melodiesoflife | Bon Voyage, Amigo

Entry tags:

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.]

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[Duster sits cross-legged in front of the memorial and eyes every detail on the ocarina. The pale blue shine of paint, the chipped part that a monster hit, the fingerholes that created beautiful music. He wouldn't be the same Bard if it were for Zelda and her welcoming smile.

It's a simple symbol of remembrance, but the gravestones in Tazmily were simple: just a stone and flowers delivered by dedicated family and friends. It was the heart put into their construction that mattered. To him, this memorial symbolizes the simple love everyone had for this Hero.

After several minutes lost in his own thoughts, Duster senses a change in the atmosphere. Someone must be nearby. He twists his body to look at the doorway, and his eyes remain unchanged at the surprise visitor.]

Is there something you need?

[He doesn't really get the reference to an ocarina -though he knew what it was- being as whenever he'd seen Zelda performing it had most often been with a harp, or her soft singing voice. He wonders for a moment where that is, the harp, along with her other belongings and who they would fall to now...before sternly dismissing that thought as if it were cancerous.

Still, it's a memorial and it deserves all the respect that Duster is on his knees giving to it.

Sephiroth takes another measured step into the room as Duster twists in his direction. The question doesn't sit very well on him at all, immediately pinging as abrasive which in turn causes a frown which just threatens to break the bubble of whatever he's holding back when it comes to how he really feels about losing Zelda.]

No. There's...[A knot dropped in the bottom of his voice, so promptly clearing his throat.]

...there's nothing.

[He wants to say something more, wants to pay his own respects but the fact that Duster is near enough a total stranger -even if his presence as an investigator might have been noticed- just causes the usual clam-up.

So for the time being he's just stood a respectable distance from Duster, staring at the letters -ZELDA- as if he might be able to will them away. He'd failed, so damn hard.]

Hmm.

[Duster hums in affirmation and returns to looking over the memorial. If Sephiroth's here to pay his respects, there's no reason to stop him. It makes the place feel less lonely.

After what feels like an eternity, he realizes that something needs to be said. Anything. Despite this being a time where no one has any words, Zelda wouldn't want them to remain silent and closed off.]

...She didn't deserve any of this.

[Even though the urge is there to step closer, to even fall in beside Duster and take a knee there, Sephiroth finds himself rooted to the spot. The pressure being somewhere between doing what he feels is right and whether or not it's appropriate to do so.

One thing is for sure, he thought, Zelda wouldn't want them to be paralyzed in the grief she leaves behind. Couldn't they take the Job she's delivered to this realm as some indication that she will always be with each of them. Sephiroth didn't have the room in his crystal and so had discarded it; it wasn't right for one such as him to use her in that way.]

She didn't, you're right. But it happened anyway.

[Sephiroth's low tones are bitter as so easily the reply could be applied to any such situation here, or indeed the very fact they were all here in the first place. Not to mention each Heroes own personal story within their own world.]

...always seems to be the way.

[She died because a cruel person thought it was fun. Duster can't help but recall Hinawa's death. She died to protect her children, but the only reason a Mecha Drago was wandering around the cliffs was because the Porky wanted to watch people suffer. It's not fair. They were both kind women that everyone looked up to, and things will be different now Zelda is gone.]

I wonder if she can see us. That we're trying to find where to go, but she can't do anything but watch over us.

...I wonder what Zelda would think about all this.

[She died because an Avatar wanted to make a point. The fact that they clearly seemed to enjoy it was secondary; the salt to rub in the wound.

Sephiroth has never known anyone like Zelda, and she was one of the main-stays for him all the way thus far since they arrived in that first wave together. Despite all the walls he had up around himself, her warmth really had melted them thinner at least. Without her, Sephiroth has no doubt that he'd be a very different person stood here now.]

Maybe she can.

[It means that she's a part of this Planet now, they're connected to it and thus she must still be there.]

...she'd be telling us all still, never to lose hope.

[They were just words, but as Sephiroth took a step closer to Duster again, the outside edges of his eyes softened. Was hope really just an illusion, too?]

[Death of a loved one doesn't get any easier the more times he experiences it. Only one day has passed, and he can feel the emptiness left behind.]

She would. Zelda was the kind of person that believed in all of us, no matter what. Even if she's not here...she wants us to keep on living. For her sake, and for everyone in this world.

[Who knows. Maybe her ghost will appear in their dreams to warn them of future events, much like Hinawa did. She was such a busybody that she would do something like that.]

[Was Zelda a loved one? Sephiroth had never allowed himself to even see her as a friend, let alone the close one that -now she wasn't there anymore- she clearly had become regardless. He's never really had a loved one to lose, before so doesn't know really how he's supposed to feel.]

-and for everyone else in all the other countless worlds that have been broken by this one.

[He'd been making it a heavier decision than it should have been, he thinks, as Sephiroth then lowers himself to one knee too. Still unblinkingly burning those letters into the back of his eyes.]

She's the kindest person...that I've ever known.

[Duster had not met Sephiroth in person before, so to see the silver haired man join him in mourning the same friend was a strange experience. Neither knew each other well, but understood each other.]

...Like a sunflower...

[Those words returned to Duster, the same ones muttered around Tazmily the day of the funeral.]

You're right. This is much more important than avenging our friends and the people of this world. This is about every single world that exists. ...This is about all of existence.

[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.]

[Duster lifts his head and looks at Sephiroth, a small shine of determination in his eyes.

It's something we have to keep in mind as we move forward. I don't know if we'll ever recover from this, but we have a promise to keep. Once we save this world...our worlds, she and the others who died won't have any regrets.

It's up to us now.

[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.

[Duster is quiet. That wasn't the affirmation he had expected. That sounded like Sephiroth admits defeat. What kind of answer is that?

His eyebrows lower in seriousness.] That's not how is done. If we start over, we'll remember nothing. None of the pain, yes, but none of our mistakes. We'll learn nothing, and the world will be destroyed again.

[Not by humanity, but by an otherworldly force. They can't just give up.]

...I came from a world that was destroyed by humans. They all escaped to the last place that was safe and started life over. However, instead of thinking of a way to make sure the disaster never happened again, they removed all memories of the old worlds and created a fake village with a fake history and fake mythology. It was easier than admitting their mistakes.

[He waits for Sephiroth to react. He continues:]

It seemed to be fine for nearly twenty years, but when an army of soldiers taken from all other time points invaded, we didn't know what to do. We fell for their tricks. We were impressed by the technology they brought. It lead to my world being destroyed one more time.

...I'm not letting that happen to Crystallis, too.

[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.

[Despite having sat at the memorial, watching the setup with tired eyes for two hours straight, Duster feels something stir inside him that he had long forgotten. Yes, they had lost Zelda and innocent bystanders were killed, but that was no reason to give up. Perhaps it was because he hasn't been here for long to know defeat well, perhaps it was because he already experienced the pain of slowly losing a world.

He couldn't let hope's light go out.]

But it can be done. We'll find a miracle. The sun always finds a way to come back, even after the storm.

[His fists cling to his pants as Duster shifts his sitting position. He and his friends always managed to find a way to move on after tragedy. There were tragic deaths that shook the entire village, he had the weakness of his heat exposed for all to see, he following Lucas on a journey he barely understood that had a one in a million chance of succeeding. But everyone kept going.

He shifts his gaze to the window, the same he and Zelda sat by when he comforted her after Link's crystallization.]

We're Heroes of Light.

[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.

[That gets his hopes lowered. What did he do since he arrived on Crystallis? Watch his friends die, got sick, fought a copy of Lucas, and killed two of his friends. The Calamity continues to spread no matter what they do. Palitutu might be right in that destroying the world may be the only way out...

...But that's what Porky believed. What kind of person things erasing all of existence is a good idea? Hadn't he promised not to let Crystallis die when he first arrived?]

But that doesn't mean we can fix that. We know more about the Calamity now that we did months ago, right? We can figure out a way.

[Seeing Sephiroth losing hope is the last thing helping Duster keep his. He has to be supportive. That was one of the few things he always knew he was good at.]

There's always a reason for these things. Something good always follows a tragedy. Maybe I'm only hoping for a miracle, but I swear I've seen a few.

[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...

[Sephiroth's hair hides most of his face, but his lowered gaze tells Duster a lot how he's feeling. It's time he leaves him alone with this thoughts.]

...We start with talking to Palitutu. Little steps, and then we'll find our footing.

[Duster has placed blind faith into his friends and the people that guided their journey, and it generally worked out for him. Knowing that the other Heroes are capable of great things are encouragement enough for him to stand up, still looking at the memorial.]

At times like these, you have to listen to what destiny tells you. [He says to Sephiroth as much as it is to himself.] ...That's what my friends often told me, and seeing all this...I have to listen to their advice.

[Talking....to Palitutu? Sephiroth blinks then and snap-looks back at Duster. There were a lot of things dancing around his head with regards to the meeting next month but talking certainly wasn't up anywhere near the top of the list.

He looks the definition of disbelief as Duster stands but doesn't stare for too long before looking back dead in front of him. Silver hair falling obediently into place on either side of his face.]

...and what if destiny isn't on your side?

[Palitutu knows something they don't. If only they can figure out her plan, they will know what to do. Even if it's just something as ruthless and destroying everything, Duster will find a reason to oppose her.]

Then destiny wants me to do something different.

[Huh?

Sephiroth blinks into the floor but doesn't look back towards where Duster's words came from. Perhaps the other guy isn't there anymore but those words struck profoundly out where he hadn't expected them to come and chime at him at all.

What could that different be, he wonders.]

Maybe you're right.

[Duster is still here, though ready to leave. As he reaches the doorway, he pauses, hand resting on the arch and looking ahead of him.]

Maybe I am.

[Uneven footsteps are heard from the hallway, which dampen and eventually disappear as Duster walks down the stairs.]

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Bon Voyage, Amigo

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