to say?

the amount of times i swap between caps and all lower case secretly kills me btw

[maskarang]

No. [ swiftly again. then, he does something unthinkable. he smiles. ] Because now it's my turn.

[ the smile drops. ] Why the interest in my affairs?

like all these threads

[swordhandled]

[ oh no he got a smile!! he's going to treasure this memory for life ]

We may not have talked much prior to returning to the past, something that I do share in the responsibility of, but I do have to say that I do consider you family. Your father, he was more than just a retainer for my mother and Uncle Chrom.

He was like an uncle to me too. So, I'm worried about you.

only as much as they kill you

[maskarang]

[ gosh, it's like you think he'll never smile at you again (he probably won't) ]

Fidelity to my father is a poor reason to take interest in me. [ yes, he does frown hard as he says this. and, yes, he does realize it's almost a pot-kettle statement.

again, he looks like he wants to say something but changes gears instead. ] Tell me, what do you intend to do now that the war is over?

that's all i want

[swordhandled]

[ he knows he won't ]

Fidelity to him was how it started, but not the reason I maintain it. [ TAKE THAT AND SUCK IT ]

As for what I intend to do? For now, settle somewhere in Ylisse. There is much I can do to help out there, and I can visit Mother and Father in Regna Ferox whenever I can.

[maskarang]

[ sucks it like a lemon ]

I see.

[swordhandled]

I... won't try to convince you to change your plans. You still plan on taking Minerva to the Valley of the Wyverns?

[maskarang]

Yes.

[swordhandled]

I'm glad, after all Minerva has seen, she does deserve her own rest.

[maskarang]

... She has seen too many riders fall from her back. I would like nothing more than to let her live out the rest of her life in peace.

[ a pause and then, he steps closer to owain. ] My third question. Should I fall here for any reason, will you look after her in my stead?

[swordhandled]

[ he looks gerome right in the eye ]

You know I will.

[maskarang]

Hm... That's the only answer I would expect from someone who claims to be my family.

[ looking down at minerva. it's subtle, but she's starting to look cold. he starts walking past owain and toward the resort. ]

[swordhandled]

It's more than just a claim--

[ he steps to the side but then-- ]

Wait, you've been out here for this long and you're not wearing a coat?!

[ owain is stopping gerome and very quickly pulling his own off and putting it around gerome ]

[maskarang]

What are you—? [ he honestly has no idea how to react to this. it doesn't even fit well over his armor! probably.

he pulls it right back off and holds it up to owain. ] I do not need your sympathy. I wear thick padding beneath my armor, that alone is more than sufficient to keep me warm in the cold. Minerva and I wouldn't be able to remain in the skies otherwise.

[swordhandled]

Nope, I insist!

[ he's forcing it back to gerome ] Just wear it until the resort. You've spent far too long outside without any sort of covering.

[ a beat ] Or at least put it on Minerva.

[maskarang]

And what will you wear? I won't be the reason... [ stopping so short. so, so short. and gritting his teeth together. ]

Bah! Every moment spent arguing with you is a moment Minerva grows colder. If you won't keep it, let the ground have it. [ he says that but he throws it at owain before turning to leave. to the resort, minerva! ]

[swordhandled]

Remember how cold Regna Ferox can get? I can handle this weather for as long as it takes for us to return.

[ he pulls it off and just follows after, putting it on Minerva in the process.

he's quiet for the walk back but just before they arrive, he's reaching out and stopping Gerome once more, clapping a hand to his shoulder. ]

But one more thing: while I will look after her if you fall, just know that I won't let that future come to pass.

[maskarang]

[ instinctively, he wants to say "it's up to fate to decide." that can only end one way, so he stops himself. fate... fate doesn't decide, they do. ]

I'm not fit for such a promise. ... Cynthia, however, is more than worthy. If you wish to swear an oath then let it be to her. [ leaving.

again. ]