Romani Montclaire - Carrying Berrios' Banner (4/19)

[21:43] Berrios Falstaff says, "Romani."
[21:43] Berrios Falstaff says, "If I could have a word."
[21:44] Romani cos Montclaire says, "Of coruse, Berrios."
[21:48] "I am dying, boy."

Berrios didn't know Romani. He knew of him, and had lied to Ophelia the other day that he had never heard of him. Of course, Berrios had heard of the bishop. He kept his ear to the ground and knew almost everyone within Osrona. But it was her gentle, fleeting, possible connection to her that made him whisper the truth.

"A poison. From some time ago, it has made a resurgance. And it is not something that can not be fixed. I was lucky to make it to the age I am, but I won't make it much further." A hand would push one sleeve up, revealing a darkness. Veins, black as ebony ran through his skin, tainting the thin layers a dark blue. There would be a closed-mouth cough as Berrios pushed the sleeve back down. "...Specialists say I have a few years. Maybe less, depending on how active I am with my magics. Which is why I wanted to give you this."

A small scroll would be lifted out of a pocket, and held out to the youth. "What I place upon you is an unfair burden. But you have been...fair to my family so far. My niece. You are a member of the Church, and I believe this right belongs to you." The will would be held for him to take. A severity would cross his face, one that was unknown to all but those he held dear, or considered close friends.

"I ask much of you. Will you carry it for an old man?"
(Berrios Falstaff)
[21:53] Romani frowned.

The words were not ones that the Bishop wanted to hear, but they were ones that could be expected through life. It was natural, people were born, people lived, they died. And yet, he was reminded of his father's expression. 'There are only two great moments in life. When you are born. When you find out why'.

"Are we certain that we can not cure this poison?" Romani asked, tilting his head, then watching as the dark veins could be seen through Berrios' skin. A slightly panicked look upon the Bishop's face before ultimately nodding.

"Give me this?" The scroll was not something that he expected. The blue and gold eyes looked forwards towards it, before rising to look towards Berrios.

"I do not know what this is. But I live to help others. It is what I want to do with my life as a noble, and what I want to do with my life in the Faith. If accepting this burden will help you? I will carry for you as far as I can."

Romani disagreed with his father. There were not two great moments. There was great moment in every moment one decided to act to help others. Every moment they decided this is why they were alive.
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[22:03] "No. It is not curable."

It was dark, otherworldly. An occulted presence that was never quite cured properly. Something he had lived with for longer than Romani had been alive, but he carried the brunt of it because he had to. He wasn't one to allow his weakness to be in the way, or to carry itself in a manner that betrayed his weakness. He couldn't allow another to see him as such.

As weak.

Yet it was shown to Romani now. A thin, decrepit individual who looked as though he could vanish any moment. Skin thin, pale. Eyes mily and heavy. Even his hands that held onto his cane were thin, shaking. "It is a will. Something you will announce when I am dead. I will also give you the items that it includes. They are nothing special, really, except...to me, and perhaps to those involved." Eyes would burrow into the youth. Severe, almost angry in their intent.

"It will help me. Perhaps, it will help others to come. I look on to these people as my family, yet I lack the words to give them such. This piece of paper carries my last will, my last testament and intention. In truth, I have no business giving it to you, but..."

He would look away. "You are a part of my niece in a way you will not know. In this, I trust you in a way you will never understand." The piece of paper, along with the items it included, would be held out to Romani.

"Do not worry. You have a year. Perhaps two, before you will have to announce it."
(Berrios Falstaff)
[22:04] {Item} You picked up Blazing Lion Knight Squad Sigil. Dropped by Berrios Falstaff. .
[22:04] {Item} You picked up Glasses. Dropped by Berrios Falstaff. .
[22:04] {Item} You picked up Berrios Falstaff Will. Dropped by Berrios Falstaff. .
[22:05] {Item} You drop Paper (Blank).
[22:05] {Item} You picked up Cape. Dropped by Berrios Falstaff. .
[22:09] A presence that never could cure quite properly. Romani barely held himself from biting his bottom lip, but he would take a deep breath. A nod, from the Bishop, looking towards the darkness in Berrios veins before ultimately nodding.

Maybe if there was more time, he would have tried to test that statement. But it did not sound as if time was on their side. The thin figure, the pale skin, the milky eyes. Breaths inwards are taken as he swallows.

"Things are precious to people in ways we can not imagine. What may not be special to one person can mean the world to another. You mean a lot to your family, Berrios. These things will be special to them." Romani nodded, looking up to the older man.

"If it will help you, I will ensure that the words are heard. If it will help you, and the family you care about, I will make sure that your will reaches their ears." He does pause, if only a little as he heard Berrios speak up. Another swallow of that lump in his throat.

"Right. Do you want me to encourage them to spend more time with you in that time? In the time that is left?"
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[22:14] "Time with me?..." A sigh inward. A pained exhale outward. "No. I want them to be with one another, or those they love. Less with me. They will obviously see it otherwise, but I am an old man. My time is long gone. They should see one another, and the love they carry. Not...not me. Not something that reminds them of a time long gone."

Of the future. Of things that could carry them forward, an invisible motivation that Berrios would never tell them about. He would just hoped that they would see it. "Even with your position, or the will you carry, you are young. This will make you uncomfortable. No, don't bother lying." A hand would be raised. "Just promise me."

"Promise me in the end, you will deliver. No matter the cost, no matter the circumstances."
(Berrios Falstaff)
[22:20] "I understand."

Only partially. He could understand the want for others to be with those they care about, to be happy, to be smiling. And yet, he also understood a bit of selfishness, and only could see self pain coming from those they cared about not visiting them. Again, he breathed in deeply, giving a small half nod.

"But I will say, sometimes it is the past we look to and miss, and wish we had more time to see. I know that in life, there may be time when I could look back and spend more time with people."

He could only imagine, his world was in the books he read sometimes.

"I am young. And I will not lie. It pains me. I know it will pain me to read after you are gone. But, if it would make you feel more comfortable?"

Romani would lift his gaze. The eyes of sun and moons would look towards Berrios' own, a serious gaze, holding that ever serious will.

"You can put your faith in me. I will deliver, no matter the cost or circumstance."
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[22:28] "Yesterday was history. Tomorrow, is a mystery. Consider this day a gift. For every day is a present." A step forward, a hand pressed heavily against the youths shoulder heavily. Youth. In truth, he was still a child. A child that knew little of the life, of the rolling snowball that would be carried onto his shoulders and those like him.

"Just as long as you pass it on."

He didn't like to put his faith in him. In someone so inexperienced, in someone so young. He was just a child. He could be younger than his grandchildren...if Berrios had any. Yet he promised, in the words of both the church, and of that of a man. In that, the Falstaff elder would give a slow nod. It was more solid than steel, and something he could trust in.

"Be ready. In the coming days...it will be a burden. One that will not have to be tedious, hopefully." Something he knew he couldn't promise. His hand would lift from Romanis shoulder as Berrios would move past him and towards the door. Slowly. Painfully slow.

"We shall see!"
(Berrios Falstaff)
[22:33] "Every day is a present." Those words did bring a small smile to Romani's face as that heavy hand placed onto his shoulder. It was all true, he was young, a boy who had yet to know a large amount of the pain that the world could bring, a boy still fresh, who still clung to his ideals even through the horrors of war.

"I will pass it on. I want to help as many people as I can. And that includes you, Sir Berrios."

A gentle feeling of holy magic filled the air as he spoke, giving a small nod to Berrios before briefly swallowing. Through pain or circumstance..

He always wanted to try and help out at least one more person. The want of a child, or a want that could be realized?

Who knew?

Yet it was firm. At the words 'Be ready', he steeled himself. A small breath escaped his teeth as he stood firmer, taller, and nodded.

"I will be ready. To the best of my abilities." The hand lifted as Berrios moved towards the door. And Romani would gently follow after him.
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[22:34] Berrios Falstaff says, "Now, shoo."
[22:34] Berrios Falstaff says, "Begone."
[22:34] Romani cos Montclaire says, "Yes sir."
[22:34] Berrios Falstaff says, "Find something productive to do."