Chapter Text
==> be James Egbert
It’s that golden hour before sunset.
There’s shrieks and yelps as the children play in the gently swaying grass, chasing each other around and generally figuring out who will have the last word at the end of the day. Your money’s on little Karkat, even though young Vriska is by far the loudest of them all. But Karkat’s already figured out that pulling tails wins him arguments. Can’t help but wonder how the boy’ll fare against your Jane or Jade, who are far less impressionable than either John and Dave.
This is a new future, you are well aware. By look of it, it might be one well worth all the toil and hardship.
The lazy heat of the sun feels good on your back after a long day of working in the fields. You close your eyes and tip your face towards the sky until the insides of your eyelids haze red.
“Thank you for all your help.”
Startled, you blink your eyes open and glance at your companion.
Signless’ face is pinched with this curious mix between longing and pained remembrance. A soldier returning, unsure if he can remember what home was supposed to mean. You know very little about this person, let alone his name. Only that despite all the heartbreak, cruelty and senseless loss in his life he’s a remarkably good man. It is rare to see such generosity and fervor combined in one person. Standing next to him you understand the fascination a moth might experience towards a flame. A little too bright, is what he is.
His youngest son has the spark, too, you’re guessing. Seeing how hopelessly John is drawn to him, despite the other child’s mounting ire. Has not yet quite figured out when enough is enough, your John.
“Quite alright,” you say at long last, removing your fedora to run fingers through your sweat-matted hair. “Most of the work was The Summoner’s, really.”
Red eyes catch yours as Signless raises a brow. “Clearly you have no idea how difficult it is to achieve anything in a world where your worth is measured in how decorative you’d look mounted over a fireplace. We would have been without a home if it were not for your effort, Mr. Egbert.”
All you did was give a sharp tug on some of your contacts in Derse, honestly. It was the least you could do, and barely took you a little over a year to get sorted out while they built their peculiar homes out in the woods, all woven up and around the trees. They’ll be safer as an acknowledged sister-city of Prospit and therefore under the political jurisdiction of Derse.
This is only the beginning.
There is a long road to walk, and it will not be an easy one. But you are confident that if anyone can pick up this endless battle for equality, fight, and win it… it is this man.
Besides, it is not as though he’ll be walking the road alone.
You’ll help.