mindofathief: (feeeeeliiings)
Duster ([personal profile] mindofathief) wrote in [community profile] melodiesoflife2016-07-05 07:41 pm

Bon Voyage, Amigo

Characters: Duster and everyone
Where: Aqures Ixen (Observatory, House A-03, Airship Port) and Balicea
When: July 04th - July 10th.
Summary: Duster sets up a memorial for Zelda and is sad, then mopes around in his house as he thinks about the case he was involved in. He travels to Balicea to clear his mind.
Warning: Discussions of death and murder and all the misery from the event.

July 04th, Observatory

[There's not a lot Duster can do after the bloodbath that lead to Rialynn killing Zelda. No, that wasn't Rialynn, but someone controlling her. One dear friend killing another, resulting in a chaos and tears. Lives senselessly lost because someone hated the Heroes so much.

And now Duster is alone to mull over the tragedy. Despite sharing the same pain of a Hero dying, there aren't man people he feels comfortable approaching. His guilt over killing two friends is nothing compared to the loss the Heroes are feeling. Not only were civilians killed, but they lost a long time friend, one who was a ray of sunshine during these dark times.

He has fond memories of Zelda. Meeting her in the music shop, buying an ocarina together, talking about music, comforting her in the Observatory when Link turned into a statue...so many little moments that are forever lost. Now she lives in the crystals and in their memories. There is a memorial set up to the Heroes outside the observatory, one created months before he arrived, but Zelda deserves something personal from him.

On the fourth, Duster picks one of the room on the second floor. The one where he spoke with Zelda in February. There's an unused set of drawers in the corner, and with a cloth he had Tamekichi buy, he creates a makeshift memorial. Written with paint on a ceramic plaque is "ZELDA", and he brings his offering: the same ocarina he had on him for the past six months. He has to thank her for teaching him and setting him down on the path towards mastering the Bard class.
]

July 05th - 07th, House A-03

[Most of the following days are plagued with vivid memories of killing Jack Harkness and Santa. How he carefully stepped across the rooftops, pushed Jack over and watched him calmly as he fell to his death. How he leaped down from the rooftops, striking Santa in the perfect spot to break his neck, feeling the snap underneath his shoe. Remembering running away, not looking back at the bodies of his dead friends.

And they're still here. Jack and Santa are still in Aqures Ixen; they know who killed them. Duster can't imagine running into them in public again without those memories flashing in front of his eyes. Akane might hate him. He can't think about going outside at all. Rialynn has her own problems to worry about. There's not one to really talk to about it.

For the next few days, he holes himself up in his room, lying on his bed or on the couch when Sparks Nevada isn't home and listening to sound of heavy rain hitting the streets and the roof. It's too difficult to get up and walk around again. Perhaps if he just stays here forever, things will work out.
]

July 08, Aqures Ixen

[There's one answer for his troubles: go on a trip to sort out his feelings, to somewhere far away from Santa and Jack. If he's having too much fun playing in Balicea, me might feel better about all this. The morning of the 08th, during a non rainy spell between stomrs, Duster packs a small bag containing two days of supplies, and umbrella, and his suit - the one Santa picked out for him. If they're able to talk again, he should thank him.

Duster's switched out his Monk Job for the new Dragoon Job he earned his month. It doesn't feel right to have the abilities that killed two of his friends. Two people he murdered himself. Dragoon isn't completely safe; it reminds him of pushing Jack off the roof, but at least he can't snap people's necks while he isn't carrying a weapon on him.

Before he leaves, he pins a note on the front of the door in case anyone planned on talking to him.
]

I'm leaving on a trip today. Be back on the 10th. I need to be alone for a while.

- Duster


[Tamekichi helps hims roll his double bass out the door of his house, down the two steps, and onto the streets towards the airship docks. The Moogle can't carry any of Duster's bags on his own, but he does his best to make sure the bass case doesn't tip over on the uneven cobblestones. It's a slow process, one that gives Duster the time to think about what to do.

He's going to visit the bars. Play some jazz for the patrons not as a Hero of Light, but just Duster. No dead friends or mind controlled friends to worry about.

Anyone keeping an eye out can spot him leaving and walking through Aqures Ixen, his head down and watching the pavement. It's not like he's going to notice you unless he bumps right into you.
]

July 08th - 10th, Balicea

[Balicea is a lovely place. If Duster wasn't carrying a bass and he wasn't in the pits of despair, he would love the breeze and cool weather. Stepping off the ramp, he wonders if coming here and performing was ever a good idea.

It's too late to turn back now. With not other choice, he finds an inn and settles down in his room. He has a performance tonight and three tomorrow, which means he has no time to relax. His work ethic kicks in, and with only music worth worrying about, he practices every chance he gets. Songs that will clear the terrible memories and emotions from his mind. Something else to focus on.

When not performing a quiet jazz solo in various bars, he's at the local music shops. His ocarina is now dedicated to his fallen friend, and if he ever wants to use the Bard Job again, he needs a new portable instrument. Not an ocarina, though. That reminds him too much of their first meeting.
]

July 10th, Aqures Ixen airship port

[It's raining when the airship lands, but the grey skies don't have the oppressing presence of the ones that he left on his trip. He hasn't forgotten what happened. To forget even the sad things would be disrespectful, and he would learn nothing from it. Instead, his heart is less heavy. The dread that permeated his mind is mostly gone, and he can walk through the streets with a clear head again.

Perhaps someone has been waiting for his arrival.
]
shinrasfinest: (What now?)

July 04th, Observatory

[personal profile] shinrasfinest 2016-07-11 06:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[Perhaps it's easier, in front of a stranger who doesn't have much of an opinion of him already formed? But then, just as easily the wrong impression could be being made every second that Sephiroth stays there in the room with Duster.

He's not sure he would have used sunflower, specifically, but Zelda had been a special kind of sunlight that just lit up whichever room she happened to be in.]


I'm not sure if that's an inspiring thought, or a terrifying one.

[Sephiroth finally lowers his eyes from the painted letters and draws his thoughts into a spot on the floor before him.]
shinrasfinest: (Concern)

July 04th, Observatory

[personal profile] shinrasfinest 2016-07-11 09:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[Maybe it's the pressure of that determination that makes Sephiroth look back up from the floor, at Duster in order to meet the others' eye contact. His cat-like pupils flex from larger to a little smaller as he takes in the expression.

It's a shame that inspirational comments like that seem to do less and less to motivate Sephiroth recently. Just pick yourself up again to be knocked down harder next time. It's very much a recurring theme.]


No. All the regrets are left with those of us left behind. Life will be recycled again, if we fail.

We won't even remember it.
21stcenturyguy: icon by Rune (explain a thing)

[personal profile] 21stcenturyguy 2016-07-12 01:24 am (UTC)(link)
[Duster's terrible attempt at joking gets Aoi to relax a little. He's not as punbearable as Junpei, but he has the same effect on lightening the mood as good old number 5.]

You think you had it bad? I had cinnamon everywhere for days. I had to shower three times before I stopped smelling like a freaking dessert.

[Aoi's soldering through the embarrassment the best way he knows how, by changing the subject and then pretending it never happened.]

You're lucky I was there to make your party so exciting.
charming_jerk: (wazzat)

[personal profile] charming_jerk 2016-07-12 01:30 am (UTC)(link)
[Johnny isn't as well versed in instruments that fall outside of rock band territory, so he's not too sure what that is, other than a larger violin.]

See, more string. You got options, dude. There's also, um, tiny accordians?

[Crystallis would be the sort of place to have concertinas widely available. Johnny pokes at it.]
21stcenturyguy: (eyebrow raise)

[personal profile] 21stcenturyguy 2016-07-12 06:45 pm (UTC)(link)
I always smell nice. [Just, not like cinnamon.]

And it's not like I didn't get sick too. That was terrible. [Although, Aoi didn't go around confessing his attraction to anyone. He just had weird cactuar encounters and then curled up to suffer through the illness.]

Actually, a lot of us got sick. Maybe you shouldn't plan parties anymore, man.
Edited 2016-07-12 18:46 (UTC)
shinrasfinest: (Observe down)

July 04th, Observatory

[personal profile] shinrasfinest 2016-07-12 07:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[If anyone might ask him where his edge went, how it was not only blunted but softened, the constant defeats probably have something to do with it. There are only so many times anyone can be kicked while they are down.

Zelda is just the most recent in those reasons -those defeats- why Sephiroth is finding it harder each time, to pick himself back up and keep pushing. Though, to his credit he says nothing as Duster describes what happened to his world. In fact, the silver haired man seems almost to be intensely listening.]


I'm familiar with such cover ups. Better to make it so that the mistakes can't be seen, as you say, it's easier.

[Like Shinra, all over. Being perhaps one of their biggest mistakes.]

I don't want to let it happen either-

[-cue a long exhale of breath down towards the floor as once more Sephiroth turns his gaze up to the memorial Duster has put together.]

-right now it's a steep promise to make.
21stcenturyguy: (eyebrow raise)

[personal profile] 21stcenturyguy 2016-07-14 02:35 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah...it wasn't the worst party ever. [From Santa, that's pretty much a ringing endorsement.]

Maybe if there were less people around next time, it wouldn't be such a petri dish for germs.

[Just, you know, a casual suggestion. No ulterior motives. Aoi's only half paying attention, because he's trying to figure out if he could get Ed to mix up some sort of cinnamon-scented body wash or something.]
shinrasfinest: (Frown)

July 04th, Observatory

[personal profile] shinrasfinest 2016-07-15 09:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[There. There was that specific light that Zelda used to bring. Sephiroth has never been one to believe in hope, really, yet Zelda would always wish it for him on his behalf. There is a certain trinket, a gift over a year old already, that doesn't get worn that much anymore. He's still kept the Starlight message she wrote on a small piece of paper to go with it.

For hope, when you feel like all light is lost.

Sephiroth takes a long moment looking over Duster, with something resembling discomfort, before he feels the sadness start to quiver behind his eyes finally. Quickly he looks down immediately and absolutely to the floor again, in an attempt to stem the inevitable rising of tears. He wills himself not to cry with all of the self-respect he has left, not in front of Duster, what a pathetic first impression that would leave. It leaves a knot in his throat though, that he has to swallow before being able to speak again.]


In name only. By no means can we claim that based on our deeds so far.
charming_jerk: (smirk 1)

[personal profile] charming_jerk 2016-07-16 04:30 pm (UTC)(link)
["Stylish" isn't what Johnny would call it, but then again, it's not really his style.]

And easy to carry around, and no strings. We might've found you a winner.

charming_jerk: (smirk)

[personal profile] charming_jerk 2016-07-18 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
[Johnny thought it over for a moment. Come to think of it, he has seen some of these things around.]

I've seen some people who play it. Definitely in the theaters. I'm sure I could talk to someone for ya. Next time I do a show, you can come with.
charming_jerk: (blue)

[personal profile] charming_jerk 2016-07-19 01:17 am (UTC)(link)
Hey, it's nothin'. [He's always a little embarrassed in the face of genuine emotion, especially since he doesn't feel like he did much.

He grabs some guitar picks for himself while he's here.]


You should stop by the house we're stayin' at while yer here. The three of us can hang out. Play some cards or whatever it is people do at the beach that ain't swimmin'.
charming_jerk: (blue)

[personal profile] charming_jerk 2016-07-19 02:07 am (UTC)(link)
[Johnny's face reddens at that.]

Well, I mean, we're-- yeah, but, we're here all week 'n all. I don't think it'll be a big deal if I give him a head's up.
shinrasfinest: (Concern)

July 04th, Observatory

[personal profile] shinrasfinest 2016-07-19 09:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[He's never been one to hold on to hope, and it seems whenever he takes a chance on it and just gives it that little bit more faith, something like this happens and tears it from him. Along with a few layers, like skin, that would have otherwise mitigated the pain a bit better. Each time a part of Sephiroth is left feeling raw, exposed and vulnerable.

It's not a feeling that he associates, in any way, with the strength that he once had.]


The more we learn of Narayana, the more the absolute enormity of the implications connected with this situation we've been placed here to solve, comes clear.

[One more blink, still eyes on the floor for the most part, and then he looks up directly at the head of the memorial again. If Duster were to be look side-on at him there might be more of a tell tale shine in the corner of his eyes; but mostly the bangs to his hairstyle hide it from what might have been an obvious tell.]

Where to even start...

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