[RQ] hi-ho silver

Not normally one for casual curses—strings of flowery expletives when his shoes had gotten dirty perhaps, but dropping an axe?—Remi raises his eyebrows, more surprised at the swear than at the sudden bolt of silver in the wall. Reaching out a hand to steady Mateo’s back, Remi tries for a reassuring smile that will likely convince neither of them.

Hearing, for the first time, that Mateo was meant to be collected by his parents, has Remi’s stomach tightening as his bowels fill with ice. [say] “Oh—“[/say] He begins, but finds that there is nothing for him to say. His son had clearly spared he and Ronin this information, knowing how impossible it would be for them, and yet the mere fact that Mateo had been moulded into the sort of child who knew to make such decisions… Gods. [say] “I dreamed you into life…”[/say] Remi’s voice is suddenly wet with emotion as he tries to gather his lanky child close. [say] “…and now it seems you are living a nightmare.”[/say]

Swallowing hard against the shards of ice forming in his throat, it occurs to the alchemist that despite his boasting of always putting his family before anything else, he…well. He absolutely hadn’t.

[say] “Mi dispiace tanto, Mateo. Non ti meriti niente di tutto questo.”[/say]