Raise your hands if you've ever fallen asleep in front of a blank Word Document and wake up to see that a plot bunny magically typed itself.
…No, for real. This one was typed up in my sleep. I don't lie.
I'm not sure what corner this was hiding in, but it is decidedly different than the other shots, I can promise you that. I'm not sure how I feel about posting this…reviewers, what do you think?
Post-DOOM, mention of Gentleshipping, and after this go check out the new section thingamajig (name that section of my profile and you get a prize).
It's inevitable.
Eventually, the three of them know that one day their way of life must come to an end. Life is full of meetings and partings, and theirs is no exception—if anything, theirs is above and beyond the norm. They know that they can't stay rooted in the present for much longer, because in the lull of a post-DOOM life all three of them can see the road to their futures beginning to take shape.
In their earlier years not one of them noticed it, seeing how as their childhoods were full of chaos and each of them fighting for the right to even live. All they could really focus on was to just simply get through the day and live to see another sunrise; two of the three spent the majority of their younger years with that thought in mind, while the third and eldest only spent a part of his life living in that situation, but nonetheless it was their way of life in those dark times and they clung to it for as long as possible.
When Dartz had brought them together initially, they still had not given any real thought about where they were heading or what the future might hold. The youngest still stubbornly clung to the philosophy that kept him alive in the streets, the eldest simply devoted himself to the carrying out of Dartz's goals and did not give his future a second thought, while the last of them debated whether to end any hope of life after vengeance against his enemy was carried out.
As the three had started getting to know each other, their ideas slowly shifted. The oldest began to look beyond Dartz's goals, wondering if maybe there might be more to life that he had missed. Their youngest comrade modified his way of life, so that instead of fighting for the right to live he lived in the moment and took whatever came at him in stride. It was actually the second eldest of them that honestly began thinking about what the future might bring, though he never spent too much time on it for fear of provoking the dark thoughts in his mind.
They went on with their lives during that time, only sparingly thinking about their future. They were kept busy, running Dartz's errands and living only in the present. They had no time to ultimately ponder on what the future might bring, and even if they could what would they do about it? The Leviathan would destroy the Earth, and the idea of a future was laughable.
The illusion wouldn't last.
In the chaos that resulted from the aftermath of the DOOM organization's collapse their fragile, semi-tranquil life was thrown into disarray once again and the foul influence of the Orichalcos was removed from their minds. For the first time in years they were able to think clearly.
It nearly drove all of them mad.
All of their memories about their original lives before DOOM had been almost obliterated, much to their horror. What they could remember was only fragments, and those fleeting thoughts were pain-filled and agonizing to remember. The present held no hope either; since all three had lost their souls and their bodies had been scattered, they woke up in unfamiliar surroundings alone and confused. The road in front of them at that point was confusing to navigate and even more frightening to walk on. After only living in the past and present, stepping into the future was difficult because it meant letting go of everything that they had done over the years and moving forward.
The task was not easy, and the three of them sought each other out only when they had put their lives in order.
When they met up again they chose to stick together. Facing the future and what it held was frightening, but the fear and mystery of it all was lessened with the comforting presence of familiar faces. They moved into a home formerly owned by Paradius and started living what could loosely be termed as a normal life.
But a year and a half later, when DOOM was no longer a factor in their lives, Time that had been frozen by the Orichalcos began to move forward again. Though not one of them brought it up aloud, they all were thinking the same thought. Just as the illusion that Dartz had created hadn't lasted, this lifestyle wouldn't last.
Eventually, they would have to part ways.
The thought terrified all of them. They had spent their younger years alone, and the idea that they will eventually have to head out on their own is scarier than even the threat of the Orichalcos can inspire. But the thought is still looming over their heads, and it shows no sign of going away.
Serenity would not be in high school for much longer and she was eyeing an out-of-city college; the likelihood was high that their youngest friend would follow after her, seeing how it was his girlfriend who was moving. The oldest of them was beginning to feel the stirrings of an age-old instinct to find that special someone to settle down with and start a family. The second eldest just felt restless and the urge to get out on his own for a while; it wouldn't be surprising if the former moved out first.
It's inevitable. Time will continue to move forward and eventually they'll have to head out to face their uncertain futures.
The main thing is that, unlike their childhoods, they can face their futures with confidence. They have no idea of what will happen to them as time marches on, and they may part ways and move to different locations.
But that won't stop them from being friends, and that thought alone allows them to move forward with their heads held high; they won't truly be alone, and this time if something goes wrong they have each other to help them get back to their feet. When the time comes for them to separate, they'll be ready.
Until that time comes, however, Raphael, Alister, and Valon are content to stay together.
