TRP: Goro and Family (Blackberry Pie)

LINA

[Setting: Day 408, the castle.]

Goro wanted to try finding Morgan again. He hadn't seen her since last night, and he started to worry he'd hallucinated her or some shit. She was real nice and interesting. First he checked the couch on the second floor where he'd spotted her sleeping. Then he headed outside into the garden, and walked among the rose bushes, periodically crouching down to check underneath them in case she was napping under one or something.

IZZY

Goro became aware of a tall, somewhat rough-looking man with long hair wound partially into braids watching him from across the garden.

LINA

He straightened up and froze, staring at the man wide-eyed.

IZZY

The man winced and held up a hand to wave a little, tentatively.

LINA

Goro frowned, taking a step back.

IZZY

"Sorry," he called over, still mid-wince. "I wasn't trying to fucking creep up on you, or anything."

LINA

"Who are you?" Goro called back.

IZZY

"I'm Sam. Obsidia." He hesitated. "I don't know if anyone would've ... mentioned me, or anything ..."

LINA

Goro looked around nervously, wondering if there was anyone else seeing this. Witnesses, and shit.

IZZY

"Sorry," he said again, backing away. "Sorry."

LINA

"Who are you? I don't know who Sam Obsidia is. Don't mean anything to me. I lost my memories."

IZZY

"I know," he said quickly. "Uh, Mishka told me. I'm ... I'm a friend of his. And yours. I guess. I don't know. Um. It's -- complicated, maybe." He grimaced. "I'm really not fucking selling this, huh."

LINA

Goro took another step back, scowling fiercely. "I got knives."

IZZY

"Sorry. Fuck." He took his own step back. "I really ... I just wanted to ... see if you were okay. You sent for me, with -- the snake, and all, but I couldn't find you in time, and your fox friend told me what'd happened, and I figured I probably wouldn't be able to ... help, or anything, I just ..."

He trailed off, looking off to the side uncomfortably.

LINA

Goro's face softened. Kinda seemed like maybe the guy wasn't here to hurt him, or anything.

"Um. You said we're friends?"

IZZY

Sam shrugged a shoulder. "I think."

LINA

"How come you don't know?"

IZZY

"Umm. I don't know." He shrugged both shoulders, awkwardly, looking back to Goro. "I'm hard to be friends with. We were ... trying."

LINA

"Oh." Goro felt weird having a conversation when they were standing so far apart. Tentatively, he took a few steps closer. "How do we know each other? Through Mishka?"

IZZY

"No." He stayed where he was, wavering a bit like he wasn't sure about the decision. "I, uh. I'm a warlock. I got in touch with you -- a bit back -- about helping me do a job for my patron."

LINA

"Huh." Goro took a few steps closer. He looked Sam up and down. "Well, what are you like?"

IZZY

Sam blinked at him. "I don't know how to answer that."

LINA

"Why're you hard to be friends with?"

IZZY

Another shrug. He looked uncomfortable again. "I don't know, I'm not ... nice. I'm not good with people."

LINA

"Oh." Goro squinted and scratched his head. "But we're trying, huh?"

IZZY

He nodded. "I, uh ... I saved you from this pirate ship, one time. And you're helping me ... get to be with my partner. My patron. He's on another plane."

LINA

"A pirate ship?"

IZZY

"Yeah."

LINA

Goro walked the rest of the way until he was an arm's length from Sam. He squinted and looked him up and down again. "You okay? D'you wanna come inside or something?"

IZZY

Same kept on staying where he was, letting Goro come to him. "I'm okay outside," he said, and glanced towards the castle. "You have, uh. A lot of friends and shit. And I don't know them."

LINA

"You some weirdo who lives in the woods?"

IZZY

He frowned. "Kind of. I travel around."

LINA

"Neat."

IZZY

"I guess."

LINA

"Sorry I can't remember you," Goro said. "I can't remember anyone. I got ate by this giant -- oh, you mentioned that already. Guess you knew."

IZZY

"Yeah. Yeah, I mean, it's fine. It's not like it's your fault." He shifted his weight forward to his toes, then back to his heels, then forward again, and stepped a little closer to Goro. "My patron. Aziz. He likes you -- you've, uh, you're met him, in dreams. He was fucking pissed that you got fucked up. We're going to help."

LINA

"Oh. Well, that's good, I guess." Goro stared at Sam.

IZZY

Sam stared back.

"We kissed," he blurted. "Like ... two days ago."

LINA

Goro's eyes widened. "Nice."

IZZY

"I just, uh." He shifted his weight again, then tentatively reached out to try to take Goro's hand.

LINA

Goro let him take it. "Oh. Oh. You wanna do it again?"

IZZY

"I mean." He blushed. "I just want to, uh. Be ... nice."

LINA

"Was it any good?"

IZZY

"Pfff." He nodded.

LINA

Goro grinned. "Cool."

IZZY

Sam grinned back, a little sheepish.

LINA

"So are we like, a thing now, or what?"

IZZY

"A thing?"

LINA

"Like. People who kiss, and shit."

IZZY

"Uhh. I, uh. I don't know how to answer that, either," he admitted. "I mean, I've -- I've got my partner, Aziz. And -- you're married. To Hansel. And, uh. I ... also kiss Mishka, and -- this other friend, Irah ... but none of you are like Aziz, and I'm not like Hansel, for you, so ..."

LINA

"Um. Oh." Goro wasn't sure he had the brain space necessary to try and figure all that out, so he decided he'd let it slide for now.

IZZY

"We're people who kiss," he supplied. "Sometimes. Uh, maybe more. Eventually."

LINA

"That sounds alright." Goro frowned slightly. "D'you kiss all your friends?"

IZZY

He frowned back, thinking. "I guess I do."

LINA

"You must be real good at kissing."

IZZY

Sam uhhh'd, embarrassed.

LINA

Goro felt kinda weird now, just standing there holding the guy's hand. But Sam seemed real embarrassed about it all too, so Goro didn't wanna just pull away. "Well. So. Anyway. You came to check on me?"

IZZY

He nodded, continuing to look awkward. "Sorry about being fucking creepy, before. I know there's not anything I can actually ... do."

LINA

"Well, next time, you could... y'know, come up and say hello, or whatever."

IZZY

"Yeah," he admitted. "I didn't want to bother you, or anything."

LINA

"You ain't bothering me. I like people." Goro frowned. "Well, as far as I can tell, I like people."

IZZY

"Oh." He sounded kind of pleased, but still doubtful. "I mean, there's just a fucking lot going on for you. I didn't want to pile on, that's all. Uh. Anyway." He glanced around like he was looking for a new topic, and didn't find one.

LINA

"Yeah, I felt kinda overwhelmed yesterday, but..." Goro bit the inside of his cheek, thinking. "I'm getting used to it, I guess. Hansel helped. That's my husband. Ah, shit, you said that already. You know he's my husband."

IZZY

Sam nodded. "Yeah. Uh. I know him. Kind of." He glanced around again. "Hey, were you ... looking for something? It seemed like you were. I could help," he offered.

LINA

"Oh. Yeah." Goro half turned back toward where he'd been looking. "Morgan. You know Morgan?"

IZZY

He shook his head. "I know ... you, Mishka, Hansel, Amari, and Raef. That's all. There are like a fucking dozen people running around this place, I swear to god."

LINA

"Yeesh. Tell me about it. They're all my fucking family or thereabouts and I can't keep track of half of 'em."

IZZY

He nodded in agreement. "Which one's Morgan?"

LINA

"Uh, she's a half-elf like me, and she's got black hair and green eyes. And she's real pretty."

IZZY

"Um." He thought for a moment. "I've been hanging around outside and I haven't seen anyone like that. She's probably inside, unless she left?"

LINA

"She might've. She said she lived on another continent. I might've hallucinated her, actually."

IZZY

Sam narrowed his eyes. "Probably not that one. I don't think you hallucinate."

LINA

"Normally I don't got amnesia, either."

IZZY

"Yeah, true," he admitted, and thought for a moment. "I can help you look around anyway."

LINA

"Okay." Goro wondered if they'd keep holding hands while they did it. He didn't move.

IZZY

Sam also did not move, and just kept looking at him and holding his hand.

LINA

Goro grinned.

IZZY

"What?"

LINA

"I think you're cool."

IZZY

"Pfff." Sam blushed a bit.

LINA

"Do you think I'm cool? I hear I'm a badass."

IZZY

"Yeah, I think you're cool," Sam said, sheepish. "I don't know if you're a badass or not. But you're cool."

LINA

"I can bring people back from the dead, and also do this thing where I touch 'em and open wounds all over their body."

IZZY

"Yeah, that's cool," he agreed.

LINA

Goro reached into his pocket and pulled out Mask's finger, holding it up to show Sam. "Also, I got a god's finger." He put it back in his pocket.

IZZY

Sam stared. "Uh, what?"

LINA

"My god, Mask -- I'm a cleric -- he killed me this morning for like, five seconds. And he gave me his finger."

IZZY

He kept staring.

LINA

"It was so I could remember how to cast my spells. 'Cause I couldn't, before. But when I touch the finger, I can."

IZZY

Slowly, Sam said, "Did you ... tell anyone else about that?"

LINA

"Yeah. I told Hansel, 'cause he was with me when it happened. Y'know, I just, touched this battery thing on his trident, and bam, I'm out. And then a second later I'm back with this new finger. I had to explain."

IZZY

"Huh." He stared a moment longer. "You know, I don't think, uh. I don't think that's allowed."

LINA

"Oh. Shit." Goro clapped his free hand over his mouth. Sam was right. Mask had said he was breaking some rule.

IZZY

"I mean, I won't tell anyone," he added.

LINA

"Yeah, please don't," Goro said fervently. He didn't wanna get Mask in trouble. Or himself, for that matter.

IZZY

"I won't," he said again, squeezing Goro's hand. "I mean, I'm trying to get someone from a different plane onto this one. I'm doing the same shit."

LINA

"Oh yeah," Goro said. "Maybe that's my thing. My gig. Interplanar smuggling."

IZZY

"That would be pretty fucking cool," Sam said.

LINA

"Like I said, I'm a badass."

IZZY

"You almost got killed by pirates," he pointed out. "I had to save you."

LINA

"Maybe I just pretended 'cause I thought it'd be hot if you saved me." Because it was. It was hot.

IZZY

Sam frowned. "I mean, I don't think so. I mean. You did think so. I think." He blushed a bit. "But you also needed help."

LINA

"Mm." Goro nodded slowly. "Makes it hotter. If I was all beat up and shit." He thought about Leon, shackled in the hold of that pirate ship in the novel.

IZZY

He blushed more. "Don't ... uh. Can you not."

LINA

"Not... what?" Goro cringed. He didn't wanna be difficult, he just really didn't know.

IZZY

"Say ..." He gestured vaguely. "Stuff like that. About me. I don't know. Uh. Makes me uncomfortable."

LINA

"Oh. Uh. 'M sorry." Goro still wasn't sure he got it, but he'd make sure he didn't do it again. "Well. Um. Anyway. The reason I was looking for Morgan out here was 'cause this is where I talked to her last night. Sitting in the garden."

IZZY

Sam squeezed his hand again at the apology, looking kind of relieved. "We can look around more outside, if you want. Maybe she wandered off towards that farm?" He nodded towards the Granger homestead. "Or into town?"

LINA

"Eh. I dunno. I don't think I should get too far from the castle. No one knows I'm out here."

IZZY

"I know you're out here," he said, vaguely puzzled.

LINA

"Yeah, but no one from in there knows I'm out here."

IZZY

"Ohh. Right. Yeah." He considered this. "Do you know where Amari is, maybe?"

LINA

Goro shrugged.

IZZY

"Just wondering if we could maybe ... ask someone else if they've seen her," he said. "You know. In case she was a hallucination."

LINA

Goro nodded firmly. "Let's go find somebody." He tugged Sam toward the castle.

IZZY

Sam went along, keeping hold of his hand.

LINA

Goro led him inside through the sun room and into the kitchen. There he stopped short, heart jumping into his throat as he found yet another goddamn stranger. A middle aged human lady. "Um."

IZZY

She looked up from the pie she was finding a place for. "Oh! I'm sorry, sweetheart. I didn't mean to catch you off-guard. Oh." She dusted her hands on her skirts and stepped a bit closer, giving Sam a look up and down, but then addressing Goro. "I'm Marion. I'm Hansel and Leigh's mother. Your mother-in-law. I made your rose ring," she added, tapping her own ring finger.

LINA

Goro stared. Ah, he could see it. She looked a lot like Hansel, especially. "Hi."

IZZY

She offered him a smile, and a hand to shake. "Who's your friend?"

LINA

Goro shook her hand, though he kinda felt like he oughta hug her. Maybe she wasn't into hugs, though. "Oh, uh." He looked over his shoulder at Sam. "Sam. He's... a guy. Me and Mishka know him."

IZZY

Sam raised the hand not holding Goro's to wave awkwardly.

Marion smiled a bit more, glancing at their hands. "Well, it's nice to meet you."

"Hi," he said lamely.

"I brought pie." She gestured over to it. "Have you boys eaten?"

LINA

"Uh, I ate," Goro said. It took him a while to remember how long ago. He was having trouble keeping track of time. "What kinda pie?"

IZZY

"Blackberry." Without waiting for an answer from Sam, she set about finding a knife to cut into it.

He tried saying, "I'm fine," anyway.

"Oh, it isn't any trouble," Marion told them.

LINA

"D'you not like pie?" Goro asked Sam.

IZZY

"Um," he said.

Marion kept going about her business, finding a couple of plates. "Surely there's some coffee around here to have with your pie."

LINA

"You're asking the wrong guy," Goro said. "I can barely remember where the water cups are."

IZZY

"Oh, of course." She tsked at herself. "Sorry, sweetheart."

She gave Sam a questioning look, and he shook his head. "I -- I just got here."

LINA

Goro started poking around canisters in the kitchen. The second one he opened had coffee in it. "Oh. Here." He looked around, hoping to see something that looked like a coffee pot. "I'm not sure I know how to make coffee."

IZZY

Marion made a sympathetic sound. "Do you want to try? You know, back when I lived in this farming town, when I was a girl, a young man made the mistake of bothering a horse, and got kicked in the head something awful. The poor thing couldn't remember his parents, but he still knew how to do ..." She thought for the word she wanted, rubbing the pad of her thumb against her fingertips. "Mechanical tasks. He could still forge one hell of a knife."

LINA

"Uh." Goro winced at her, then at Sam. "I mean. Maybe one of you could just do it?"

IZZY

"Of course." Marion rested a hand on Goro's shoulder for a moment, giving him a squeeze. "Sam, would you ...?" She gestured towards the kettle sitting by the stove. "I'll find mugs."

"Um. Okay."

Sam nudged the back of Goro's hand with the back of his, and hooked a tentative pinkie finger around Goro's.

LINA

Goro smiled and grabbed his whole hand. He passed him the coffee canister. "Can't do it one-handed, can you?"

IZZY

"Um. I can try." He looked awkward at first, then smiled a little. "Or you can give me a hand?"

LINA

"'Kay. If you tell me what I'm supposed to do."

IZZY

He nodded, and pulled Goro over to get the kettle. He gave it a testing slosh, then went over to the sink to hold it under the pump's spout, and nodded for Goro to pump some water into it.

LINA

"This is weird," Goro said, pumping the water.

IZZY

"You want to stop?"

LINA

"No."

IZZY

"Cool," he said, pleased.

When they turned away from the sink, Marion was watching them, holding a pair of mugs and partially suppressing a smile. Sam ducked his head and stammered at the look, and she quickly said, "I'm sorry, you're just ... That's precious. Look at the two of you. Goodness."

LINA

"Well," Goro said, searching for a good excuse. "Uh. Holding hands is nice."

IZZY

"No, no, don't let me stop you. No explanation needed," she said. "You're always that way with Hansel, too. It's sweet."

LINA

"I really like Hansel," Goro said eagerly.

IZZY

"Well, you did marry him, before," she agreed. "You must."

Sam had reached to sit the kettle on the stove to heat up, then shifted back to Goro's side, where he stood awkwardly.

"How did you two meet?" Marion asked.

LINA

"I don't remember," Goro said. "I don't mean -- I don't mean 'cause of the amnesia, I mean, he told me again a little bit ago, and I can't remember. He's a warlock, and that's -- oh. I'm gonna help his patron..." He squinted at Sam. "I actually still don't get how we met."

IZZY

"Oh," Sam said, startled. "Uh. Right. Yeah. Um." He glanced around the room before settling on only glancing between Goro and Marion. "Yeah. Uh ... So, there's this church. In Skyport. They have a thing that I need. To help my patron. And ... Goro hates them, for a different reason. So my patron sent me to him -- to you," he corrected, like he wasn't quite sure which one of them he should be talking to in the moment. "So we can work together."

"Ah," Marion said, as if that were the most reasonable and normal thing she'd ever heard.

LINA

"Oh." Goro slumped a little. "I don't -- I don't know if I can help you anymore."

IZZY

Sam frowned and squeezed his hand. "What? No. It's okay."

Marion slipped past them to the stove to mind the kettle, patting Goro's shoulder as she went. "Oh, don't worry, motek. You're going to be fine."

"No," Sam said, "I mean ... it's okay." He lowered his voice a little, embarrassed. "If you can't help. That's still okay, I mean."

LINA

Goro wanted to ask Sam if he was sure, but talking felt hard suddenly. Like his jaw was cemented shut. He squeezed Sam's hand back and his eyes darted around the kitchen. He was starting to feel all weird and nervous again. That thing where he wanted to run and hide, but there wasn't anywhere safe and familiar enough.

Was weird, how that kept happening to him. He'd do alright for a while, then his brain would just fuckin' up and decide to quit coping.

IZZY

Marion glanced over from the stove and frowned in concern. "Goro, sweetheart? Are you okay?"

"Uh. Hey. Hey." Sam pulled him towards the door, holding his hand tight. "Let's go sit outside."

LINA

"Mm." Goro pulled back against him. "But -- but, the pie."

IZZY

"Yeah," Sam said. "But ... come sit outside with me. Okay?"

"I can bring the pie out," Marion offered. "Once the coffee's done."

LINA

Goro didn't know why Sam wanted him to come outside. Marion seemed to be going along with it, too. He didn't think he had enough sense in his head at the moment to question, so he just went with Sam.

IZZY

Sam pulled him on out into the courtyard, where it was quiet and open, then abruptly pulled him into a firm hug.

LINA

Goro grunted in surprise, but recovered quickly. He put his arms around Sam and let out a long breath, relaxing some.

Sam didn't quite do it as good as Hansel, but he came close. He was warm, and smelled like woodsmoke.

IZZY

Sam squeezed him for another moment, then loosened up -- still holding him -- and hesitantly asked, "Is that ... Do you feel better?"

LINA

Goro nodded and squeezed him harder. He wasn't done yet.

IZZY

"Oh. Um. Okay." Sam squeezed him again.

LINA

Goro let out another long sigh and relaxed a little more.

IZZY

He didn't let go this time, just settling his cheek against Goro's head.

LINA

"Keep getting... just, freaked out," Goro managed, his voice strained. He swallowed. "It's -- it's a lot. It scares me. I --"

Ah, he was gonna make it happen again. He stopped and tried to just breathe.

IZZY

Sam squeezed him harder. "Hey. I know. It is a lot. I mean, it's a fucking lot to me -- this castle, and all these people, and shit -- and I've got other memories telling me that, you know, I'm friends with you, and Mishka, at least."

He kissed Goro's head, a little hesitantly.

"Can I tell you something?"

LINA

"Mmhm." Goro closed his eyes.

IZZY

"When I, uh. When I met my patron. Aziz. He told me about how ..." He swallowed. "How we'd known each other, before, in past lives. And he remembered them, but, you know, I didn't. So he was a stranger to me, at first, and I was fucking freaked out about it. You know. Like you would be, if a demon showed up in your dreams and said that to you.

"But then he showed me -- he helped me remember. Um. You know, this ... entire life that we had together. We were married," he said softly. "He was my ... husband, and ... I didn't even remember. And when I did remember all of that, it was so fucking overwhelming that I just -- I just fucking bawled on him for I don't even know how long." He paused. "I, uh, I'm not ... I'm not saying it's the same, or anything. I'm just saying I get it, kind of. I know it's fucking overwhelming and terrifying. It'll be okay, but I know it isn't right now, and ... it's okay. That you're scared. I don't think you should try to not be scared. Sometimes you just have to feel things like that, when there's so much of it."

LINA

Goro stumbled in his head to try and keep up with what Sam was telling him.

Just -- weird, weird, the stuff about past lives and -- his demon patron, and -- Goro just didn't know what to think of all that.

Wasn't really the point, though. Sam was just trying to tell him that it was okay to be scared.

Goro turned his face against Sam's shoulder. "I'm tired of it, though. I'm tired."

IZZY

He nodded. "Yeah, I know. That's when it's nice to just ... come site outside." He squeezed Goro again. "And not have to think about it."

LINA

Goro nodded. He pulled away carefully. He chewed on his bracelet and looked around, wanting to sit down somewhere. There were those benches by the fountain, but... felt kinda exposed. He eyed the sun room, then went to sit just outside it, back up against the wall. He looked up at Sam hopefully.

IZZY

Sam followed him immediately and settled down next to him, giving him a little space.

LINA

Goro scooted closer.

IZZY

Sam put his arm around Goro's shoulders. "Good?" he asked.

LINA

"Mhm." Goro rested his head on Sam's shoulder and kept biting his bracelet.

IZZY

Sam rested his head on Goro's, and rubbed his shoulder idly.

LINA

"Seems like we're pretty good friends," Goro remarked after a moment. "What kinds of problems are there?"

IZZY

"Uh." Sam hesitated. "Just ... Both of us are kind of ... suspicious motherfuckers. Trusting people is fucking hard. And we had a hard time trusting each other, I guess."

LINA

Goro thought on that for a while. He wasn't sure he knew enough about himself to say one way or another, but. "I ain't had any choice but to trust people since I got here, 'cause... just feels so bad being alone. I don't know. I feel like -- all you guys could turn around and hurt me, fuck me up, but... what am I gonna do, just keep hiding in the woods otherwise?"

IZZY

"Yeah." Sam winced. "I mean ... it's good, though. You've got a lot of people around who -- you know, it seems like you can trust. When you were missing, in Skyport, me and Mishka and uh -- what's her name, the fox woman?"

LINA

"Ombre?"

IZZY

"Yeah, her." He nodded. "All three of us were there as soon as we could to try to find you."

LINA

"Maybe just so you could take advantage of me or whatever," Goro said, but without any conviction behind it.

IZZY

"Fair," he admitted. "They probably would have already, if they were going to, though."

LINA

"That, or... you guys knew I was a badass cleric, and you were like, maybe we gotta hold back and wait to make sure he's lost his magic, or whatever." Goro paused. "Man, I am suspicious."

IZZY

He nodded again. "Hey, it keeps you alive. But, uh, so does having friends, I guess."

About that time, Marion poked her head out the door and glanced around until she spotted them. She smiled a little, but still looked concerned. "Are you feeling better, sweetheart? The coffee's done."

LINA

"Um. Kinda, maybe." Goro gave Sam's hand a squeeze and climbed to his feet. "I want... I want the pie and coffee, yeah."

IZZY

Sam pushed himself up, too, and nudged Goro's hand again, like he had before.

"I can't bring them outside, if you want," Marion said. "It is a nice day, out, hm?"

LINA

"Um. We can go in. S'fine." Goro pointed through the windows at the couches. "The couches are nice."

IZZY

Marion nodded, pleased, and went back in, through to the kitchen. Sam slipped his fingers between Goro's to pull him on along into the sun room.

Quietly, like it was a secret, he said, "I really fucking wish I'd come around here and met these people before. I keep wanting to ask you shit about them, and then I remembered we know about the same fucking amount."

LINA

Goro snorted. "Let's find out together, huh?" Then, louder, he said, "Hey, Marion?"

IZZY

"Hey," Sam hissed, embarrassed.

"Yes, dear?" Marion called.

LINA

"What are you like? Do we got a good relationship, or whatever?"

IZZY

"Oh, well, I like to think so," she said, coming back out with a couple of plates in one hand, and a a pair of mugs in the other. "I live just across the field, and Hansel visits just about every day. You do, sometimes, too, and Mishka and Luci. We have lunch, and such."

She handed them each their pie, and Sam murmured, "Thank you."

"I try to not be a bother and maligner around the place too much," she added amiably.

LINA

"Some people hate their in-laws, I think," Goro said. He couldn't remember any stories, but he was pretty sure he'd heard that kind of thing. "But I think I probably like you."

IZZY

"You seem to," she said fondly. "Not to pat myself on the back."

LINA

"You should. Everyone else around here's fuckin'... down on 'emselves, and shit." Goro frowned. Then he frowned at Sam.

IZZY

"What?" Sam said, frowning back.

Marion sipped her coffee and minded her own business.

LINA

"Nothing," Goro said, and took a sip of his own coffee. Then he tried a bite of pie. "Mmm. This is real fuckin' good, uh... uh, I forgot your name already." He looked down guiltily.

IZZY

"Marion," she supplied, smiling but looking concerned. "Are you ... still forgetting things, sweetheart?"

LINA

"Yeah," he said quietly, moving some crumbs around with his fork. "Seems like it."

IZZY

"That's all right," she said gently. "No one minds reminding you."

Sam bumped Goro's shoulder with his.

LINA

Goro put a tiny bite of pie in his mouth and glanced at Sam.

IZZY

Sam slipped his arm through Goro's, so they were linked but still had their hands free for pie and coffee. "It is really good pie," he said.

"Thank you. I've been making them for ... oh, a good forty years. I should be good at it by now," she said, amused. "I'm teaching Hansel, now," she added. "He grew up to be a good cook, but not an experienced baker."

LINA

"He makes good chocolate cupcakes," Goro offered.

IZZY

"Mm. He makes them for you quite a bit, I believe."

LINA

Goro cracked a smile. Hansel seemed like kind of a sucker. Making chocolate cake for his husband all the time, even though he wasn't so great at baking yet.

He finished off his slice of pie and washed it down with the coffee, then rested his head on Sam's shoulder again. "This is nice," he said quietly. He was worried one or both of 'em was gonna leave since he wasn't talking much.

IZZY

Marion made a quiet sound of agreement, and Sam pulled a leg up to fold under himself, settling in. "Yeah."

After a moment, nursing her coffee, Marion commented, "You know, I think Jonn was supposed to be coming by today -- Luci's brother, Hansel's son? Have you seen him yet?"

LINA

Goro shook his head. "Hansel told me about him and said he'd wanna meet me. I told him no more new people. But then." He gestured at Sam and Marion. "I dunno. I'm feeling better today, for the most part."

IZZY

"That's good," she said. "Jonn's a quiet boy. He shouldn't be any bother. He works with your cousin, I believe," she added. "Larkin. Out in Skyport. Did you get a chance to spend some time with her before she and Hansel went out today? The two of you are close, I think." She smiled a little. "Larkin doesn't have much time for an old country woman like me, so I'm afraid I can't say much about her."

LINA

"A little. She talked to me last night when I couldn't sleep. She's sad I can't remember her, though."

IZZY

"Mm." She nodded. "I'm sure everyone is." She reached over to pat his hand. "It'll be all right, though, motek. She and Hansel and Mishka and Raef will take care of you."

LINA

Goro nodded. He picked a few crumbs off his plate and ate them. He remembered something totally unrelated, but it'd been bugging him, and he figured Marion might know. He looked up at her. "Uh. Do you know what my last name is?"

IZZY

"Voronin. Oh, you hyphenated with Hansel's name, though, when the two of you were married -- Voronin-Bell, technically," she corrected.

LINA

"Voronin-Bell," he repeated, trying to make sure he wasn't gonna forget. "Huh. That's pretty cool. I wonder if that's why I got the crow." He tugged his sleeve up to show Sam and Marion, in case they hadn't seen it.

IZZY

"Neat," Sam commented.

"Mm, I think it is." Marion smiled. "You inspired Leigh to get a tattoo, and that's how he met his boyfriend. Yosef was the artist."

LINA

"Oh. Neat. So I'm some kinda matchmaker, too, I guess."

IZZY

"Maybe you should be a cleric of some love deity," Marion said, amused.

LINA

"Pfff, fuckin' doubt it," Goro said. "Although it does seem like I really like kissing." He glanced at Sam, one corner of his mouth quirking up.

IZZY

Sam blushed, and Marion smiled a bit.

"You two must be very good friends. It's a shame I haven't gotten to meet you before, Sam," she commented, collecting their empty plates and mugs. "Don't be a stranger, hear?"

"Um. Thanks," he said, still pink and awkward.

Marion bent to kiss Goro on the top of the head. "I'll give you boys some peace. There are some chores to do on the farm, and if I leave Leigh to do everything, he'll just up and do it and exhaust himself."

LINA

"Aw," Goro said. "Well, um. Thanks for the pie. Say hi to Leigh for me."

IZZY

"I will, motek." She went into the kitchen to put the dishes into the sink, then came back out into the sun room, cuffing up her sleeves to get ready for work, and offered them a small wave before going about her day.

"She seems nice," Sam said, once she was gone. "Amari is, too."

LINA

"Yeah," Goro said. "Moms, I guess."

IZZY

He nodded in agreement. "We, uh. One of the first times we met, we talked about our -- birth moms, you know? Both of ours left us. But you have better ones now, I guess. That's cool."

LINA

"Oh," Goro said, suddenly concerned. "Oh, you should get a better one too."

IZZY

He shrugged. "I don't know. I'm pretty old to need a mom."

LINA

"Marion was practically offering, anyway."

IZZY

"Huh?"

LINA

"Oh, that's a saying people have out in the country. Don't be a stranger. It means you oughta come visit her."

IZZY

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean ..." He squinted.

LINA

"Why would she want you to come over if she didn't wanna feed you pie and shit?"

IZZY

"I don't know. Maybe she was just ... being nice?"

LINA

Goro shrugged.

IZZY

Sam shrugged back, and cuddled against Goro.

LINA

Goro cuddled him back. After a moment he said, "Uh, you got anywhere else to be today?"

IZZY

"Nah." He shook his head. "I was just, you know, worried about you, so ... Oh, fuck. We were looking for your friend. Morgan. I forgot."

LINA

"Shit. I forgot, too."

IZZY

"We should've asked Marion if she'd seen her."

LINA

"Mm." Goro cuddled closer to Sam. He didn't really wanna get up. He was still feeling kinda funny.

IZZY

"Or we can sit here," Sam said. He rested his cheek on Goro's head again. "This is good."

LINA

"You sure?"

IZZY

"Yeah, definitely." A little embarrassed, he admitted, "I like this. More than ... just about anything, honestly. Just, you know, cuddling with someone."

LINA

"I think I might be the same way," Goro said. "It's like I'm addicted to it, or some shit."

IZZY

"Mm." Kind of weakly, he joked, "Yeah, neither of us got hugged enough as kids."

LINA

"Damn. I guess not." Goro frowned.

IZZY

"It just means we're making up for lost time. It, um. It seems like you and Hansel do it a lot," he said. "I mean, I haven't really spent much time with both of you, but."

LINA

"Hell, I've only known him for... man, not even twenty-four hours, and I cuddled him as much as I could during that."

IZZY

He nodded. "Yeah, that, uh. That sounds about right."

LINA

Goro squinted. "Feel like someone else said that same thing to me, but I can't remember who. Seems like... me and Hansel were real in love, though, and everyone could tell."

IZZY

"Aw. Yeah. Um." He hesitated for a moment. "I keep worrying that ... uh, you know, it seems like he cares about you a lot, and he's protective, and ... that's fine, my partner is, too. I keep worrying, though, that he won't like it that I, uh. Like you. And that we cuddle, or kiss, or ... whatever. I was, um, talking to Raef, earlier, though. He said it'd be fine. I wasn't even sure if I should ... come see you. I thought Hansel might not want me around. I guess he's not ... like that, though? Possessive, I guess."

LINA

"Oh, yeah, I was wondering that too." Goro cringed. "Morgan told me he's fine with me fooling around with other people. And -- I mean, he does have a whole other fuckin' husband. But I forgot to ask him. I feel bad not checking with him first."

IZZY

"The other night, he walked in and me and you were uh, in bed, cuddling, and all, and he had, like ... no reaction," Sam said. "Honestly, I thought maybe that meant he was pissed. I don't know. Maybe that's just his face."

LINA

"I don't know either," Goro admitted. "I hope he gets home soon. Then we can ask him."

IZZY

"Um. Yeah. For sure." He paused. "What's he doing, anyway? I figured he'd ... be with you."

LINA

"Uh. He and Larkin went to... get some information about a place we gotta go to fix me? Something like that. He said he'd be back before dark."

IZZY

"Huh. Well. Like I said, I'm not doing anything. I'll hang out until he gets back, if you want," he offered. "Or, you know. Let me know if you'd rather be alone."

LINA

Goro shook his head and hugged Sam tighter.

IZZY

"Cool," he said, clearly pleased, squeezing Goro back.

A few minutes later, they heard some clattering in the kitchen.

LINA

Goro craned his neck to try and see through the door. "Hello?"

IZZY

"Don't mind me," came a tired, ragged feminine voice.

LINA

"Morgan?"

IZZY

"No, it's her evil twin. Hungover Morgan."

LINA

Goro gave Sam a pinched look.

IZZY

Sam shrugged, and lowly asked, "Do you want to go ... check on her?"

LINA

Goro nodded and climbed off the couch, squeezing Sam's hand in case he wanted to come with.

IZZY

He did, lacing his fingers between Goro's again.

Morgan was in the kitchen, leaning facedown on the counter by the sink, propped on crossed arms. She was barefoot and had the hood of her light cloak pulled up to cover her head, and was groaning to herself quietly. Several cabinets were open, like she'd been looking for something.

LINA

"Um. D'you need help with something?" Goro asked.

IZZY

"Water," she groaned. "I'm just looking for, like, a fucking glass."

LINA

"Oh." Goro perked up. That was the one thing he knew. "They're right over here." He led the way, opening the cabinet to show her.

IZZY

She remained facedown on the counter.

LINA

Goro took out a glass and took it to the water pump. He held it underneath the spout and looked to Sam to do the pumping.

IZZY

Sam's lips twitched a little, and he pumped a couple times to fill the glass. Morgan groaned some more and raised her head, blinking wearily. "Thanks, doll -- oh, fuck me, who the hell are you?"

Sam looked sheepish. "Uh. Sam."

LINA

"He's my friend," Goro said. "You guys ain't met?"

IZZY

She shook her head and looked Sam up and down. "Nah. Unfortunately for me."

She gave a somewhat weak whistle, and Sam looked embarrassed.

LINA

"Don't do that," Goro said. "It makes him uncomfortable."

IZZY

"Eh? Oh." She ducked her head a bit. "Sorry, buddy. Only into men?" She wiggled her fingers out for the glass.

"Uh," Sam said, helpfully.

LINA

"Just--" Goro passed the glass over and made a cut it out gesture in front of his neck.

IZZY

She shrugged, then pushed herself upright and gulped some water, stopping to breathe and dragging her hand across her mouth. "So where'd you come from, anyway?" she asked Sam.

"Skyport."

"Nah, I mean, in general. Have you been here this whole time?"

"Oh. No, I mean I just got here. From Skyport."

She nodded sagely and pointed at him. "Yeah, that makes sense."

LINA

"I was looking for you," Goro interrupted. "He found me and started helping."

IZZY

"Oh, aw, aren't you two just the sweetest." She took another long drink, this one less desperate. "How come you were lookin' for me, doll?"

LINA

Goro shrugged, kind of embarrassed to say.

IZZY

"I was upstairs," she said. "I got -- whoo, real drunk last night. You guys have a lotta goddamn booze in this castle. Anyway, I like that, uh, little bridge thing, to that tower? It's got a nice view. I managed to get up there and fucking passed out hard."

LINA

"Are you okay?" He winced. "Can my magic heal hangovers?"

IZZY

"Huh. I don't know," she said thoughtfully. "Hey, didn't you forget how to do magic, though?"

LINA

"I remembered 'cause Mask killed me for a few seconds so he could... give it back."

IZZY

"Do what now?"

LINA

"He gave me his memories of me casting spells, since I don't got my own."

IZZY

She stared at him for a moment, then whistled. "Man, I guess I wasn't fucking around when I said you were one of his favorite guys, or whatever." Then she shuddered a bit. "Oof. I gotta sit down. You lovebirds wanna join me?"

LINA

"Sure." Goro looked at Sam to check.

IZZY

"Yeah. Sure." He looked a little uncomfortable, but followed on out back to the sun room, where Morgan settled into a spot near a bunch of pillows, which she pulled around herself in a nest. Sam looked to Goro for whether he wanted to sit by her or not.

LINA

Goro tugged Sam toward the couch and flopped down in the middle next to Morgan.

IZZY

Sam went along with it, sitting on the other side of Goro and tucking one leg under the other. Morgan made a pleased sound and eyed them, still holding hands, with a bit of a grin. "Room for one more?" she asked, wiggling her fingers at Goro.

LINA

"Yup." Goro lifted his arm so she could come cuddle up next to him.

IZZY

"Hehehe." She moved the pillows out of the way and snuggled up against his side. "How about you?" she said, looking past him to Sam. "You cool with this?"

"Uh, I guess," he said doubtfully.

LINA

"I wanted to make sure you were real," Goro confessed to Morgan. "That's... why I was looking. And I wanted some company."

IZZY

"Make sure I was real?" she said, puzzled.

LINA

"I wasn't sure," he said, and found himself getting a little flustered again as he tried to explain. He squeezed them both tighter. "Um, just, everything's so weird, and I can't remember anyone anyway, and I'm just taking other people's word for everything and... y'know, you came outta nowhere and sat with me for a while last night, and I didn't see you again, and..." He blinked rapidly.

IZZY

"Aww." She cuddled against him more fiercely and leaned up to kiss his cheek quickly. "Nah, I'm extremely real, I promise. Sorry I disappeared. Sometimes you just gotta get drunk."

LINA

"Raef told me I don't drink."

IZZY

"I don't, either," Sam offered.

"Okay, well, sometimes I just gotta get drunk," she said, amused. "You don't, though. I can vouch for that. I have this meadhall in Skyport, and I swear to god, I got you the tastiest shit there and you still made faces about it. It was adorable."

LINA

"Huh." He tried to remember what alcohol tasted like, but he couldn't. "I wanna try some again."

IZZY

"You don't," she told him, grinning. "I mean, you can, but trust me, you won't like it."

LINA

"Pfff." He gave her a squeeze. Then gave Sam a squeeze, too, for good measure.

IZZY

She grinned, smug, and Sam settled closer against Goro's other side, slipping an arm around his waist. Morgan sipped some more water, watching it happen, then bobbed her eyebrows at Sam. He blushed again.

"Stop," he said.

"What? It's just real fuckin' cute," she protested.

LINA

"Hey. I told you." Goro elbowed her.

IZZY

"I didn't say anything!"

LINA

"You don't gotta, and you know it."

IZZY

"I wasn't trying," she insisted, sulking behind her glass.

LINA

Goro raised an eyebrow.

IZZY

"This is just my face. And my voice," she grumbled. "You two are just cute, all snuggly and shit. It's like ... baby kittens."

"Baby kittens?" Sam narrowed his eyes at her.

"Yeah, you know, when they're tiny, and they can't walk yet, or open their eyes, and they just like, fuckin' lay in a pile next to their mom, and they're all soft and cuddly ..." She trailed off, looking embarrassed about cooing over imaginary kittens. "Anyway, it's that kinda cute, all right? It's fucking precious."

LINA

"You told me we had sex," Goro said.

IZZY

Sam went pffff and sunk down in his seat.

"What?" Morgan said. "I can't think you're like an adorable kitten snugglin' with your boy here, and then also wanna bang you? Psshh. Listen, I've got layers."

LINA

"Sorry about her," Goro told Sam. "She wasn't so raunchy last night, I don't think."

IZZY

She grumbled some more. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to be fuckin' weird."

"It's fine," Sam mumbled, still clearly embarrassed.

LINA

"Pfff," Goro said to them both.

IZZY

Sam squeezed Goro closer to him, leaning his cheek onto Goro's head again, and Morgan scooted closer to make up the difference, letting out a little contented sigh.

LINA

Goro was feeling even better now, sandwiched between the two of them. He didn't have much to say, but it seemed like the two of them were content to stay with him without talking. He relaxed, enjoying the quiet company.

IZZY

After a while, Morgan grumbled and wiggled away. "Gotta go take a leak. And I should probably put something solid on my stomach if it'll let me. You boys want something? Something like toast, mind you, 'cause I ain't a fuckin' cook."

"We ate a bit ago," Sam told her. "There's blackberry pie in there. Goro's mother-in-law made it."

"Oh, sick. I met that lady at the wedding. She made the cake, right?"

Sam shrugged.

"Eh, anyway. Thanks." She stretched, then bent down to kiss Goro's cheek. "See you in a bit, doll. I promise I won't go too far, if you come lookin'."

She padded off.

LINA

Goro waved to her as she was leaving. "I swear, she's really nice," Goro told Sam. "And funny."

IZZY

"Probably more when she's not hungover," Sam allowed.

LINA

"Yeah. Well, who ain't, probably."

IZZY

"Yeah, probably."

Distantly, further into the castle, they could hear Morgan's voice, followed by a lower, rumbly one, then Morgan laughing. A few moments later, Hansel stuck his head out into the sun room, curious at first, then smiling a bit when he saw them.

"Hey, ahuv. You good? Sorry I was gone so fuckin' long."

Sam tensed up a little bit, uncomfortable, but didn't move.

LINA

Goro brightened and straightened up, pulling away from Sam some but squeezing his hand to make up for it. "Hi." He felt like getting up and running straight into Hansel's arms, but that was kinda over the top.

IZZY

Hansel ambled over, nodding to Sam. "Keepin' him warm for me?" he asked, amused.

"Uh."

Hansel dropped down into the spot Morgan had vacated with an oof and curled his arm around Goro's neck to drag him in and kiss the top of his head a couple times. "Missed you."

LINA

"Missed you too," Goro said honestly. So far, Hansel sure didn't seem put off by him cuddling with Sam. "Um. Had to... get some hugs in elsewhere."

IZZY

"Aye, see that. Morgan told me how you three were all sandwiched in out here. Said I was lucky she got up or I wouldn't have a good spot." He grinned.

"I can move ..." Sam started.

"Pfft." Hansel waved it off.

LINA

"So, you don't mind me cuddling with other people?" Goro said, tentative.

IZZY

"Eh? Nah, love. Nah." He kissed Goro's temple. "Makes you happy, I ain't got any problem with it."

LINA

"It does. Sam's a good cuddler." Goro smiled at him.

IZZY

Sam ducked his head and hunched his shoulders, and Hansel smiled at him a bit.

"Aye, y'seemed to think so before, too. Must be true, then, eh?"

LINA

Goro nodded. Then his smile fell away, and he swallowed, shifting uncomfortably. "And, um."

IZZY

Hansel gave him a mildly curious look, then twitched another little bit of a smile. "Don't mind if you kiss him, either, motek."

Sam psshh'd, looking more embarrassed.

LINA

Goro swallowed again. "You sure?"

IZZY

"Real sure," Hansel assured him. "I got a whole other husband, love. Ain't the possessive type."

"I might, uh, go, uh, check on ... Morgan, or something," Sam mumbled, edging away.

LINA

"It wasn't chaste kissing, either," Goro said in a rush, adding, "I mean, I don't mean with Sam, I don't remember that, but with -- um, well, Morgan told me you didn't mind me fooling around, and so I kissed Raef 'cause he said we kissed, and then I thought maybe I oughta ask you first and not take Morgan's word for it." His eyes pricked with tears. God, he had this great fuckin' husband, and if he'd gone and fucked it up already--

IZZY

"Goro, Goro," Hansel said quickly. He pulled Goro against his chest with both arms. "Hey. Shh. S'okay." He kissed the top of Goro's head and squeezed him. "I know, love. It's okay, honest. You can kiss an' fuck around with anyone you like, a'right? Ain't like I own you."

Sam had slipped away, making it to the sun room door by now.

LINA

Goro gave a cry of dismay, peeling away from Hansel's just just enough to see him leaving. "Sam."

IZZY

Sam ducked his head again and looked back guiltily.

"Hey," Hansel said, frowning a bit. "You ain't gotta go."

"You're having a ... moment," Sam mumbled.

LINA

Fuck. Fuck. Were they? Goro didn't know what to do. Everything was too much again. Goro whimpered and bit his bracelet, squirming against Hansel because it felt like no part of him could be still.

IZZY

"Ah," Sam said, hesitating. He glanced from Goro to Hansel and back again.

Hansel squeezed Goro tight, directing Goro's head to his chest to hide, and gave Sam a stern look.

A beat later, Sam was back on the couch, on Goro's other side, a warm hand on his shoulder.

LINA

Goro sank into Hansel, breathing steadier. He reached his hand up to cover Sam's.

IZZY

Sam shifted, settling back in. "Sorry," he mumbled.

"S'all right," Hansel told him, or told Goro as he kissed Goro's head again, or both.

LINA

When Goro was calm again -- or as close he was gonna get for a while, he figured -- he looked up at Sam red-eyed. "Um," he said, embarrassed, "you can go, if you want. You don't gotta babysit me."

IZZY

"Pfffsshhh," Sam said. "I mean you're the ... the reason I'm here, so ... I mean."

LINA

Goro closed his eyes and let out a sigh. "This sucks. I hate this."

IZZY

"I know, love," Hansel said softly. "I know." He kissed Goro's hair. "Hey. Me an' Larkin got a good lead, today, though. We're gonna take care of it real soon, a'right?"

Sam made a vague, encouraging mm.

LINA

"Maybe you won't. Maybe it just won't fuckin' work."

IZZY

"Nah," Hansel said easily, confidently. "It will. Or somethin' will."

LINA

Or -- nothing would, and Goro wouldn't ever remember who he was. And worse, he might keep losing any new memories he got. The thought of forgetting even the one day he had so far made him so fucking miserable. He hid his face against Hansel's chest again.

IZZY

"S'okay," Hansel promised. "Gonna be okay." He rocked Goro, back and forth a little, and angled his head at Sam, who took the hint and scooted in closer to wedge Goro between them.

LINA

After a couple minutes of being squished comfortably between them, Goro managed a weak psh. "You guys," he said fondly. "I'm real lucky."

IZZY

"Mm," Hansel agreed. "Gonna keep bein' lucky, too."

LINA

Pfff, Hansel. He was so damn earnest. Goro loved it. He could practically see the hearts growing in his own eyes.

He wondered, actually, how it had taken him a few months to fall for Hansel the first time. Maybe they just hadn't got to spend much time together.

Goro wiggled free and straightened up, combing his fingers through his hair and looking between the two of them. "So, um. Anyway."

IZZY

"Do you, um. Feel better?" Sam asked, awkwardly, but still firmly entangled in the cuddle pile.

LINA

"Yeah. Yeah. Sorry I keep -- doing that." Goro ducked his head. "I dunno. Maybe I'm just like this."

IZZY

"S'aright," Hansel said. "Just got a lotta shit t'deal with right now. Hard t'get a grip on it, is all. Don't got anything to apologize for." He kissed Goro's forehead.

"Yeah," Sam agreed.

LINA

"You're too nice," Goro said to Hansel. Then he jerked his thumb at him and said to Sam, "Can you believe this guy?"

IZZY

Sam um'd, and Hansel gave a somewhat long-suffering, "Goro."

LINA

"What?"

IZZY

"Shush." Hansel kissed his head again. "Hey. Y'remember I said my other kid was comin' to visit?"

LINA

"Yeah. Jonn, right?"

IZZY

"He came back with me an' Larkin. If you're feelin' like seein' new people, I mean."

Sam shifted, disentangling himself a bit.

LINA

Goro thought about it for a moment. He looked up at Hansel. "Are you gonna be here?"

IZZY

"Yeah, 'course." He glanced at Sam, as Sam pulled away.

"I'm gonna, uh. Go." Sam gave Goro a guilty look. "I just need some air."

LINA

"Okay. Yeah, don't worry 'bout it," Goro said. "Thanks for... helping me."

IZZY

He nodded. Then he leaned in quickly to give Goro one more squeeze before virtually darting out of the room.

"Guy's fuckin' weird," Hansel commented, without any particular judgment.

LINA

"Me too," Goro pointed out.

IZZY

"Mm." He nodded. "S'pose that's why you like him."

LINA

Goro snuggled up closer to Hansel, wiggling around to try and find a comfortable position. Still was hard to sit still, but he just... wanted to be close, as close as he could get, if Hansel didn't mind.

IZZY

Hansel moved with him to get them both nice and comfy -- how he was used to. He kissed Goro's head again, content. "Anyhow," he said, "Jonn won't bother you too much. Mostly here 'cause Luci's upset about things, an' he's good with her. Worried 'bout you, too, 'course," he said quickly. "Just ... ain't much he can do about it. Least he can hug Luci an' make her feel a li'l better."

LINA

"Mm. 'Kay. Yeah, I'll meet him." He added, sheepish, "It's easier when you're with me, for some reason."

IZZY

Hansel nuzzled into his hair. "Aye. Easier when you're bein' squeezed, eh?"

LINA

"Pfff." Goro buried his face against Hansel's chest, grinning. "You're even better than that blanket."

IZZY

Hansel gave him a good squeeze. "Aye, should fuckin' hope so. Else y'might leave me for a bit of cloth an' sand," he teased. "Jonn's the one that got you the blanket. Dunno if I mentioned. The bracelet, too -- the one you chew on."

LINA

"Oh. Huh. That was nice of him."

IZZY

"Mm. Kid likes you a lot," he said, pleased. Never stopped just being fuckin' ... nice that Jonn and Luci both liked Goro so much. Felt like a rare thing, somehow, for Goro to just slot so effortlessly into the family Hansel'd already had. It was lucky. "He's got his own blanket, too. He's a big fan of bein' squeezed, same as you are."

LINA

"Oh. That's fuckin' great." Made Goro not feel like so much of a... freak, he guessed.

IZZY

Hansel nodded. Was a shame that ... well, what'd happened between them had happened, or else he'd really be fuckin' pleased -- he'd be able to squeeze them both at once. Supposed Goro didn't remember what Jonn'd done to him, right now, but that didn't change anything.

"Ain't sure where that kid got to, anyway. Morgan was talkin' to him, held him up." He put his hands over Goro's ears briefly so as to not deafen him, and called, "Jonn! Hey! In the sun room, kid!"

As he uncovered Goro's ears, Morgan's cackle could be heard again from deeper into the castle, and then a high voice called back, "Sorry! Comin'!"

A moment later, Jonn peeked into the room and stepped out -- a short, lithe young man with long, loose auburn hair and exceedingly dark eyes. He wore dark clothes, including long sleeves despite the weather, and a cloak, and was carrying a small bouquet of roses. He appraised Goro silently.

"Jonn," Hansel nudged gently.

He snapped out of it. "Sorry!" he said again. "I'm sorry. I guess I thought you'd ... I don't know. Look different. Or something."

LINA

"Eh?" was all Goro could manage.

IZZY

"Um, I brought you these," he said, indicating the roses. "You're supposed to bring sick people flowers. I dunno why, but you are."

LINA

"Oh," Goro said, surprised and pleased. He accepted the flowers. "Thanks. Are you... do you follow Mask?"

IZZY

"Mmhm." He nodded. "Uh, kinda. I mean, I'm not a cleric, or anything. But I used to follow a different god, but then Luci talked to you about Mask, and then she talked to me about Mask, and I thought Mask sounded better." He looked up at different points on the ceiling as he talked, like he was pinning down the different parts of the story. "I'm still learning about him, and stuff."

LINA

"Damn. Do I ever... help you learn shit, when I got my memories? Seems like something I could do."

IZZY

"Um." He fidgeted with his sleeves. "Not really. But that's probably 'cause I live in Skyport and you live here, so we don't see each other real often. And I'm not a real good student, anyway," he admitted. "You help Luci with stuff, though."

LINA

"Eh? Luci? She seems like... I dunno, the type who doesn't need help with anything."

IZZY

"Nah, she does. She doesn't like for people to know it, though." He paused. "Don't tell her I said that."

"She knows what you think already," Hansel said, amused. "Pretty sure you tell her yourself."

"Yeah, probably."

LINA

"Well. If she's asking me for help, she probably knows I know." Goro squinted, then shrugged.

IZZY

"Oh, yeah. That's a good point." Jonn tilted his head, thinking, then grinned and bounced on his toes a little. "She really does like you a lot." The grin faded, though. "Um, she's real upset. About stuff. So I'm probably gonna go hang out with her. Uh ... I'm glad you're like, okay, though. I mean, I know you're sick, but it's like ... when you got a cough but you can still work. It's not too bad. So I'm glad it's not too bad."

LINA

"Wait. Why's she upset?" Ah, that was kind of a personal question, come to think of it.

IZZY

"Oh, 'cause of ..." Jonn glanced at Hansel, chewing his lip a bit. "'Cause of you. Um."

"Not like it's your fault, ahuv," Hansel said quickly.

Jonn jumped back in, just as quick. "Luci likes it when stuff stays the same, that's all. She doesn't like, um, new stuff, or unexpected stuff. And I think you're, like ... really reliable, for her? Like ..." He looked to Hansel for help.

"Sturdy. Dependable, aye?"

Jonn nodded eagerly and looked back to Goro. "She just, uh. She's sad you're different."

LINA

"Oh. Ah." Goro gnawed his lip. "Shit. Is there, uh. There anything I can do to make it better?"

IZZY

Jonn shrugged, swinging his arms. "I mean, that's why I'm here. Try and make it better."

"Luci's a li'l tricky, sometimes," Hansel said. "She don't like people knowing' she's upset. Her and Jonn are close, though."

Jonn nodded, then perked up a little, remembering. "Oh, you don't -- uh, so me and Luci were orphans, in Skyport, when Luci was real little. And Hansel found us and took us somewhere safe and sent us money, when he was a pirate, to make sure we'd be okay. So, like, he's our dad, but, um -- I mostly looked out for Luci when she was a kid. I know her best, and stuff. You guys have only known each other, like ... I dunno, not a year, yet? And she likes you a lot," he said, enthusiastically, bouncing in place a bit again. "It's really good. It's cool. She doesn't usually like anybody that much."

LINA

"A lot of people like me," Goro agreed.

IZZY

"I like you." Jonn nodded.

Hansel grinned at him.

LINA

Goro glanced at Hansel and said in a low voice, "Do I like him?"

IZZY

Jonn stopped bouncing and his smile locked in place.

"Uh." Hansel blinked, kind of caught off guard. He said, "Aye," but felt like it came out kinda uncertain.

LINA

"Well, I like you so far this time around," Goro said, lifting the bouquet.

IZZY

"Okay," Jonn said, doubtfully. He glanced towards the door.

"You can stick around, kid," Hansel told him, gently, concerned. "Visit a bit, if you want."

He shrugged.

LINA

"Yeah," Goro said eagerly. "Stay. Tell me about yourself."

IZZY

"I dunno if you want me to," Jonn said, fidgeting. He looked to Hansel, again, for guidance.

"S'okay, kid," Hansel told him, and shifted a bit to get Goro on one side of him so he could pat the couch on the other side.

Jonn switched to looking at Goro, for permission.

LINA

"But... I do. I just said I did." Goro frowned, confused.

IZZY

"Yeah, but I'm not good, is the thing," Jonn blurted. "And I want you to like me, but I don't wanna ..."

He fidgeted more, twisting his fingernails into his palms, and Hansel gave Goro a quick squeeze and murmured, just a sec, then pushed himself up and wrapped around Jonn, enveloping him. He spoke softly, leaning down to Jonn's ear, and Jonn settled a little.

LINA

Ah, fuck. Something was clearly fucking going on here that Goro didn't have a clue about. He swallowed and looked away.

IZZY

Hansel squeezed Jonn firmly again, and Jonn nodded a little before Hansel let him go. He folded his hands behind his back, still now, and Hansel sat beside Goro again but kept a close, sympathetic eye on Jonn.

"Um," Jonn said. "When we first met -- well, I mean, before I actually kinda knew you, uh, I did something ... pretty ... fucking bad to you. Uh." He glanced at Hansel, like he was making sure he was saying it right. "I didn't do it to hurt you on purpose, um, but it did hurt you, and you hated me for a long time, and I think that's okay, 'cause ... you just didn't want me to hurt you again. Hansel says ... it's okay now, and you forgave me." He sounded doubtful. "And you are always really nice to me. I don't know. I'm sorry." He fidgeted in place a little more. "I don't think I'm supposed to talk about stuff that's gonna make you feel bad, but I'm pretty sure I make you feel bad, so I dunno what I can say."

LINA

Goro was quiet for a long time. His jaw felt glued shut again, and his tongue felt fuzzy.

He glanced at Hansel uncertainly. Hansel didn't seem... thrilled, exactly, but not like something was seriously wrong, either.

Goro shifted uncomfortably. He managed to clear his throat before anything else. "Ah. Well. Hey." He cleared his throat again and forced a smile. What had Jonn done? "Water under the bridge, right? We got a fresh start here."

IZZY

"We don't, though." Jonn frowned. "You're gonna remember stuff. I don't wanna ... lie to you just to make you like me now, and then, like, once you get better, you know I lied to you, and then you just hate me again, and..."

He was picking again. "Jonn," Hansel said gently, but firmly, and he glanced away, but stopped.

"I wanna go," he mumbled. He looked to Hansel. "Can I go?"

Hansel stood back up to pull him into another hug. "Aye, kid. S'okay."

Jonn hugged him quickly before pulling away. "Um. I'm sorry, Goro. I hope you feel better soon."

LINA

"Oh. 'Kay. Thanks," Goro said lamely, not sure what else to do.

IZZY

"Hansel says -- you wanted me to be at your wedding," he said, doubtful. "And one time you said we were family. You said I was your kid, too. Uh." He glanced at Hansel, who squeezed his shoulder and nodded encouragingly. "He says I should remember that when I ... feel bad? Um. So maybe that's who I get to be." He fidgeted a bit, but without digging his fingernails into himself this time. "I guess I'm someone you wanna be around, sometimes at least. I just, uh ... I dunno how to be."

He looked at Hansel again, and Hansel nodded in reassurance, and Jonn booked it out of the room.

Hansel sat back down next to Goro with an oof and curled his arm around Goro's waist, pulling him into a kiss to the top of the head. "Sorry 'bout him," he said wearily. "Kid ain't all right. Know it's probably a bit much for you t'have to deal with right now. Means well, though. He really does."

LINA

Goro stared blankly for a minute. He didn't fight against Hansel but didn't lean into him either, the way he had been. Too fuckin' shaken by the sudden reminder that he didn't know these people. Didn't have a clue what was going on. Didn't know his own fucking life.

"What did he do to me?"

IZZY

Hansel nodded. Was fair. He tried to think about how to ... fucking explain it, without making everything worse. Y'know Mishka? The person who found you, and brought you home, and has been so nice t'you? Aye, so a while back, he poisoned my kid to fuckin' torture an' blackmail me. Then later Jonn got back at him, 'cept it turned out real goddamn bad for everyone, including you. Everyone just about wanted to kill the shit outta Jonn, and he was all I had, so I saved him an' made all you fuckin' hate me, too, for a while.

"It's ... complicated," he admitted. "There used t'be this merchant, out in Skyport. Called herself Diva the Deals Queen. An' she'd make real ... fuckin' odd deals with folk." He held up his hand. "Sold her my finger for a magic chime. You made a deal with her, too, for that ring, there." He indicated which one with a thumb. "Gave her sixty seconds of your life, for it. And Jonn made this deal with her -- ah, see, at the time, there was somebody tryin' to hurt me, and Jonn, he gets real protective. So he made this deal with her to try an' protect me. An' when he made it -- same as when you gave her a minute -- he didn't know just how exactly it was all gonna pan out. And how it wound up working was that Jonn had t'hurt you to try an' help me," he said quietly.

LINA

"What... the fuck," Goro said.

IZZY

Hansel nodded again. Yeah, that seemed about right.

LINA

"What's it mean, I gave her sixty seconds of my life? Like I'm gonna die a minute sooner?"

IZZY

"Nah, nah, like -- she got t'control you for sixty seconds." He winced. "Don't worry 'bout it, though. S'over."

Diva wasn't dead, though, and Hansel remembered all at once that she still had six seconds.

LINA

"Why the fuck did I make a deal like that?" Goro scowled at the ring.

IZZY

"S'pose you figured it was only a minute," Hansel said, a bit weakly. "Ring woulda been real expensive, if you'd've try to pay in gold. S'a good ring, too. Keeps folks from readin' your mind."

LINA

"Oh." He looked at it more fondly, then. "Well, that's good."

IZZY

Hansel nodded. He wanted to say, You lent it to me, once, to try to keep Gruumsh outta my head. You're gonna give it to Mishka, too, to keep Rexarius from tellin' him what to do. Ring didn't come from a great place, but it's good, love. Gonna do real good things. It's like you.

But that'd mean talking about Gruumsh, and about the dragon, and he already didn't wanna fuckin' talk about Diva and shit like that. So he kissed Goro's temple, instead. "Aye. I like it."

LINA

Goro was quiet for a while, fidgeting. It was sinking in that Hansel still hadn't told him what Jonn had done. Goro was reluctant to ask 'cause... it felt like prying, even though it was his own damn life.

"Um," Goro said instead. "Tell me more... about... things."

IZZY

"Uh, which things?" Seemed like there were a lot of possible things.

LINA

"I dunno," Goro said glumly. "Just don't know shit about my own life."

IZZY

Hansel winced. "Yeah. I know." He gave Goro a little tug, to see if he'd curl back up in Hansel's lap.

LINA

Goro did, reluctantly. It tended to make him feel better, whatever was happening in his head.

"Everyone's been telling me stories and shit, but. I keep having to ask about just... shit regular people oughta know about themselves. Raef wasn't totally sure how old I am. Had to ask Marion what my last name is. That kinda shit."

IZZY

"Thirty-three," Hansel offered. "I'm thirty-eight. Your birthday's in July -- s'the third. Uh, an' it's September, now. My birthday's in May. 'Cause of how you grew up, y'didn't know when your birthday was, for a long time, but Amari celebrated it on New Year's, anyway, an' made you cake. Chocolate. One time we played this ... this game Mishka came up with, where y'each ask each other three questions, an' you gotta either answer'em honest or take a drink, an' that's how I asked you when your birthday was, and what kinda cake y'liked, 'cause I wanted to do somethin' nice for you."

LINA

Goro stared at Hansel for a moment, then gave him a quick kiss. "Thank you."

IZZY

"Mmhm." Hansel settled in a bit more and started petting Goro's hair. "Promised I was gonna take you someplace nice, too, on a date -- somewhere high up, with a good view, you said. An' I was gonna find a nice lighthouse to take you to. Kinda got ... delayed, though, 'cause our lives're a mess, an' then it was winter, and y'don't much wanna be at the top of a lighthouse in the winter. Goddamn freezin'. So I was gonna wait a bit, and then that's how I was gonna propose. Well, where I was gonna propose. Selune fuckin' knows how I was gonna do it, 'cause I was probably gonna fuckin' die of nerves before I got that far."

He grinned a bit and found the twine ring on Goro's finger to spin it idly.

"'Stead, how it worked out was that ... Ah, y'know, everything's so goddamn complicated. The place where my kids grew up is this Sanctuary of Eldath. You remember Eldath, or nah?"

LINA

"Uh." Goro squinted and shook his head. "A god?"

IZZY

"Aye. Goddess. She's, ah, this pacifist type. Amari's goddess, actually. Don't care for a lotta gods, but I like her all right," he said. "Helps people that've been injured, and such, y'know? She's a good one. So, anyhow, that's where Jonn an' Luci lived, while I was out bein' a pirate, 'cause I knew they'd be safe there. Place is real important. An' earlier this year, in the spring, there was kinda this ... war, goin' on, and some folks were trying to take over the Sanctuary, use it for a military base. That didn't fuckin' work for me, so we holed up there to defend it, given the pacifists weren't gonna fight for themselves.

"And, uh." He grinned a bit, again, remembering it. "Night before the big battle, me an' you were in the kitchen, and I just ... I dunno. Didn't wanna wait. Didn't wanna go through any more bullshit without you bein' my fiance. Ores." He kissed Goro's hair. "So it wasn't some real romantic lighthouse thing, but it was ... us. Was good, I think."

LINA

Goro smiled, faint but genuine. "Guess I said yes?"

IZZY

"Aye. Sure did," Hansel said solemnly.

LINA

"Be an idiot not to."

IZZY

"Well, you'd done accidentally proposed t'me, already, when we were drunk," Hansel told him. "So it'd've been real confusin' if you said nah."

LINA

Goro snorted and covered his mouth. "Eh? I did what now?"

IZZY

"Uh-huh." Hansel nodded. "We both got real plastered at Raef's wedding. I fuckin' love weddings. Makes me all emotional. So I was fuckin' gushing 'bout how much I love you, and you said, oh yeah, if you love me so much, why don't you marry me? And I said, yeah, a'right." He scoffed. "Then we both got real freaked out 'cause neither of us knew if the other was serious, but we talked about it, the next mornin'." He laced his fingers between Goro's to pull his hand up. "Reason your engagement ring looks like that is 'cause, that mornin', I tied some twine 'round your finger. So you'd remember I meant it."

LINA

"Awww. Psssh. Jeez." Goro covered his face and bit his bracelet. "S'romantic."

IZZY

Hansel grinned. "Aye. Both real big fuckin' suckers. All in love, an' shit."

LINA

Goro peeked out at him. "Either that or you took one look at me, this poor guy who can't remember nothin', and you thought, aye, gotta get me a piece of that. Making all this up to charm me. Evil pirate shit."

IZZY

"Is it workin'?"

LINA

"Maybe. Maybe not. Better keep tryin'."

IZZY

"Aye. Maybe I will. Evil pirate shit, an' all." He kissed Goro's head.

LINA

"Tell me more swoony shit. Tell me about a time you killed something, but like, in a hot way."

IZZY

Hansel snorted out a laugh. "Aye, well. You're a better judge a' that. Lemme think. Feel like this ain't the first time you ever said that t'me."

LINA

Goro considered. "You ever had to kill something to, y'know, save me or whatever?"

IZZY

"Hmm. Dunno. You're pretty fuckin' capable, all by yourself. Was this one time I beat the fuck outta this guy an' bit his face 'cause he punched you."

LINA

"Oh. Oh. Larkin told me about a time -- was it when we were all out drinking in town, and someone tied you up?"

IZZY

"Oh, nah, was before that. Same guy, though. Was some kinda fuckin' bullshit happened at the castle, an' I just fuckin' saw you an' Larkin -- you with your face all busted up, her tellin' you off for not healin' yourself. And when you told me what happened, I started for town, where this fucker was at, aye? Was a member of the town guard. Had to show'im that they couldn't fuckin' hassle my boyfriend -- weren't engaged, yet, then -- and just goddamn get away with it, y'know."

LINA

"Huh." Goro thought idly about what would happen if he went and got someone to bash his face in, just so he could show Hansel and see if Hansel got real mad. See if it was hot.

IZZY

Hansel was quiet for a moment. He knew that fuckin' huh. "Don't go gettin' your fuckin' face beat in just so I gotta kill some fucker."

LINA

"Aw. But listen--"

IZZY

"No," Hansel said firmly.

LINA

"Are you like... one of those boss husbands? Where I gotta be all subservient and shit?"

IZZY

"Eh? Pffft. Nah." He wasn't gonna get into ... other stuff, just now. "I'm just sayin', don't get yourself fuckin' hurt, is all."

LINA

Goro stared, then raised an eyebrow. "Or else?"

Be kinda hot if Hansel was a boss husband.

IZZY

"Goro," he said sternly. "I ain't playin'. I'm fuckin' worried for you, a'right? Ain't got the energy to fuck around. I need you safe."

LINA

"Alright, alright." Goro flopped back into a more comfortable position against Hansel. "Huh, so -- huh. Do we -- uh."

IZZY

Pacified, Hansel relaxed a bit. "What?"

LINA

"Luci and Jonn are your kids. Are they like, you and Mishka's kids, together?"

IZZY

"Nah, nah, nah." Hansel waved it off. "Nah, I met Jonn an' Luci before Mishka. An' he wasn't exactly the parent type, when we were pirates." Hansel hadn't been, so much, himself, really. "Jonn was pretty well grown, an' you're kinda right 'bout Luci not really needin' help from anyone. She didn't need one dad, much less two."

LINA

"We don't got kids, do we? You and me. I fuckin' figured someone would've told me if I had a kid."

IZZY

Hansel shook his head. "You do got a little sister, Theo. We're ... kinda raisin' her, I s'pose, like Jonn did Luci. Little brother, too, older'n Theo -- Bakir. We ain't got our own, y'know, actual kids, though."

LINA

"Pets?"

IZZY

"Nah. Me an' Raef got pets. An' we got cats, livin' 'round the castle, but they ain't really anyone's in particular. One of'em likes Theo best," he commented. "Leigh's gotta dog. Y'don't like dogs much, though."

LINA

"They bite," Goro said, without really thinking about it. Maybe there was some part of him that remembered being bitten.

IZZY

"Aye, they can. Hey. Y'know how I showed you that vine thing I can do?"

LINA

"Yeah?"

IZZY

"This other druid thing I got -- I can turn into animals."

LINA

"Eh? Really?"

IZZY

"Uh-huh. You wanna see? I can only do it a couple times a day, though."

LINA

Goro leaned back, giving Hansel a wary look.

IZZY

"Y'like it when I'm a cat, sometimes," he said sheepishly.

LINA

"But... you can't talk then, can you?"

IZZY

"Well ... nah." Maybe if he wildshaped into one of those parrots they had, on Patch Island. The ones that could talk. He couldn't do that, yet, though -- the Lady said he'd be able to when he grew up, which was pretty fuckin' laughable as far as he was concerned.

LINA

"I... I like talking to you," Goro said lamely.

IZZY

"Aww." Hansel squeezed him. "A'right. Like talkin' to you, too. Sorry I was out all day."

LINA

"S'okay. You got shit to do. Probably normal."

IZZY

"Sometimes. But, y'know, not usually if you're under the weather." He frowned a little. "Glad you had Sam an' Morgan keepin' you company."

LINA

"And Raef. And Amari. I asked her if she could help me with my spells, and she did. She's real fuckin' nice."

IZZY

"Aw, s'good. Prob'ly meant a lot to her."

LINA

"Why?"

IZZY

"Likes spendin' time with you, is all. She's your mom." He kissed Goro's head. "Plus she taught you magic t'begin with, I think -- what you didn't teach yourself, anyhow. Probably was nice for her, you comin' to her for help again."

LINA

"Aw. Yeah, I guess that's kinda nice." Goro frowned thoughtfully. "Who taught you magic?"

IZZY

Hansel shrugged. "Nobody. Just kinda got it. You an' -- shit, well, all the other magic folks in our family -- Mishka, Luci, Raef, Mari -- everyone's been helpin' me figure it out. No other druids, though. Just know this one druid, an' she's kinda ornery." He said it fondly, though. The Lady was the type of ornery that he liked.

LINA

"Well. That's cool. I mean, that you just got it." Goro shrugged. "I met your mom, I guess? She made blackberry pie. She's real nice."

IZZY

Hansel nodded, giving a pleased mm. "Aye. Knew she would. Y'know, my uh, magic, focus ... thing." He gestured vaguely. "Thing that helps me do magic. S'this sprig of blackberry. You found it for me, this one time we were out hikin', 'round where Mom an' Leigh used to live. Was winter, then, but I s'pose there was some magic in this little bit of bush, 'cause it was green as could be. An' you spotted it for me." He kissed Goro's forehead. "My blackberry."

LINA

Ah, that was real fuckin' sweet.

It gave Goro a strange new kind of motivation. He really wanted his memories back not just for his own sake, but for Hansel's. He wanted to give Hansel his husband back. My sun. My blackberry. Hansel fuckin' thought the world of Goro, seemed like. And... Goro already kind of thought the world of him, too, but not in the same way. Couldn't be the same way.

Goro didn't say anything. Just hugged Hansel as tight as he could.

IZZY

Hansel frowned a little and rubbed his back. "You okay, love?"

LINA

"Gonna get my memories back for you."

IZZY

"'Kay," he said, puzzled. "Where'd that come from?"

LINA

"I just think you're real great, and I can tell you love me a lot, so I wanna get you that guy back. You deserve him, whoever he is."

IZZY

"Oh." Hansel wasn't sure what to say to that. He felt like he oughta reassure Goro that it was okay, and Hansel was gonna keep loving him, memories or no memories. Wasn't really what Goro was saying, though. And he felt like it was probably ... good, that Goro sounded pretty determined to make it happen. And it was sure as fuck sweet, him wanting to do it for Hansel.

So he gave Goro a nice tight squeeze, and said, "All right. Love you."

LINA

[end]

TRP: Goro, Hansel, Jonn, Marion, Morgan, and Sam (Blackberry Pie). Day 408. Sam and Marion independently come to check on Goro. Morgan joins the Goro/Sam cuddle puddle. Hansel gets home and introduces Goro to Jonn.