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The glass was new.
Quiet footsteps walked along ruined stone, wood, remains of what used to stand tall here. For a moment he stopped as he reached the edge- where the ground ended and the glass began.
Who was it who put that there, Sam? No doubt with someone like him at the helm of it the glass was sturdy, far more pristine than anything else in this god forsaken area. Yet, there was a part of his mind who wondered if he were to step upon it if it'd shatter.
Shatter just like…
Ahem. He wasn't here to indulge in that kind of thought. No, the meaning here was more… visiting a grave, paying respects.
Maybe get some closure.
He adjusted the coat he wore as a wind blew it to the side. An old tattered thing, the cloak that laid on top of it had lost half of its fabric even. By all means he should get a replacement, it wasn't even suited to the place he currently lived- the cold seeped through it easily, yet here it was no bother. Here, where he felt a little more at home.
Ahahaha, he shouldn't stall in his own thoughts. With steps that edged away from cautious he walked over the crater, the remains of L'manburg.
How much did he really accomplish here in the end? He kept the country afloat as long as he could, he thinks. It was a place of… security, freedom. Or that was what he'd always push. He was no idiot. Everything that had transpired in New L'manburg was something he did knowingly- each move, each rule or punishment, calculated in order to do something for him.
He made the choice to exile his own son at the urging of Eret. He made the choice to go along with Schlatt's plans getting rid of their enemies, pushing forward with the (ultimately failed) execution of Ranboo Live. He faced the threat of New L'manburg's destruction with his head held high, thinking the citizens he cared for (the citizens who for some were kept in any way possible from being a problem. The image of a woman with ruined butterfly wings and a monitor attached to her leg came to mind) would stand by him and his son.
In the end it was all so dreadfully one sided. The combined and organized power of Ranboo, Niki and Eret versus a country of whom many had already fallen out of favor with, nothing to fight with and no reason to fight for.
Not even Tommy, that annoying but endearing child, seemed all too enthused about it.
He remembered, oh he remembered how he felt on Doomsday. Frankly, once it kicked off much of it became a blur. The fighting at the beginning, the constant explosions that rung in his ears, the sounds of Fundy and Ranboo arguing while he simply watched.
He had begun to walk without putting thought into it. It was quiet, New L'manburg wasn't the noisiest place itself but… the silence here was deafening.
What else… what else…
He stops.
Another thing he recalls.
"It was never meant to be"
A burning tree.
"... Father?"
There was barely anything left of it, frankly the fact it wasn't just blown up completely was a surprise. Just… a stump. The past left charred and decayed- if you were to take a metaphorical look at it.
He wondered for a moment what Tubbo would think.
… The former leader likely would approve of the crater actually. Odd child. He did destroy a good portion of the country in the past already, though he pinned much of the blame on Ranboo for his own purposes.
Yet, as he stares at the 'tree' he is reminded of how little people had faith in L'manburg in the end. Not even his own father. Really, could he blame them?
… With the benefit of hindsight, not really. Lost in his attempts to keep control, to keep power… his good intentions buried under the pressure.
The noise of a crow jolted the former president out of his thoughts. He spins around, trying to pinpoint where it was coming from.
Ah… there it was. A single lonely crow peering at Wilbur from atop the rubble.
He regards it with a pensive expression, speaking shortly after. He knew it'd understand.
"Keeping an eye on me huh?"
The response was a soft case before it flew down- giving Wilbur only a spilt second of notice to outstretch his arm so it could perch on it. He laughs quietly, unruly things these crows often were.
"... I suppose you wouldn't be opposed to sending a message, would you?"
The crow tilted it's head… before nodding. A wordless 'go on'.
"Tell Phil…" a brief hesitation, what does he say actually? During his time as president their relationship was no doubt strained to say the least. A bunch of things came to mind, half of which were mostly to save his own reputation…
He looks down through the glass, at the flag situated at the bottom- covered in red vines but still standing. L'manburg was put to rest long ago. 'Reputation' wasn't something upon his shoulders anymore.
"... Tell Phil that I'm doing alright… and that I'm sorry. If… If he's willing to talk, I'll be here. Up in the north, snowy place- you lot could find it easily" a simple message, but some things were better said in person.
Once again the crow nods, before with speed taking off. Hm, he had no idea where Phil was right now actually- part of him considered following but… no. He was other things to work on! Like Snowchester!
This was but a visit to… pay respects, respect to a country that died in its ideals long ago.
Snowchester… it was something different, something new. Not a big country he had to rule and control, it was a simple place to live, a place to be safe. He could jump off the high horse and just… live.
He looked off to the sky, the sun was beginning the set. He should head back before mobs begin to appear…
But, he takes a moment to watch. Climbing up and precariously standing upon the remains of the L'mantree as a vantage point.
During Snowchester's early days he had invited Foolish in, partially as aid for the construction of the place and partially to make it feel a little less lonely.
Foolish had told him one time, while making one of the houses, that when he was upset he'd look to the sunset to calm down.
He could understand why, basking in the last warmth of the day.
…
Perhaps, for this one time. He could afford a bit of selfishness. Not for power, or for control.
For himself, as a human being.
This was his sunset