Week 7, Saturday, post-trial: Evan.

[thesettingsun]

[Even though he and Evan were sharing a room on the Other Side, somehow it didn't feel the same as being back here in their room. Dazai flops on the bed.]

Evan! We're alive!

[He probably noticed, but Dazai doesn't get tired of pointing it out.]

Comments

[selfinserting]

[By now, he's had time to clean himself up after the trial, and when he enters to see Dazai there... It's hard not to immediately start crying. He takes a breath, nodding.]

I, I told you. I told you we would.

[thesettingsun]

You kept your promise.

[Now Dazai doesn't have to reveal his love of ninja turtles to the world.]

I'm so glad you're okay. We're okay.

[selfinserting]

...Honestly, I was, I was really scared that I'd be wrong, even if I was pretty certain.

[But that's behind them now.]

I'm glad, too. And - now you can do everything you talked about.

[thesettingsun]

[They were all scared, but now they don't have anything to fear.]

Can I hug you?

[selfinserting]

[Without hesitation, he nods.]

Yeah. Of, of course you can.

[thesettingsun]

[Evan didn't hesitate, but is he prepared for tackle hugs, because Dazai's basically throwing himself at him.

They did it!!]

[selfinserting]

[He will absolutely accept tackle hugs. He stays upright somehow, and he's absolutely returning the embrace.]

You, you did really good.

[thesettingsun]

I did my best for you.

[And Waver, and other people... But a lot of it was for Evan.]

[selfinserting]

...I think you would have done good if I wasn't here. Don't, um, don't underestimate yourself.

[thesettingsun]

...Maybe, but that doesn't change that I did a lot of it for you.

[selfinserting]

Even then... It's, it's not easy to look out for someone else in a situation dangerous like this. And - you didn't just do that for me, you did it for, for other people, too. So, that's... something to be proud of.

[thesettingsun]

Well, if you say so.

[He's still not good at being proud of himself, but...]

Are you proud of me?

[selfinserting]

[Without hesitation:]

Of, of course I am.

[thesettingsun]

Then I'm happy. No matter what everyone else thinks of me - that's enough.

[He made his family proud, like he never could before.]

[selfinserting]

[A beat, and then:]

I've never been... enough for anyone before.

[thesettingsun]

You're enough for me. You're my dearest family.

[His birth family would not have supported him this long.]

[selfinserting]

[With those words, almost unconsciously, the embrace grows a little tighter.]

...You, you too. Thank you.

[thesettingsun]

No matter how many times you say that, I'm still the one who should be thanking you.

[They may argue about this well after the game has actually ended.]