(Untitled)

[book_bound]

Destiny.

Is in the bar.

For a moment.

Take a picture, it'll last longer.

Comments

[empath_wiggin]

And from a table, over the top of a book, is another one of his, blinking a bit. She somehow knows who it is, even though she's only heard rumour. Standing, she walks over and curtseys. "Good evening, sir. Is there anything I can get for you tonight?"

[book_bound]

His head lifts to look at her, with unseeing eyes. "No, Valentine Skywalker. I require nothing."

[empath_wiggin]

She is just a bit unnerved by him, but takes a deep breath. "Sir, I feel as if I know you, perhaps a bit better than I realize, however, I am not exactly certain of your name, whereas you seem to know mine quite well."

[book_bound]

The pages of the book turn.

"Destiny."

[empath_wiggin]

And at this, Val coughs. Of all the people, of every being that she has encountered, she is the most startled by this one. The one who took her little brother from her, the one who left her with the monster of a brother, the one who, perhaps, brought her here, and gave her Luke. She takes a deep breath, attempting to quell all of her emotion in a quiet comment. "I would think, sir, that you might know my brothers much better than I."

[book_bound]

"You would think this, perhaps." Blind eyes look at her. "I have known you, Valentine."

[empath_wiggin]

"Oh. You would know, sir." She looks down at her toes, emotions still conflicted, but somehow unable to tear herself away.

[book_bound]

"There is something more that you would like to say." It is not entirely a question.

He does not say that she knows what this thing is, though.

[empath_wiggin]

She takes a deep breath, finally everything spilling out. "I don't know how to react to you, sir. You took my little brother from me, the only person I loved, letting him be broken so much that even I couldn't repair him. You let one of the Formics live so that he would be constantly reminded of what happened. You left me with Peter, and made me one of his pawns in controlling the world. Then you somehow brought me -here-, and gave me Luke, and everything I've ever wanted. I don't know if I should beat you up or hug you. I... I don't know." She falls silent, just looking at her toes.

[book_bound]

There is not a pause, even, in the turning of the pages.

"Men make their own Destiny, Valentine Skywalker."

[empath_wiggin]

"Yes, sir. I... should have known that." She looks at her toes, taking a deep breath. "I guess I should know that, of all people, shouldn't I?" She pauses, then looks up at him, a bit of fire in her eyes. "Where am I meant to be, sir? Am I meant to be with Ender or with Luke?" There. She said it. Finally.

[book_bound]

"The rules of this place are different, Valentine, than they are in others."

Destiny does work in the Bar. He must.

But not the way that he does in other places.

Reality warps. The book is in a new edition when he crosses the threshold.

"You are meant to be where you choose. You have chosen the path of wife and mother."

[empath_wiggin]

If Val had been drinking someting when she was listening to Destiny, his robes would now have tea on them. "Wait a moment, sir. I'm not a mother. Sure, that girl says she's my daughter, but that's another universe. I'm not... I can't be. I...." She just stares. She knows. Somehow, she's always known. She swallows hard.

[book_bound]

Destiny says nothing.

Then, "You have chosen your own path, Valentine Skywalker. Now you must walk it. And I await you, at the end, before my sister comes to take your hand."

[empath_wiggin]

Val just stares. There's no way this can be happening. It's not possible. "I can't be pregnant. I'm not ready. It'll mess everything up, and... Are you sure?"

[book_bound]

He is blind.

And yet, all he does is look at her.