[Liem is going to have some words with the gems at the embassy after this. If they can detect every time he engages in synchrony, he refuses to believe that they can't detect when he isn't in their world anymore. That someone he knows would have spent the last few days thinking he was dead is inexcusable.]
Konoha, I assure you this isn't your fault, just like Malachite bringing us all here in the first place wasn't your fault.
[She thinks people who help her with her heat become cursed? Suddenly the timing of his disappearance becomes even more terrible.]
You know this place is just chaotic by nature. And here I am safe and sound—nothing terrible has befallen me.
[In defense of the embassy, they might have been able to tell her more definitively if she'd asked the right person...]
But you're the third one... that can't be coincidence...
[If she was asking a a lot more people and it was like 3/15 it totally wouldn't be a curse, but 3/3? 3/3?]
I'm just so glad you're alright... ! And so sorry you're back... ! I know you- You probably want to be back home, but- I'm still really glad to see you! And- And I need a photo! A good photo of Liem, please! It felt so wrong giving offerings to a blurry one... !
[In condemnation of the embassy, whoever she asked should have been able to tell her where to go to get the information!]
Stranger coincidences have happened.
[It's true that he has important places to be and things to attend to back home, but...]
I feel a little better for having been able to go back, even just for a limited time. It brings me comfort that I was indeed returned to the same time and place that I was taken from.
But I'm also not sorry to have been brought here for a second time. It's good to be able to see you again... and now that I'm here, I can't think fondly on the idea of returning home while people I care about are still trapped here in my absence.
Do priests like Liem know how to check if someone is cursed... Just in case...
[She's not kidding or being dramatic she is Genuinely Worried at this point, alright... She already decided it might be safer to just stew in her heat this month. But more importantly-]
But- you really did go back to the exact moment you left? No one noticed you were gone?
[If she sounds desperate to know that also, from someone she'd believe without a doubt...]
I was absolutely returned to the same day and time from which I was taken. I was alone, so I suppose I can't say for certain that it was the exact same moment, but I couldn't have been gone for very long without anyone noticing.
[He was in the middle of preparing for a journey, so if he'd been gone for an hour, or probably even half that, his travelling companions certainly would have asked him why he was so late. But there had been no such comments.]
I could try checking for any curses, but—who in the world would curse you? Surely no one here.
[Unless... Well, he wouldn't put such a thing past the gods of Noctium. He also doubts that he would be able to detect it if she had been cursed by a god, but hopefully she's just been unlucky of late.]
[There's a long, long stretch of silence on the phone that... is definitely konoha crying... with relief this time, quieter. She'd hoped it was so, some people have told her the same thing, but it's the first time to hear it from someone she knew for a fact wouldn't lie about something like that, so-
So-]
I don't know... Could- Could you please check? After you get settled again...
[Mainly so that she could see him again, but. Also checking. That, too.]
[Liem waits quietly while she gathers herself from her weeping. They'd all been told, of course, that time didn't pass in their own worlds while they were here. Nonetheless, it's different to experience the truth of it firsthand. The gems might lie to their guests to keep them complacent, but Liem wouldn't.
He's not sure what to do with the other piece of information he gained from his visit—one that no one had told him before. When he returned home, he had arrived in the exact same clothes that he'd left in. His memories had stopped at the very last moment before he'd vanished from his world. He hadn't been able to return with any of his new experiences, possessions, or knowledge. Would it be the same when they were all sent home for the final time? Did their time here exist only within the bounds of this universe?
The thought makes him uneasy for reasons he can't yet articulate.]
Of course. I wanted to see you again in any case.
[It has, after all, been three months from his perspective since they last spoke. Even if he wasn't conscious of it during that time, he feels the weight of that stretch of weeks now.]
[Even though she’d definitely been afraid that she was cursed or had jinxed him somehow. Even though to wish to see someone who has gotten free of this place was undeniably selfish, bordering cruel to essentially wish them back here.
She nods a bit, forgetting this isn’t video, but it’s accompanied by a little rustling.]
Please… It was really weird to say “good morning” to blurry Liem on the beach in Marilla…
I'll admit, I'm no master photographer either, but I still believe in us. It would be nicer to have a picture that you took yourself, don't you think?
[Sure, there's something to be said about having a thing done properly by a professional, but there are bound to be more memories associated with a picture taken by Konoha in her own home than one Liem had taken by someone elsewhere and simply delivered to her.
Besides, there's no real limit to the number of attempts they can make at taking pictures on these fancy phones. They're bound to come up with a couple decent ones eventually.]
I should get one of you as well. It would be nice to have some friendly faces around the house.
[Just going to… keep on rustling… wipe those tears away she can’t show that face to Liem… !!! Even though she is, she’s definitely going to cry again immediately once she sees him.]
There’s a Gembonded photographer here and he doesn’t say nice things a lot at all… but they said I looked nice in pictures, so I must be a good face…
[How that is exactly she is not sure but!!! She’s still really flattered… she wanted a memorial photo but he has a house! A house you just hang photos in?!
… Surely if they take a thousand some will be good.]
Well I happen to agree. I think you have a very lovely face, and it would be nice to be able to see it even on days that I can't trek all the way over to Emerald Park.
[Because if he's got an entire house all to himself that he can decorate however he pleases, he may as well ensure he has pictures of his friends hung up in it. Being away from them for a quarter-year has made him all sentimental.]
Should I swing by soon? I can visit later on if you're not ready for visitors right now.
[Even though she wants to say “now”, “right now is good”… Konoha recognizes when upset has sent her into rambling, and at least… she has ascertained the most important part.
He’s alive. He’s alright. He remembered this place, and her. So though she still almost says “now” when she opens her mouth-]
Just- Any time… in the afternoon would be good… I need to tidy up…
[He can't blame Konoha if she wishes an hour or two to compose herself before seeing him again. It may have been longer for him since they've seen each other, but he wasn't the one who had spent most of that time thinking his friend might be dead.]
Of course. I have other matters to attend to as well, so why don't I come by a couple hours after noon?
[That should hopefully give her plenty of time to ready herself, and it will give him time to check in with other people who might have wondered about his disappearance. He wonders if he has enough time to bake something to bring with him as well. Probably, as long as he doesn't try to make anything especially ambitious.]
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Konoha, I assure you this isn't your fault, just like Malachite bringing us all here in the first place wasn't your fault.
[She thinks people who help her with her heat become cursed? Suddenly the timing of his disappearance becomes even more terrible.]
You know this place is just chaotic by nature. And here I am safe and sound—nothing terrible has befallen me.
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But you're the third one... that can't be coincidence...
[If she was asking a a lot more people and it was like 3/15 it totally wouldn't be a curse, but 3/3? 3/3?]
I'm just so glad you're alright... ! And so sorry you're back... ! I know you- You probably want to be back home, but- I'm still really glad to see you! And- And I need a photo! A good photo of Liem, please! It felt so wrong giving offerings to a blurry one... !
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Stranger coincidences have happened.
[It's true that he has important places to be and things to attend to back home, but...]
I feel a little better for having been able to go back, even just for a limited time. It brings me comfort that I was indeed returned to the same time and place that I was taken from.
But I'm also not sorry to have been brought here for a second time. It's good to be able to see you again... and now that I'm here, I can't think fondly on the idea of returning home while people I care about are still trapped here in my absence.
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[She's not kidding or being dramatic she is Genuinely Worried at this point, alright... She already decided it might be safer to just stew in her heat this month. But more importantly-]
But- you really did go back to the exact moment you left? No one noticed you were gone?
[If she sounds desperate to know that also, from someone she'd believe without a doubt...]
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[He was in the middle of preparing for a journey, so if he'd been gone for an hour, or probably even half that, his travelling companions certainly would have asked him why he was so late. But there had been no such comments.]
I could try checking for any curses, but—who in the world would curse you? Surely no one here.
[Unless... Well, he wouldn't put such a thing past the gods of Noctium. He also doubts that he would be able to detect it if she had been cursed by a god, but hopefully she's just been unlucky of late.]
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So-]
I don't know... Could- Could you please check? After you get settled again...
[Mainly so that she could see him again, but. Also checking. That, too.]
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He's not sure what to do with the other piece of information he gained from his visit—one that no one had told him before. When he returned home, he had arrived in the exact same clothes that he'd left in. His memories had stopped at the very last moment before he'd vanished from his world. He hadn't been able to return with any of his new experiences, possessions, or knowledge. Would it be the same when they were all sent home for the final time? Did their time here exist only within the bounds of this universe?
The thought makes him uneasy for reasons he can't yet articulate.]
Of course. I wanted to see you again in any case.
[It has, after all, been three months from his perspective since they last spoke. Even if he wasn't conscious of it during that time, he feels the weight of that stretch of weeks now.]
And then we can take that picture you wanted.
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[Even though she’d definitely been afraid that she was cursed or had jinxed him somehow. Even though to wish to see someone who has gotten free of this place was undeniably selfish, bordering cruel to essentially wish them back here.
She nods a bit, forgetting this isn’t video, but it’s accompanied by a little rustling.]
Please… It was really weird to say “good morning” to blurry Liem on the beach in Marilla…
[A nice headshot would be much better… !]
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[He's also considering a change of careers now that he's back, but he intends to mull over that decision a bit more before coming to any conclusions.]
That's the best picture you have of me? I really do need to get some better ones taken.
[Preferably ones where he is actually in-focus, properly dressed, and also not completely drunk.]
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[Muffled behind the sleeve wiping at her face, the words jumbled, too, but-
It’s been a rollercoaster.]
I’m not that good with the camera… I can try, though… Or ask someone better…
[So if he does leave again she can talk to… him? And not a weird drunken blur she just vaguely knows is him…]
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[Sure, there's something to be said about having a thing done properly by a professional, but there are bound to be more memories associated with a picture taken by Konoha in her own home than one Liem had taken by someone elsewhere and simply delivered to her.
Besides, there's no real limit to the number of attempts they can make at taking pictures on these fancy phones. They're bound to come up with a couple decent ones eventually.]
I should get one of you as well. It would be nice to have some friendly faces around the house.
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[Just going to… keep on rustling… wipe those tears away she can’t show that face to Liem… !!! Even though she is, she’s definitely going to cry again immediately once she sees him.]
There’s a Gembonded photographer here and he doesn’t say nice things a lot at all… but they said I looked nice in pictures, so I must be a good face…
[How that is exactly she is not sure but!!! She’s still really flattered… she wanted a memorial photo but he has a house! A house you just hang photos in?!
… Surely if they take a thousand some will be good.]
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[Because if he's got an entire house all to himself that he can decorate however he pleases, he may as well ensure he has pictures of his friends hung up in it. Being away from them for a quarter-year has made him all sentimental.]
Should I swing by soon? I can visit later on if you're not ready for visitors right now.
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He’s alive. He’s alright. He remembered this place, and her. So though she still almost says “now” when she opens her mouth-]
Just- Any time… in the afternoon would be good… I need to tidy up…
[Compose herself. Same thing.]
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Of course. I have other matters to attend to as well, so why don't I come by a couple hours after noon?
[That should hopefully give her plenty of time to ready herself, and it will give him time to check in with other people who might have wondered about his disappearance. He wonders if he has enough time to bake something to bring with him as well. Probably, as long as he doesn't try to make anything especially ambitious.]
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Mmm… That’s good for me. I’ll see you then.
[… Unless she really did curse him.]