With this, the curtain closes on "Blue Eyes, Violet Eyes."

I'm not finished with this franchise, but I am finished with this particular 'verse.

The woman with whom I built the "Good Intentions" stories, one of my dearest friends and without whom I would not be the writer I am, passed away in 2021. I only learned about this recently, as the announcement went out on a platform that I don't use.

I knew that I needed to finish what we started.

It's only right.

So, thank you to everyone who's joined me on this journey. I hope to see you for the next one.

And to Corbi, wherever you are, thank you for guiding me. Thank you for everything.

I love you.

.

Matthias Roslof sat at the head of a huge table laden with food and gifts, hand on his cane, as his fellows celebrated. It was not his birthday—though he had just recently turned 67—but the occasion was just as momentous. If not more.

For this day marked a transition in his life.

Today was the day he retired from his position at the Kaiba Corporation.

Matthias's husband, Inigo, stood at his left shoulder; their children, fraternal twins Jacob and Lia, stood at his other side. All dressed in their best clothes, resplendent in bright colors and brighter smiles, the family of honor was a picture of what the company stood for.

Warmth. Community. Joy.

Everyone was laughing and crying in equal measure, clapping Ol' Matty on the back and wishing him well. Some, who had never met his loved ones, introduced themselves with hearty handshakes and their best stories. Matthias sometimes waded in with his own takes on his greatest hits; being the chief custodian in a building of such magnitude as Kaiba-Corp's regional HQ was not a position one took if they were looking for a mundane career.

The children rolled their eyes at hearing the crocodile story for the thousandth time.

They still smiled.

The crowd was buzzing on about the food, and how head chef Wallace Ackehurst—Big Wally, one of Matthias's closest friends, and the twins' godfather—really pulled out the big guns for this party. Lia was tugging on her father's jacket like a grade-schooler, though she was well into high school, demanding to know when he would be here, when a hush settled over the proceedings.

Seto Kaiba swept into the hall.

Lia gawped; Jacob grinned fit to split his face.

Mattias stood, leaning on his cane. He held out a hand; Seto shook it solemnly, like he was meeting a king. "Matthias," he said, smiling like he so rarely did.

"Chief," said Matthias.

Seto took in the other people, how many there were, and a spark lit in his eyes. Everyone knew what this meant. When he stepped back and took a certain stance, everyone paid rapt attention.

When the boss-man spoke, you listened. That's just how it worked.

"Everyone," he called out, sweeping his hands out, "it heartens me to see you all here. Today we celebrate the career of our lead custodian, Matthias Roslof, and wish him well in his retirement. May you spend your days in comfort and safety, knowing that you will ever have a place here and that you have made an indelible mark on this city's history."

From any other CEO, this might have sounded like platitude, but Kaiba-Corp's retirement packages were notoriously generous. Everyone knew that the Roslof-Benavente family was set for life now. Seto Kaiba didn't send off his people with a shiny watch and a cheap cake. He sent them home secure in the knowledge that he stood at their backs.

If the people working for me cannot live comfortably, I have failed them, Seto was wont to say. The idea of any of his employees struggling for any reason seemed to wound him deeply. His pride would simply not allow it.

"We are proof," Seto continued, "that those who call themselves my peers are lying to themselves and to their workers when they say they can't afford to offer proper compensation. I can make all the sweeping declarations I like, offer up all the arguments and platitudes I can conjure, but without you, it all rings hollow." This he directed at every one of his employees, but his eyes were on Matthias. "No matter what I say, what I do, I am one man. That you choose to follow me, to work toward the fruition of my dream for this city, is worth more than any gesture I can make."

Seto was young. Younger than any person here, except the twins standing at Matthias's right hand. To Matthias, to Inigo, to most everyone listening to him in this moment, he was still a child. A strong child, a willful child, a child who could move mountains, but a child all the same.

The softness, the vulnerability, in Seto's expression as he spoke, which he thought—hoped—he was hiding, was well and thoroughly obvious to all of them.

Matthias spoke up: "We follow you, Chief, 'cause you don't just talk. I'm proud of what I done here in this building. I never look back on my life and think I wasted it. The man what had this place 'fore you did, he never saw a man like me." He jabbed a finger in Seto's direction. "You see me. You remember my name. You remember my kids. That means something."

Seto smiled, more genuinely than most of those present had ever seen from him. "Thank you, Matthias," he said, and he meant it. A moment later, his eyes snapped wide and he reached into his coat. He pulled out two Magic & Wizards cards. "Speaking of which," he said, "you requested that I bring something to this little soiree." He set the cards on the table, revealing them to be two copies of the Lord of Dragons monster, signed by Seto with a little message to Lia and Jacob, respectively.

Matthias beamed as his children snatched up their prizes and marveled at them.

Inigo's face split in a grin. "Thankee, Mister Kaiba," he said.

"You are most welcome," Seto replied, nodding. "Now, I won't take up too much more of your time. You've got food to eat and more stories to tell, I'm certain." He glanced at the main entrance. The crowd watched as Mokuba came inside, holding something behind his back.

"Sorry we're late!" the young Kaiba called out. He was followed dutifully by another boy, with grey-green hair and bright blue eyes, dressed all in white and strangely familiar to the oldest guests present.

Seto turned back to Matthias. He cleared his throat. "When I sent out the call for those who had left my predecessor's employ to return under my leadership, I did not expect many to respond. You were one of the first. You have since dedicated the past five years to my vision for this corporation, and I do not have the words to properly express my gratitude, that you would take a chance on me." He paused. "I hope that it has been a worthy decision, and that you have not regretted it since."

Mokuba and his companion came up to the table.

"As I understand it," Seto said, "my predecessor had a tradition. He would commission a special gift for those who spent a certain number of years at this company." Matthias's face soured. "I also understand that you . . . forfeited your right to such a gift, when you left."

"Mm," said Matthias. Inigo put a hand on his husband's shoulder.

"Well. You may have only spent five years with me, but you spent twenty-five years with this corporation before me. If not for you, this place would not be what it is. We all owe the success of this venture just as much to you as to anyone else who wears a badge and clocks in at this building. You are an example to all of us, and you will always be remembered."

Mokuba, grinning like the devil, revealed what he was holding.

A gleaming crystalline statue of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, in all her glory; wings spread wide, head held high in triumphant defiance. In pride of place beneath one of the dragon's claws was a small golden plaque. It read:

LEAD CUSTODIAN MATTHIAS ELLIOT ROSLOF
IN RECOGNITION OF 30 YEARS OF DEDICATION AND SERVICE
MAY YOUR EXAMPLE GUIDE THE FUTURE TO GLORY

Matthias stared at the little statue, clearly struck with it. His mouth worked. Finally, after nearly a full minute of trying to find his words, he simply stood from his seat, stepped forward, and pulled Seto into a hug.

Seto, stunned but not displeased, returned the man's embrace.

"You're a good kid, Chief," Matthias murmured. "You done right by me, and you're gonna do right by everybody still here. This city's lucky to have you."

A rousing cheer rose up as the crowd broke into applause and started raising up their drinks in a toast.

"Thank you, Matthias," Seto said again, and this time there were tears running down his face.

Matthias patted Seto's back like a doting grandfather.

"You are most welcome," he said.

END.