mykidisthebest

You're looking after Bluebell. And Charon. And if someone asks you for help with something you never turn them down.

... Are those responsibilities...

Well, I guess being shepherd is. That's not a volunteer position though.

Looking after people and maintaining a household is a big responsibility. Don't discount the hard work of housewives everywhere.

Being a shepherd isn't a volunteer position, but everything that you do related to it is something you've decided to do on your own. No one's forcing you to do it. If you don't want to you can stop at any time. So it counts.

[ The face of a man who never once considered "you can just not" and does not realize this proves Lethe's point ]

That's different... I couldn't do that to them.

No, that's the point. Not everyone thinks like that. Even though it should be a given that you'll help, there are plenty of people in the world who won't go out of their way to help others. You're already doing a lot of heavy lifting.

[ Well, he knows plenty of people won't go out of their way to help people. That's just been a fact of life from the very beginning.

Not once did he consider himself counting toward the statistic one way or another, though. ]

Oh.

[ HIS TURN FOR MIND BLOWN ]

[...pats his head]

What, did you not even notice? I meant it when I said you're a good guy. So please take care of yourself too. I don't want you to get worn out.

[ Chuckles a little sheepishly ]

Funny. Charon said the same thing early on. Though he was way more ominous about it.

Did he? I can't say I'm surprised. You've got to say the same thing back to him!

I just don't give him a choice.

Good job. See, you're looking after him too. Wrap him in a blanket if you have to.

[ Holds up his pinky finger ]

Gentlemen's agreement to bully that man into rest and relaxation.

[links!!! pinkies!!!!!]

Deal! I'd do it whether or not you helped.

[ Laughing ]

And that's why I'm grateful for you.

I'm grateful to you.

[shakes their pinkies in emphasis]

You're going to live way longer than me, so I'll be counting on you to look after him.

[ Goes still, pinky still linked with his.

Oh. He hates that, actually. ]

...?

[stills, too, realizing he said something upsetting]

What's wrong? Are you worried you'll get tired of looking after him...?

[ oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my g ]

Lethe...

Don't look at me like I said something wrong and not explain!

[ Patiently, like a career painter explaining not to mash Crayola markers so hard into the paper that it rips: ]

When you say things like "you're going to live way longer than me," people are just going to think about your death, and going on without you.

[ And maybe also the hundreds of times they've already done that ]

[his expression softens]

It's still a long ways off, though. I'd like to live another hundred years if I can. I'll...I'll make it work somehow.

[ Does not bother to ask by what arcane power Lethe expects to live for over a century ]

... You'd better.

It would be-- easier. For Charon.

I think he'd do fine even if I wasn't around. He's got you, doesn't he? But I know I have to live. There's still a lot left to do. And I want my brother to live as long as he can too.

[the dramatic irony here is that he fully expects to maybe die in exactly one week and is just hoping it doesn't stick]

So? It's not as if I could be a replacement for you.

[ ... sighs, a little ]

When he told me he was considering expanding his lifespan... I was worried.

Worried? I didn't realize he was taking it very seriously. If he is, that means he's considered all of the positive and negatives. What's there to worry about?

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