With You In Spirit [Post-Dream & April Backlog]

[pactfulfilled]

Characters: Asbel Lhant and OPEN
When: Backdated to April 15-until (training), post-Dream (everything else)
Where: Aqures Ixen, County of Flence
Summary: Asbel tries to cope with strange dreams, mysterious letters, and an unexpected repeat case of "amnesia".
Warnings: Friendship.


[TRAINING MONTAGE/AQURES IXEN - OPEN]
"Ever used a sword before, Tern?" Asbel casts a smile behind him at his furry companion, floating a safe distance away from any rogue swings. He'd sent out letters asking for a sparring partner, and it seems he's patiently waiting for one now - running through a few warm-up exercises he learned during his days at the Knight Academy as he exchanges small talk with the moogle.

"N-no, n-n-never! Weapons are-are r-r-really dangerous k-k-kupo!" Tern shivers at the thought. "And p-people get hurt!"

"I guess you're right... But you know, that's not all they're for? Swords can cut and they can kill, it's true. But they can also be used to protect the people we care about." Which was exactly what Asbel intended to do. If he couldn't face the problem head-on, he'd use this time to prepare and become stronger so he could be of use to the others once they learned more. He couldn't just sit around doing nothing, after all.

"How about martial arts, then? Even you ought to know how to defend yourself."

"Nooo!" Tern cries. "The best way to defend yourself is to run away, kupo!"

[WAKING - OPEN TO B-08, neighborhood]
Asbel awakens with an alarmed shout and would have all but jumped out of bed in a frenzy of movement if not for the tangled sheets jerking him back onto his stomach with a flop. Cold sweat slicks his forehead and he finds himself shaking and gasping for breath. He hasn't felt anything like this in a long time, not since--

And then it floats back up into his mind anew. The fighters, the bodies, and the woman - their comrade - who decided to take matters into her own hands.

'What was that? What--?!'

It doesn't seem like a random dream. It's too vivid, too real. As if he'd been nestled in someone else's mindspace, watching through their eyes. Through Richard's eyes.

Asbel yanks the blankets away from his legs, pulling himself out of bed, only to stumble sideways against the wall with a loud thump, jarring his left arm.

"I have to go..."

[VISITING/COUNTY OF FLENCE - OPEN]
He'd promised not to do anything reckless, right? Funny how Asbel had lied yet again... But it wasn't as if he could simply ignore the letter. Not after that dream. Not after..watching Richard's final moments. Guilt and sorrow sting at his gut, causing his brow to furrow as he makes his way through a seemingly peaceful community. He hasn't done a lot of traveling before now, but this seems as good a time as any.

"This address... I wonder if the streets are set up like they are in Aqures Ixen? I mean, what if the house doesn't even have a number on it?"

[MOPING/AQURES IXEN - OPEN]
Asbel makes his way through Aqures Ixen, head bowed, and shoulders drooping. He's pretty sure he looks like a walking catastrophe (and he does, with his more-of-a-mess-than-usual hair and puffy eyes) but he can't bring himself to care. Even that horrible dream couldn't have prepared him for seeing Richard again, face-to-face. Only...Richard doesn't know him at all now. It's like Sophie all over again, but worse. Asbel doesn't think he's been battered around by so many emotions one after another since...since their journey to the Lastalia. He'd seen how the battle ended. He and Sophie had died. And so had Richard. So then, what was he doing here? Was this somehow a different Richard?

Asbel's steps slow, and he stands there, right in the middle of the pathway, wondering how any of it could've happened and when. How his brain could've come up with something so horrible on its own if it didn't.

"But other people had the same dream, right?" He reminds himself aloud. "So, doesn't that make it true? Maybe it was some kind of vision from a long time ago..."

Besides, he'd seen Richard with his own eyes. He'd seemed so confused by Asbel's outburst, had just apologized politely and (finally) had bid him good day like an embarrassed stranger. Is that what they are? Strangers? The thought kind of hurts. He wants to be there for him, to make things right somehow, to be friends again. He'd have stayed behind if he could have, helped Richard regain his memories just as he had for Sophie, but... But.

"Richard seemed happy at least?"

Comments

[MOPING/AQURES IXEN - OPEN]

[greenmagick]

Terra had thoughts on her mind as well as she made her way through the streets. Her pack had a collection of discarded letters while the one she finally decided on rests in the palm of her hand. She had to get it to Tempest to send since she's heard that their might be another strike soon. She knew she was worrying her poor moogle but it was hard for her to say her thoughts aloud.

Her thoughts paused at the sight of the boy standing in the middle of the walk way. She didn't know him but she thought she remembered him as one of the heroes. She wondered if he had the dream too.

She stepped up next to him her eyes clear as she looked up at his gaze. "Are you alright?" Her tone was light and musical in nature but gentle as if it could break with the wind.

[pactfulfilled]

Asbel didn't even seem to notice immediately that he had company, his gaze still focused on something many, many miles from where they currently were. Seconds passed, maybe half a minute, before the soft voice finally registered inside the young man's cluttered head. He jumped, eyes snapping up to the face of a girl who seemed only vaguely familiar. Had he seen her around? He thought so.

"--Huh?"

His attention wavered, finding himself in the middle of the city. He barely remembered getting off the airship. Had he really walked all this way? How long had it been?

"Oh, I'm sorry!" He blurted without thinking, a hand reaching behind his head to rub at his neck. "I didn't mean to block the street. I must really be spacing out today..."

[greenmagick]

"Ah, it's alright. I'm sorry if I startled you." She paused feeling a little awkward. She hadn't been expecting that sort of reaction though she could understand being lost in ones thoughts. Her expression was calm but her crystal blue eyes looked a little unsure.

"Are you alright?"

Terra kept her voice neutral letting the sweet tone ring through the air like bells. She wasn't as helpful or as confident as the other heroes but she wanted to try. A delicate hand gently tucked a loose strain of hair behind her ear.

"Oh, um.. I'm Terra."

[pactfulfilled]

"Well, uh. I wouldn't say that you startled me exactly. I was just kind of... lost in my own head," he admitted, still pretty embarrassed that he'd zoned out right in the middle of the road. His hand slowly dropped back to his side. He wasn't really sure if he was all right or not, however he still managed what he hoped was an encouraging smile. "But...yeah. I'm all right."

Although he wasn't well-acquainted with all of the Heroes, the name did ring a bell. Terra... He'd heard it somewhere.

"Oh! Then... are you Terra Branford? Sorry, we exchanged letters a little while ago, but I guess I got sidetracked by that dream a lot of people were having. I'm Asbel Lhant. It's nice to finally meet you."

[greenmagick]

Terra felt her cheeks flush lightly, her hands moving in front of her lips. "Asbel! Oh, I'm sorry. We never did meet up did we." She remembered the letter but they hadn't met in person that next day.

"It's nice to meet you too." She smiled then feeling more relaxed at the thought that they have spoken once before. It was easier for her to speak through words if only because she could take her time to write.

"I had the dream too." Terra's voice was soft and delicate much like her figure and features. Her bright blue gaze shifted up towards the sky feeling the weight of the world and wishing she could fly. It was confusing and as much as she tried to push the dream from her thoughts it came crashing back. "I don't really understand it."

[pactfulfilled]

"It's all right. I should have gotten a letter to you afterwards," he said with an apologetic smile. He'd never been especially great about written correspondence, though. He'd much rather speak with people face-to-face where the words could flow casually and his hand wouldn't start to cramp. Of course, he figured he'd better get used to writing letters, too. There'd be a lot more of them in the future.

At Terra's next words, Asbel's face took on a more serious expression. Just how many people had the dream affected?

"Yeah. The dream was...pretty intense," he admitted quietly, his fists tightening at his sides. "I keep trying to figure out what it all means. This whole thing is a little too complicated to just be a dream, you know? More like...some kind of a vision. Or a memory? To be honest, I wish I could forget about it. But I can't ignore what I saw. It all...feels too real."

[greenmagick]

Terra wasn't skilled at talking with people though she was proud to know she was improving. Her bright blue gaze stayed on him as he spoke listening to each word and then carefully turn it over in her thoughts.

"I don't think it was just a dream." Her words were delicate as if they would just scatter into the breeze and yet they held together.

Terra kept her gaze on Asbel a moment more before looking up at the sky. "When I woke up here I didn't have any memory. I remembered my name and then since then my memories have come back in dreams. This felt just like that. From thousands of years ago, when the heroes fought. I think I made different choices then." Her voice started off strong but slowly with each word they became wistful and then unsure. She didn't want to admit that the beast she saw was a part of her. That creature with no emotions.

Training

[iscursednomore]

Fai had been thinking things over recently. Not only that he had been trying his hardest to drag Yuki out at every given opportunity, which the moogle wasn't overly happy about to say the least. He wasn't sure why his moogle friend was so shy, so he was trying his hardest to get him more open and friendly because he knew that he could be.

As he walked, Yuki at his side he couldn't help but notice the other in the corner of his eye. They seemed to be training, that could be something they could talk about at least. Making his way over he smiled and waved slightly, the whole time Yuki was sticking close to his heels.

"Hey there. I see you are training. Would it be okay if I joined you?"

[pactfulfilled]

Asbel turned curiously in the direction of the voice, his own moogle floating back cautiously, as if he wasn't too sure about the company. Fortunately, the young man had no such concerns. He smiled back by way of greeting, his sword arm dropping slowly so that the blade's tip rested close to the ground.

"Yeah, of course! It's not much fun swinging a sword around by myself, and I don't think Tern's too into it, anyway."

The moogle in question piped in with a stammered apology while Asbel took a few steps towards Fai, extending his hand in a friendly gesture.

"I'm Asbel, by the way."

[iscursednomore]

Fai already knew his own moogle was going to try and hide as he was quickly to use his right hand to lightly push the shy thing back out from behind his hands before smiling and taking the man's hand, shaking it.

"My name is Fai. it's nice to meet you."

He figured this will be a good thing for not only Yuki, but himself as well. It got him to talk to other people after all as he let go of his hand.

"Though I don't have a sword, more a bow and arrow and a spear due to what jobs I have." he said with a light laugh. "Which makes me curious, what are your jobs currently?"

[pactfulfilled]

"Same here." Asbel returned the shake firmly, but not with too much force.

"And it's all right," he assured him. "Just because we use different weapons, doesn't mean we can't train together. I've actually been thinking about getting a spear myself, but, it just seems kind of strange after studying the sword for so long. And, my jobs right now are Warrior and Dragoon?"

He still wasn't certain what 'dragoon' was supposed to mean, but he'd learned that it involved speed, which honestly suited him just fine.

"What about you? I'm guessing one of them must be an Archer job."

[iscursednomore]

He let go, he was a little glad that he had been slowly getting out more and trying his hardest to be more involved with things. At least this was a good enough step.

"Warrior and Dragoon, huh? Interesting choices they gave you there." He had some idea of what the warrior job was, but he didn't have a dingle clue about Dragoon. He assume it had something to do with dragons, but that was all he could get from it.

He gave a small nod. "That is correct. One of my jobs is Archer. The other is Chocobo Knight. Comes complete with my own chocobo."

[pactfulfilled]

"I suppose," he admitted. "It's been an interesting experience, at least? I mean, it'd be awfully convenient if you could learn other things this way. Like cooking or mechanical repairs. I've been hoping to talk to Jessie about them; at least, when she's not so busy."

Convenient, yeah, but there was definitely something to be said about learning things the old-fashioned way. He still found himself wanting desperately to shout out things like Stampede Strike or Burn!!, but none of his old artes seemed to work at all anymore. Except for the one.

"Chocobo Knight... They're those big yellow birds that I've seen people riding around on, aren't they?"

VISITING ( flence )

[melnics]

The truth was, Meredy wasn't sure why she had come all the way to Flence. It was written all over her face -- the letters through mognet had all the stories about people meeting others that they knew... only they weren't the same. There were too many coincidences, and to hear that even more people had experienced the dream...

On a bench near one of the residential districts, houses sprouting up behind her, but she didn't dare to face them. Her feet didn't quite reach the ground, and her legs pumped slowly back and forth as she stared at the letter in her hands. It was the one that the woman named Kalki had sent. The one with the address... It was crumpled and soft, signs of wear and tear from the amount of times it had been shoved away, but always opened again.

"Well don't tell me that you came here for nothing, then! Kupoooo what a waste of time," Craymog complained, pushing his glasses back up on his nose, probably thinking it was some sort of encouragement.

But Meredy didn't answer. Even Quickie looked solemn, taking on his caretaker's mood. A familiar scent caught his attention though, and with a curious, "Kuwii?" he bounded over to the source, standing on his hind legs as he reached Asbel, greeting the young man with a "Kiii ki!"

"Huh? Quickie?" Meredy's head turned lazily to the side, blinking to see what he had found.

[pactfulfilled]

Asbel had been busy scanning the nearby buildings for a number that matched the one on the crumpled paper in his hand when familiar squeaking caught his attention, causing his footsteps to slow.

"Hey..." He blinked down at the creature, somewhat relieved for the distraction all told. Quickie didn't seem to be alarmed, which was also good. Asbel honestly hadn't come up with a back-up plan yet, in the event that things went awry.

"Quickie, what're you doing here? Is Meredy with you?" Peering around, he managed to spot the girl at her place on the bench, wondering what could've brought her all the way out to Flence. Surely it wasn't another letter...?

There was only one way to find out, though. Squeezing the address into his palm so he couldn't possibly lose it, Asbel made his way over to her, head tilted slightly in concern.

"Meredy? What's up?"

[melnics]

"Oh... Asbel," Meredy was quick to her feet, crumpling up the piece of paper and shoving it in one of her sleeves, trying her best to hide it from view. She had hoped not to run into any of the other heroes in Flence, least of all anyone that she knew...

"You have come to Flence as well?" she forced a smile, trying to push all the unpleasant thoughts away. "It is a nice place, don't you think? This is Meredy's first time here..." When she looked down, her heart sank a little, catching sight of a letter in his hand. Not Asbel, too...

[pactfulfilled]

Fortunately for Meredy, Asbel hadn't noticed it at all (not obvious enough), focused instead on the fact that she (and Quickie and Craymog) were traveling seemingly alone.

"Oh, um. Yeah, me too. I sort of...came here to check up on something. But it definitely seems peaceful enough. And whatever's cooking over there smells pretty amazing as well."

He nodded down the street, towards where one of the restaurants sat, its chimney gently wafting smoke and the hearty aroma of a freshly prepared meal. It was a nice distraction, even if it couldn't last for very long. He hated to admit that he'd done something incredibly stupid, but on the other hand, he didn't want to risk endangering Meredy either...

[melnics]

"Yes, it does!" Flence had a lot of delicious smells, ones that perhaps she had overlooked in her otherwise distressed mood -- "I ate before coming here but it still makes my tummy grumble, like it wants to try more!" There was a laugh to follow up her silliness, though it was more hollow than anything.

"Maybe... Meredy can help Asbel with what he came to Flence for?" There were no two ways about it -- she just didn't have the courage to go to the address her letter outlined. Latching onto someone else's mission in the city... seemed like as good an idea as any, now that she was already here.

"But Meredy we have to -- oh nevermind," Craymog started, then sighed heavily, muttering under his breath about 'wastes of time' and 'indecisive children.'

[pactfulfilled]

Asbel grinned. "Yeah, we should definitely try some later! My budget's kind of tight right now, but I think I've got enough on me..."

As he made to dig around in his pockets for change, the worry-worn paper crunched mutinously in his hand. It seemed so loud, louder than anything else, and he couldn't ignore it. Asbel paused, his expression growing a lot more complicated and a lot less cheerful as he looked over at Meredy, knowing he couldn't possibly keep up the façade that everything was just perfect.

"Actually...about that. Listen, I don't know what's going on, and I don't want to scare you or anything. But I can't be sure that it's completely safe to be here right now. See, I got this letter a few days ago, with an address..."

Asbel's gaze fell to the trapped note as he turned it in his fingers and smoothed it back out again.

"That's why I came here."

[Moping/Aqures Ixen]

[victorix]

Rikku had not spoken to anyone about the nightmare, they had been so commonplace since her imprisonment afterall. It had been disturbing, yes, but what wasn’t these past few months? It’s not as if it had been realistic – she had been older in the dream, but what knowledge she’d had of the years between then and now that she seemed to have as the dreamer faded to blank pages on waking. The letter had gone unopened and neglected, so she was unaware of the doppelgängers. In fact many things were going neglected these days as the girl tried to find a path forwards again.

Yunalesca being some large fiendish creature with snakes bursting from her head? It had to be some warped psychological mess her brain doled out because of how the pilgrimage had gone all wrong. She could forget that though, it was the memory of Yuna and Tidus laying there lifeless that felt so real. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to banish it, but the boy’s dull eyes kept staring back at her, the image refusing to leave. “Ugh. Not today brain.”

She left the house, breaking into a jog and eventually a full on run. Focusing on the wind rushing past her face, the ninja pushed herself as hard as she could. She knew she couldn’t outrun her thoughts forever, but just for now…a light grin began to form.

It quickly vanished when she rounded a corner to see a very dazed looking Asbel standing in the middle of the path. On a clear collision course, her speed enhanced by her job, she did not even have time to call out a warning. The girl did the only thing she could and put all the strength of her burning legs into a leap, tucking her body forwards she attempted to flip over him, gritting her teeth and hoping she cleared him.

[pactfulfilled]

A warning definitely might have helped! Catching a flash of movement barreling right at him, Asbel hardly had time to snap himself out of his thoughts and give proper attention to the fact that there was about to be a collision if he didn't do something right now!

Letting out a startled "hrgk--!!" worthy of one of their old comic books, Asbel reacted on instinct - throwing himself to the side and hoping he was quick enough not to become a stumbling block. Because if he didn't, someone was definitely about to get hurt! And he really didn't want that someone to be either of them.

Asbel rolled for a short second, heart pounding in his ears.

[victorix]

Uncoiling from the flip, Rikku's boots strike the pathway with a crack as she stumbles forwards several more steps before she's able to slow her momentum to a stop. She didn't make an impact! She exhales the butterflies of terror in her stomach in a breath of relief as she realizes she must have jumped high enough not to mow the person over. Only when she turns, the boy is no longer standing there.

"Oh!"

She rushes over when she spots him on the ground, her blonde hair a mess where it came free of her bun during her run, spiraled eyes wide with concern. Panting from the exertion, her words are interrupted by heavy breaths. "I'm...so...sorry!"

Her hands wave in the air, the motion is slightly placating yet at the same time panic induced. "Are you hurt? My friend is a nurse, I could get you there - or or, I could bring her here if it's bad. Oh Shiva, I'm so sorry!"

[pactfulfilled]

Asbel groans softly, inching himself out of an uncomfortable-looking sprawl. Still half out of breath, he pays more attention to whether any bones feel broken and bruised (nothing unbearably painful; there may be a few scrapes, but he's not so worried about those) than to the leaves that hitched a free ride in his hair during the tumble.

Whatever caution he was trying to take, though, is quickly drowned out by the stream of words coming from girl. He's honestly not sure if he feels worse about blocking the street or causing her so much panic now, but he thinks it's the latter.

"It's...it's all right," he manages as he eases himself into a sitting position. "It was my fault. I shouldn't have zoned out like that."

Letting out a long breath, he tilts his head back to get a better look up at her. She seems unharmed, but, better safe than sorry.

"You're okay, right? I mean, you didn't hurt yourself?"

[victorix]

The girl watches every motion with wide eyed concern, wired tight. As she did not witness the fall directly, she has no idea what the extent of Asbel's injuries may be and stands ready to spring forward should he grow unsteady.

At the statement that things are alright, she wilts forwards, resting her hands above her knees as she pants to catch up on her breath. The back of a hand moves up to wipe a sheen of sweat from her forehead.

"I'm so glad. Gosh I was afraid I really hurt you." A stubborn shake of her head responds to Asbel blaming himself. "Don't say that, nothing wrong with standing in a path. They don't put 'don't run around like a rampaging machina' signs because it's sorta self implied. I could have really hurt someone. I wasn't thinking." That had been the point of course - but she should have considered the consequences. She had always tended towards the reckless side. It was her father in her.

A small smile finds her lips when her well being is asked after. "You're really polite huh? Here you are still down in the dirt where I put you and you ask if I'm ok. Lotta people would be screaming at me - and it would be well deserved. I'm fine, don't worry about me."

After glancing over him to satisfy herself that he's not hiding or unaware of any serious injuries, the ninja offers her hand. "I'm Rikku, by the way. Wish I'd met you in a better way. Think you can stand? Or I can come sit with you, make it look like we're doing it on purpose."

[pactfulfilled]

"Sorry," Asbel said as he watched her slump forward from both exhaustion and relief. "In my case, I guess I was thinking a little too much." He couldn't help but smile back, a slow and automatic gesture. Her chatty nature was hard not to like, and the flow of friendly words set him at ease almost immediately.

"I wouldn't really call that 'polite' so much as common courtesy, though," he added in a lighter manner. "Besides, it took my instructors years to teach me all that. I was terrible as a kid."

While the girl evaluated his condition (thanks to Cheria he'd mostly gotten used to it), Asbel did his best to sit still and reclaim a steady beat. Now that his head had time to catch up with the rest of him, he thought he'd seen her before somewhere, but couldn't place a time or location.

When she offered it, he reached up to take her hand. "Asbel Lhant. And yeah, I think I've got it." Using his free arm to give himself an extra push, he managed to pull himself to his feet without too much trouble.

"I mean, unless you really wanted to sit down in the middle of the street with me."