Twentieth Shooting Star - voice/action near house 39;

[risingwinds]

[It wasn't hard to tell when he woke up that morning that something was amiss. He'd been so used to seeing her around the house that when he stumbled upon Aqua's empty room, he knew exactly what had happened. After all, it'd happened before. Twice.

But rather than open his journal to lament over another lost friend, Ven opts to scoop it up and climb out onto the roof, where he gazes up at the sky at nothing in particular. Once the words come to mind, he finally addresses the journal.]

You know, I've been here for a really long time now, and I've seen loads of people come and go. My best friends have been here at least twice now, but now I'm the only one left. It's kinda crazy to think about... I mean, I remember when the three of us were inseparable.

[Granted, he still believes that their connections will bring them back together. Nothing's ever gonna change that, but it's still... sad.]

How do you guys handle that? I'm sure I'm not the only one who's seen friends go or come and go a bunch of times, only to forget this place when they come back. And would you rather have 'em here with you, or do you think it's better if they leave?

I've always thought that, as long as you keep your friends in your heart, they'll always be right there with you, but that sure doesn't stop me from missing 'em.

[ooc: Still mostly on hiatus/slowatus, but I'll try to answer tags as soon as I can!]

Comments

[voice]

[godbent]

Your best friends are from your home, right? That means you're already fortunate, in a way.

[voice]

[risingwinds]

Yeah, I know that the friendships made here are totally different. With Terra and Aqua, I know I'll see them again.

[But Vanitas is back there too, and after what happened last year... He shudders.]

But that doesn't mean my friends here aren't important either. I made one of my best friends here, too, even if she's forgotten about it.

[But that doesn't mean his opinion's changed. Minako is Minako, and they can always make new memories.]

[voice]

[godbent]

I'm not saying one isn't more important, I'm saying that - well, like you said, there's a risk.

[Voice]

[selphie_t]

I...

[Selphie stops that train of thought. She just says what's in her heart about the matter.]

My friends were here when I was brought back and they'll all left this place twice. I don't want them to be brought back here ever again. They're better off back home with SeeD than here.

But they're always in my heart. Along with all of the friends that I've made here.

[Voice]

[risingwinds]

[Maybe Terra and Aqua are better off, but... he has his doubts. Ven still remembers what happened with the χ-blade and what vague information Aqua gave him of the future. Plus, everybody he knows from the future seems to be from a time when he and his friends aren't around.

But Ven's not a pessimist. He always tries to think positive. Give him a second here...]

Yeah, and even if they're not around, at least you've got memories to look back on, right?

[Voice]

[selphie_t]

[Selphie isn't a pessimist either. Circumstance just leads her to pessimism more often than she'd like.]

That's right, Ven.

[Voice]

[lostinmyway]

[Well now. Keeping your friends in your heart is pretty much a perfect match for her own philosophy, but...he's right. It doesn't stop you from missing your friends sometimes, does it?]

I think I would like to have my friends wherever they would be happy. So maybe some of them would like to be here, and some of them would like to be at home.

[She's quiet for a moment.]

When I miss my friends, I go look after their flowers in the special garden. Sometimes I do something I know they would like. And I think of all the nice things we'll do together when they come back.

[Voice]

[risingwinds]

Oh yeah! I almost forgot about the garden.

[Silly Ven, too preoccupied with other things.]

Maybe I'll visit there sometime. And I guess keeping up on my training would be a good way to keep busy.

[Voice]

[lostinmyway]

Oh, yes. I'm sure there are lots of people who would be happy to help you with that. Like me.

[It's not a strange of an idea as he might think the; she's actually an accomplished black mage.]

[Video]

[cuethemasong]

I don't really know. I told one of them that we should make a photo album together in case one of us leaves.

[Video]

[risingwinds]

You know, that's a really good idea. I mean, even if you guys both stick around for a while, you could still look back on those memories for old time's sake.

[After all, a photo captures the past in perfect clarity. It's a good way to reflect.]

[Video]

[cuethemasong]

That's true. I know I've got some important things to do, but expanding my horizons here isn't a bad thing either.

[voice]

[kindhearted]

No one else from my world has ever shown up.

[He almost sounds a little bitter about it.]

Re: [voice]

[risingwinds]

Really?

[Awww, poor guy. Ven definitely picks up on that bitterness, and for a moment he's quiet, just mulling this over.]

Well, who knows? Maybe they'll show up before you know it! You never know who'll come here when the cycles start.

[voice]

[perplexme]

[Poorly, in his case. He's still kind of not okay with Axel's departure.]

You find distractions. Distractions and answers.

[voice]

[risingwinds]

Distractions? Well, in a place like this, that can't be too hard.

[But... wait, what?]

But what do you mean by answers?

[voice]

[perplexme]

Answers on where they went, and how to bring them back. What else?

[Voice]

[meteorical]

...Aqua?

[Voice]

[risingwinds]

[He hesitates a little before he finally speaks up.]

Yeah... She just left today.

[Voice]

[meteorical]

I'm sorry, Ven. [It's the third time, isn't it? She keeps this to herself.] Maybe she'll be back really soon.

[Written]

[cooltrainer]

[It's not something Green's thought about too hard, but the post does make him consider.]

I haven't been here long, so I am probably still under the impression that I'll be seeing them again soon. That makes it easier to not see them here.

[Written]

[risingwinds]

Yeah, that's a good point! Plus, some people do leave really quickly, so maybe you'll get back to 'em before you know it.

[Then again, after being in Luceti for almost two years, even those who stay for a month or two seem to vanish pretty quickly.]

[Written]

[cooltrainer]

Hopefully not without getting the friends stuck here a way home.

[voice]

[fortuneprince]

[Both of her friends from her world and others have left and so far, have yet to come back so she doesn't necessarily know what it's like to go through that. But.]

"It doesn't matter how far apart we are, the bonds we made will remain strong. Everyone's hearts are connected to the people they know and trust. It's those bonds that let us search for our purpose in life. As long as it's a purpose you believe in, there will always be someone there who can help you fulfill it. You, me and everyone else, there are no barriers.

Our hearts are one."

[ ...She chuckles lightly yet sadly] I apologize. I was quoting a friend from back home.

[voice]

[risingwinds]

It's okay, Naoto. I appreciate it.

[After all, it's the kinda philosophy he likes to follow. It's just not always easy, especially when this is the third time she's left.]

So who is this friend, anyway?