knightofratatosk | [Voice/Action]

[Much like Musette, Emil has spent the past couple of days cooking like mad. If you've ever spoken to Emil at all, expect to get a nice little box lunch on your doorstep with a small note inside. The food is delicious AND adorable-- Emil has a habit of doing things like shaving carrots into flower petals and carving potatoes into rabbits. It's almost too cute to eat. If he doesn't know you, then you've gotten some cookies anyway because he's not about to leave anyone out.]

Wow, that was a lot more work than I'd thought... Anyway, um... what is it that you're supposed to say again? Oh, right, Merry Christmas! Um, did anyone else get a strange gift this morning too? I woke up to find my chimera Sial outside the house... maybe Santa brought him here for me! I'm kind of disappointed that I didn't get to see this Santa, though. I want to know how his sled flies.

[The majority of the day today was spent fixing a nice dinner for himself, Richter and Tenebrae (and Sial too, now that the chimera is here) and now Emil is just glad for a chance to sit down and rest his feet. Cue him flopping onto the couch.]

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[Richter wraps his arms around the boy in return. A small embrace never hurt anybody, really.]

[This just encourages Emil to nestle closer.]

I think I like this Christmas thing. It's too bad we don't have it back home...

I suppose our world could do with more holidays like this one.

Can we still celebrate Christmas when we get back, even if it doesn't exist there?

[Richter knows that he sure as hell won't be celebrating Christmas or anything of the sort when he returns to Aselia. But let's just humor the kid.]

We can, if we still remember Luceti.

[This causes Emil to pull away with a start, eyes wide as he looks up at Richter.]

'If'? You mean... we might not remember everything that happened here?

[... crap.]

Nothing's been proven. The fact that the Malnosso are messing with time itself could cause plenty of fluctuations in our own universe. Therefore, the possibilities of what will happen when we return are endless.

But if we don't remember anything, then...

Then events will take their course as usual. What will happen after that is up to us, I suppose.

[up to Richter and Ratatosk, really. We can all see how that will end...]

[This is all something Emil hadn't considered before, and it's worrying him greatly. His first instinct is to attach to Richter again, burying his face against the other's shoulder.]

I don't want to forget any of this... I don't want to forget the friends I made here, and...

If it happens, it can't be helped.

[it's the cold, harsh truth, Emil. Sorry. Have a hand on your shoulder, giving it a soft squeeze.]

[Unfortunately, that squeeze isn't all that comforting right now.]

Richter...

[well, geez, what do you want him to do?]

...

[Letting him cling works!]

I'll find some way so that we don't forget.

[well, sure, clinging is good. But meanwhile, he'll have to fight to keep his skepticism to himself.]

... That'd be nice.

[Hey, let him have his hope.]

Courage is the magic that turns dreams into reality, right?

[how does that... ugh, nevermind.]

... Right.

Then I'll find a way.

[he just smiles and holds Emil closer. Somehow, that hopeless optimism is endearing.]

[No complaints here-- Emil is just going to return to nuzzling Richter before leaning up to kiss his cheek. Yes, the kid is still a bit shy on that front.]

[no complains here, either. Richter prefers taking things slow, anyway. One hand moves up to ruffle the boy's hair again.]

[Richter likes ruffling Emil's hair and Emil enjoys having his hair ruffled, so it's a symbiotic relationship here. However, it's only fair that he slides his own hands around to play with Richter's hair as well, since Richter's got a lot more of it than Emil does.]