[Video + Possible Action, Open]

[theyseemeroland]

Today is Father's Day in my country. It's a day we show appreciation for our fathers.

...I always did my best to visit my son on that day.

[Sigh. Roland misses his son.]

There's got to be at least a few people here with good relationships with their fathers, right? Or father figures, Father's Day is for them too.

Anyway, I'll probably be grilling some burgers or something later, feel free to join me. Maybe bring something else to eat or drink if you can, make a potluck out of it.

((I don't have an action starter for the burgers, but if you want to do that feel free to make an action tag approaching him, or go from network to action.))

Comments

[action]

[keepcalmandflutteron]

A glowing presence is flying off-screen only comes to view as the feet is over.

"Hi Roland! Whatcha doin' with that talking box?"

[action]

[theyseemeroland]

Roland looks up, surprised to see her.

"Talking box...?" He holds up the communicator. "You don't know what this is?"

Re: [action]

[keepcalmandflutteron]

"Of course I know what that is! Why wouldn't I?" She sounds a bit curt, but as the awkward silence hangs for a second, she must confess. "...okay, I had Rapunzel explain it to me."

"But yeah! I know what that is! It's a communication device! And pretty neat! I'd like to meet the person that came up with it and shake their hand!" Uh.

"Figuratively, I mean!"

[action]

[theyseemeroland]

"I think you might be a little late for that. Wireless radio was invented over 100 years ago." A communicator like this wasn't really "made" by one person, but was the result of lots of little progresses in technology... but the invention of wireless radio is as good a point to pick as any.

[action]

[keepcalmandflutteron]

"Oh yeah! I think we had a bit of that in Riveria! It helped connect people from distant worlds, but it was nowhere near this fancy!" She seemed pleased with this.

"I bet if you give us a little while somebody probably could!"

She takes a moment before floating a little closer. "So um... how old is he?"

[action]

[theyseemeroland]

"Probably. Progress tends to be inevitable." He cocks his head at her question; that came a little out of left field, considering what they've been discussing. "How old is who?"

[keepcalmandflutteron]

Her tone becomes somewhat hushed. "Your son. I... couldn't help but overhear."

[theyseemeroland]

"Oh." Roland's expression turns to a mix of nostalgia and sadness; he loves his son, but he misses him too.

"He's [Insert preteen age here? Canon doesn't say and I'm horrible at guessing], but he's pretty small for his age. Just like I was." Roland's face brightens up a bit, though, as he has an idea. "I've got some pictures of him, if you want to see."

[keepcalmandflutteron]

"DO I?" Butterfly chirps, floating nearer to Roland's shoulder. "I want to know all about him!"

Mostly because she's curious, but also because... she thinks it might help.

That's the best pic I've got, pics of Roland's son are hard to find :(

[theyseemeroland]

Roland smiles and starts scrolling through his communicator, screening it with one hand for privacy. He transferred everything he wanted from his phone to this device long ago.

Eventually he comes upon what he wants, and holds up the device so Butterfly can see: A boy in pajamas sitting on the lap of a man who looks he might be Roland's father. They look happy.

[keepcalmandflutteron]

Its not hard to tell that Butterfly is smiling. Her glow is warm, like the welcome hearth of a fire. Despite her chattiness, she only has one thing to say.

"He looks so happy."

[theyseemeroland]

Roland nods. "If there's one thing I did right as a father, it's that." As for what he did wrong... well, in his eyes, he's got a list. His job keeping him away from his son so much is chief among them.

Roland points out the background; the two are at a hospital. "He's been sick almost his whole life, and he has to live at the hospital. That's why he doesn't live with me. But I visit him as much as I can."

[mynameisallen]

Fathers day?

[To be fair back where he was from, he never knew such a thing existed. But... it was certainly getting him thinking for the moment.]

I never would have thought such a day would exist.

[theyseemeroland]

We have a Mother's Day too, that was last month. And a Grandparents' Day, but that one's a little more obscure. I don't remember when that one is.

[mynameisallen]

I didn't know about any of them, so I wouldn't be able to help you there.

[Not like he would really celebrate any of them if he was honest. The only parent figure he ever had was Mana and he wasn't around.]

But I guess it's nice that they have days like those.

[theyseemeroland]

They didn't have them where you're from, huh?

[He picks up a bit of that from his tone, though.]

Not close to your parents, I take it?

[mynameisallen]

Not that I know. Then again, I had no reason to pay attention to them.

[He shrugged his shoulders briefly.]

Never knew them actually.