THE POST-GAME "EVERYBODY GETS TO VISIT EVERYBODY ELSE" MEME

[devoutish]

Good news! The mysteries of the town have all been uncovered and solved, and characters have found a way to harness the power that brought them here in order to return home. Even better, they've gained total control over its workings, allowing them to visit other worlds on a temporary or permanent basis. Want to go home with your new friends? Want to live on your own world but take free vacations to visit them whenever you want? It's all doable!

Leave a comment briefly describing your character's world/home for other people to comment to. Thread out a visit, create shenanigans, do whatever you want GO CRAZY

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Royce Melborn (spoilers for post-Riyria!)

[bywolves]

[ Elan is a small world, in comparison to Earth. Still, the city you'll find yourself in may be slightly overwhelming. New Percepliquis is beautiful - new, still growing. The door to Royce's world opens right in the middle of the Cenzarium, a tall, grand building dedicated to the Art. The door is in a special room dedicated just to that door, and when someone comes through, a message is sent across the Nidwalden River to a one Royce Melborn, who makes his way there immediately.

While you wait, you're welcome to speak to any of the people in the school, from students to teachers to Arista Essendon or Hadrian Blackwater themselves. They may not know you, but if you're a friend of Royce's, you're a friend of theirs.

Or maybe you'll show up when Royce is there to visit. He doesn't spend a lot of time in the Cenzarium, but it's not uncommon to find him in the guild hall for the Teshlor trainees across the town square from the Cenzarium, hanging out with Hadrian. Who knows? You might even find him at the palace - Empress Modina is pleased to lead you there if you'd like, to where Royce sits on a balcony watching two little girls laugh and play in the courtyard below. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie catches up with Royce on the balcony, having been told by someone or other where he had hidden himself away. He too has a little girl with him - a curly-haired toddler, maybe two or three years old, tucked under one arm. He waits for Royce to turn around and spot him, and then he gives a little bow.]

Your Majesty.

[The teasing grin is only barely suppressed.]

[bywolves]

[ With his hearing restored to what it should be, Royce hears the footsteps almost a mile away. Footsteps that he doesn't recognize, which makes him wary, but - when he turns, and sees Alfie, his expression brightens just slightly, mostly in the eyes.

You know, except for how Alfie ruins it. Royce sighs heavily, but - that voice is so good to hear after everything that has happened, after all this time. So sure, he sighs, but his expression is warmer than it ever was in Norfinbury, pleased to see Alfie. He pushes his hood back and folds his arms across his chest. ]

Maribor above, don't start. I've heard enough from Hadrian. [ A beat. He smiles, now. ] Been a long time, hasn't it, Solomons?

[devoutish]

A very long time.

[Years, in fact, though it doesn't seem that long. It almost feels like he last saw Royce just yesterday.]

You've certainly made a name for yourself. I heard the story from one of your servants.

[bywolves]

They're not my servants, they're guards. And you've certainly passed on your name, haven't you. [ Royce's eyes are on the toddler Alfie's got in his arms. ]

[devoutish]

[She hides her face against Alfie's neck when Royce looks at her, but then peeks a little, giving him an impish little grin.]

Yeah, that's my kid. Yeah.

[He's going for nonchalant, but for once, he isn't landing it. He's bursting with pride.]

You don't sit in this great big palace all day, do you?

[bywolves]

[ Sure looks like Alfie, especially with that grin. Royce looks amused, himself. ]

No. I'm here on business. This isn't my palace, it's Modina's. Don't play coy, Solomons, I know you're waiting for me to ask about your kid. Managed to charm a woman off her feet, did you?

[devoutish]

I've got a wife now. I'm a proper family man; can you believe it?

[But he's still a criminal, because of course he is. He lightly pokes the girl on the cheek, and she giggles.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce is glad Alfie has not asked him if he wants to hold her. Arista and Hadrian have asked that same type of question before and he never knows how to say no without offending people. ]

I believe it. Believe it more than you'd think, actually. [ He will come a little closer, though! ] Names?

[devoutish]

She's Anna.

[Anna reaches a hand out and makes a grab for Royce's long hair, because she's exactly as irritating as her father.]

My wife's Renee.

[bywolves]

[ Royce starts - but he has enough control over his reflex to not karate chop Alfie's daughter for grabbing at him, thanks. ]

Anna. [ He raises his eyebrows at her, reaching to tie his hair back. ] You have menace written all over you.

[devoutish]

She's learned to walk.

[The long-suffering tone of his voice says it all, really. Heart attacks on the daily as she gets into all kinds of trouble.]

There's a reason I haven't put her down. Have you got any of your own yet?

[He knows Royce had wanted to, with Gwen.]

[bywolves]

[ He opens his mouth - and then closes it, looking out over the balcony at the girls scream-laughing as they climb after a raccoon that's scampering up a tree. ]

Just one. [ His tone is fond, but he's quieter. Sadder. ]

[powersouls]

[Tifa hasn't really gotten used to this whole world-hopping thing, and she hasn't gotten a chance to visit Royce yet. She just got caught up in the whole end of the world thing and then rebuilding the city and... Well, Gaia was a mess for a while. Someone tells Tifa that Royce is on his way, and she finds a sitting area to wait in, looking a little out of her element and just slightly overwhelmed by... all of it.

She looks mostly the same, although her hair is cut shorter and there's a pink ribbon tied to her arm. The biggest difference, really, is that she looks healthier. It's a wonder what good sleep and eating regularly can do for your overall appearance. When Royce finally arrives, she's on her feet in an instant, face lighting up. And if Royce didn't expect her to immediately cross the room and throw her arms around him, he doesn't know her at all.]

Royce!

[bywolves]

[ Poor Tifa - it's been a long time since they've been in Norfinbury, so it takes a bit for Royce to remember she's a hugger. She comes right up to him and drags him into a hug, and the people in the room all gasp. They're expecting some sort of bloody retribution, but Royce sort of just stiffens up, and snaps out a quick command in elvish to the tall, stoic guards already making their way over to yank Tifa off him.

There's a pause, and then Royce rests a hand on her arm. A beat, and then, soft, with a smile he hides: ] Hello, Tifa.

[ He missed her! Not that he'll say. ]

[powersouls]

[Ah, whoops. Tifa pulls back, shoots a sheepish look at the guards who are backing off, and then turns her attention back to Royce with a not-at-all-concealed grin.]

I missed you so much. Do you have guards now?

[bywolves]

[ He looks vaguely exasperated. ] Yes. I don't need them, but they refuse to let me go anywhere on my own.

A lot has happened. For both of us, I assume. [ He waves the guards off, who move catlike back to the door. The rest of the room's inhabitants go back to what they were doing, and Royce beckons, leading Tifa to the balcony. There's some measure of privacy here, at least. ]

[powersouls]

[Tifa follows, a little smile still on her lips. It might be permanent for as long as she's visiting, honestly.]

I can imagine. Tell me.

[bywolves]

[ He gives her the rundown - skims past the more painful parts, the parts he doesn't like to remember, but she gets to hear all about Novron, how Novron was an elf, how the Patriarch - Mawyndulë - was an elf, and all the events leading up to the final battle. ]

Hadrian was called to fight as Gaunt's champion. [ Royce says, as the tale winds down. ] And he would've won, but he wasn't declared champion by the actual Heir of Novron, so he couldn't kill Mawyndulë's champion - the final blow bounced off of the champion's chest, protected by the ritual in place. I tried to kill Mawyndulë before the champion could kill Hadrian, but I couldn't hurt him, and Mawyndulë tried to set me on fire. But he couldn't.

[ He pushes his hair back out of his face. Dryly: ] You'll never believe who the Heir actually was.

[powersouls]

Oh!

[Wow. That's... Tifa just sort of blinks at him for a second. Sorry, Royce.]

Is that why you have the bodyguards?

[And then, because she has to tease him at least a little, she smiles again, eyebrows going up.]

Is it illegal to touch royalty? Is that why everyone was so horrified when I hugged you?

[bywolves]

[ He rolls his eyes. ]

Yes, that's why I have the bodyguards. Elves. [ Huff. ] And no, it isn't illegal. You've met me, Tifa. They were concerned I'd respond... poorly to touch, I assume.

[powersouls]

[Tifa laughs softly, reaching out to squeeze his arm.]

I know, I'm just teasing you. So what are you doing now?

[bywolves]

[ He wrinkles his nose at her, but it's playful. It's easy to remember how to act with her. ]

Being king of the elves. [ He says that so dryly. ] Not all it's cracked up to be. And I assume you're doing fine for yourself, considering how you look.

[powersouls]

There was some bad, but a lot of good, too.

[But she's more stuck on the elf thing.]

So... Has that been okay? That everyone knows?

[bywolves]

Not as if I have much choice, now. [ Sniff. ] Modina has done enough to ensure mir have better lives. I've not heard anybody make any remarks to me about it, but I'd assume they're afraid to.

[ Insult the king, get stabbed by terrifying elf guards. ]