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

[Written]

[dragoon_pride]

...Cecil...

[Not again. Kain knows too well how often this has happened, and that it takes a toll every time she's disappeared...]

[Written]

[paladinlost]

[Writing. He can do that.]

I'm fine.

[Though Kain might be completely unable to read that, with the way his hand is shaking.]

[mistlegacy]

[Rydia doesn't respond over the journals. Instead, she goes to his room and knocks. If he's not there, she'll check every local place he's known to frequent.]

[paladinlost]

[He is indeed there, staring out the window. Staring at the sky, at the village, at nothing in particular. It might take some effort to get his attention.]

[Written]

[dragoon_pride]

I know. She's safer back home, anyway.

[Kain is pretty good at deciphering writing. Though 'encouragement' is a thing he still needs to work on.]

[Written]

[paladinlost]

Seventeen years of peace. I cannot ask for more.

[Except having her by his side.]

[Voice]

[lostinmyway]

[...So many people have been leaving lately. She misses them all very much, even if she knows they'll come back someday.

She feels three different kinds of sadness at Cecil's announcement. One is for the friend she had been growing closer to. One is left over from when she had thought Rosa was like a daughter to her.

And one...]

...Cecil?

[...is for Rosa's family and dear friends left behind.]

[Voice]

[paladinlost]

...She's left you a gift.

[Speaking about gifts rather than feelings is easier, to some degreee.]

[mistlegacy]

[Does a hug help with that? Because he's getting one.]

[Voice]

[lostinmyway]

[...That wasn't at all what she was thinking about when she replied to his post, and she sound slightly taken off-guard when she responds.]

She has?

[But no, that's not even slightly important now. She needs to keep her concentration.]

Can I come see you now?

[paladinlost]

[It certainly gets his attention, but can one say it helps...? Not yet, perhaps.]

[Voice]

[paladinlost]

You can come whenever you wish.

[A part of him would rather say please, but this is not the time to be selfish.]

[Voice]

[lostinmyway]

I'll be right there. I promise.

[She's assuming he's at home--if he isn't, he probably should say so before she closes the journal all the way.]

[mistlegacy]

[She can guess as much, wishing that it could and knowing that it will never be enough. Her own eyes are bright with tears as she tries to speak past the lump in her throat.]

Cecil....

[Voice]

[selphie_t]

[Her memories may have been altered by the Malnosso but her platonic feelings toward Cecil will never change. Selphie's just not sure what to say or write that will make him feel better because she's certain that he's just feeling absolutely alone in this place.

There really isn't anything to say that will make this better.]

I'm sorry.

[It's all she can think of to say. His abrupt manner has left Selphie a bit on the speechless side.]

[Voice]

[anxiousgrace]

Cecil, I'm sorry.

[She hasn't talked to him since the last experiment, but she remembers how warmly he spoke of his wife then. Now he just sounds tired and empty, worn straight through.]

...Do you need anything?

[Written]

[dragoon_pride]

A long time indeed... and if there were any way to bring her back here, to trade places perhaps, to somehow change this...

[Written]

[paladinlost]

Don't. We cannot change what has already happened.

[paladinlost]

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

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

[Voice]

[paladinlost]

I'll be waiting.

[He is, luckily. He doesn't really feel like going out right now.]

[Voice]

[paladinlost]

Thank you.

[A pause.]

Our world will be at peace for many more years. She'll be happier there.

[It almost sounds like a question.]

[Voice]

[paladinlost]

Thank you. A world that is more friendly to us would be nice, but that is far beyond us at the moment.

[He needs a lot, truly, but nothing that can really be given.]

[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.]

[Action]

[lostinmyway]

[Grune arrives at House 9 relatively quickly, for her. Partway there, she had remembered the last time, when Ceodore had gone home, and how Cecil had been so upset, he had hurt himself. She knows he loves Rosa very, very much, so--she hopes he hasn't hurt himself again.

She knocks on the door and steps back to wait. ...Maybe she should be ready to heal him, just in case.]

[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?