After helping Castti prevent tragedy from striking the city of Timberain, the eight travelers had all completed their various quests. With their burdens finally eased, the tight knit group of friends had made camp in the Leaflands, and were finally able to relax and enjoy each other's company.
"Hrmm…The fire won't catch."
"Let's give it another go, Agnea."
Partitio grit his teeth as he gently blew on the small flame that was teetering on the edge of being extinguished. It was being stubborn, and seemed to not want to ignite the pile of logs that he and Agnea had arranged in their campfire. They needed to get it started before the hunters came back, or Ochette would be upset…
"We've brought firewood, you two."
Partitio looked up to see Castti approaching, and he beamed when Osvald came up behind her. They both set the wood in a pile by the campfire, and Osvald crossed his arms over his chest, letting out an exasperated sigh.
"I spent all of that time teaching you fire magic, Partitio, so why are you not using it?" Osvald asked with an eyebrow raised.
Partitio rolled his eyes and shrugged, shaking his head. "C'mon Osvald, sometimes you gotta work up a sweat before a good meal!"
"If you insist on being so…inefficient." Osvald cracked a smile, and Partitio's face flushed at the fondness in his eyes. "I suppose I can let it slide this time…but only because it's you."
"Aw, sweetheart, you're makin' me blush!" Partitio gushed, and Agnea giggled at the spectacle.
"Y'all are so cute, you're gonna make me blush too!" She continued to giggle, and Osvald averted his gaze and tugged on his beard. Partitio chuckled and went back to the task at hand, as Hikari and Temenos returned with water after scouting the area.
Soon after that, Ochette and Throné arrived after a successful hunt, and everyone engaged in friendly banter, which brought a smile to Osvald's face. When he had escaped from his five year confinement and embarked on his journey for revenge, he never could have predicted that he would end up traveling with a group of people he now considered his closest friends. And he certainly never expected to fall in love with one of them.
"...We'll show this pile of sticks who's boss!"
Osvald laughed at Partitio's words of encouragement to the struggling fire, and his eyes went wide when the fire suddenly burst to life, finally catching onto the pile of logs.
"There we go!" Partitio and Agnea said in unison as they high-fived. He beamed as he rushed up to Osvald, grabbing his hands and giving his arms a good shake.
"See? I told ya I could handle it without magic!"
"Hmm, indeed." Osvald chuckled when Partitio let go, and he reached up to cup Partitio's face, caressing his cheek with his thumb. "You certainly are full of surprises."
Partitio sighed and leaned into Osvald's touch. After everything that he and his companions had gone through, he was so happy that they were able to relax and have fun like this. Osvald especially seemed like he could use this kind of carefree camaraderie, and Partitio's heart swelled with happiness when Osvald leaned down to place a kiss on his forehead.
"Hehe, there's a lot more where that came from, darlin'," Partitio said as he took Osvald's hand and entwined their fingers together.
"Ahem." Throné loudly cleared her throat, and Partitio flushed a bright red as he pulled away from Osvald, but kept hold of his hand. "We should get to cooking. We might have gone a little overboard with the hunting…"
"No way!" Ochette shook her head vigorously as she began cutting the meat, "You can never have too much meat, Néné!"
"With how much you can put away in one sitting? That is certainly not a lie." Temenos chuckled and glanced at Partitio, shooting him a knowing wink. Osvald cleared his throat as he adjusted his glasses, and Partitio thought he looked mighty cute with a dusting of pink covering his cheeks.
"Let's help out, dear," Osvald said, giving Partitio's hand a squeeze, and he nodded as he flicked up the brim of his hat.
"Yeehaw! We'll make the tastiest meal yet!"
After all the meat was cooked and the sun had set, the eight travelers sat around the campfire, enjoying their meal along with each other's company, with most of the conversations focusing on their feelings about their journey together and what they wanted to do next. Partitio sat snuggled right up against Osvald as they ate, and Osvald had one arm settled around Partitio's waist. This was the first campfire that they had without the weight of one or multiple of the group's troubles dampening the mood, and Partitio was all smiles as light conversation dominated their mealtime.
"Hoo-eey! Ochette really knows her stuff. This is some mighty fine meat!" Partitio said, biting off a large chunk and chewing it slowly to savor the delicious flavor. He swallowed and licked his lips before turning to Osvald. "D'ya like it, darlin'?"
"Mmmhmm." Osvald nodded, and Partitio stifled a laugh. He really did seem to be enjoying it, maybe a little too much, as a few bits of meat had gotten stuck in his beard. Partitio bit his lip as he slid into Osvald's lap, earning a startled grunt from him.
"You're not supposed to wear it, sweetheart," Partitio said as he plucked a handkerchief from his vest pocket. Osvald flushed with embarrassment, averting his gaze while Partitio doted on him until his beard was nice and clean again.
"Did you get it all?" Osvald asked when Partitio put his handkerchief away.
"Hmm, most of it." A cheeky grin graced Partitio's lips as he cupped Osvald's face, "But I reckon I missed a very important spot…" Osvald opened his mouth to ask what he meant, but he found it very hard to speak with Partitio's lips covering his. He chuckled as he slipped his hand behind Partitio's head and pulled him closer…
"Oh for Aelfric's sake, get a room."
Partitio pouted when he pulled away from Osvald, and he turned to find Temenos watching them with a shit-eating grin on his face. The rest of their friends were staring at them as well, with smiles on their faces, while Agnea and Castti tried to stifle their giggles with little success.
"Aw, c'mon Temenos!" Partitio whined, wrapping his arms around Osvald and resting his head on his shoulder, "Y'all can't expect me to just keep my affection for my darlin' all bottled up!" Osvald cleared his throat, his face a bright red in color, but he did not push Partitio away, which sent Partitio's heart a flutter.
Castti hummed as she tapped her chin. "Oh, that wouldn't do at all. You both spent so long bottling up your feelings for one another, it would be a crime to stop you now."
"Yeah, it was a bit painful at times watching you two pine hopelessly for each other," Throné chimed in, and Ochette let out a dreamy sigh.
"I'm sooo glad you two are finally together!" she said, clapping her hands together excitedly, "And the story of your confession was so romantic, having your first kiss under the stars like that…"
"That wasn't the only first for you two that night, was it?" Temenos said, a sly grin crossing his face as the rest of the group snapped their attention to Osvald and Partitio. Partitio's face went pale when he felt Osvald stiffen, and he gulped as he turned to look at Osvald's face to find his eyes narrowed into a glare.
"You told him?!" Osvald growled, and Partitio waved his hands in front of him as he vigorously shook his head.
"C-C'mon darlin', give me a break! You know how good he is at interrogatin', and when he cornered me, it was more than a little scary…" Partitio's heart hammered hard in his chest as Osvald's scrutinizing glare bore into him, but his gaze softened and he let out a weary sigh.
"...You're lucky that you're cute, Partitio…" Osvald grumbled as he playfully cuffed him upside the head, and Partitio laughed as he placed his hands on his shoulders.
He sighed and swiped the back of his hand over his forehead. "Whew, that's a relief! Thought you were gonna give me a good wallop for a second there." Osvald chuckled as he leaned over to whisper into Partitio's ear:
"Don't think you're off the hook, dear. I have a special punishment in mind for you."
Partitio's mouth went dry and his face burned as he jerked backwards, finding Osvald looking at him with a rare, mischievous look in his eyes. This man…Golly, Partitio reckoned had never loved someone so much, and he was really looking forward to their next stay at an inn…
Agnea giggled and shook her head. "Y'all are so sweet, it's a bit nauseating to tell ya the truth…"
"Indeed." Hikari smiled and nodded in agreement. "Could you wait until after we've eaten to continue showing your affections? I do not want Ochette and Throné's hard work to go to waste."
"Aw, not you too, Hikari!"
Boisterous laughter erupted from the entire group, and their bantering continued well into the night. It was a bit embarrassing being teased so much, but because it was about him and Partitio being so in love, Osvald knew that it was all in good fun.
The moon was high in the sky when the group called it a night, and with his arms wrapped securely around Partitio, Osvald's sleep was restful…That is, until he was awoken by a most disturbing nightmare.
Osvald sat straight up, breathing heavily as he wiped the sweat from his brow. "...What was that?" he wondered aloud. The Sacred Flames…had been snuffed out? By whom? And why? And what was that purple flame?
Shaking his head, Osvald rubbed at his temples. This was illogical. It was only a dream. But why…why was this foreboding, ominous feeling so real?
"Mmmm…Did I just…Huh?!"
Osvald turned to see Partitio suddenly jerk awake, and his eyes were wide with panic. Osvald noted that he was trembling and covered in sweat, so he quickly wrapped his arms around Partitio in a comforting embrace.
"Easy, Partitio. I'm here," Osvald said as he gently ran his hand through Partitio's hair while the other rubbed his back. Partitio gripped Osvald tightly, but his breathing did eventually even out, and he let out a deep sigh and shook his head.
"T-Thanks, darlin'," Partitio said, smiling up at Osvald, but he could see the unease in his eyes, "Hoo-eey, let me tell ya, I just had the weirdest dream."
Osvald hesitated a moment, tugging at his beard, before he asked, "Was it…about the Sacred Flames being extinguished? And an unfamiliar place, where a dark fire was blazing?"
Partitio gawked at Osvald like he had just grown another head. "Wait, wait! Are you yankin' my chain? Y-You saw it too?"
Osvald nodded slowly, his lips set in a tight line as a grim look passed over his face. Something about this was very, very wrong, and he gripped Partitio's hand tightly. His suspicions were confirmed when one by one their other friends awoke and all of them described the same dream.
"Strange…Dawn should be upon us soon…" Castti commented, and Osvald took in their surroundings. The darkness was…suffocating, unrelenting…unnatural. It almost seemed like there was a purple tint to the fog that permeated the wilderness around them. Ochette suddenly bristled, her ears sticking straight up and Mahina let out a distressed hoot beside her.
Partitio's grip tightened on Osvald's hand as he gazed up at the pitch black sky. He had no idea what was going on, but he didn't like it one bit. He felt Osvald's thumb gently rub against the back of his hand, which did a lot to put him at ease, but it was not enough to alleviate all of his fear.
Hikari's eyes narrowed as he gripped the hilt of his sword. "Something is amiss. This is no natural nightfall."
"I've felt this…" Ochette said, her ears falling flat against her head as she pulled out her bow and pointed it into the darkness, "It's just like before…On your guard, everyone!"
Osvald was quick to react, and he stepped protectively in front of the group, using his One True Magic to get the jump on the strange creatures that emerged from the darkness. With all of them working together, they made quick work of their assailants, and Osvald was left with many unanswered questions.
He listened intently as Castti and Ochette recalled seeing the creatures before, and he couldn't help but see the similarities between them and Harvey's bastardized version of the One True Magic, the Shadow…
"We need to check on the Sacred Flames," Temenos said, "If they truly have been extinguished, then we must make haste to get them lit again. Let us split into pairs to cover more ground." The group agreed, and they were quick to pack up camp.
"Osvald…" Partitio said as he heaved his bag onto his back, "What do you think of all this?"
Osvald closed his eyes and shook his head. "Further research is required…But we must find an answer to this conundrum."
Partitio laughed and slapped a hand to his back. "That sounds just like you, darlin'." He took a deep breath to calm his nerves, and punched a fist into his hand.
"Well, it's plain what we've got to do. Keep movin' forward, right? I'm amenable to that, so let's get a move on!" Partitio continued, turning to Osvald and taking his hand, "Let's go see to our flame."
"Well said." Osvald nodded and entwined their fingers together. "Just…be careful, love."
"You too, sweetheart."
Osvald and Partitio bid their friends to stay safe as well, before they rushed off to Crackridge, mentally preparing themselves for whatever they might find there.
There are some things, Osvald noted, that you really can never prepare yourself for. Finding out that Partitio's scrivener friend Ori had been working with Harvey was one of them.
"W-What in tarnation…" Partitio's hands were trembling as he read the torn journal page that he held. Osvald tightened the grip that he had on his own page, tearing the paper slightly.
'Osvald is sentenced to life imprisonment' was the first sentence on the page, and a pit of unease settled in his gut. As he read more, his eyes narrowed and he set his jaw. Well, he never thought that he would be thanking Harvey for anything, but that damned ego of his gave Osvald the chance to survive and silence him for good, so he would extend the courtesy just this once.
"Hikari…You…Temenos…Castti…Me…" Partitio bit his lip so hard that he tasted blood, and tears welled up in his eyes as he looked up at Osvald, and his heart ached at the betrayed look on his face. "She was watchin' all of us…I-I don't know what to think…"
"Come here." Osvald wrapped his arms around Partitio and pulled him into his warm, comforting embrace. They stood there for a while, with Osvald holding Partitio and letting him cry softly against his chest.
"Better?" Osvald asked when Partitio finally pulled away, and he swallowed thickly and nodded.
"Y-Yeah…Thanks," Partitio said, a small smile crossing his face when Osvald placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, "Ori always seemed so cheerful and spirited. I never would have thought that she'd be harborin' so much…disdain for humanity."
"It is…surprising." Osvald adjusted his glasses and took Partitio's hand. "However, we cannot linger here. We must get to the flame." Partitio nodded as he entwined their fingers, and they picked up more of Ori's journal entries as they pressed deeper into the ruins.
When they reached the end, Partitio's jaw dropped as he looked back and forth between the two statues flanking the Sacred Flame. There was no mistaking it; they were Bifelgan the Trader and Alephan the Scholarking.
"Hoo boy…We may have been onto somethin' when we joked about channlin' the gods back in Wellgrove…" Partitio said as he moved to stand in front of Bifelgan. He slowly reached out and brushed his fingers against the cold stone, and he gasped when the statue started giving off a blue glow.
Osvald didn't respond, his jaw hanging open; he was stunned into silence. He examined Alephan carefully from all angles, before he followed Partitio's lead and touched the statue.
"...Fascinating." Osvald breathed, and Partitio was given pause at how beautiful he looked basked in the blue glow from the statue. Osvald's gaze met his, and they both nodded, before moving to stand before the extinguished flame. Taking the mirror shard out that Temenos had given him, Osvald took Partitio's hand and held it up before them.
Osvald cringed as his vision went black, and a scene played in his head of Ori extinguishing the flame with her own blood. His blood ran cold when the scene of Ori lying motionless before the snuffed out Sacred Flame faded away. When his senses had returned, Osvald quickly moved to catch Partitio before he fell to the ground; his legs had given out under him.
"Partitio?" Osvald's tone was laced with worry, and Partitio sniffed as he shook his head.
"Ori…why?" he choked out, tears falling down his face, and Osvald cupped his cheeks and gently wiped them away with his thumbs. It hurt to see Partitio upset like this, but Osvald's eyes widened as something important came to mind.
"Partitio, I heard from an apothecary in town," Osvald said, and Partitio blinked away his tears and watched Osvald intently, "A woman was found collapsed near the Sacred Flame, and brought there for treatment."
"Huh?" Partitio's eyes went wide, and Osvald smiled as he brushed a few loose strands of hair from his face.
"She had brown hair and wore a cap, much like a scrivener," he continued, and a smile slowly spread across Partitio's face as he spoke, "After she regained consciousness, she simply…vanished."
Partitio's placed his hands on Osvald's arms and nodded. "That's Ori, it's gotta be."
"But…if that's true…" Partitio cast his gaze downward and worried his bottom lip between his teeth. "Then…what saved her?"
"It appears that her wounds fell just short of being fatal."
Partitio let out a sigh of relief. "She must have changed her mind…just in the nick of time. She saw the worth in walkin' towards the dawn."
Osvald chuckled and slipped his fingers under his chin, tilting Partitio's head up until he was looking him in the eyes. "Well, I can hazard a guess as to why she hesitated." Partitio tilted his head, his brow furrowing with confusion, and Osvald took Partitio's hand and lifted it to his face to place a gentle kiss onto the back of it.
"I believe it was thoughts of you that saved her life."
Partitio blushed as the heat from Osvald's lips spread from his hand all the way up his arm, and he raised a dubious eyebrow. "Me? Now, don't be ridiculous! Like I'd have anything to do with that!" Partitio shook his head vigorously and waved his hand in front of him. Osvald rolled his eyes and grabbed his hands to stop him.
"Much like how you were able to mend my broken heart," Osvald said as he pressed one of Partitio's hands against his chest, and Partitio's breath caught in his throat at the softness of Osvald's gaze, "I think that you managed to sway Ori with your boundless positivity, sincerity, selflessness, and unwavering faith in the good of humanity."
Partitio felt his face heat up considerably, and he rubbed at the back of his neck bashfully. "O-Osvald, you're makin' me blush…" As Osvald laughed, Partitio pulled the brim of his hat down over his face for a moment, before flicking it back up, revealing a fiery determination blazing in his eyes.
"...Well, no matter. As long as she's alive, all's well." The smile fell slightly from his face, and Partitio crossed his arms over his chest. "But just where did she wander off to…?
Osvald studied Partitio over his glasses, taking note of how his brow furrowed and how he nervously wrung his hands together. Taking Partitio's hand, he gave it a squeeze and rubbed the back of it with his thumb. Partitio took a deep breath and let it out slowly, and a bright grin was plastered on his face when he looked back at Osvald.
"Heh…I sure am lucky that you're around to cheer me up, eh darlin'?" he said, and Osvald smiled as he pulled Partitio into a hug.
"Our journey isn't over. We'd do well not to waste time in idle conversation." Osvald hummed as he brushed his fingers through Partitio's hair. "But if you must talk, then perhaps a different topic of conversation would suffice."
Partitio's eyes went wide, and he felt a few tears prick at the corners. He knew that Osvald disliked pointless small talk, so for him to suggest that…It made Partitio's heart swell with happiness, and the tears he tried to hold back fell down his face. They were happy tears this time though, and Partitio laughed as he reached up to cup Osvald's face, his fingers brushing through his soft beard.
"Osvald…Thankee kindly," Partitio whispered, before he leaned up to place a tender kiss on Osvald's lips. Their intimate embrace lasted only a few moments, and when Osvald pulled away, he pressed his forehead against Partitio's and gazed deep into his eyes.
"I would do it a thousand times over for you, love."
"Hehe," Partitio giggled and took Osvald's hand, "That's mighty cheesy, sweetheart."
"Perhaps, but I know you like it."
"You got me there!"
They both laughed at that, and Osvald turned towards the Sacred Flame, which was blazing hot as it should be. Partitio's face fell and his eyes narrowed. They had completed their mission, and now it was time to really get down to business.
"Let's go and fight for the dawn, partner," Partitio said, punching his fist into his hand and cracking his knuckles. Osvald nodded, taking Partitio's hand, and they rushed to leave the ruins, eager to regroup with their friends in Flamechurch and save the world.
Vidania…The battlefield of the gods. If someone had told Osvald a year ago that he would end up here with a group of random strangers to fight for the fate of the world, he would have dismissed it as the ramblings of a madman. Yet here he was, with his closest companions, in the midst of a smothering shadow that threatened to end the coming of the dawn. Osvald would not - could not - allow that to happen.
As they approached an ominous staircase leading up the island, Partitio took a deep breath and tipped his hat. Their journey was coming to an end, and to what end rested on the shoulders of himself and his companions. He had a feeling that this last fight was going to be the toughest yet, and he turned to his friends with fire blazing in his eyes.
"Well well, looks like we've reached the final stop of our journey. I'm glad we saved the best for last," he said, and they all nodded in agreement.
"All the answers I seek can be found here." Osvald crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes. Five years ago, he might not have cared if he lived to see the next day, but now…he had so much to live for. His friends, Elena, Partitio…They were all worth chasing the dawn.
The group of travelers wasted no time as they hurried up the stairs, and a familiar face was waiting for them at the top. Osvald listened with narrowed eyes as Oboro said his piece, and he scoffed when he asked a question of them:
"Can you tell me, without a shade of a doubt... that the dawn is worth all you have endured?"
"Nonsense," Osvald said, crossing his arms over his chest as he shook his head, "Those who march toward the dawn will be welcomed in its embrace. Those who don't will be left behind. That's all there is."
"Well said, partner," Partitio chimed in, giving Osvald's hand a squeeze as he tipped his hat at Oboro, "Allow me to share with you a nugget of wisdom...'Haste makes waste, and you can't sell a horse without a herd.'"
Partitio reached into his pocket and plucked out a silver coin, flicking it into the air with his thumb. "You want somethin', you better not take any shortcuts to get it. If you want the future to be a brighter place, then it's up to you to make it shine. You got to polish it little by little. Day by day."
"...Well said." Osvald echoed Partitio's sentiments as he gripped his hand tightly, and Partitio took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. They watched as Oboro gave himself to the shadow, and Osvald moved to stand protectively in front of his companions - his dearest friends - as Vide the Wicked appeared before them, speaking of devouring the world. Osvald would not allow that to happen, not while he still drew breath.
"We will not fall today. The source of your destruction stands before you now." Light erupted around Osvald as the One True Magic coursed through his body, fueled by thoughts of his friends, his daughter, and the man that he loved. "Love will spell your doom!"
Partitio moved to stand at his side, spear gripped tightly in hand. "Hoo-ey, you got that right, darlin'! Time to charge headlong into a new day!" He grit his teeth and thrust his spear in Vide's direction. "And when we get there, not a one of us will look back in regret!"
A loud cheer erupted from the rest of their friends, and the sounds of weapons being drawn filled the air. Osvald shared a glance with Partitio, and the fiery conviction that he saw in those bright blue eyes spurred him forth, and they began their final fight for the dawn.
In the end, the travelers had struck Vide down and managed to usher in the dawn, allowing life in Solestia to go on as it always had. They had returned to their camp in the Leaflands to resume their rudely interrupted night of relaxation and comradery. The next morning, it was time for them to finally part, and one by one they took their leave.
"Wahh, Pops, Parti! I'll miss you!" A teary-eyed Ochette clung to Osvald's back, burying her face into his hair one last time. Osvald never thought that he'd actually miss her climbing all over him, but as Ochette jumped back to the ground, he felt…bittersweet.
"Don't worry Ochette! We'll make sure to come and visit you!" Partitio said, laughing as he ruffled her hair. Ochette beamed as she hugged him tightly, and she wiped away her tears as Mahina flew to her side.
"During our journey I found something I never thought I would. Something even more important than meat. Until next time!" Ochette ran down the path leaving into the woods, turning back to give them one last wave, before she and Mahina disappeared into the wilderness. Osvald smiled as he watched her go, and he turned to Partitio when he heard him sniff.
"Well I'll be... Seems I've got somethin' in my eyes…" he choked out, tears falling down his face as he rubbed his eyes. Wrapping his arms around Partitio, Osvald pulled him into a hug.
"This isn't goodbye forever. We will see them again," Osvald said, reaching up to wipe away Partitio's tears. Partitio let out a sigh as he rest his head against Osvald's chest.
"Yeah, I know. It's just gonna be weird not having our rowdy bunch of friends together all the time, you know?"
"...That I can agree with."
Partitio went oddly silent for a few moments, before he pulled away and took Osvald's hand. "Hey, sweetheart? Now that we've taken care of Harvey's accomplices and made it through the whole savin' the world thing, I've got a surprise for you."
"Oh?" Osvald raised a curious eyebrow and he let Partitio lead him to one of the logs near their campfire. He sat down and watched as Partitio rummaged through his travel bag, where he pulled out something strange: a set of lockpicks.
"Um, so…" Partitio sat down next to him and Osvald followed his gaze to the collar around his neck. "Throné taught me how to pick locks, so if you're ready, I reckon I can get that collar off of you."
Osvald's felt his throat tighten as he reached up to brush the chain the dangled over his chest. His mission was indeed over. He had saved Elena, and made sure that the dawn would always come for her, as well as himself, his friends, and the man that he loved. He swallowed thickly, blinking away the moisture in his eyes, and he nodded.
"I'd…like that."
"Great!" Partitio beamed as he started to work at the lock right away, and Osvald sat as still as possible, his heartbeat hammering hard in his chest with his anticipation. It seemed like an eternity, but eventually he heard a 'click' and Partitio pulled the collar away with a big grin on his face.
"There we go! How do you feel, darlin'?"
"I feel…" Osvald rubbed at his entire neck for the first time in over five years, and tears fell down his face as he smiled at Partitio, "I feel free."
"Aw, Osvald…" Partitio smiled softly as he pulled Osvald into a hug and let him cry on his shoulder. He couldn't even begin to imagine what Osvald had gone through during his five year imprisonment, but he figured it must feel pretty damn good to have that reminder of that time finally gone.
Osvald composed himself and let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Partitio. Words cannot describe how much this means to me."
"Don't thank me yet!" Partitio grinned and shot up, going over to his bag to rummage through it again. "'Cause I've got another surprise for you!"
Osvald raised a curious eyebrow at him; he had no idea what else he could possibly surprise him with. Partitio pulled out a large box and returned to sit on the log, practically shaking with a giddy excitement as he shoved the box at Osvald.
"What is this?"
"Just open it already!"
A dubious look crossed his face as Partitio stared at him with bated breath. Osvald decided not to keep him waiting any longer and he opened the box, and his jaw dropped when he looked inside.
"T-This is…" Osvald mumbled as he pulled out a long coat. There was also a vest, pants, cravat…it was an entire outfit. He was rendered speechless, and he could only look at Partitio with his mouth agape.
"I hope ya like it!" Partitio gushed, smacking a hand to Osvald's back. "You see, when Agnea gave us those fancy dancer outfits, I figured I could commission her pa to make an outfit for you, and now seemed like a perfect time to gift it to you!"
"Partitio…you didn't have to…" Osvald was still stunned, and Partitio laughed as he helped him to his feet.
"I wanted to, darlin'! Now let's see 'em on ya!" Partitio quickly helped Osvald shed his prison rags and soon enough, he was sporting a rather dashing new look, and Partitio's eyes sparkled at how handsome he looked.
Partitio tied Osvald's hair back with a ribbon, and then placed the top hat on his head. "There, the finishing touch!" He let out a whistle and gave him a once-over.
"Shee-oot! You're lookin' mighty handsome sweetheart-" Partitio said, but he was cut off when Osvald suddenly pulled him into a very tight hug.
"O-Osvald…can't…breath…" Partitio squeaked out, and his eyes widened when Osvald squeezed him tighter still and started sobbing.
"Darlin'..." Partitio whispered, and a soft smile crossed his face as he wrapped his arms around Osvald, gently rubbing his back as he continued to cry.
"Y-You're…too good for me, Partitio…" Osvald choked out, and Partitio chuckled as he shook his head.
"Hogwash. We talked about this already, Osvald." Partitio cupped Osvald's face when he finally pulled away, and he gently kissed away the tears that clung to Osvald's cheeks.
"T-Tickles…" Osvald mumbled, letting out a chuckle when Partitio nuzzled his nose against his own.
"Hehe, I know." Partitio pressed his forehead against Osvald's and looked him in the eyes. "I'm proud of you, Osvald. You saved Elena and completed your mission, and watching you overcome every obstacle in your path, well…It makes me so happy to see you finally happy."
Osvald sniffed as a few more tears fell down his face, and he pushed his glasses up so that he could rub at his eyes. "…I couldn't have done it without you, Partitio. If I didn't have you to pick me up at my lowest point, I don't think I could have achieved what I did."
"I was happy to help!" Partitio took Osvald's hands and gave them a squeeze. "Even before I fell in love with you, I could see the good man that was buried under all that pain and heartbreak."
Partitio lifted one of Osvald's hands to his face and placed a kiss on the back of it, and he smiled when Osvald's cheeks turned a light pink in color. "And I see him now, standing in front of me, and I count myself as the luckiest man in the world that that man loves me in return."
"Partitio…" Osvald let out a deep sigh as he pulled him into another hug, "You're…a remarkable person, and by my calculations it is in fact me that is the luckiest man in the world, being loved by you."
"Hehe, we'll have to agree to disagree, darlin'!" Partitio's laughter was cut off when Osvald kissed him, deep and tender and full of love, and Partitio melted into his embrace.
After they had parted, Partitio pursed his lips and shifted awkwardly on his feet. Osvald raised an eyebrow at him and waited for him to explain his sudden change in demeanor.
"Hey, Osvald?" Partitio looked back at him as he took his hat off and wrung it in his hands. "Now that we've taken care of all of Harvey's accomplices, what will you do now?"
Osvald closed his eyes as he stroked his beard. "The pursuit of knowledge is endless, and so my journey continues." He opened his eyes and smiled at Partitio, before turning his gaze to the sky.
"This time, however, I have a place to return to. A home. I…think I'm ready to go see Elena."
Partitio beamed and slapped a hand to Osvald's back. "I was hoping that you'd say that! I'm sure that Elena will remember you when she finally sees you!"
"I…really do hope so, Partitio." Osvald set his jaw as a nervous pit formed in his gut. It was wishful thinking on his part. What if she didn't remember him, or never did? Or what if she rejected him outright? The negative possibilities were overwhelming…
"Osvald, I wanna come with you."
Blinking with surprise, Osvald looked at Partitio with a dubious eyebrow raised. "Don't you have a company to run, Mr. President?"
Partitio laughed and placed his hat back on his head, flicking the brim up with his finger. "Well, sure. I suppose the real work's only just begun, and I've got a long road ahead of me! And I won't quit it until that devil called poverty is driven from the world!" Partitio thrust his arm in front of him as he flicked a silver coin to the air with his thumb, and Osvald rolled his eyes as he chuckled at the spectacle.
"That being said…" Partitio turned back to Osvald and took his hand. "I reckon it might be a bit hard for ya to go back to Elena on your own, so I wanna be there to support you."
"And…" Partitio blushed as he rubbed at the back of his neck, "I just…well…I wanna stay by your side. I really am serious about us…I-I know it might be a bit too soon to say that, but…I've never felt so much love for someone before. I just know that this is the real deal."
Osvald's heart raced and his jaw hung open slightly as Partitio continued. "It'll be hard at first, with me workin' in Clockbank and all, but if you're up for it, maybe we can relocate there? B-But only if Elena is okay with it…and, well, I guess I've gotta see if she likes me first, so maybe I am taking this too fast-"
Osvald burst out laughing, interrupting Partitio, and he pulled him into a hug. "Calm down, dear. We have time to figure out all of the details, so to address your first point: Yes, I would love it if you came back to Conning Creek with me. As for the rest, well, let's just take things one step at a time."
"Haha, sorry sweetheart," Partitio chuckled as he rest his head against Osvald's chest, "Got a bit carried away there."
"A bit?"
"C'mon Osvald," Partitio pressed his chin to Osvald's chest and pouted up at him, "I just…love you so much, it kinda makes me feel a bit crazy…"
"Maybe you should have an apothecary examine your head for injuries."
Partitio stuck his tongue out at him, and Osvald laughed. "Although, I think that I'd have to get my head examined as well, given that my love for you exceeds any rational amount."
"...Ya know, I think I like this cheesy side of you quite a bit." Partitio snickered as he pulled away from Osvald and gazed around their camp. "So, whaddya say we pack up and get a move on then?"
Osvald nodded in agreement, and in no time at all they were ready to hit the road. Partitio smiled as he adjusted the pack on his back, and he took Osvald's hand in his.
"Hey, Osvald? Is it okay if we make a slight detour on the way to Conning Creek?"
Osvald raised an eyebrow at him. "Yes, but why?"
Partitio beamed as he rubbed the brim of his hat and gave Osvald's hand a squeeze. "'Cause, I wanna stop by Oresrush and introduce my sweetheart to my pops!" Osvald chuckled as he nodded.
"I see. Is that the real reason why you got me new clothes, so that I looked presentable for your father?"
Partitio laughed and slapped his knee. "Yep, ya caught me! Although, to be honest, I don't think my pops would care if you showed up in nothin' but a potato sack, as long as you show him that you're an upstanding kinda person!" Osvald's laughter joined his, and he shook his head.
"I see. You seem pretty confident that he will like me."
"You bet! I just know he's gonna love you!"
"...If you say so."
Partitio beamed as he leaned up to kiss Osvald. "I love you, Osvald. Let's get a move on and start this new journey of ours, eh?"
"I love you too, Partitio." Osvald tipped his hat and reached up to caress Partitio's cheek, before he took his hand again. With that, they set off for Oresrush. Osvald didn't know what would happen during his reunion with Elena, but with Partitio by his side - with his boundless positivity lighting their way - he felt confident that, for the first time in a long time, everything was going to be okay.