second; but you don't realize it yourself

[polyheroic]

Video;

[So, since no one discouraged spamming the network, Rose is posting, again. This time, she's indoors, at a shiny new apartment.]

Sooo, hey. I figure, I'm new here, some of you are new here, some of you are old hats, whatever. We should break the ice! And by that I mean I'm super bored. So. I'm having a party! Matisse, Genessia City, Room 102. Best way to break in a new apartment, right? Right. I've got snacks, soda, movies, and most importantly, we're gonna have a bunch of rounds of Truth or Dare and stuff like that. Everyone's invited as long as you have your magic pendant-y thingy. Don't think too hard about that part, please. See you soon! I hope? Seriously, everyone should show up, please.

Action;

[Rose has, true to her word, gotten a big party setup going in her apartment. Soda, snacks, etc of various types are around, she's got a bunch of extra chairs, the apartment is clean, there's some movies playing in the background for noise, and now she's just waiting for people to arrive.

If you arrive very early, you might hear her muttering to herself:]

Was this a mistake after all, are people really going to come, it's going to suck if I bought all this and no one shows, but it's probably fine, people here are friendly, but maybe....

[... Yeah.]

Comments

[polyheroic]

No, it's okay! If you want to talk about him, I can listen. That might help you feel better. I've got a picture of my girlfriends too, if you want to see?

[She's.... trying hard to not address the 'maybe dead' part of that, because what do you even say to that? she wants to help, but.]

[theyseemeroland]

Sure, I'll show you mine if you show me yours. [A chance to talk about his son!? Yes, please! As much as he misses him... he misses talking about him too.]

Let me find a seat first, though?

[polyheroic]

... Oh, right. There's a couch over where I've set up the movies?

[theyseemeroland]

That'll work.

[Roland heads over and plops down on one end of the couch, pulling out his device and navigating to his pictures, then scrolling through to find a good one.]

[polyheroic]

[Rose follows, her own phone out, and she opens the gallery.

If he peeks, there's a ton of pictures, of many different places- A futuristic city, a wild jungle, some strange and alien animals, and just straight-up modern-day Japan. But she finds one easily enough, and turns it to show him.]

Cute, right? They're the best.

I don't have any good pics of Roland's son :(

[theyseemeroland]

[He respects her privacy enough not to peek, but politely leans over to look at the picture.]

You all look happy.

[He shows her his own picture, showing a little boy in pajamas sitting in the lap of an older man who bears a certain resemblance to Roland -- Roland's father, perhaps? Maybe an uncle? There are a few birthday decorations around, but the setting they're in... if she's observant, maybe she'll figure out that it's a hospital.]

It was his birthday. Isn't he cute?

oh no :(

[polyheroic]

We were... When we're together, there's no reason to not be.

[she loves them so much?]

He looks like a sweet kid... What's his name?

[She is observant enough, and it doesn't take long for her to figure it out. But... It seems rude to ask, or comment about any of it.]

sorry for delay!

[theyseemeroland]

Will. Well, William.

[He glances down at his picture again, eyes full of both nostalgia and regret.]

I wish I could have spent more time with him. If I'd known that all this world-hopping was going to happen....

[This world would be fine for his son, might even be able to cure him, but... what of Ni no Kuni? Would Will even be able to survive there?]