Sure! So, backstory, I guess... The reason that the forest I mentioned was cursed was because our fathers started a war right before we were both born. They got punished for it, and once they were stopped, there was this prophecy - essentially, that one of our kingdoms was going to have to prevail once and for all to stop it from spreading any further.
[pausing to make sure he's following this fairy tale nonsense...]
Kind of. Or... That our families would have to do that even if we didn't start anything ourselves.
[something something sins of the father]
So for a long time, when both of us were growing up, everyone around us thought the same way. That it was about finishing the war they started, and one of us was going to have to kill the other to get rid of the opposing kingdom's heir to the throne. Which - obviously didn't turn out to be the case, thankfully. There was a certain place we had to go for what we thought would be the fight, and it took us a while to travel there together, so we were a lot closer by the time we arrived than we had been when we started. And neither of us wanted to go through with it any more.
[Having to be in such close proximity with people you're supposed to FIGHT OR KILL or people who might eventually kill you really does just crank up the bonding levels somehow. Wild.]
What happened, then? Did you say that you had no mind to follow through?
We didn't want to, definitely, but we felt like we had to in order to keep everyone else safe. The whole starvation thing I mentioned earlier, you know. But he was about to win, he's a way better fighter than me, and... I didn't want to leave him before telling him how I felt. So I told him I loved him, and as soon as he said the same thing - the curse broke.
[the power of love..... gross.........]
Because, you know - one kingdom. Not in terms of, like, conquest, but unity instead. We realized we'd been thinking about it wrong the entire time.
Oh, my! What a cute story! Ah, well, the part where you almost died was a bit less cute, but considering it all worked out wonderfully in the end, I'd say it's an "all's well that ends well" situation.
[When will someone tell Rupert about his final words left to be read by god and everyone revealing that his world is suffering largely right now.]
And I'm certain that he would say the same thing about you, no doubt.
[Cute... Couples are cute. BUTT ANYWAY because i aki am like truly we can't keep having dead people not tell everyone about their heartfelt letters, he pauses for a second.]
...You - don't have to answer, of course... But is Amir still with you?
[As in LIVING but honestly this also just sounds hilarious as a "so are y'all still an item or" thing.]
[that's very specific!! and he pauses for a second, hesitating, because he can think of a few reasons why he would ask that. his first guess is that someone mentioned a particularly horrible memshare which is wrong but very funny.]
Ah - no, not at all. [Waving a hand in polite dismissal.] But the letter... The one at your trial - it just sounded like something very dire had happened to your home.
[And Souji, being a People First kind of person, automatically assumed it means his loved ones are DEAD.]
[GROANS... sometimes you have more important problem on murder night and during your subsequent revival to think about your sad letter of death. anyways.]
Oh - it wasn't very bad. [...] Well. The contents weren't ideal, but it wasn't very invasive. It just spoke of your gratitude, but that you didn't want for anyone to be able to visit your world because of something that had come to it. It mentioned that you had been reminded of hope and the importance of not giving up by being here, though. It was very touching.
[IF NOT LIKE PRETTY PRIVATE but still... Souji thinks it's sweet and also important, listen.]
--It asked Jason to take care of Porridge and said that you would haunt him otherwise, too.
So you really don't actually pen those yourselves, then...
[He had wondered, but the dead never really talk about those things hilariously. Help them.]
--You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. I doubt it's a pleasant thing to consider, when we already have unpleasant things to deal with here... But - the thing that you face. You plan on handling it on your return? [Barring them being stuck here forever which is also highly possible!] ...Is it a survivable endeavor, do you think?
Oh - no, definitely not. I mean, I probably would have wanted to say at least part of that, but the nicer parts.
[a beat, before he shakes his head.]
No, it's alright. I don't like keeping secrets. [as for those questions, though... nobody's really asked him the second one that plainly yet, and he pauses for a moment.] I do plan on that, yeah. But - I don't know the answer to the second one. Still, given the choice between running away or at least trying to help the people it hasn't gotten to yet...
[He just nods in response to the first bit because like, fair, yeah, he'd be doing the same.
As for the rest - well. He'd be honest in the same way if he were in Rupert's shoes, so he can only nod, looking considering.]
...You have a strong and beautiful heart, Rupert-kun. The people that you would risk your own life to protect are fortunate to have you. [Followed by a small, fleeting smile - there and gone, like the flitter of a butterfly's wings.] Do you know how you might fight against it yet?
[He just dips his head a little in return for the thanks, listening as he BASICALLY JUST SAYS "YEAH WE GOT NO IDEA MAN LMAO". That's how he's lived his whole life though, he ain't about to judge.]
...I know that we've only just met, and this sounds like the sort of problem that one person alone wouldn't make much of a difference with, but if there's something that I could do to help you in your victory... Please let me know, and I would be happy to.
[Because he's going to die anyway so he might as well die while trying to save someone else's world!]
[because he doesn't know souji intends to SUPER DIE!! and thinks that if he shuts off his world and anyone else goes there, they'll just be stuck there forever even if they don't die via negative energy monsters. it's fine.]
But - I really appreciate you offering, seriously. You've got a pretty good heart yourself, you know...?
[Souji opens his mouth, seems to consider something, and then closes it again. The smile that follows is a little wan.]
Please keep it in mind, at least. [Maybe someday he'll mention it's because he's been boxed out of a future that he can accept, goddamn.] ...My apologies for bringing this conversation to such a dismal place, though. Now is the time to take a bit of a rest before facing it all again, right?
No, it's alright. And I'll keep it in mind, but... I guess, just know that whatever happens to me next, I've made my peace with it. I think I got pretty lucky, even. I got the opportunity to meet you and everyone else before I go back.
[since he assumes he won't see them again even if things don't go Badly for him. anyways x 2!!]
To make it less dismal, though - your turn for a story, probably?
[HEEEELP WHY ARE THEY BOTH OUT HERE BEING LIKE THIS.]
...I can understand that. [He also feels very lucky that he got to meet so many sweet people at the tail end of his life.] Still - I hope that you can make it through the trials ahead of you and find peace on the other side.
[NO HE BELIEVES IN THE POWER OF PEACE... That's what his smile says, anyway!! He just gives a little nod, somewhat encouraging.]
I believe so, too.
[They're both wrong. But!!]
Mm, let's see... Ah! How about the time that I snuck my darling Saizo into one of the shogun's castles? [SAID WITH A LAUGH as he pokes Saizo's little round face.]
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[pausing to make sure he's following this fairy tale nonsense...]
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Mm. So a prophecy that sounds as though one must finish what they started, essentially?
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[something something sins of the father]
So for a long time, when both of us were growing up, everyone around us thought the same way. That it was about finishing the war they started, and one of us was going to have to kill the other to get rid of the opposing kingdom's heir to the throne. Which - obviously didn't turn out to be the case, thankfully. There was a certain place we had to go for what we thought would be the fight, and it took us a while to travel there together, so we were a lot closer by the time we arrived than we had been when we started. And neither of us wanted to go through with it any more.
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--A bit like these places, hm?
[Having to be in such close proximity with people you're supposed to FIGHT OR KILL or people who might eventually kill you really does just crank up the bonding levels somehow. Wild.]
What happened, then? Did you say that you had no mind to follow through?
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[the power of love..... gross.........]
Because, you know - one kingdom. Not in terms of, like, conquest, but unity instead. We realized we'd been thinking about it wrong the entire time.
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Oh, my! What a cute story! Ah, well, the part where you almost died was a bit less cute, but considering it all worked out wonderfully in the end, I'd say it's an "all's well that ends well" situation.
[When will someone tell Rupert about his final words left to be read by god and everyone revealing that his world is suffering largely right now.]
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[that specific story at least!! it's fine.]
Amir's really incredible. I think if it was anyone but him, things wouldn't have worked out the way they did.
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[Cute... Couples are cute. BUTT ANYWAY because i aki am like truly we can't keep having dead people not tell everyone about their heartfelt letters, he pauses for a second.]
...You - don't have to answer, of course... But is Amir still with you?
[As in LIVING but honestly this also just sounds hilarious as a "so are y'all still an item or" thing.]
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...Did someone tell you he isn't?
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[And Souji, being a People First kind of person, automatically assumed it means his loved ones are DEAD.]
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[GROANS... sometimes you have more important problem on murder night and during your subsequent revival to think about your sad letter of death. anyways.]
Can I ask what it said? How bad was it...?
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Oh - it wasn't very bad. [...] Well. The contents weren't ideal, but it wasn't very invasive. It just spoke of your gratitude, but that you didn't want for anyone to be able to visit your world because of something that had come to it. It mentioned that you had been reminded of hope and the importance of not giving up by being here, though. It was very touching.
[IF NOT LIKE PRETTY PRIVATE but still... Souji thinks it's sweet and also important, listen.]
--It asked Jason to take care of Porridge and said that you would haunt him otherwise, too.
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[of his deep desire to not see any of them again because of reasons! he takes a breath, before he nods to himself.]
Nothing to do about it now, though, I guess. [...] I definitely will haunt him. Anyways, if there's anything you wanted to know...
[since he's getting a better idea about why souji asked in the first place.]
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[He had wondered, but the dead never really talk about those things hilariously. Help them.]
--You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. I doubt it's a pleasant thing to consider, when we already have unpleasant things to deal with here... But - the thing that you face. You plan on handling it on your return? [Barring them being stuck here forever which is also highly possible!] ...Is it a survivable endeavor, do you think?
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[a beat, before he shakes his head.]
No, it's alright. I don't like keeping secrets. [as for those questions, though... nobody's really asked him the second one that plainly yet, and he pauses for a moment.] I do plan on that, yeah. But - I don't know the answer to the second one. Still, given the choice between running away or at least trying to help the people it hasn't gotten to yet...
[it's a pretty clear decision, to him.]
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As for the rest - well. He'd be honest in the same way if he were in Rupert's shoes, so he can only nod, looking considering.]
...You have a strong and beautiful heart, Rupert-kun. The people that you would risk your own life to protect are fortunate to have you. [Followed by a small, fleeting smile - there and gone, like the flitter of a butterfly's wings.] Do you know how you might fight against it yet?
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[it's a little quiet, given what they're discussing, but sincere all the same. the small smile on his face mirrors that sentiment before he moves on.]
We've had... a few ideas, but nothing that's conclusively worked. But - I'll figure it out.
[or he won't and he'll die horribly, which he is also increasingly ambivalent about, so it's fine.]
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...I know that we've only just met, and this sounds like the sort of problem that one person alone wouldn't make much of a difference with, but if there's something that I could do to help you in your victory... Please let me know, and I would be happy to.
[Because he's going to die anyway so he might as well die while trying to save someone else's world!]
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[because he doesn't know souji intends to SUPER DIE!! and thinks that if he shuts off his world and anyone else goes there, they'll just be stuck there forever even if they don't die via negative energy monsters. it's fine.]
But - I really appreciate you offering, seriously. You've got a pretty good heart yourself, you know...?
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Please keep it in mind, at least. [Maybe someday he'll mention it's because he's been boxed out of a future that he can accept, goddamn.] ...My apologies for bringing this conversation to such a dismal place, though. Now is the time to take a bit of a rest before facing it all again, right?
[WHEN DEATH IS A BREAK.]
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[since he assumes he won't see them again even if things don't go Badly for him. anyways x 2!!]
To make it less dismal, though - your turn for a story, probably?
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...I can understand that. [He also feels very lucky that he got to meet so many sweet people at the tail end of his life.] Still - I hope that you can make it through the trials ahead of you and find peace on the other side.
[If only this Rupert was canon Rupert...]
--Ah - what sort of story would you like to hear?
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[it will not. anyways!]
You said the first one that comes to mind, right? Then, same for you.
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I believe so, too.
[They're both wrong. But!!]
Mm, let's see... Ah! How about the time that I snuck my darling Saizo into one of the shogun's castles? [SAID WITH A LAUGH as he pokes Saizo's little round face.]
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He deserves to be inside of one of the shogun's castles!
[HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE SHOGUN IS YET]
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