i-intro

[aeschyne]

Who: Ilya, Shirou, and you
When: Day 103, afternoon
Where: near the shrines
What: DUAL INTRO POST

[There are two girls near the shrines. One of them looks like this and is yelling a lot. The other one looks like this and is also yelling a lot. The second girl is also full of half-healed bite holes from a lizagon.

Do you get involved?]

Comments

[no_hero]

[depends who you're asking...]

... no, it's not.

[rhamnousia]

[ . . . clenches her fists a little tighter before loosening up a bit ]

But then . . . [ didn't you go to hell man im just sayin ]

[no_hero]

[... hand moving to cup daughter's cheek, brushing her hair away from her face as he studies her face, marking the similarities, the differences. his expression is still very much weary and pained, but softening as he speaks. chosing his words carefully]

It is an afterlife, another life. This place is called Thusia and there are gods here who have lost their own people and bring in and revive the dead in the hopes of repopulating and reclaiming this world. It's overgrown with plants and animals, so it's a task.

All sorts are brought in, human or not. Time is also not an issue--people from different timelines and realities have been brought in. There have been instances of people having a double or doppelganger here.

[rhamnousia]

[ tears well up again but she doesn't cry, when he cups her cheek ]

-- but you're still Kiritsugu, right? My father and Shirou's father and --

[ slightly anxious... ]

You knew Maiya and you loved my mom, right? And you were going to come back. . .?

[no_hero]

[the smile on his face is a bit brittle, but as reassuring as possible]

That's right. I made the attempt, dozens of times. But I wasn't strong enough and the Einzberns would not allow it--

[cutting self off there but then continuing:] The Shirou I knew was a boy, so this is. A bit of a surprise for me.

[rhamnousia]

[ studies his face and then drops her gaze a bit ]

That doesn't matter, Shirou's really boyish anyway.

[no_hero]

Shirou is Shirou.

... though there's someone else here that I need to tell you about, Ilya.

[rhamnousia]

. . . who?

[ R U CHEATING ON MOM ]

[no_hero]

[HAS BEEN VERY FAITHFUL IN THIS PLACE, ACTUALLY]

First... since this place is wild and none of us are from here, we can be susceptible to the elements, nature, and diseases of this place.

I want you to understand this, Ilya. If you notice yourself or your sister or someone you meet here has a fever, let someone know immediately. It could be a common cold or even the flu, but in this place there have been people who have gone into comas after developing a sudden fever.

... your mother is one of them.

[rhamnousia]

[ following a long but - ]

-- mom's here too? But -- I. . . she's been gone for a really long time.

[ 'gone' is said in that way though, that little kids say when they mean 'dead' ]

[no_hero]

[oh, babygirl :<]

I know. When I first saw her here--

[stopping self again. takes a bit of a breather]

It's been a few weeks since she slipped into the coma, but we've been looking after her and there have been cases in the past where people have woken...

[rhamnousia]

[ pretty quickly, like a switch being thrown her expression just closes up. ]

. . . you don't think she will.

[no_hero]

[the briefest moment of helplessness of not knowing how to answer that.

if anything, this is the moment when tears seem closes to coming to his eyes as he answers in a voice barely there]

I try to have hope.

[rhamnousia]

[ reaches so she can hold one of his hands with both of hers ]

You seem really worn out, Kiritsugu. Can we help you out?

[no_hero]

[gives the hand under his a brief squeeze]

You already are, even with just this much.

[rhamnousia]

I can do a lot more~

[no_hero]

You'll have to show me, then.

[rhamnousia]

I can support Kiritsugu in every way! I really can . . . Maiya taught me a lot so . . .!

[no_hero]

[. . . what exactly did Maiya teach you]

It won't be necessary. As much trouble as this place can be...

[rhamnousia]

[ do u rly wanna kno ]

. . . I don't think you get it, Kiritsugu . . .

[no_hero]

[no I think I don't want to get it...]

--Shirou's bandages probably need changing. There is a medkit in the apartment.

[rhamnousia]

She'll be fine. Shirou gets better. It's no good if you get worn out again. . . [ tho the last bit is mostly said to herself ]

[no_hero]

I'll be fine.

[rhamnousia]

[ C: ]

Yeah, we'll make sure you are.

[no_hero]

I'm sure.