[Action] (Backdated to before all the craziness goes on next door at House 21)

[knightofratatosk]

[There's a lot of snow outside. A LOT of snow. So much snow, in fact, that it's preventing one Horatio Caine (who had stopped by for a visit) from returning to his own apartment. It could be worse; at least they've got food and shelter (even if they are running a bit short on firewood and despite Emil's little excursion out into the worst of it to go rescue Luke), and Emil's got plenty of space for an unexpected overnight guest. Sial is enjoying having a new friend to bother as well.

Right now Emil is trying to coax a few pieces of damp firewood into burning so that the fire doesn't go out completely.]

Comments

[knightofratatosk]

Enough for a couple of days more if we don't eat too much, I think. I've been getting a lot of food at the store just in case something like this happened.

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

That's- [...] That's a good sense of initiative, Emil.

[knightofratatosk]

You really think so?

[It's been quite a while since Emil last heard anything resembling praise, that's for sure.]

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

Yes- [...] Yes Emil, I do.

[knightofratatosk]

Thank you. I just hope it's enough to last us through this storm.

[Tiny confidence boost, go!]

I guess we could always try to go next door if we do run out, but...

[Just looking outside makes him shiver.]

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

It doesn't- [...] It doesn't look very good, does it?

[As he looks out the window too, that is]

[knightofratatosk]

No, it doesn't.

[And he's... going to give up on trying to get that wet firewood to burn for the time being and head back over to the couch where most of the blankets are. If he's worried, he's trying his best to hide it. The next sentence escapes his mouth almost without thought:]

... I wish Richter were here.

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

[... A pause and then he-] I miss my son too.

[knightofratatosk]

How old is your son?

[That explains a lot, really; H just SEEMS like a dad, so it would make sense that he actually is one.]

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

Kyle... recently turned seventeen. [And he didn't meet the kid until he was fifteen, so he kinda feels like a jerk about it]

[knightofratatosk]

[Well, that's a bit of a surprise.]

That's how old I am too... I think. I mean, that's how old I am if time really does pass here in Luceti.

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

Emil... if you experience it, then time has passed.

[knightofratatosk]

No, I mean... what happens to that time when we go back home? It will be like nothing had changed at all, right?

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

But Emil- [...] Doesn't time pass here anyway?

[knightofratatosk]

It does, but I don't think it matters when we return to our worlds.

... if we return to our worlds.

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

When, Emil. that's always a when.

[knightofratatosk]

How do you know?

[When you've been here for as long as Emil has, it's hard to think of it in terms of "when" instead of "if."]

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

Because I'm not going to let it be "if."

[knightofratatosk]

[Now he's silent for a moment. He wants to believe that, really he does, but...]

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

Trust me.

[knightofratatosk]

Going home might mean we can't see the people we've met here again.

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

It might.

[knightofratatosk]

It's not fair. If we stay here, we may never see our worlds again, but if we go home, we might never see the friends we made here again either.

[miamijustice.livejournal.com]

Neither of those are for certain.

[knightofratatosk]

I miss Richter and Marta...