[As it should be, he's sure. Things are heading in that direction anyway.]
It's a better cushion than I could offer you. He has both of us. [No doubt the damn demon won't be any help there, and he'll insist the demon doesn't.]
[But he does appreciate that sappiness. He's been used to it, in a way.] It isn't a gift, it was redemption. And you needed it. But I thought you knew as much. Still, it's good to hear you got something out of it, something worthwhile.
[They're smart and crafty. And Astre is trying to do what he can to help with their farm. There's not a lot he's good for yet but he's trying.]
You were all I needed though. And I made a few friends that helped ease your burden of dealing with a spoiled noble. [He knows he's been spoiled, he'll fess up to that.]
Could be both. You could easily have given up on me, after all. And I did. I have our little family now and we have a cozy house. Even if we may have to add on to it.
[He could beg to differ but why bother? The boy can make a good cup of tea and that's all he really cares for at the moment.]
Spreading the pain, as it were. [But he giggles, and it's a little more like his old self.] Truly though, if I'd given up on you well and completely, I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself. You know my feelings on that matter, I think. Also, I think we could use better Halloween decorations, but we'll work on that.
[He'll listen to Undertaker more readily now, at least. And he's made efforts to learn how they both like tea so he can make it when Undertaker is tired or cold.]
More people who would agree with you about my nonsense. [He likes that. It's nice, hearing that laugh.] I'm glad you didn't.
[He glances around and there's a wistful sigh.] We really could. It just doesn't feel entirely like home yet without a few, does it? At least, the ones we would keep up after Halloween.
[Trouble isn't a route he'd take the boy down. Not unless they somehow ended up with half the kitchen covered in flour again.]
It was either you or the decorations and I can't see myself living without both, so I had to compromise somehow. Seems like it would be more fun to keep you both around. [He looks to one of the chairs in the corner and points.] There for the skeleton.
[Now, how is that trouble? That just sounds like fun.]
I'm glad I rate as being just as important. [He teases, laughing softly before he eyes that chair.] That looks perfect. He'll be cozy there. Should we buy him some pants or do you think they'd go to waste?
[Only if they want to spend an hour cleaning the one counter top again.]
You always were, even if I never said it. [He reaches out a hand, palm up and open in invitation.] Why bother? He'll take them right back off again. Indecent exposure was always one of his favorite pastimes.
Astre doesn't hesitate to put his hand in Undertaker's, smiling up at the reaper.]
We'll have to be careful then. He may bring some trouble down on us like that. We're very respectable, after all. [He can't quite finish that without another soft laugh. Respectable indeed.]
[He has to. There's no other reason for them to ever bake. At all. Just cleaning.]
Indeed. Living with skeletons, here and not. Baking half of the kitchen for a plate of biscuits or a cake. The smells of tea everywhere. Feels like home. [It really does, in a way.]
[He hums in agreement in return and settles hands about those shoulders, keeping him there without restraining him.]
It would help if I knew who lived here before I did. At least in England, your manor was your family's. I wouldn't have liked to live there, but you were raised in it.
We did but we can build it up again. Maybe we could try our hands at writing and make some of our own. I'm sure you have plenty of stories you could tell, being a reaper.
[He smiles up at him and then just relaxes against him, closing his eyes.]
Oh, milord wants to see my brand of penmanship, does he? You might spend the rest of your days trying to decipher it. Sometimes I can hardly read it myself. [He really is joking, but he can make it a Halloween prop if he wants.]
[He's just still relaxed against him but he opens his eye to watch for a moment.]
I'm sure I've read worse. After all, it can't be so bad when you've worked with people so long. [He won't push too hard though. Except maybe to hear some stories. His twin may appreciate that as well.]
[Well, Astre certainly wouldn't mind the stories.]
What would I-? [Hm...] I don't know, actually. Adventures maybe? Fiction of some sort, probably. I have plenty of inspiration since most people don't believe demons or grin reapers are real. I could bother you for all sorts of inspiration.
I don't know about demons, but you may be right about grim reapers. We tend to lay low and not make a fuss. You'll find demon mythology in just about every culture and religion. I suppose this would make quite an adventure story, wouldn't it?
I'm sure it would. I don't think I'd be best for writing it though, I never even tried writing anything but letters and filling out paperwork. [They've definitely had some adventures though so far.]
It's a start. Half the fun is figuring out how to say what once you have the story itself planned out. Then there are the details to the plot as it goes, but good penmanship speaks for itself.
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It's a better cushion than I could offer you. He has both of us. [No doubt the damn demon won't be any help there, and he'll insist the demon doesn't.]
[But he does appreciate that sappiness. He's been used to it, in a way.] It isn't a gift, it was redemption. And you needed it. But I thought you knew as much. Still, it's good to hear you got something out of it, something worthwhile.
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You were all I needed though. And I made a few friends that helped ease your burden of dealing with a spoiled noble. [He knows he's been spoiled, he'll fess up to that.]
Could be both. You could easily have given up on me, after all. And I did. I have our little family now and we have a cozy house. Even if we may have to add on to it.
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Spreading the pain, as it were. [But he giggles, and it's a little more like his old self.] Truly though, if I'd given up on you well and completely, I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself. You know my feelings on that matter, I think. Also, I think we could use better Halloween decorations, but we'll work on that.
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More people who would agree with you about my nonsense. [He likes that. It's nice, hearing that laugh.] I'm glad you didn't.
[He glances around and there's a wistful sigh.] We really could. It just doesn't feel entirely like home yet without a few, does it? At least, the ones we would keep up after Halloween.
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It was either you or the decorations and I can't see myself living without both, so I had to compromise somehow. Seems like it would be more fun to keep you both around. [He looks to one of the chairs in the corner and points.] There for the skeleton.
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I'm glad I rate as being just as important. [He teases, laughing softly before he eyes that chair.] That looks perfect. He'll be cozy there. Should we buy him some pants or do you think they'd go to waste?
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You always were, even if I never said it. [He reaches out a hand, palm up and open in invitation.] Why bother? He'll take them right back off again. Indecent exposure was always one of his favorite pastimes.
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Astre doesn't hesitate to put his hand in Undertaker's, smiling up at the reaper.]
We'll have to be careful then. He may bring some trouble down on us like that. We're very respectable, after all. [He can't quite finish that without another soft laugh. Respectable indeed.]
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Indeed. Living with skeletons, here and not. Baking half of the kitchen for a plate of biscuits or a cake. The smells of tea everywhere. Feels like home. [It really does, in a way.]
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It... it really does. [It might have felt odd saying that in their first few months living together in Riverview but not anymore.]
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Too bad it wasn't in a manor made far too large to hold the people who live there.
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I like it better here. At least, I like our little cozy houses. They feel more like home once we settle properly.
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Let's not do this again, shall we? I'm no stranger to uprooting, but I like the stress of it less than I should.
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Agreed. Feels like it takes too long for us to make it our own each time.
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It would help if I knew who lived here before I did. At least in England, your manor was your family's. I wouldn't have liked to live there, but you were raised in it.
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It would but at least we're together. And it's warm, with room to expand. We could have a room added so we have a library again.
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I thought about that. We had quite a developing library back in Riverview and now we've next to nothing. It's awful.
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[He smiles up at him and then just relaxes against him, closing his eyes.]
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Oh, milord wants to see my brand of penmanship, does he? You might spend the rest of your days trying to decipher it. Sometimes I can hardly read it myself. [He really is joking, but he can make it a Halloween prop if he wants.]
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I'm sure I've read worse. After all, it can't be so bad when you've worked with people so long. [He won't push too hard though. Except maybe to hear some stories. His twin may appreciate that as well.]
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Well, what of you? What stories would you write? You're young yet, but that's still enough time to come up with something worth reading.
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What would I-? [Hm...] I don't know, actually. Adventures maybe? Fiction of some sort, probably. I have plenty of inspiration since most people don't believe demons or grin reapers are real. I could bother you for all sorts of inspiration.
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I don't know about demons, but you may be right about grim reapers. We tend to lay low and not make a fuss. You'll find demon mythology in just about every culture and religion. I suppose this would make quite an adventure story, wouldn't it?
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It's a start. Half the fun is figuring out how to say what once you have the story itself planned out. Then there are the details to the plot as it goes, but good penmanship speaks for itself.
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