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Post by Jisui on Feb 4, 2016 20:43:59 GMT -5
"Smart kid," Tael quipped with a grin as Triste secured herself onto him. Griffins moved fast.
Giving a slight nudge to Notus, the griffin picked up on its meaning instantly as it began beating its wings with increasing intensity. The flowers and trees about the courtyard swayed under the wind pressure that the beast was creating, before he suddenly burst into the air like a rising firework. After reaching a reasonable elevation, Tael gently guided the griffin with a nudge in the direction of JX City.
Below, upon seeing their lord and his mount soar above the sky, the soldiers of Jin Castle firmly banged their blades against their shields in a disjointed salute.
His ponytail flying about in the roaring wind, Tael took a moment to enjoy the feeling of flight once again. It had been a while since he had been on Notus. There was no better feeling than this though. The world had disappeared before them, a tiny speck before the heavens. For a short moment, it was only them and the clouds, drifting about in the wind.
It helped that Notus was actually a pretty comfortable ride. His feathers were surprisingly soft.
Glancing behind him to make sure Triste was safely attached, he was pleased to see that she hadn't flown off her seat at launch. Raising his voice, the king tried to communicate with her despite the turbulence.
"Elesia wanted to see you off too," He started, before giving a somewhat concerned frown upon continuing his thought. "She wasn't feeling too well though. Been throwing up a lot lately."
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Post by SlvrNight on Feb 4, 2016 21:18:20 GMT -5
If they weren't flying through the air so quickly, with the sound of splitting wind, the king would have likely heard Triste sputtering and coughing and having a generally bad time with his long hair filling her face. She then decided to resolve the issue by crouching low enough while sitting so that most of his hair would flow above her unimpeded.
Triste looked up at him when he turned to her to check up on her. She could hear what he said, for the most part, and a worried look overcame her features. Elesia was sick? What could it be? Maybe the flu? Some low-level virus? It hopefully wasn't anything too serious.
She raised her voice to match Tael's. "Maybe she has a stomach virus? Or maybe-" she stopped herself as her intelligent mind worked its gears. He and Elesia were married. They were in love. They slept in the same room. She heard no mention of a child or heir, even if her stay was short. Perhaps...
"-maybe she's pregnant? Morning sickness and all that wonderful pregnancy nonsense?"
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Post by Jisui on Feb 5, 2016 1:35:04 GMT -5
-maybe she's pregnant? Morning sickness and all that wonderful pregnancy nonsense?
For a long moment, there was no response from Tael, until Triste eventually realize that the king was completely frozen. His face was contorted into an odd expression, with his mouth slightly agape and eyes widened as if someone had punched him in the gut.
The reason he had actually been in the forest when Triste had found him was because Elesia hadn't been feeling too well, and he had attempted to find some specific herbs to soothe her. Well, that and she had been acting quite oddly lately. One moment she was abnormally sweet to the point where it disturbed him, the next colder than one of her ice spells. She had even started to shy away from her daily iced coffees (which really worried him).
Morning sickness. Mood swings. Abnormal food patt-
Oh my god.
Calm down. It might have all just been a coincidence. Elesia might just be going through a phase. It could just be a stomach virus. Both he and Triste would feel bad if his hopes were raised too much and it turned out to be wrong. Keep it cool. Never mind the fact that he wanted to leap up and celebrate mid-flight on his griffin.
"O-Oh? Wouldn't that be something?" The king responded rather unconvincingly, glancing back and giving a somewhat shaky smile. "We've actually been talking a lot about a kid lately... even have names lined up already."
As he spoke, genuine excitement crept through his voice, breaking the calm facade that he had tried to put up.
"If its a girl, it'd be Ilia... Elesia's mother's name." Tael explained, a warm expression on his face. "If it'd be a guy... it'd be... it'd..."
His voice trailed off as if he realized something while looking at Triste. A silence took over the two as the excitement and joy began to slowly fade from the king. He averted his eyes quietly as an unreadable look appeared in his eyes.
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Post by SlvrNight on Feb 5, 2016 18:29:11 GMT -5
Triste cocked her head, confused as to why Tael didn't finish his sentence. He had been so cheerful and full of joy at the mere thought that Elesia could be pregnant, so what crossed his mind to suddenly start draining that? He stopped short of saying his idea for a name for his child if it were a boy. Maybe he still didn't think of a good one yet? She wanted to ask what was wrong. She truly did. But Triste couldn't get over the fact that he was a king and one she just met yesterday. Prying into his personal thoughts and problems wasn't something she could do yet.
She decided to say nothing on it and instead looked ahead at the clouds.
In the far distance, gradually becoming visible, was an enormous metropolis. Its buildings were various shades of blue and grey and metal spires towered above the populace. One particular skyscraper was taller than all the others, the trademark green and yellow light of the Jade Hotel shined brightly, even in daylight. It had been modified in recent times, upgraded with cutting edge magitech, giving it the form of a genuine enormous jewel while still acting as a functional light in the darkness of night. The city was divided into seven districts, the walls dividing each one clearly visible from the air. Within the center district, even from as high as they were, Triste could see a large crowd gathered. They were holding up signs of some sort but she was too far to tell exactly what it was.
"There's a crowd in the middle of the city. I wonder if everything is alright."
Her attention went back to Tael.
"Where do you want to land? Shall we go directly to mom's place? It's in the east district."
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Post by Jisui on Feb 5, 2016 18:47:18 GMT -5
After a period of silence, the king seemed to recover to his usual mood, giving a slight hum upon seeing the giant skyscrapers of JX City tower around them.
JX City. He had seen it quite recently due to how often he had to travel there for business purposes, but it truly was a marvel to look at. In particular Jade Hotel, with its gleaming magitech jewel, was a sight to behold. It essentially gave the opposite impression of his own lands, which were much more conservative in their building style.
It was also a bit too loud for him, he thought in thought of his mind. Despite his personality, he'd prefer living in a place with a little more breathing room.
Glancing in response to Triste's words to the gathering crowd below, Tael narrowed his eyes as if concentrating on their signs. For an instant, the king's eyes gleamed an eerie shade of gold, before he turned away from the site in distaste.
Tch. A non-human protest.
Basically what he had been spending the last decade or so fighting against.
While it left a bad taste in his mouth, there wasn't much they could about it. There was something more important at the moment anyway.
"Yeah, just guide us as best as you can." The king replied, snapping his attention back to Triste. "The closer to your house, the better. I'd prefer not to attract too much attention here."
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Post by SlvrNight on Feb 5, 2016 20:44:29 GMT -5
Triste nodded in response, agreeing with the king's words. She pointed in various directions as they moved, telling Tael where to go and, in turn, he would direct Notus. Some people of the city looked up at the griffin, marveling at the rare sight of the majestic beast, but no crowd formed, as what would normally happen. It was possible that they weren't even able to see who the occupants were.
A few minutes from then and the duo were in a more residential district, with small box-sized houses lined down the sides of the streets, homes of various colors, sizes, and structure. They soon arrived at a modest two story house with dark purple walls and near-black roofing. White pillars surrounded the large porch, supporting a smaller roof over it. Blue bushes and shrubbery lined the sides, with a small but noticeable garden in the front. Various flowers of different colors decorated the dirt with recently used gardening tools in a bucket nearby.
"There it is, your majesty." Triste said with a content sigh. "That's my home. She should be in there."
She jumped off the griffin before he even landed and made her way to the front door, but stopped partway as the door opened before her. Standing in the doorway was a woman with pale skin and dark green hair. It was like the king was looking into a window to the past. Her hair was longer, now falling down to the middle of her back, and her vibrant eyes had dulled from all her past trials. She wore a plain black dress with a white top. Her shirt had a black collar and cuffs and she supported herself with a cane, held firmly in her right hand. The woman's face still held beauty from her younger days, but there were clear hints to her age and condition. A few small scars from past conflicts peppered her skin and her lips, while still full and soft, had dulled in color like her eyes.
The emerald-haired woman smiled at Triste, happy to see her daughter back. Her eyes then moved past and saw the man atop the griffin. Several expressions crossed her features in an instant. Sadness, joy, confusion, and more, until she settled on a small smile and a glimmer of joy in her eyes at the sight of her old friend.
"Tael." Suna started. "It's been a long time. Sorry for the lack of contact."
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Post by Jisui on Feb 6, 2016 4:04:55 GMT -5
It was a quaint house, but splendid in its simplicity. It was the kind of house that immediately told Tael what kind of person lived in it. And knowing who lived in it, he could safely say that it fit her to a tee.
Suppressing a faint smile, he prepared to dismount off Notus before catching sight of a familiar friend at the doorway to the house.
Nothing could have prepared Tael for this. He had thought of what to say to the emerald-haired woman, but like her, now had trouble knowing what to feel at the reunion, much less what to say.
Sorrow, at seeing one of his oldest friends in this condition? Elation, at reuniting with one of the few people he could genuinely trust with his life?
Or guilt, knowing that he had not taken care of his best friend's family?
Yet, when he heard Suna speak, all of these stray thoughts and emotions began to fade. The king of Jin gave a quiet chuckle at her words and apology. There was no need to overthink it. She was here. He was here. And it had been twenty long, long years.
"Should have figured that's where Triste got it from," Tael spoke with an amused tone, leaping down from his griffin before a warm, sincere smile spread across his face.
"It's good to see you again, Suna."
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Post by SlvrNight on Feb 6, 2016 18:17:22 GMT -5
Suna walked towards Tael, using her cane to support her, and stopped a mere two feet from him. She looked up at him, a warm smile on her face.
"You look very good you know. The splitting image of a king from a fairy tale, riding in on a legendary beast to greet the populace." She then moved forward, embracing her old friend for a few moments before separating and making her way back to the house. She stopped to look at Triste as she went.
"So that's where you went. I thought you went off adventuring again or to visit Oberius. I didn't expect you to bring a king home."
"You're not upset are you?" Her daughter asked with worry.
"No. I'm touched really. That you'd go through all this trouble for me. I appreciate it, dear."
Suna entered her home, nodding at Tael and indicating he was welcome inside.
The inside of the Makkura household was organized. Its wooden floors were polished and its walls were clean. A hallway led from the door to the living room, which has a television on a table at the far end, surrounded by a few chairs and two couches. A few shelves were on the sides of the room, housing various books and decorations, with paintings of various subjects hanging on the walls. Suna approached a brown chair made of soft fabric and gently lowered herself onto it, another hint of her current health. Triste kept moving however, and went down the hall towards the kitchen.
"I'll make some tea for everyone and let you two adults reminisce on old times."
Suna nodded in appreciation to her daughter and then looked towards Tael, waving her arm across the room.
"Sit anywhere you want, your majesty. I know this pales in comparison to a castle, but I promise that couch right there? The red one? It's pretty soft, pretty sure you'll like it."
She leaned her cane against a nearby nightstand.
"So how have things been? How's Elesia? Something I can help with?"
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Post by Jisui on Feb 7, 2016 3:45:24 GMT -5
"You look very good you know. The splitting image of a king from a fairy tale, riding in on a legendary beast to greet the populace."
"Glad I made a better impression on you than your daughter at least." The king chuckled, returning her embrace warmly before following the pair into their home. The interior of house was much like the exterior in that it reflected both of its residents perfectly. Simple, clean and warm. His eyes glanced over a few paintings and objects about the house before they arrived in the living room.
Quietly, Tael watched Suna gingerly lower herself onto a couch as a slight frown developed on his lips. She seemed so... fragile. Like a porcelain doll that could break at any moment. It was not a metaphor that he liked in comparison to his old friend.
Regardless, the king cleared his expression relatively quickly as Suna began speaking, lowering himself onto the admittedly plush red couch near him. An amused smile graced his lips at Suna's rapid-fire questions, before placing a hand on his chin as if in deep thought to her queries.
"First off, that'll be just about the last time you ever call me your majesty," Tael began, cutting the green-haired woman a playful glare before continuing. "And in order of your questions, I haven't run my kingdom to the ground yet, so that's not bad. My wife, who says hi by the way, may or may not be pregnant apparently. And the last question should be something that I ask you."
At that, the king turned his gaze to Suna, a quiet, unreadable look in his eyes as he asked a question that seemed normal, but they both knew to be loaded.
"How have you been, Suna?"
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Post by SlvrNight on Feb 7, 2016 19:20:59 GMT -5
Suna's smiled grew as she heard of Elesia's possible pregnancy. Tael would truly make a fantastic father, especially considering that, despite all he's gone through, his kind heart was intact. He would definitely be a supportive and loving father. The only thing that worried her was the political possibilities. Suna was no fool, she knew there were always people in the shadows plotting and biding their time, those who would want nothing more than to take the king of Jin down. Especially with his controversial stance on peace and coexistence between humans and nonhumans. "Well if she's actually pregnant, please let me know. Although I don't really have any worries. You'll be an amazing father, Tael. You've managed to lead a kingdom to prosperity and constant advancement and your stance on the human/nonhuman issue has pretty much made you an inspirational figure around the world." Her expression grew dark. "Of course, that also makes you more of a target. Be careful with that, alright?" "How have you been, Suna?"The emerald-haired woman froze for a split second, but recovered quickly. Her mind ran through several things at once, weighing her options. She wanted to lie, say she was fine, that her health was normal. But Tael was one of her oldest friends. On top of that, she knew Triste was smart. Suna herself was intelligent. It didn't take a genius to see that her daughter went out to find Tael to help her. The former maid silently cursed herself for spouting off tales of her past adventures and friends, particularly Tael's healing abilities. Then again, they served as good stories for when Triste was a young girl, and it couldn't be taken back anyways. Suna released a small sigh. "I was going to lie to you, you know? I was going to say I was fine and all that. That I'm happy. Then again, I'm not exactly unhappy. I have a beautiful daughter. One who's grown up to be an intelligent, strong, woman." Her lips stretched into a smile. "You know of the Greylocke Kingdom? The nation in the eastern part of the world with the large population of nonhumans, particularly beastkin? Triste went there. She helped its prince quell an insurgency by an enemy of the state. She spoke of human and nonhuman coexistence there before she left. She faced down some of those extremists from the Order of the Golden Cross there too. Honestly, I think you're one of the people who've inspired her, Tael." A look of resignation overcame her features. "I am sick, Tael. I fully admit that. But I can't say I'm unhappy in the least. I get to see my child grow, I can see the beginnings of her greatness. She's actually going out there and trying to help. What more can I ask for?" Suna averted her eyes from the king for a second. That was a lie. There was one more thing she could ask for. His presence. He had always been so self conscious and detested himself. How would he feel to see what a grand person their daughter was growing into?
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Post by Jisui on Feb 7, 2016 23:18:40 GMT -5
In contrast to how he had previously handled Triste's praise, Tael actually seemed somewhat embarrassed at the green-haired woman's words. Perhaps it was because he knew just how sincere she was being. Part of him wanted to brush it off with a joke and grin, but he knew that Suna would see through it immediately. Instead, he settled on sheepishly rubbing the back of his head and accepting her words graciously.
"Of course, that also makes you more of a target. Be careful with that, alright?"
The king's expression darkened similarly. He wasn't stupid. Even if they were jumping the gun on the whole pregnancy thing, it would happen eventually, and the issue would return. He couldn't escape it.
Tael had made many, many enemies throughout his life, and he didn't even know who the majority of them were.
Championing for peace between humans and nonhumans was something he did not regret in the slightest. But he didn't relish in his future children suffering because of it. It was something that he and Elesia would have to deal with together, which relieved him somewhat. The king had seen firsthand how protective Elesia could be when she was his bodyguard.
Turning his attention back to the conversation, Tael's eyes widened as Suna proudly spoke of Triste's involvement in the Greylocke Kingdom.
"Wait, that was her?" The king wondered aloud in amazement. "We'd gotten vague reports of what happened, but I never imagined..."
If it was true, then he owed Triste quite the favor. Tael had been arguing for coexistence between humans and nonhumans for a long, long time. One of the pivotal keys in his argument had in fact been Greylocke. The consequences should the insurgency have succeeded would have been devastating. On top of that, she even stuck it to the Order of the Golden Cross?
It was generally hard to impress him, but she had succeeded. Suna was right to feel proud of her.
But this wasn't about Triste at the moment. Later, they could exchange stories and laughter while talking of Suna's daughter.
Later, when Tael could confirm that there would be a later.
"What more can I ask for?"
He had seen her avert his eyes. And he had caught onto the hidden meaning of her statement. Because Tael could only understand too well. A loving wife. Friends and subjects who cared for him. A prospering kingdom. There was nothing he could ask or want in this world. But that would be a lie. Because he was not there in it.
It was the elephant in the room. But neither person could voice it in fear of opening wounds that were both old yet fresh.
"...That's not true." The king eventually spoke up, averting his own gaze to hide the pain of her words. She was accepting her death. But he would not let her.
"You never were greedy enough, Suna. There's a lot you could ask for. You still have Triste's wedding one day to be at. You get to be my kid's godmother whenever I have one. There's plenty that you still have to see."
And he would get her there no matter what.
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Post by SlvrNight on Feb 8, 2016 0:42:13 GMT -5
Suna smiled sweetly at the king, a hint of her teenage self peeking through the expression. She could see Tael's steel determination in his eyes and hear the courage behind his words. He was certainly willing to do everything he could to help her.
"Haha, you'll never change Tael. That strength of determination seems to be one of your defining traits now. Although I'll admit I'm not entirely sure what you can do about this."
She placed a hand on her chest, right where her heart was.
"This is more a matter of fate than anything else. This disease I have, this sickness, it's going to be the end of me. I know it, and I've accepted it. I mean, of course I would love to see Triste grow up further, see her find a lover of her own, perhaps have children, and see what else she accomplishes in her life. I would love to see the problems of our worlds resolved. I do want to live to see that all. But this is the price I need to pay."
Suna paused, collecting her thoughts before speaking again. They danced around this subject long enough. Tael was his best friend and he had a right to know what happened. Hopefully whatever misconceptions the king had on the situation regarding him would be resolved.
"He sacrificed his life for mine, you know. And I know you know who I'm talking about. But his sacrifice wasn't a permanent solution, just a way to delay it. I've known this was coming for some time."
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Post by Jisui on Feb 8, 2016 12:48:25 GMT -5
Tael narrowed his eyes and leaned forward on his chair. Averting his gaze as if her words and kind smile had burned him, he clasped his hands and stared downwards at the floor as if attempting to burn a hole in it.
"...Don't say that you have a price to pay. That's not true." The king muttered, before turning his eyes upwards to the green-haired woman. There was a somewhat bitter smile on his face as he struggled to think of words to say. He knew however, that to move forward, this needed to be said. For both of them.
"I... already knew, Suna," Tael admitted, pausing before shaking his head lightly. "No... not exactly. That bastard showed up one day, gave me some vague details and where he was going, and left. I didn't get the specifics, but I could guess."
Yes... if there was one person in the world that Carl Makkura would pay any price for, it was Suna.
"I figured that he left for you. But well... its not like I could blame him entirely, right? I'd do the same thing in his place after all..." The king mused, staring distantly as if thinking of the possibility.
"But I'd never blame you either. That guy's pretty stubborn, and it was his choice to make. I doubt anyone would have been able to change his mind."
It had all happened so quickly back then, Tael had barely been able to react. After it had sank in what was going on, a still young prince could only try to find someone or something to blame. And there was nothing. After all, what could he blame? Death? The world? Himself?
For twenty long years, there had been nothing to blame, only the realization that there was nothing to blame in the first place.
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Post by SlvrNight on Feb 8, 2016 21:16:31 GMT -5
A small laugh came from the emerald-haired woman's mouth as she leaned back in her chair. She was happy that Carl had managed to visit Tael before leaving. He was one of his closest friends, so it was only right to say goodbye.
"You're right about that. He's very stubborn. Once he sets his mind on a decision, there's little that deter him. One of the many things I love about him."
It was odd. When Triste was born, the first several years or so Suna actually held anger towards the undead man. After all, he left her and their child alone in the world. He threw himself into a situation that would be an eternal torment for him, an existence filled with nothing but suffering until he mastered control over his emotions and conscience and tucked them away forever. What kind of joy did he think that would bring? A daughter without her father, who couldn't be told the truth and grew up despising him for his assumed abandonment of the family. A wife who was forced to face the hardships of raising a child alone and knowing her lover was locked in eternal suffering, surrounded by nothing but the dead. These thoughts would creep into Suna's mind every so often, but she usually managed to push them away, for she knew little could have been done at the time and time itself could not be undone.
This time, however, she was in the presence of an old friend. One who knew the man of the subject almost as intricately, if not equally, as her.
"Was it worth it?" She muttered, her voice quiet and heavy with emotion. "Do you think it was worth it, Tael? Unable to see his own child. Knowing she would likely grow up despising him because of a belief that he abandoned us? Leaving me to raise her alone, knowing that he's stuck in a position of eternal suffering and no company but the dead?"
She cradled her head on her hand and leaned to the side of the couch, stopping to think for a moment. Her eyes then moved back to the king.
"She's so angry with him. She grew up hearing these stories of him, his epic battles alongside his friends. She was bothered by it all the time in school and her peers expected so much from the child of a hero. She blames him for my condition. Says that if he had been here to help, that I'd be healthy."
Suna sighed. She didn't blame Triste at all. Any child would feel similar.
"That's entirely wrong though. If he were still here, I wouldn't be. He'd have raised her on his own. Haha, I wonder how that would have gone. Probably would have known what to do to help her with her own powers. She still can't fully control them. I know she still hears the voices and has trouble ignoring them sometimes. It's why she sometimes doesn't sleep for days at a time. That's another thing she's pissed at him about."
She then realized she was rambling and looked at her friend apologetically.
"I'm sorry, Tael. I don't meant to just ramble on and on like this. Haven't really had anyone to talk to about this though, you know?"
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Post by Jisui on Feb 10, 2016 2:57:32 GMT -5
Tael sat back in the red couch quietly as Suna spoke, telling him of her hardships and Triste's disdain of her own father. It didn't surprise him about Triste. It all made sense, especially in regards to her abilities, which explained why the young woman looked so exhausted the night she met him. Anyone would have felt the same if they were put in her position. Especially if they had no idea of the actual truth of the matter. She probably knew just as much about her father as everyone else who saw the undead man as a hero. That bitterness of barely knowing your father had probably compounded over the years, given everything that Suna had just told him.
Bitterness begot resentment, and resentment shifted into anger over the years.
It led him to the question that Suna asked him.
Was it all worth it?
Tael still thought of it from day to day. A fleeting thought flickered across his mind like a silent whisper. While he was living life, his best friend was carting souls for eternity.
Years and years ago, the very thought of it would send him into a frenzied rage. But the years marched on, and the anger slowly tempered into bitter resignation. Carl of all people did not deserve what had he had been dealt. Suna did not deserve to have to raise her child alone and without her husband. And Triste did not deserve to live with the belief that her father was a mere coward.
Tael had not lost hope in the beginning that Carl could be saved. They had conquered seemingly impossible challenges before. But as time moved on, and even Elesia expressed doubt in his search, he could only swallow the bitter pill of loss and try to move on.
"I'm sorry, Tael. I don't meant to just ramble on and on like this. Haven't really had anyone to talk to about this though, you know?"
"By all means, ramble away." The king shot her a kind smile and understanding look, before shaking his head lightly. He understood what the green-haired woman was feeling. At the very least, over these twenty years, he had Elesia to talk with about the matter. Elesia wasn't nearly as close to Carl as either of them, but she was a good listener at the least.
A comfortable silence blanketed over the two, Tael looking distant as if heavy in thought. After a few minutes, he finally spoke.
"...I think he have done it no matter what, you know. Even if he was asked again." He spoke quietly, voice laden with heavy emotions. "Never did realize just how important he was to otheres." At this, he gave a glance at the green-haired woman, smiling somewhat bitterly at the thought.
"But he loved you that much. And I think he'd agree with me when I say that you raised a wonderful daughter."
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