[Here in Beacon, Rosinante has almost entirely shunned contact. It's too hard to let anyone get to know him well enough to even feel comfortable with things like closeness and hugging, but too many deaths since then have marked him and the dents in his lantern have manifested in physical form. Even through Rosinante's clothing, Law may notice how his ribs feel like they protrude too far, as if he is clutching onto a skeleton and not a man.

Right now, Rosinante doesn't care. He presses his face against into the soft spotted cap, and gives a shaky sigh as he tries to get his breathing and his tears under control. Gives up on that pretty quickly, but pulls back a little anyway so he can have a better look at Law and give him a reassuring and very watery smile. The announcement itself isn't news to him for he saw as much in the papers, but those never tell the real story, only the version fit for public consumption. He wants to hear everything, wants to get to know Law as he is now, wants to know every wonderful thing he got to experience in those extra years of life that they both fought so hard for.]

I'm so proud of you. I - I heard. A little bit. But I know you'll tell it better.

[There's a lot he wants to tell Law, too, about everything he's been through in his year here in Beacon. About why he can just accept that Law has come to him from a different time - over a decade can pass between them and yet here for him it was only one year. He's learned so much from this place and its people and now that Law is here he's thrilled he can share it all.

But he'll wait. There will be time for that later.]

I want to hear everything. I've wondered the whole time I was here about how you were doing. I -

[He stops himself before he can get too carried away. Let Law get a word in. And besides, just look at him! Tall, strong, not a single smudge of white on his skin. Just like the pictures, but better in every way.]