* 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐋.

As Fran did not exactly keep track of such trivial things. All she does know is that she and her partner have traveled over long distances, and have been together for as long as she can remember. The viera then lightly nodded. "Aye. The Sandsea, yes."

So it seems that their relationship goes deep. Larsa doesn’t ask more than that; doesn’t want to pry and disrespect personal privacy. He’s sure the story between Balthier and Fran is special only between them, so instead, Larsa keeps it to simpler questions, lighthearted chatting.

❝ That eases me, certainly. I am sure he is more likely to believe his long-time partner over me. ❞ Once they’re out of Low Town, he takes the lead this time, as he can still vaguely remember the directions to the tavern. ❝ He does not seem like the type to place his trust in one as young as I, but perhaps I am misunderstanding him from a lack of rapport. Penelo seems to consider him a friend, so it would not hurt to get to know him better. ❞

yuna, as always, accepts ‘little kimahri’ so easily, as if he was meant to mean something. she always accepts everything with earnest appreciation, genuine heart / of course she would accept him as well, all of kimahri and his faults. she had to endure giving away everything of hers just for the sake of spira, and here she is, also taking in his weight because he knows she wants to save everyone with those small shoulders of hers. the little yuna he met would’ve warmed little kimahri, as if they would’ve discovered a place with each other sooner.

Aerith can't help but nod, letting a sad smile cross her lips. "Of course you're right... I'm sure he would have apologized quite a lot." And he would have done all he could to atone for it, even if it wasn't his fault. Because Zack's heart was huge, generous. He was one of the best person she has ever known, and she still misses her very much. She just can't forget the way he was there for her from the start, without expecting anything in return. He just wanted to be there. It was the first time in her life Aerith felt wanted. The first time she felt like she truly mattered.

She nods in agreement. "Of course. It's always about Sephiroth and Shinra." That's how it started, after all. "I think... I think Angeal and Sephiroth used to be great friends. Zack mentioned it once." But it doesn't explain Cloud's place in all of this. Of course he has the Buster sword so he must have known Zack. But there's so much they can't explain right now. It only makes her miss Zack even more. He would be such a great addition to the team, with his optimism and his knowledge of all those events. But it feels like Shinra didn't want him to speak about something, and it could be anything.

"I don't get why Cloud's memories of Zack could have been erased if they were friends. It's scary, don't you think so ?" If Cloud has the Buster Sword, it means they had to be at least somehow close. And then it feels like he forgot Zack. "I'm sure it's Shinra's doing. Maybe Hojo." Aerith is always ready to accuse Hojo, even if she has no proof. It's like an instinct. She can't help but laugh at Tifa's awkwardness. It's so obvious that Cloud has wanted to impress Tifa, at least to her. "Come on, don't ignore what I said!" She lets a soft chuckle escape her mouth.

Aerith’s smile seems sad, so Tifa gives her a moment, feeling sympathetic as she tries to put herself in the same position. If she had lost Cloud in the same way / if he had actually passed away and she didn’t even know, then she would’ve felt the same. Her heart would crumble into pieces and it’d feel like a part of her is permanently missing; that’s how much Cloud makes up a portion of her life. She imagines it must be like that for Aerith——after all, it always hurts when you have to lose someone so important to you. It always hurt. ❝ I’m sure he’s still watching over you … He might not be here anymore, but you’re not alone. ❞

Tifa hums. It feels like they pieced together another part of the puzzle. ❝ Angeal and Sephiroth being acquainted must mean they were definitely on friendly terms. Maybe Sephiroth is after Cloud specifically because he recognized the Buster Sword from Angeal? He seemed pretty obsessed with Cloud as it is … ❞ And with Zack and Sephiroth also knowing each other, but he didn’t bring up Zack or Angeal in front of Cloud, that means Sephiroth knows more than what he lets on.

❝ Yeah, it’s really scary … Cloud isn’t the type of person who’d forget a friend. He wouldn’t, ❞ she insists, faithfully. She refuses to believe that Cloud still isn’t the kind, shy boy she originally met. ❝ I think it’s Hojo. He … I dunno; he just seems like he’s got too many things hidden up his sleeve. ❞ She sighs at the thought of that creepy man, but immediately blinks at yet another teasing comment that has her feeling embarrassed, cheeks warm. ❝ I-I’m not ignoring it! ❞ Gee, that’s so convincing, Lockhart. ❝ I just don’t see why he’d want to impress me. He’s fine the way he is. He doesn’t have to be ‘cool’ or anything to make me look at him … ❞

Because he’s Cloud.

kimahri, for so, so long, had never really knew how to ‘live’ life. the ronso are unlike all the other species; humans dominated the population, of course, and there were more hypello around than ronso, as hypello were more suited to manage shoopufs. one of the former maesters was even a guado and eventually became a murderer of the ronso once upon a time / it leaves kimahri wondering if the ronso were meant to wither away altogether; to fade into history, become something of a gradual myth.

he is quiet; takes a moment to find his words because it had always felt like ‘little kimahri’ never quite existed as his own person. how did he have the time to like moogles when he was stuck pursing strength and glory because that was all he was taught? it was a way of life to him. it was how he lived. ❝ no. little kimahri did not know of moogles for a while. before horn broke, little kimahri was taught only to train and make clan proud … ronso is proud race, so ronso focus on strength. ❞

❝ kimahri doesn't need to be, you're right. but you are the light of your people — a gentle light. ❞   if the ghost of the seven years old apprentice summoner could walk around these sacred ruins, she would: breathless, running everywhere, and ready to take her well deserved sleep on the warmth of kimahri's tail, big enough to keep her entire body, or maybe her being small enough to fit.  

she is laughing, signaling a jest; he doesn’t laugh because he’s not very well-versed in humor, but he allows her to laugh and feel free for a moment. at her reply, he remembers the way he used to let her sleep against him during cold nights back when they were still traveling to besaid. she is a human and he a ronso, and so, he is able to provide her a little bit of comfort with his fur. he enjoyed those times; made him feel needed.

❝ kimahri not as bright as yuna, but kimahri try to shine for ronso. ❞ even if he still isn’t sure how to do so. being one who was often shunned so long ago for failures he could never amend, warmth that comes so easily to yuna is still so foreign to kimahri / but it’s because of yuna that he is able to feel inspired and move forward. and that’s why he can say, genuinely, ❝ but if kimahri can still shine with yuna, then kimahri happy. little yuna liked moogles and dancing. kimahri glad it has not changed. ❞

he certainly remembers those dolls; hard not to, but that’s why he has to pause. those dolls have earned many compliments and adoration, as they were proclaimed to be ‘cute’ and such. surely a ronso like him would be very mismatched to even be associated with a moomba, a ‘cute’ creature.

He's giving her more lessons: don't share too much, by wise, know what you are spending on, and Terra makes sure to memorize his words, because the world outside of Kefka's lab seems even more complicated than she expected. "... but I'd want..." she starts and then closes her mouth, startled by her own words. She glances at Shadow, uncertain, because wanting is not usually something she says, it's not an affirmation, it's usually a question or a doubt. "... I want to risk it," Terra says slowly, trying the words, "I'd rather someone took advantage, my mistake... than risking to leave someone without help because I'm not sure they need it."

She thinks he kills people because it’s hard to find another job. He almost scoffs at that, almost. Instead, he exhales and pauses for a moment, wondering how to explain Clyde’s unethical childhood environment and the equally-unethical ways he had to resort to making money. The answer is to simply not explain. ❝ I prefer this job. It requires no attachment. ❞ Officially killing people is probably slightly better than performing surprise train robbery heists, perhaps. This way, Clyde wouldn’t have to worry about losing another person … But of course, Shadow has no one to lose / simply because the identity of ‘Shadow’ existed only after Clyde already lost everything. ❝ It’s a job if you earn money from it. How ‘easy’ they are is subjective. ❞ He can only offer a shrug, because getting another job was never a priority, nor was it even something he considered at all. ( He doesn’t deserve to have a different job anyway. )

"I see... doesn't seem to hard to find, then!"

Famous last words. Everytime she wantsto try something seemingly easy, she endsup going on a... how did Zidane call it? A goose chase?

"--about Steiner, actually."

She couldn't stop herself from smiling. Holding in a chuckle is already difficult enough, after all: Dagger knows she shouldn't laugh about her fair knight's complaints and mood, but it's undeniably quite funny to see him unable to talk back to a child.

Eiko’s humming to herself softly while perusing some random bushes that seem bushy enough to house fat, non-screaming blackberries, but her rhythm is thrown off when she gives a snort at the defense of Tinny Man, whom she feels does not deserve such mercy. Because reeeeally, when did Tinny Man ever stopped being such a wet blanket anyway? His entire job is to be a wet blanket wearing shiny armor. Eiko knows this because she knows this.

❝ Well, I guess he’s better than Amarant, ❞ she admits, mostly reluctant and somewhat spiteful. Sometimes, she isn’t sure which one of them is the bigger piece of oglop poop. Tinny Man barely manages to scrape by with his ancient politeness, but Amarant is like the embodiment of grumpiness with limbs and a mouth. Not that Eiko hates them or anything. She just thinks they’re big doo-doo heads for being cranky geezers, which is putting it lightly.

❝ But, like—— ❞ She is sighing exaggeratedly. ❝ ——I don’t think I can see your point ‘cause he seems awfully biased to me. ❞ She’s seen the way Old Tin Can treats Vivi, as if Vivi is the most important person in the entire world. Hmph. ❝ I think he just doesn’t like me or whatever. Which is fine with me. I just need you, Mog, Vivi, Freya, and of course Zidane, and I’m all set. If he doesn’t like my stew, then he is grown-up enough to make his own!! ❞

"Yeah, I know that." Edgar believes in equality too, even if he's a king. Locke is well aware of that fact since the young king has always been a very dear friend. But he decides to keep that to himself. He's well aware that most people of power doesn't think this way, and he feels that way because no matter what he says, Shadow seems to find something to say against it. So Locke just decides on focusing on what he's doing for now.

Locke’s answer was a bit curt this time, so Shadow knows he’s on the right track of pissing him off. It’s not that he does so intentionally out of some sort of spite, but rather, he’d prefer it if Locke doesn’t find out about his past. If it means he’ll back off, then Shadow will keep that wall up, firmly and surely. Shadow’s business is, well, Shadow’s business.

Snow?! Moody?!

EMO?!

Squinted; that was how he was looking at the cadet of Class Fourth, the leader of the Champions of Rubrum and, so happened, his girlfriend: Miwa; with eyes squinted as if the light radiating from her aura resulted so strong, shiny and blinding he could barely keep his eyes open to appreciate it. That or he was genuinely concerned about the impression he was giving off in his day to day as the strongest Agito cadet of Akademeia. Did people really consider him emo...?

Icy blue gaze inspecting his fellow cadet, for seconds of eternity, upon realizing his cheekbones were heating up, warmer than usual, and a strong sensation of running for dear life struck in the middle of his guts. He didn't do it, of course, he had long since gotten rid of the primal instinct of flying from danger, replaced by nerves of steel in the battlefield. Who would have thought, anyway, that facing words would be more terrifying than coming face to face with a wild behemont?

Kurasame scratched the back of his head, mumbling. "What are you on about...? Do people really think I'm emo...?" He sighed heavily. "How convenient Class First's cape is dyied blue, or my eyes. Some would say you just cheated there and came up with an excuse on the spot."

Icy and cool, huh?

His squinting is so intense, she can feel her cheeks gradually warming up the longer he stares, and so, she eventually averts her eyes out of embarrassment. Reflecting back on her words, maybe she should’ve worded everything differently, but … it’s easy to talk with Kurasame, and Miwa is definitely not well-versed in being eloquent just as much as she’s not very well-versed in matters of the heart. She knows that he knows this too, for certain, as ‘Miwa the Barbarian’ is obviously not a title you’d kindly bestow onto someone, much less your own girlfriend.

Girlfriend … She’s Kurasame’s girlfriend … Sometimes, she forgets what their labels are just because their relationship never had such labels outside of ‘friends.’ Well, ‘boyfriend’ and ‘girlfriend’ have ‘friend’ in it, but——

Yeesh, since when did she become such a girl? This is mortifying. No wonder he also looks embarrassed. Probably secondhand embarrassment or something, she thinks, her cheeks still hot.

❝ Remember how we first started talking to each other? That page I got back for you screams ‘I’m emo’ when I read it. ❞ She can easily remember that day, so she finds herself slowly relaxing. ❝ You were so desperate to get it back that I thought you already knew you were emo, so I don’t see why you’re so surprised now. And I think my color assessment is fair and insightful, so—— ❞

She stops; stops and blinks at his next words. She processes it into her brain.

She's not sure about this system, though. Are the objects necessary to live? Do they belong to someone who had them ripped away? If that's the case, it's not fair. Or is it just a luxury, and therefore unnecessary?

"You have many answers," she gently points out, when he tells her she should decide. People keep telling her that - she should have her own opinions, thoughts, make her own choices. It's so odd.

In a way, he still gives her an answer, his opinion, telling her to let them be. She nods firmly, taking a step away from the crowd, instinctively listening to his suggestion. "I won't help unless they cry for help," she concludes, but feels bad at the thought of how she was about to spend more gils just because she wanted to, no special needs. "I..." she trails off, as she often does, to think better of her next words. "... Gils can be earned by fighting monsters. But some people can't fight... maybe, when this is all over for us, if I'm still alive, I could share mine. If it's for something important."

❝ Hn. ❞ He nods, a small gesture of acknowledgment for her comment. Age——how many years you’ve lived and endured and survived——matters much in gaining knowledge, but compared to him, she’s still younger, and thus, he knows his experience will offer her something to contemplate about.

It actually surprises Shadow a little that Terra doesn’t disregard his advice to go help the people anyway. In his opinion, the help is not mandatory, but for a soul who seeks understanding and empathy like her, he had expected a slight complaint or a show of gentle but stubborn heroism / but in retrospect, Terra is not a ‘hero,’ but a woman who is still finding something to latch onto, almost like a firefly to light.

❝ That’s why those people have to get jobs to earn gil, ❞ he replies, wisely. He can’t quite see her taking on any jobs as she is right now, but he can tell she’ll probably ask him about jobs now. ❝ But even then, it’s hard to find a job in a world like ours. You either fight monsters, or you fight against society. Think about that if you think we have it rough. ❞ Shadow, being a mercenary, and Clyde who had been a train robber; he could never guide her in this sort of thing. That being said, their party has earned a fair amount of gil to get by, and he supposes having the king of Figaro travel with them might as well mean they’re in the lap of luxury, but that only reinforces the fact that they live in a different world from normal civilians.

Tonberry boarded the ship heading to the Dominion with the four of them after everything was settled. The circumstances of the creature stood as a mixed bag for Susaya; as far as the cadet recalled he encountered the monster alone and the thing lent him a hand in dire situations, tagging along on their own accord. Even to this day, Kurasame got the feeling there was more to it, akin to a puzzle almost complete yet this one last piece in his hand didn't fit. As if something was whiped out of his memories.

It was the same damned sensation corroding his body from head to toes whenever former Class Third came to mind. Everyone was dead, however, he couldn't evoke even the slightest trace of them in the back of his mind.

Not even Oruto, the guy who died the next day in the adjacent bed, but Kurasame kept that ragged piece of Oruto's purple cape with him anyway.

Kurasame Susaya strove to be the best of the lot, elite among the strongest. The Agito cadets were the very symbol of the Vermilion Bird's focus, the Crystal demanded of Rubrum to bring forth the messiah who would save the world. It was that sole fact that shedded light on the Champion's hypocrisy.

He didn't join for such a grand, noble cause. Not to save the world, or for the betterment of it (not at the beginning, at least). No, of course not. He joined because his father told him he couldn't, he joined to prove a point (that he was worthy, that he was a man). Even after Mr. Susaya was no more (not even a memory he could spit on), Kursame kept chasing after the point.

That his father trashed on him because he was different, special, and he couldn't understand it. With what grounds Kurasame questioned Miwa's motives, if so?

Did you prove your point yet, Kurasame?

"...We're on the same boat, then." He exhaled, that was his answer. Seldom he had seen Miwa articulate such a stern expression on her mor softer features, and he wasn't about to complain when he pushed her to such lengths. At times, it felt like he challenged others so he wouldn't see the cracked mirror for once. Susaya was reluctant, yet he let Miwa's hand go, gently. "You can't keep nagging me about it. After all these years you still think I don't know my limits? It's not like I'm running straight to the pointy end of a sword here."

Pursing his lips, Kurasame let out a deep sigh mixed with a groan.

She had not realized that her worrying came off as ‘nagging.’ The way he sighed just now or the way he is trying to obviously choose his words: the way he is reiterating his growth that Miwa already knows and knows, but doesn’t he know that things are never that easy? But he does. She also knows that. It’s how he can easily cut straight to the point and how she is able to bear her heart to him / it is something she can never quite do with anyone else, not even Kotetsu and Guren to an extent. It has always been Kurasame that her heart beckons to.

One memory that Miwa’s heart contains of him——a memory that sticks out, constantly beating like a fresh bruise——is that one day when she came to help him with that girl in an old hut during the Concordia mission. When she had been carrying him outside, he was already accompanied with the little tonberry, and he seemed so defeated when he told it that they’ll both forget the old lady. Miwa had not known who this ‘old lady’ is, but clearly she had left a deep impression on Kurasame, one that Miwa knows will stay with him forever, even after she died.

She tries to imagine the same scenario with herself: what if, one day, she’ll have to forget him? Just like how he had to forget that old lady? She cannot bear that.

But that was a few years ago. It’s as he said … He has matured too. He’s resilient, she has never doubted that——but still, that’s not how it works. Life would be so easy if one could simply command a human heart——a living, beating heart——to just not worry over someone the heart beats for. It’s not easy, not for a world like theirs where memories are the easiest things to lose.

Truly, ever since that mission, she sometimes wonders why they have to live and fight if they’ll just be forgotten in the end. Is that proof that their lives contribute nothing in the grand scheme of things? That they aren’t worth anything but to fight and become Agito? This endeavor itself is already costing so many lives.

And perhaps she is selfish, but Miwa doesn’t want the Crystal to take away her important people. ❝ I know you’ve matured. I’ve seen it. ❞ Her brows furrow, feeling an ache. Frustrating him was not the intention, and so, she shakes her head, then tries to maintain their status quo again. ❝ It’s just that it’s pretty much second nature for a healer to worry, y’know? You can handle a lot of things, but that doesn’t change the fact that you can be kinda reckless sometimes. ❞

There must be oodles for us to share. / from eiko to garnet 💜

"...oodles?"

It's impossible. Whenever she thinks she might've finally gotten a grip of the lingo used outside the castle, she finds herself confused once again! Of course, any question is still said under her breath, almost blaming herself for lacking of a knowledge many others would've considered too obvious to explain to begin with. To think that even with all the studies, classes and hours spent memorizing the name of this and that politician, town and old poets and writers, she could still seem ignorant...!

A quick shake of her head, however, and Dagger is quick to regain the handful of steps she lost while getting a little too preoccupied with her own self-reflections.

❝ Yep! Oodles and oodles of ‘em!! ❞ Heh, oodles … Such a fun word to say! She’ll cajole Vivi into saying it with her later, but for now, herb hunting time with Garnet commences! Stopping as well, Eiko is humming as she glances around, a hand hovering over her eyes to shield off the sunlight. The hardest part of herb hunting is always knowing where to go.

❝ Hmm, let’s see … We’re looking for black nightshade. They’re kinda related to mandragora under the same family, but the nightshade we need aren’t crazy screaming fellas like them. They kinda look like, I guess, berries? Big, plumpy-looking black berries! Grandpa told me that they were good for cramps and other old people problems, but you can use black nightshade if you feel pain, or when you wanna calm down and relax. ❞ See? She listens to Grandpa’s lectures! Most of the time.

❝ We don’t really need the berries since they’re pretty poisonous, but the leaves can be brewed into tea. I figured we could use ‘em since some people seem to be getting sick of my stew. ❞ Her eyes are rolling as she remembers the way big ol’ Tinny Man, Steiner, was complaining about her rock-fisted potato stew, insisting that they should eat other foods for a change. What a big piece of oglop poop. She should feed him more rock-fisted potato stew just to make a statement and hope that his stomach implodes.