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[bookpunching]

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action, 11/5

[extirpator]

[ he's not sure what form or level of magic allows for this, but the rooms expand in accordance to how many people intend on living in them — there are two lofty beds parallel to one another. the room itself is adorned with flowers, white carnations littered across the wardrobes.

typical nier.

anyhow, he seats himself on his bed, head declined as he wrings his hands. ]

You should probably sit down. You haven't done that in awhile, huh?

[ it's mirthful, the way he says it. ] Let me know if you need any help, old timer.

[ and then a beat— ]

You might not like it at first, but I think this is best for you — being in a human body, I mean.

[bookpunching]

[ There is a lot that Weiss is thinking, feeling. He did not expect to be alive once again. He accepted his sacrifice and his sins completely. This is not what he had hoped for himself; he does not deserve a happy ending with his friends.

Scratching the back of his neck, he can think and rationalize all of these things to himself, but he knows better than to say as much to Nier. So instead, he acts as he always acts. It's easier that way.

The shadows curl around him to drift him over the floor toward the bed where he does finally sit. He lets out a small "ah" as any old man would do and immediately frowns in an exaggerated fashion. ]

Oh? And how exactly is this best for me?

[extirpator]

[ neither does nier.

weiss deserves to be in the afterlife — if there was one. a part of nier is certain that this is some strange limbo, or his mind playing a trick of sorts.

so he does the same. normalcy, right? he wonders if he'll succumb in due time. nier stands up, approaching the flowers on his nightstand. ]

I never really said anything about it, but... [ a silence. ] I thought it would be nice if you could be a human, too. Being a book always seemed a little...

Restrictive. You couldn't do things like enjoy the same food as me, or sleep in a bed. I'd think about that sometimes and it'd make me...

Well, I guess it'd make me sad.

[ he takes a carnation into his hands, delicately sliding it through his fingers. it's not long before he motions it towards weiss. ]

I used to grow flowers all the time, but you could never smell those either.

[bookpunching]

[ He isn't certain what to say in response. His immediate desire is to give some fond yet snide remark about how he is glad that he did not have any ability to smell. But he decides that he can't do that -- not with everything that he knows and not with his human face not used to concealing his emotions and thoughts.

It was nice when he was a book. He could hide himself quite easily from Nier. But now he's human, and he has not been a human for centuries. He's not versed in hiding his expression; he can only hide himself with his words and voice. So in response to the teenager being sad, Weiss looks conflicted and like he wants to say something important. ]

No, but I didn't need to smell them. [ He turns his head away. ] I could tell that they smelled nice from all the effort that you put into them. It would be a crime to have them not be sweet-smelling after the countless days that you spent in the garden.

I know these things and so ... there's no reason to be sad about me not experiencing them.

[extirpator]

...

[ it's strange — they've been reunited, and yet everything feels so viscerally different. maybe it's the weight of their sins clamping down onto their backs, or maybe it's the fact that neither of them should be here in the states that they are. ]

...It must have been boring for you. But you still stayed. Even on those days where I'd barely say anything.

[ thanks, he wants to say. ]

You're just going to argue back, but...you're my friend. Of course I'm going to be sad about these things. Why shouldn't I be?

[ he tosses the flower next to him, returning to his seat with a sigh. ]

So I guess this means you really were a human once. I had a feeling.

[bookpunching]

Of course, it was. Especially all those times that you took me fishing. [ He huffs out a loud, suffering sigh. Weiss knows that he's attempting to liven the atmosphere, and attempting to gloss over the 'thanks' that he is being given. There is nothing to thank me for. He says without saying. ]

I won't argue on that point. We've traveled together for far too long to not call you my friend. [ He closes his eyes and turns up his chin. His attempt to dismissing the idea that he would argue on that point. But he feels his blood run cold and his chest tighten. ]

P-Preposterous! Why exactly would you get a feeling about that, of all things?! I have been a tome for countless centuries! Thousands of years! To think I was once human... what a ... a rude assumption to have. [ He stumbles at the last leg of his "indignation." He fumbles as to what he should call the 'assumption' that is actually 'fact.' And he wonders if he'll be called out more. ]

[extirpator]

Remember that time we got stuck on a fishing boat for a month? Yeah. It's a miracle you didn't leave me over that. [ fishing really WAS the worst, but having weiss yap in his ear and chase the fish away somehow made it bearable.

that warrants a smile, even if he does try to repress it — his features soften with a bti of glee. ] You always come around. And hm...

You knew a lot about the Old World, but in too much detail for a tome...if that makes sense? You're also...

I don't know how to say it, but you're weirdly...pure hearted. There are some things you don't understand and other things that you do, but you're a lot softer on people than you'd like to be.

[ ... ]

Like me.

[ :) ]

[bookpunching]

It would have been a simple matter of flying back to shore, but then I would have to find some other heroic fool to follow. [ He still has a strain in his voice, nervousness over having been found out. His face is too exposed and he can't quite lie when he knows the truth. Before, it would have been a simple matter -- he would have blustered and fumed in a more legitimate, honest manner. ]

... pure-hearted? What a thing to say about an ancient arcane tome. I should be offended. [ He should be, but he does not sound like he is. ] Someone certainly thinks a lot about themselves... [ He can't back down now after he admits that the two of them are friends, however. ]

It was a long time ago. I am more ancient text than human now. This body feels clumsy and uncomfortable to me. [ Weiss is careful to say that it is not just because of his age. Reaching out, he finally picks up the flower thrown. ] Ugh... limbs... the sensation of feeling objects... how annoying.

[extirpator]

[ he smiles a bit forlornly, reminiscing on the old days — on simpler times. ] I think you could have managed.

[ but you chose not to. ]

I am a brat, according to you. I wonder what that makes you. [ he leans back onto his hands. ] Probably a priss.

[ and then there's a tilt of the head. ]

I guess we've both changed over the years, huh?

[ for the better. for the better. there's something morose in his features. ]

It's cause you're an old man, Weiss. Your joints are bad. I have to train you — make you do exercises with me early in the morning so you don't fall apart.

[bookpunching]

[ He huffs, loudly. ] Well, I never.

[ It is all an act, of course. Like he would feel any honest offense towards Nier after all the time that they have been together. He crosses his arms over his chest, breathes out slow and nods. ]

We have. [ Once he remembered everything, he could have carried out his true duty. But he knew that he couldn't. He changed too much over the years. He was given the chance to care and admire the people that he traveled with; he was given the time to come to care about the broken world they all lived in. ]

I wonder how much we will change as we help out these people. [ But he thinks that it will be good for everyone. No longer are they having to worry about their own world -- and its destruction. No, instead they can think of saving others. ]

An old man, am I? Well, I suppose that I am, yes. Ugh, I can't believe that you're going to be taking me out doing exercises every day. You should just find me a comfortable chair to sit in and that would be it. [ He carefully hold the flower in his hand -- even if there are many, he is careful with the one he has been given. He runs his fingers down the petals. ] I finally am able to retire from all the nonsense of being a hero, and yet I'm dragged back into it.

[extirpator]

[ he releases a laugh, low and short lived. neither of them are especially expressive people, but they communicate in their own ways. ]

I don't know how much more I can change at this point. [ this is because he is entirely unware of the fact that he will one day, develop into a topless, incredibly brutish middle aged dad. nobody tell him. ] But it'd be nice to see you relax more. These people have shown me nothing but kindness — so I want to protect them, no matter what.

[ yonah was gone. the rest of the world would follow suit. his eyes flicker up, a silence overtaking him as he contemplates exactly why he's still sitting here, alive in one piece.

but then he notices weiss holding the flower in between his fingers. the corners of his lips twitch up, features softening. ]

The witch gives us missions. You're going to have to be on your feet. [ the prosect of it is hilarious — until he remembers what weiss is like under pressure. god damn it. ] You're going to finally realize what a pain in the ass the Forest of Myth was. Floating everywhere's more convenient then you realize...

20 situps and 10 pushups every morning. How's that sound? I'm starting you off easy. [ he looks really contented with himself, leaning back onto his elbows again. ]

[bookpunching]

So you'll go on fool's errands for them. [ It is a statement. Of course, Nier would do anything and everything that he can for those that he wants to protect. ] I've traveled with you this far ... a little farther will be fine. [ Weiss finds it funny that they have once more run into each other. Especially in this afterlife.

But he lets that go to go on the "defensive." ]

You have a young body so the Forest of Myth should have been a cake-walk. I'm certain it's an exaggeration of how bad it actually was. Also! Complaining about it far after the fact... [ He lets out a small huff that dissolves into a choke. ]

Are you mad?! That hardly sounds easy!

text, 11/26 — backdated

[extirpator]

Weiss? Where are you!? We were just together!

[extirpator]

God damn it! Are these even sending!?

[extirpator]

Weiss! You better not be ignoring me! I think I'm starting to go crazy over here.

[extirpator]

I can't believe the witch seperated us. What was she thinking!? You're an old man! What are you supposed to do by yourself?

[extirpator]

You're alive, right? You have to be alive. I can't lose you again this soon.

[extirpator]

Hey.

Do you remember those documents we read? The ones we got from Popola and Devola...

You don't think I'm sterile, do you?

[extirpator]

If you're dead, I swear, I'm going t

1/?

[bookpunching]

[ Ah, good. Messages are back up.

Weiss is one who worried and worried by himself, but ultimately he decides that he has to believe in his friends. They will accomplish what they must for their own missions, because those are the sort of fools that he calls his friends. And he willingly calls them his friends now. He willingly accepts the warm feelings in his heart -- ah, his actual heart -- as friendship.

He died for these people and so he believes in them; he believed in them when he left and hoped for a better future. In a way, a monkey's paw curled and they got a better future. Weiss thinks on all these things and it eases the worry inside, because they are his foolhardy and heroic friends. They will be fine and they will triumph. Once more, he believes in them and -- and then he sees all the messages from Nier. ]

[bookpunching]

NIER
BY MY PAGES
WELL I HAVE NO PAGES ANYMORE
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN

[bookpunching]

no no no that's not what i want to write
ignore that bit
IGNORE IT

[bookpunching]

Are you all right?!
What exactly does all this mean?!
What has been going on for these weeks?!

[bookpunching]

AND EXACTLY HOW COULD YOU LEAVE YOUR LAST MESSAGE LIKE THAT?? ARE YOU ATTEMPTING TO GIVE THIS BODY A HEART ATTACK?!

[bookpunching]

That one I will keep!
But by the arcane power that still resides within me, are you all right?

[ Yes, that's what is most important -- is Nier all right? Weiss thought that the boy has felt a little more fragile lately but somehow he is now rather nervous and worried. ]