The empty bowls gather at the edge of the dining table. Past Delfarius and Future Delfarius begin clearing them, while Charm carries the pitcher aside, leaving Chance seated beside Delfarius.
Chance
Delfarius, answer me plainly this time. What is different between us? Not a joke, not a household legend, and not another story about three versions of you.
Chance’s amusement fades into thoughtful attention. He keeps both hands visible on the table, asking without pressure, while the Tower’s quiet wards give the question room to remain unanswered.
Charm
I will give you privacy without leaving. Take whatever time you need, and let the answer belong to the two of you before it belongs to the room.
Charm settles near the window with the blue-milk pitcher. Past Delfarius pauses beside the cleared bowls, and Future Delfarius rests against the table, both listening for an answer that distinguishes rather than excuses.
Chance
I am not asking which of you is strongest. I am asking who you are with me when the others are listening, and who you are when they are not.
“I look at past and future. Past has a expression like he is not sure and Future has an unreadable expression and a smug knowing look. "Chance, I am not sure what you exactly asking. We all are the same person " I narrow my eyes at Future. I know that he knows something.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Perception, rolled -2)
Delfarius
Chance, I am not sure what you are exactly asking. We all are the same person.
Delfarius studies Past Delfarius's uncertainty, then Future Delfarius's unreadable, smug expression. Whisper-Reader's Certainty catches the difference between hesitation and concealed knowledge, while Diplomatic Void Authority makes the question's stakes plain without turning it into a demand.
Delfarius
Future knows what Chance is asking, and he is waiting to see whether I discover it.
The answer resolves the distinction: Past is Delfarius before the wounds and lessons that shaped the present; Future is Delfarius after consequences and knowledge the present has not yet earned. Chance is asking who Delfarius chooses to be now, apart from either inheritance.
Future Delfarius
There. You found it. I know the answer, but it would mean less if I handed it to you.
Chance
Exactly. I am not asking which version is real. I am asking which one stands with me when the others are not deciding for him.
The cost of the insight is time: holding Past and Future in that comparison leaves one detail unresolved, the precise secret Future is withholding. But the central answer is clear. With Chance, Delfarius is the present self who chooses, rather than merely repeating what came before or obeying what comes after.
“All three of my selves let out a long sigh. "Chance I only confer with my selves when the big things are involved. I need the perspective of a different time to make sense of some of the things I have dealt with before. " I look at both past and future with an uneasy expression then they look at Chance then me and nod. "And honestly at one time I thought no one else but myself could possibly love me." Past and Future come near me and rest their hands on me. Past and future add to the conversation from their side what they can”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled -1)
Delfarius
Chance, I only confer with my selves when the big things are involved. I need another time's perspective to make sense of what I have dealt with.
Delfarius looks uneasily from Past Delfarius to Future Delfarius, then back to Chance. Diplomatic Void Authority carries the admission plainly, while Hard-Won Insight keeps it honest rather than defensive.
Delfarius
And honestly, there was a time when I thought no one else but myself could possibly love me.
The words settle heavily in the dining room. Past Delfarius and Future Delfarius exchange a look with Chance, then approach and rest their hands on Delfarius, offering presence without claiming his confession.
Past Delfarius
I understand why you believed it. I carried the wounds before you had the words for them, and I mistook surviving alone for being impossible to love.
Future Delfarius
I learned that belief was not prophecy. You consult us because some burdens need perspective, but love is not something only your own reflection can give you.
Their hands remain steady on Delfarius as Chance listens. The three perspectives no longer compete for authority: Past offers understanding, Future offers hard-earned correction, and the present self is free to choose what their words mean.
“I look up at my other selves and give them both an appreciated expression. "So besides the impossibleness of this, and the fun we have together in or out of the bed chambers, I am who you see. Past reminds me of what I fight for each and every day over and over again, Future reminds me why it is important that I still do." Past and Future tell Chance what I mean to them.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +1)
Delfarius
So beyond the impossibility of this, and the joy we share together, I am who you see. Past reminds me what I fight for each day. Future reminds me why it matters that I continue.
Delfarius looks up at his other selves with open appreciation. Diplomatic Void Authority carries his meaning cleanly across the table, while Hard-Won Insight separates confession from explanation and leaves room for both men to answer freely.
Past Delfarius
You are the reason I remember what mattered before survival narrowed the world. You keep fighting for the possibility that our life can become more than the wounds that shaped it.
Future Delfarius
You are the choice that gives all my knowledge purpose. I know what power becomes when it stops questioning itself, and you are the one who still decides why it must be used.
Past and Future speak without competing for authority. One offers the cause carried from yesterday; the other offers the responsibility learned tomorrow, and both place their trust in the present self before Chance.
Chance
Then I understand. Past sees what you refuse to abandon, and Future sees what you refuse to stop becoming. You are the one choosing both, here with me now.
“"Yes without all the advantages of hindsight. " Future smirks and starts to hum like he is innocent. Past looks over and let's out a small laugh. "So If it is too much, I will have no recourse but to be understanding." I say with a small frown. " I know I can be a bit much all of the time even when my other selves are not involved. " I look at Chance with an unreadable expression. 'Sure right after I said I love you, of course. ' I think to myself darkly. Past and future look at me then Chance to hear what he will say.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +1)
Delfarius
Yes, without all the advantages of hindsight.
Future Delfarius smirks and hums with exaggerated innocence. Past Delfarius glances over and releases a small laugh, while Chance watches the exchange with patient attention.
Delfarius
So if it is too much, I will have no recourse but to be understanding. I know I can be a bit much all of the time, even when my other selves are not involved.
Delfarius
Sure, right after I said I love you, of course.
Delfarius looks at Chance with an unreadable expression. Diplomatic Void Authority gives his admission quiet, persuasive clarity, while Hard-Won Insight keeps it accountable rather than defensive.
Chance
You are a lot. Sometimes you are exhausting, dramatic, and impossible to follow. But I am not asking you to become smaller. I am asking you to let me tell you when I need room.
Chance
If you can hear that without turning it into rejection, then I can meet the person you are now. I love you too, Delfarius, and I choose you with the whole truth in view.
Past and Future Delfarius exchange a quiet look, then turn back to Chance. Neither interrupts. Chance’s answer settles between them as a boundary freely offered and an affection freely chosen.
“I raise an eyebrow "Uh do you need room? Like a little room here or..." Future smacks me on the shoulder and call me a dumb assassin that Chance means in my heart. Past chuckles and Chance responds as he will”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +1)
Delfarius
Uh, do you need room? Like a little room here, or...
Delfarius raises an eyebrow, keeping the question light. Diplomatic Void Authority makes the distinction plain, while Hard-Won Insight keeps him from hiding behind a joke.
Future Delfarius
You are a dumb ass. Chance means room in your heart, not space around your elbows.
Future Delfarius smacks Delfarius on the shoulder, more corrective than cruel. Past Delfarius chuckles beside the cleared table, recognizing the familiar failure to notice an obvious feeling.
Past Delfarius
He does have a talent for asking the literal question after everyone else has heard the important one.
Chance
I meant emotional room, yes. I need space to tell you when I am overwhelmed, not distance from you. Those are different, and I want you to hear the difference.
Chance’s expression softens as he answers without retreating. The clarification succeeds cleanly: he wants room to speak and breathe, while still choosing closeness with Delfarius.
“"Tell me. I would rather hear it from you then have to guess or search for the need. I tend to find the worst answers anyways. I rather just get truth even if it hurts then find the shape of it myself. " Past nods solemnly and Future tells Chance how our ex Solan loved to circle around the truth until we found out the hard way. All three of us put our hands over our hearts to honor the past pain but not to let ut have the space or breath at the table. " Why do you think Repine can smell liars? He got a good sniff of it from Solan. "”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +1)
Delfarius
Tell me. I would rather hear it from you than guess or search for the need. I find the worst answers that way. Give me the truth, even if it hurts.
Hard-Won Insight keeps Delfarius from turning the request into a defense, while Diplomatic Void Authority gives it calm, persuasive clarity. His honesty leaves Chance room to answer without pressure.
Past Delfarius nods solemnly. Future Delfarius and the present Delfarius place their hands over their hearts, honoring old pain without giving it space or breath at the table.
Future Delfarius
Solan loved to circle around the truth. He made every answer wait behind another explanation, until we learned the hard way that delay can wound as surely as a lie.
Delfarius
Why do you think Repine can smell liars? He got a good sniff of it from Solan.
Chance
Because you are asking before I have to fight for the room to speak. I need permission to say when I am overwhelmed, and trust that you will hear it as information, not rejection.
Chance keeps his hand over his heart, meeting the three matching gestures with quiet courage. The old pain remains acknowledged, but his need now has a clear place at the table.
✓ Quest Accepted
Honor Chance’s need for emotional room
“"Well we always had a private joke. " I look at Past and Future. "When people would ask us about our sexual escapades I would say, I have a large bed. I think for the right person we could amend it to also say we have a big heart as well and I think I can make the space there for you if you want it," Past and future look at me then all three of us look at Chance”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled -1)
Delfarius
We always had a private joke. When people asked about our sexual escapades, I said, “I have a large bed.” Perhaps the right person lets us amend it: we have a big heart, too. I think I can make space there for you, if you want it.
Past Delfarius studies him with a softened, knowing expression. Future Delfarius glances between them, then both turn toward Chance as the offer settles into the quiet dining room.
Past Delfarius
That is a larger promise than the joke ever was. I will not speak for Chance, but I know you mean the space honestly.
Future Delfarius
You are offering him more than a place among us. You are offering to keep making room when the truth becomes difficult. That is the part that matters.
Hard-Won Insight keeps the offer grounded in what Delfarius can truly choose, while Diplomatic Void Authority carries it without pressure. Joyful Void Ascendance leaves the room warm rather than solemn.
Chance
I want it. Not because your heart is a room I must fit into, and not because your other selves have approved it. I want to choose a place there with you, and I want room to say when I need more space.
Chance reaches across the table and takes Delfarius’s hand. The choice is clear and freely given: he accepts a place in Delfarius’s heart, with room for honesty, boundaries, and continued choosing.
Quest Complete
Honor Chance’s need for emotional room
“Past leans over with a smirk and says with a laugh "Now kiss." Future laughs a little and asks me and Chance if he is needed for any other challenges or other activities with a seductive swave smirk. I just look at Chance with an amused grin on my face still holding his hand.”
Past Delfarius leans over the table with a smirk, still amused by the earnestness of the conversation. His eyes flick between Delfarius and Chance.
Past Delfarius
Now kiss.
Future Delfarius laughs softly beside the cleared bowls. Delfarius keeps Chance’s hand in his, looking toward him with an amused grin that makes the answer feel private before it is spoken.
Future Delfarius
Am I needed for any other challenges or activities, or may I leave you two to your very serious negotiations?
Chance glances from Future to their joined hands, then back to Delfarius. His smile grows crooked and warm, while Past settles back to enjoy whatever answer follows.
Chance
I think he has contributed enough for now. Unless Delfarius has another challenge in mind, I would rather see what that grin means.
Future raises both hands in theatrical surrender, laughing as he gives them space. Past’s smirk deepens, and the dining room remains bright with their easy, expectant attention.