in a word, love

It was cathartic to speak the past year to someone whose immediate reaction wouldn't just be one of pity or judgment. There were many ways in which Remi and Ronin might have been such that they'd have evaded much of what came their way. Few though—of whom Vai was one—would understand the core of the men who'd gone out into the world, and acted as they did. So it was that though her questions were similar to those asked by others, they felt distinctly different. They felt real somehow.

'Neither Ronin nor I would be opposed to having a night off from Seren, I imagine." Remi said with a twisted grin. Though it might have just sounded like a joke, quality-time with his husband was something Remi sorely needed, but Seren wasn't a child like any other. Despite Sunjata often acting as babysitter, the Alchemist would only ever trust her fully to Vai even though she wasn't his to look after.

Rubbing at one eye, Remi looked up to the stars. "That's what came before. Now, Ronin is preparing to go back to the Grounds for LongNight. Safrin gave him the ability to become a luxere with the caveat that he must protect everyone for that week. If he succeeds, she'll remove Vanya from where she sits in the stars, and let her finally go to Mort's realm. To Aoife." Biting the inside of his lip, he glanced over towards Vai with a hum. "Would you stay here with me, at the end of DeepFrost? To help with Seren and...but then, perhaps Ronin might need you there.." Trailing off, the Alchemist frowned, truly uncertain where best to ask the witch to be. His soul needed her here, but Ronin's body might need her there more.

we were ring-around-the-rosy children, they were circles around the sun
never give up, never slow down, never grow old,
never, ever die young

Coding base by Sky!