8. things you said when you were crying
this experience has taught me Iām absolutely repulsed by the idea of posting writing I havenāt edited half to death and that Iām not head over heels for conceptually so consider this a test of my strength and/or a limited time offer
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It's hard to tell where he is. It's night out, for one thing, moonlight colder and dimmer than the candle that had been lighting his desk. As Ildere's eyes adjust, he makes out the glimmer of the sky reflecting on the water. Thankful he wouldn't be able to see it, Ildere's lips quirk. Some things still haven't changed. "Lancaster."
He'd put the goggles on only one other time since he and the others had left. It had been longer than he'd expected - to the best of his grasp of time beyond his plane - and it had taken him a moment to realize what was happening when he was suddenly looking through someone else's eyes. The demon problem looked to have been dealt with and Ritza and Aspen seemed to be in fine condition and they'd given him a recounting of the time they'd been apart so impressive Ruckus had given it its own score. It also mercifully left little space for Ildere to say much - mercifully, because whenever Lancaster relayed it, there was that unmistakable waver in his voice.
"Ah... Hi." And there it was again. This time, Ritza and Aspen didnāt seem to be around.
"How are you?"
"A lot of things. Leaving tomorrow morning, for one."
"Oh? Must have been longer than I thought since I last saw you."
"Well, technically, you're not seeing me. Your loss, by the way." Ildere gives him a little laugh for that and Lancaster tilts his head back enough that Ildere can make out wooden planks above his head. Lancaster's under the docks somewhere. He's quiet for a few moments, shaking his head. "I don't know if I can tell you if it's been too long or if it's much, much too soon."
"You told them this time?"
"Of course I did. Big festivity, until we meet agains, as bittersweet as you can imagine. Iām staying the morning, though."
"Good. Where are you heading?"
"God knows. Though I'm considering trying to stay out of trouble this time." He laughs his light laugh. "Not that trouble ever did me too wrong."
"Mm." Ildere hopes Lancaster can hear him roll his eyes. "... I'm rolling my eyes, by the way."
"I could hear it." Abruptly, Ildere's vision is severed, and he's back at his desk. A moment later, he's back under the docks.
"What was that?"
"Nothing." In his peripheral vision, Lancaster folds his arms around his knees. "I'm going to give the goggles to Ritza."
"Oh."
"Well, technically I gave them to Ritza yesterday, so don't tell her I have them now, and don't tell Aspen either for that matter." He takes a deep breath and, again, Ildere's vision shifts, then shifts back. "... use from it than I will."
"I can't hear you when you take the goggles off."
"... Oh. Right." Lancaster doesn't speak again for a long moment after that. When he does, it's to repeat, "I said that I think Ritza will find better use from it than I will. And it's... I do still want to see you. Just... I don't... With Aspen and Ritza, seeing them again will just be seeing them again. Having these on me just feels like I'm talking to a..." A hand leaves from sight and only returns at the edge of his vision, and Lancaster does his best to wipe his eyes without removing the goggles this time.
"It's okay. I understand."
"Thank you." Lancaster lifts his head and Ildere looks out over the water. "I'm so happy for you."
"I'll see you again."
He nods. "I'll see you again." And with a deep breath, Lancaster stood and Ildere was back at his desk.
Happy February 16th! adding the new couples of 2017 to the library and one more Januripley cause fuck why not. Romeo and Matty should be here too but I donāt have a ref for Matty TT
January belongs to @byontch @caesepool
Ildere belongs to @transparentegg @somenicechildren
Father and Graphite belong to tikoaztite
Mr Adam ālawyerdamā Adam just killed me and Iām sending this from beyond the grave cuz Iām proud of it
Ildere and everything about him belongs to @transparentegg
