Story Context/Concept: Character A was hit by a spell/technological backlash/whatever that makes it so that they get swapped out by a past version of themselves from a significant point in their lifetime for week. Everyone reacts as they realise that they didn’t know A as well as they thought.
B: Is there anything else you want us to do?
A1: When you meet my past self tell them...
A1: Tell them that it wasn’t because we loved too much, that was never the problem. You can never love too much.
A1: We need to be reminded that it wasn’t our fault. That it wasn’t ever anything that we did, or didn’t do.
B: Just in case you swap out with a past version of yourself and not the future, do you have anything you want us to do?
A2: Tell them that it be faked. That it could all be a lie.
A2: Kindness, genenorisity, laughter, loyalty... Every single time that they tell you they love you; every single time they take you in their arms to hold you just because; every single time you take them into your arms and they accept the comfort you freely give...
B: I’m... I’m sorry that we can’t do more.
A2: Oh, starlight. You’ve done more than you could ever know.
A2: You’ve reminded me that it could be real too.
A3: I’m guessing that this is the point that I give advice for my past self, huh?
B: It’s not exactly mandatory.
A3: Nah, that workaholic needs something to guide them. They’ve been wandering for so long after all...
A3: Tell them... Tell them that surviving’s not enough. It’s priority, yeah, but...
A3: We need something to breathe for too, that taking the next step for the sake of taking the next step isn’t all there is too it.
A3: They don’t need to force it, if they spend the next millennia looking for, or walking a path just for the sake of having “a purpose” then they missed the point of it all.
A3: But one day, they need to be able to look back and think, “yes, this is worth living for.”
A3: Because if they can’t then what’s the point of surviving at all?
A4: Character B? My advice will be incredibly contradictory to my future self’s, but this is what they need.
A4: Tell them that they need to take it all one day at time. Minute by minute, or perhaps even just step by step if they have to, but they have to survive.
A4: It’ll all be for naught if nobody does.
A5: Huh, so... it does get worse doesn’t it?
A5: Nothing you can do about it, bud. It was literally millennia ago.
A5: Besides, I know my General will be doing their damnedest to get us all our happy ending.
B: You have an entire week to think about it.
A5: Nah, I know what I wanna say, but I don’t know who I’ll be saying it too though. Hmm, I’ll just do both I guess.
A5: If past me is a child then, tell them that kindness is real. That kindness for kindness’ sake is real, but that “nice” is not kind.
A5: And if they aren’t, then tell them that the General - or actually, call them Character C, they aren’t a general yet - is here to stay. You don’t have to be alone anymore.
A5: Actually, if you meet adult past me, tell them the stuff I told you to tell child me too. We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t know that already, but they need the reminder.
A5: Oh, but! Don’t tell child me the adult advice, they’ll be so confused! Haha!
B: You don’t have to, besides, we still have the advice from your future self.
A6: Tell them to... to hold on to all of it. Every blessing, every curse, every action and word, they need to hold onto everything they’ve been given.
A6: It might hurt, in fact, it will hurt more often than it won’t, but it’ll be useful.
A6: They need to learn that everything anyone ever give us, that anything we ever pick up either by accident or on purpose, unknowingly or not, will be the best tools we’ll ever get.
A6: ... You’ll find out. Just make sure to tell them my future self’s advice too.
B: It’s nothing kid, just eat as much as you can. You need it.
B: So... that’s what’s happening.
D: I see... Thank you for the explanation Character B.
B: It’s nothing. Now, uh. Is there anything I can do to help you take care of a baby?
D: Lots, but there is just one more thing.
D: My child, do they live? Do they experience pain, yet laugh despite it? Do they love others and receive it in turn? Do they live a life they find worth living?
B: I’m gonna tell you now, Character D, that Character A has lived through more bullshit than I thought anyone could ever experience, immortal or not.
B: They’ve been betrayed by those they believed to be their closest friend; they’ve lost more people than I’ll probably ever meet in my life; they’ve been through every single horrible thing that you could ever think of and a lot more that you can’t even comprehend.
B: But they survive it all, and even more than that they live. They might not always be nice, but they’re kind. And despite it all, they care and go against years of betrayal and loss to try and succeed loving those around them.
B: I’m not their best friend, nor am I the person they’ve chosen to love for the rest of eternity. Those titles belong to people they lost aeons ago. But they are mine.
B: And let me tell you that Character A is the best person I’ve ever met and most likely ever will.
B: I’m sorry for everything your baby will ever go through in their life.
D: ... I think they’ll be just fine.
D: They’ll have you by the end of it all.
