Team Tinies IDK WHAT'S HAPPENING

[weddingcupcake]

Comments

[prebeard]

Mostly, yes. We've all begun to move out, bit by bit.

[blinged]

Then I'll have to work quickly.

[WIGGLES. Well. The "quickly" can come later. He's decided he's still somewhat comfortable here]

[prebeard]

Byakuya is already gone and married. I'm not sure it'd be a shame if you missed him, though. The rest of us are here, but Kariya will be gone soon and your older self & I are planning to return to Europe shortly. We've just yet to decide on a destination.

[blinged]

If you wish to keep him satisfied and manageable, I recommend France or Italy! I understand both countries are famous for wine.

[prebeard]

We were thinking of Italy already. We need only be careful of the church.

[blinged]

If they're smart, they'd know to be careful of me.

[He huffs and settles in his blanket roll - Gilgamesh's impression of the church remains less than stellar, and he surmises that if he's unforgiving already, his older self would be downright impossible]

[prebeard]

He might still be out there, you know.

[Gil will know who. Tokiomi still regrets not letting that man be killed when he had the chance.]

[blinged]

Then if we cross paths, I'll settle thing with him. You would not object, would you, Master?

[prebeard]

I suppose not, so long as it's discreet. I'd rather not bring the Association down on my head, nor on my teacher's.

[blinged]

Then it's a deal! I will quietly take care of the matter if possible.

[prebeard]

That's good. I wouldn't want to see those pompous old fool attempt to talk down to Rider... Or I suppose it would be entertaining, but not quite worth the trouble of your older self's involvement.

[blinged]

[p i n g]

Rider is here as well?!

[prebeard]

In London, with my teacher.

[blinged]

[He unrolls himself and slides out of the bed, tugging the blanket along with him.]

I'll have to send my regards, then! I imagine he's quite taken with this era.

[Yes, time to settle down next to Tokiomi on the floor. Enjoy the tiny Gil burrito.]

[prebeard]

[pet the tinygil?

> yes.]

I'm sure he is. I'm afraid we didn't stay there long after the project was complete, so I haven't conversed with him much.

[blinged]

[Oh no this is a very pleased tinygil, scooting closer for maximum petting potential]

That is simple to fix, I think! There are things like text messages and email... I believe they're even straightforward enough for you, Master.

[prebeard]

[pffft]

I've had to learn quite a bit about technology to function in this family, you know. Not so much as some, but enough to get by.

[blinged]

[whoa. Have a tinygil staring up at you wide-eyed]

Congratulations! Now that you've mentioned it, you need to show me.

[prebeard]

I don't own a computer or anything...

[but he has a cell phone! It has a camera and everything!

hands this to gil]

I do have this.

[blinged]

[IMMEDIATELY TAKES A SELFIE AND GOES LOOKING FOR WAVER'S NUMBER]

I can do plenty with this.

[prebeard]

[there are totally selfies of your older self in there too

naked ones]

Usually you just drunk dial Kariya...

[blinged]

[Whoops, yep, there they are. He's caught somewhere between second hand embarrassment and amusement]

And use the camera, it seems!

[prebeard]

Ah-- I keep deleting those, but he keeps taking more!

[blinged]

[He laughs at Tokiomi's expression, paging through the nudes in his matter-of-fact way. It's odd, being able to see himself in action for once, and he isn't quite sure what to make of it.

The two of them certainly don't see eye to eye, that's for sure, but somehow he's less embarrassed than he first expected.]

Hey, Master.

[With a smile, he looks up at Tokiomi. Yeah, he's certain he gets it, at least as much as he can. It must have been strange and frustrating, suddenly appearing here with a different person's feelings. He probably could have destroyed a lot with that frustration alone.

But he didn't.]

I'm really glad you're happy with both of us.

[prebeard]

Ah...

[That's not something he expected to hear. It's simple and obvious, and maybe that's why it's surprising. Still, he has to stop and think about that.

He is happy, isn't he? Despite all the changes his life has gone through recently and despite the differences between the two Gilgameshes, he can say without doubt that he's happy.

Looking at this small Gil beside him, he can't help but remember the last time he saw him. When he was sinking into that horrible mud and fading away, he'd still been able to smile. He kept encouraging Tokiomi until the last moment, so hearing "goodbye" had been almost too painful to bear. With all Kirei had told him, it had seemed like his future was impossibly bleak. But with Gil at his side, he was sure he'd be okay. So of course, even if it was the plan all along, losing his Servant had felt like a death sentence.

For the nine years following, he'd never really been content. It isn't that he didn't love the family he gained, or that he felt that they didn't love him. It isn't that life was difficult. It's just that he couldn't stop. No matter how dangerous it was to pursue magic at that point, there was a part of him that was always terrified to stand still. If he did, he'd have to give up on all the things Gilgamesh was proud of him for believing in. He just couldn't see himself being the same person without that goal. He couldn't see himself smiling if he had to accept that That Person was someone he'd never see again.

All that time, he continued to feel as if there was a void in his heart he was running to escape. When he finally succeeded in giving Gil a new life, he was different. Disagreeable and pompous and stingy with his affection, the person Tokiomi summoned was someone with whom he could never replicate the dynamic he missed so much.

And yet it seems that while they've spent the last year bickering and dancing around their feelings, they've become content. Without him even noticing, the hole inside of Tokiomi's heart has been filled up with happiness.

All at once, he realizes that the loneliness looming over him since his parents died is gone. It's only his stubborn, graceful pride that keeps him from tearing up at the relevation.]

...Mm. I think we're both happy.