[Backdated Log] Some Sappiness and Closures...

[bloodypast]

Who: Vincent Valentine bloodypast, Lucrecia Crescent toomanymistakes, potential witnesses?
When: Through end of May, up to Sometime in the first week of June? PRE-MURDERS!
What: Some closure and discussions that happened post-the Answer; Constant bonds and visiting a crystalized Hero.
Where: Aquares Ixen Hospital, Crystalized Heroes Wings
Warnings: Cute and sap and fluff and potential sadness?
Open: People are welcome to have been witnesses/witness to his visiting. Please use the Witnesses/Visits comment.



Vincent Valentine was fairly constant and consistent, when he devoted himself to something. Even if that devotion hurt, and was still in a tentative and fragile state. But, as he had on Gaia, he found himself visiting Lucrecia, encased in Crystal once more.

They had talked, after the events where they had all been spirited away from the city, and reminders of their past, she had cornered him--they were overdue for some serious talks. Nor was he unhappy she had cornered HIM this time around. Not that speaking came easy--the past between them was complicated and painful, and Crystallis had only made things more complicated.

But they HAD talked. And before she had gone into stasis, they had agreed. Both still cared, but neither was going to jump in blindly. The most open thing they'd done so far simply consisted of Vincent walking her home from the lab at late nights. Small progress, but it was progress.

With her entering stasis though, Vincent had behaved similarly to how he had at least twice before on Gaia. A few times a week, he would visit her in the crystallized heroes wing. A plain glass vase, small bouquets of flowers left. Never very long in his visits, but enough that it was rather clear for those who knew how to understand.

Ophelia, while being his companion, has been decidedly enjoying the quiet romance she's playing witness to.

Comments

Past-Visits (End of May through early June) Witnesses

[bloodypast]

{Please reply here if you wanna catch/interact with Vincent as he's visiting the Crystallized Hero wing.)

[unyieldingspirit]

[It's hard not to notice Vincent in the wing, though K'pandolu keeps silent for a moment when she does. It's been some time since they've talked- and she thinks she recognises the face of the person he's visiting, and that that was something of a sore point. Still- there's not a lot of conversation to be had with the people she's visiting, so she makes her way over in a little while.]

Valentine.

[It's soft, but hopefully enough to let him know of her presence. She glances as the bouquet, tail twitching.]

Do those mean anything in particular?

[bloodypast]

[It was enough, even if he hadn't also noticed her in turn. More than willing to give others privacy, so it isn't until she approaches him that he'll respond. Their last conversation had been...interesting, so hmmm...]

We can't predict when someone will awaken, and it would be nice to be remembered.

[Cryptic, but also faintly playful in response. She is welcome to chat, provided she doesn't try to talk him into helping her with a booth again.]

You are well?

[unyieldingspirit]

You're right. [she hasn't brought flowers herself- it's not what she's used to, and it doesn't quite feel right for her. Besides- one of those she knows is van Baelsar. No.] I'm sure she'll appreciate it, when she wakes. [with a small flick of her tail] … I hope that will be soon. [she hasn't… had many friends wake up from stasis, but she can hope for the best for others, can't she?]

[she's not going to do that, that would be weird. And rude.

She does settle nearby, with a nod.]

Well enough. [for being here, at any rate.] It's been a little busy with travelling, and all… But this month's seemed quieter so far. You?

[bloodypast]

[Glad that she wasn't going to pry further about the flowers, yet she had sparked an idea in his brain. He would ponder it in more detail later. Moving to the side table near where Lucrecia was encased in crystal, Ophelia gathered up the wilted flowers in the glass vase. Moving to dump the water, and refill it, Vincent then placed the new set with care.]

Admittedly, I have had much to think about so have not done as much as perhaps I "should".

[At least as a so-called Hero of Light.]

I have stayed here in the city for the most part.

[unyieldingspirit]

[they're here in the hope that his friend will wake up and see them; she doesn't really need to know anything beyond that.

She shrugs, palms up.]

I won't be the one to prescribe what you should or shouldn't do. There's enough of that to go around, I'm sure.

[she leans forward, one hand propping her chin up.]

Has there been much happening to speak of?

[bloodypast]

[Certainly Vincent could appreciate that she wasn't going to judge him.]

There was the plague. Fortunately, I was not sickened. But the events that whisked us to all places unexpectedly, gave me much to think about.

[A shrug, and Vincent was unwilling to share much more than that.]

It was a while ago, but how did your booth do?

[Yep, much better to turn the tides back to K'Pandolu's activities.]

[censorshipnutkin]

[Thancred had seen the black haired man come in and out of the hospital a few times while seeing if there was anything he could do to help at the hospital. He kept going into one room, but he didn't know who was in there, because he didn't want to intrude. The fact the man was carrying flowers each time hinted there was more than friendship there. One time when he was walking past where Thancred was standing, he said something.]

Hey. You need anything?

I've seen you in and out of here a few times.

[bloodypast]

[Ophelia fluttered behind Vincent, often taking the wilted flowers out when they visited. She moved to perch on his shoulder as dark head turned when he was addressed.]

I do not believe we need anything at this time.

[Ophelia piped up a bit.]

One of his friends is in stasis kupo.

[Yes, Ophelia, state the obvious why don't you. Don't mind Vincent's sigh as she does so. Normally she's much more clever.]

[censorshipnutkin]

[Thancred closed his eyes. He didn't know much about stasis, but it was never good.]

I'm sorry. [It was the only think he could say, really.] Is there a chance they'll wake up?

[bloodypast]

[Quiet for a bit, before crimson red eyes flicked to Ophelia. She turned between the two, then picked up on the look.]

...right kupo. I'll just go put these in water and swap out the others.

[She knew her hero enough to know when he would rather discuss things himself. Taking the bouquet, she fluttered into the room.]

The circumstances in this world are different, so there is always a chance. She has been encased in Crystal before.

[Addressing Thancred, before dark head turned again to look at the doorway of the room.]

I would not like her to experience undue trauma more than she already has.

[censorshipnutkin]

[Thancred reached up and poked F'lhaminn, giving her a look that said beat it. And she did, following Ophelia into the room, probably to help with the flowers.]

I see. I hope she wakes up. [His eyes followed Vincent's as he looked towards the room]

Problems back in your home?

[bloodypast]

[That's an understatement, not that Thancred knows that.]

We seem to have a large presence in this world, despite problems back on our own yes. I am one of many from Gaia.

The 'final' visit--aka when Lucrecia wakes up.

[bloodypast]

As before, Vincent was visiting the Crystallized Heroes wing. By now the staff was rather used to his presence, Ophelia fluttering along behind him. She had helped him gather flowers close to what he wanted, if they couldn't find a version of it native to Crystallis.

The glass vase remained on a table next to where Lucrecia stood encased in the crystal. The wilting flowers were removed by Ophelia, as she'd asked if she could have them. Vincent hadn't asked what she'd done with them, knowing she wasn't up to anything harmful.

The small arrangement of flowers wasn't too unlike others he'd brought, blue hyacinths and blue violets surrounding azaleas and a single scarlet zinnia. Placing them with care in the vase, ensuring the water was fresh.

Then simply observing for a bit, once he was satisfied with the placement. No change in the crystal encasing her or in her posture. Quiet and solemn for several moments, before he turned to leave and headed for the hallway.

Re: The 'final' visit--aka when Lucrecia wakes up.

[toomanymistakes]

His pom sagged as it always did as he watched Vincent and Ophelia leave, a quiet but melancholy "kupo" escaping him as he hovered near the vase. The first week or so he'd been encouraging, but the longer Lucrecia had remained crystallized, the more he grew to doubt his feigned optimism. That this short rekindling of a romance would be as fleeting as his was with his ex--only with less loss of a kupo tree.

Yet as he was about to flutter after them, a light startled him. Rising in his surprise, he turned around and covered his tiny mouth with his paws.

"Oh, kupo!" Looking around as though uncertain what to do at first, it dawned on him. The others were leaving, just outside in the hallway, and the two were among the few he could count on his own paws who'd care to know about this development. Nodding as to reassure himself himself, before rushing to grab the male Hero by the sleeve. "C-come back! Come back, she's-!"

"...pheus?" came the weak voice, as though its owner had just awoken from a deep sleep. Though there was likely any doubt to whose it was.

Re: The 'final' visit--aka when Lucrecia wakes up.

[bloodypast]

Wilted flowers scattered everywhere as Ophelia's eyes widened, dropping them, and she stared at the other companion moogle in surprise. Both for the sudden tug, and then the words. Vincent was also surprised, tensing with the touch against the dark fabric. Dark head turning to look at him, before the weak voice reached their ears.

"Kupo!" Ophelia exclaimed in quiet shock, before grinning. Then diving at Orpheus in joy and hugging him in happiness. With the voice, Vincent had turned quickly and gone towards it swiftly.

Re: The 'final' visit--aka when Lucrecia wakes up.

[toomanymistakes]

Orpheus tensed slightly as the other moogle nearly tackled him from the air, releasing his grip on Vincent's sleeve as the two begin to twirl about the hallway. Yet for the surprise, the nigh-giddy laughter was unmistakable.

Though likely not nearly as much as the confusion on Lucrecia's face as she saw the two flying puffs of fur and trickery zoom past the now very ajar doorway, or at the white room she found herself in. Whatever had gotten Orpheus laughing in glee had to be something indeed, surprised as she might be. It only took the residual stiffness and a moment's observation for her to realize she was in a hospital wing. Likely the Crystallized Heroes Wing, if she had to make a guess. She'd never been here, after all. Though any amount of brainstorming fluttered out the window the moment she caught a glimpse of familiar tall and dark.

"Vincent?" Lucrecia pinched her nose slightly, trying to shake off any residual effects. "How long was I...?"

Re: The 'final' visit--aka when Lucrecia wakes up.

[bloodypast]

Ophelia couldn't help the joy, even if she was slightly sorry for tackling Orpheus and making them both dizzy. "Sorry Kupo, sorry...just...I know he's been through a hard life, and so has she kupo!" Kind of a jumble of words, but she really is pleased.

Tall and dark was an apt descriptor, given the black suit he wore at his 'day' job. Dark hair had escaped from the loose tie, aside from the red-bandanna holding his bangs back. A faint widening of crimson-eyes, expression surprised despite his usual stoicism. Mouth opening briefly before it closed again, and he moved closer. Ready to help support her, but still giving her space. "...almost a month. What can I do?"

Re: The 'final' visit--aka when Lucrecia wakes up.

[toomanymistakes]

"Don't apologize!" Orpheus protested, grasping Ophelia's paws with his own as he happily danced a moogle jig for this happy moment. "They'll be throwing that word around themselves before long, kupo!"

A month... Nearly and entire month, and after she'd promised that she wouldn't stop moving forward. She inwardly cursed herself, full glad to have the excuse of previously pinching her nose as she composed herself. It could have been far worse. Like with Genesis, she recalled, or the other Heroes who had simply vanished when they'd succumbed to the crystallization process.

"Serves me right for the late nights in the lab, I suppose," she retorted, attempting to deflect any offering of assistance with a small amount of humor. Though knowing him, it wouldn't be successful. She straightened herself, brows creased as she looked Vincent in the eye. Almost as though searching for something, anything to focus on besides the images that recollection could conjure. "What have I missed?"

Plenty can occur in the span of a month. While she's used to crystal dreaming, at least she'd seen glimpses of events. Here, not so much.

June 22

[jadethenecromancer]

The feeling of disorientation was the first thing Jade was aware of as he suddenly woke up at the hospital. A blink, and he noticed the other crystal statues in the room.

So, he had died. Somehow he had thought waking up from crystal stasis would feel more special, but besides the momentary confusion, he was feeling fine. As though nothing had happened at all. How had he...?

And then there was a Moogle on his face.

"Jaaaaadeeeeee....! You're ba-bah-bahkupooooo....." Rosepuff wailed, loud enough to be heard across a corridor or two. "I-I-I was so scaaaaared...! You were d-d-dead and there was blood and then you wouldn't wake up... Kupooooooooo...."

She appeared completely oblivious to the fact Jade wasn't rushing to console her or, indeed, that he was grabbing her by the wings and trying to pull her off. Who knew Moogles could be so sticky?

Re: June 22

[bloodypast]

Even after Lucrecia had awoken, Vincent had decided to take at least some time to visit other crystalized friends and allies like Tifa. The wailing of a moogle though was unavoidable though, and Vincent's dark figure moved towards the noise.

Moving to the doorway, taking in the scene, before striding over and helping pull the moogle off the other man. "You're smothering him will not help."

Re: June 22

[jadethenecromancer]

Rosepuff finally let go, but continued to make a strange high-pitched keening sound that was somewhere between a sick Chocobo and an out-of-tune trumpet. Jade sighed and took off his glasses to try and wipe the worst stains.

"Vincent." After a moment he put the glasses back on and turned to properly face his fellow Hero. "How long was I gone?"

Re: June 22

[bloodypast]

The question gave Vincent pause, as he tried to recall if he'd heard. Knowing Jade was in the hospital was one thing, knowing how long it had been was another matter... "Not more than a week, I believe."

Re: June 22

[jadethenecromancer]

The answer caused Jade to give his Moogle companion a flat look. "Only a week? That's hardly anything out of ordinary."

Rosepuff didn't seem to find this comforting. She manged to attach herself on his arm this time and wasn't about to let go anytime soon. Jade sighed and turned back to Vincent.

"I don't suppose anyone knows who my killer was."

Re: June 22

[bloodypast]

"If they do, I have not heard of it." Vincent let his gaze follow Jade's to his moogle. "There have been more murders though."