"Goals are always very helpful, they're good motivators. When I was alone that was what kept me going. Pointless little things like telling myself I had to make sure I saw some of the blossoms come in, that I needed to be there to harvest some of the plants to make tea. That I needed to collect the seeds of all the things in the graveyard to top up the stores so that they'd be there when my family came back. Goals that didn't really involve much input from me, but they were things I set for myself," Caduceus said lightly. "This is a much nicer thing to aim for. And it's...yeah, it's a gift I can give you. And Fjord, he might enjoy them, too."
He had every faith that if the others were going to turn up they would do so when the timing was right. Perhaps the hotel cycled through worlds. It had grabbed a few people from Exandria in one go, almost, and then it had moved on to somewhere else. It would probably come back around. And he and Caleb and Yasha would be waiting for them.
Caduceus turned his head quick enough to press a kiss to Caleb's cheek as he pulled back, looking at the other man with so much adoration in his eyes. "I can tell you why everything is important, at least from what my parents told me. I can tell you some of the stories before they're written down- all of our lessons as children came in the form of tales. But everything has its purpose, as you say. Everything adds up to part of the whole. I think She'd be happy regardless, but there's something calming about doing things rigidly and methodically."
The vegetable pie was good, Caduceus was pleased. It wasn't quite like his mom's, no matter how hard he tried, but there was something nice about that.
"When we were back in our real lives I always imagined we'd all end up living in Nicodranus after we'd saved the world. It seems like the right place for all of us. I used to lay bed in the tower when it was quiet, when we'd had a good day, and I'd imagine what we'd all do every day. And this seems perfect. What you and I have here, this is what I want for us again. Just gardening and books. Together or not doesn't really matter, but this would be it." Caduceus chewed on his food thoughtfully, looking around the room. "I'm really happy."
He reached, running his fingers delicately down Caleb's forearm until he could find Caleb's hand, squeezing it gently, fleetingly. Now didn't seem like the right time to bring up everything else beyond stopping the end of the world. Killing Trent, namely. But they would. When they all settled down there would be nothing hanging over them.