18th moon [voice]

[vibrafinal]

Rosa Farrell has left Luceti.

[It comes abruptly, harshly, flatly. Cecil does not sound in terrible pain as he did the last time he had to make such an announcement. In fact, he sounds very much as though he's forgotten how to inflect.]

...She's left roses and notes for everyone she's met here. Please come pick them up when you have the time.

[That's all he has the energy to say.]

Comments

[paladinlost]

She'll be safe. She'll be happy.

[Which is the main reason he's taking this relatively calmly.]

[mistlegacy]

I know....

[Rydia sighs, giving him a gentle squeeze.]

You'll be with her again, someday.

[But that doesn't mean it won't hurt in the meantime.]

[paladinlost]

Of course I will be.

[He has to see that battle to the end, once and for all.]

But with the length of a few stays here, how long will it take?

[mistlegacy]

That, I don't know. I wish I did, Cecil. If I could stop this from happening, I would.

[paladinlost]

By this point, I doubt we could truly stop it. Change it, perhaps, but not stop.

[mistlegacy]

We have to keep hope, Cecil. If we just gave up, we'd never have accomplished all that we did.

...but I know it's harder to believe that, right now. Would getting away from town help?

[paladinlost]

...It might. It might not. Frankly, I have no idea what would help at the moment.

[mistlegacy]

[She nods, frowning in thought.]

There's always those missions. We could use them to get away for a few days or a week....

[paladinlost]

We'd need to leave no one behind. Especially now.

[mistlegacy]

Kain would join, I know. But putting him and Golbez together is never a good idea, Cecil.

[She hasn't seen a single time aside from alternate universe events where they've ever been able to get along.]

[paladinlost]

...Those two. To think they'll someday manage to Band together...

[He's starting to wonder how that even happened.]

[mistlegacy]

[Rydia's wondering too, given her skeptical look. It's impossible to imagine, given how they are right now.]

Well, for now, it's either one or the other. If you need your brother, I understand.

[paladinlost]

...I will not choose between family members.

[He needs everyone, right now. No exceptions.]

[mistlegacy]

[She nods and gives him an extra squeeze.]

Then we'll stay here. It's fine, Cecil. Whatever you feel best about is what we'll do.

[paladinlost]

...What I feel best about is not very paladin-like.

[Even if he knows better than to ignore his darker feelings, now.]

[mistlegacy]

I can't imagine so, but still...you know you can always talk to me, right? However I can help, I will.

[paladinlost]

...I've always been able to count on you. Thank you.