[Action;Open]

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

[Now that her welcome wagon via land and sky have delivered Penelo to Troia, she's taking the time to look around and stock up on supplies. She's happily discovered her gil is accepted currency and determined to be ready for whatever lies ahead. Oddly, faced with the prospect of being on her own and not having to chase after Vaan, she's not entirely sure what to do with herself, aside from begin the process of finding her friends.

Thus, she's browsing the shops, buying only the bare minimum necessary, and pausing to chat with some of the locals.]

Comments

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

That's... complicated.

[Kain sighs.]

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

I don't have anywhere else to be. No partner to chase after and no orphans to run down.

[She tilts her head a touch and smiles warmly at Kain.]

Walk with me?

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

[Considers it for a moment...]

Very well.

[He moves to join her in walking around.]

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

[No need to hurry, as the town isn't all that large, at least compared to some of the sprawling cities of Ivalice, but it reminds her very much of Fluorgis somehow.

And lest Kain think he's off the hook, Penelo turns the topic back to him.]

Complicated how?

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

[As he should have known. Kain looks down as he walks along.]

...I did some terrible things in the past.

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

Everyone does at some time or another. Do you regret them?

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

[Nods slowly, looking pensive.]

More than anything.

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

[She catches that pensive expression and now feels guilty for prying. She offers up an apologetic smile before trying to smooth it over.]

Someone I once knew told me that 'the past can bind a man as surely as irons.' And I guess in a way he was right. You can't change the past, no matter how hard you try.

But, you know, in a way, he was wrong too. You can change the present and the future. I think if we leave the past behind and move on, it can't bind us.

[She glances to the side.] I'm sorry. Maybe it wasn't my place to say anything.

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

You're entitled to your opinion as much as anyone...

[He sighs.]

When I said it was complicated, I meant that. I can't simply walk away from the past so easily. It remains part of me in an all too tangible way.

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

It remains a part of us all. I can't forget my parents or my brothers, or even Velis.

[She rests a hand on his arm and looks up with an encouraging smile.]

But just because the past shapes who you are and who you were, doesn't mean you can't move forward too. Don't walk away from it, but don't let it chain you either. Life's too short and too precious to always spend it looking backwards.

I don't know what you did, but you said you regret it, and I can tell you do. Make your amends, but don't punish yourself unnecessarily.

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

He comes close to telling her everything, about his Dark Side and how very REAL it is. But he's also wary of sounding slightly crazy. He has yet to hear about such a problem occurring anywhere else, after all.]

...No punishment is unnecessary.

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

[She would have listened without judging and been sympathetic and at the same time encouraging. Instead, she opts to do that with what little he does tell her, although she gives him one of her signature looks she typically uses on Vaan or one of the children.]

That can be taken one of two ways. Which one is it?

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

What do you mean?

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

It's nothing. I'm sorry for prying. I'm so used to grilling Vaan that I forget sometimes who I'm talking to.

But if there's anything I can do to help, I'm more than willing.

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

That's fine... [He pauses and figures out what he should say.] But thank you, anyway. Perhaps someday.

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

I'll hold you to that.

So, where will you be going next?

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

I'm uncertain... I only know that it's for the best that I don't remain here too long.

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure either. I know Mjrn has business she's supposed to attend to, and then I'd like to visit a friend in a place called Narshe.

[She pauses as she catches the second half of that sentence and considers it.]

There you go being mysterious again. If you're not careful, you'll draw a crowd of admirers.

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

...Admirers? [Kain says that like the idea is completely horrifying. Which, to him, it rather is.]

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

[Penelo notices that tone and smiles playfully.]

Hasn't anyone told you? Women like a man with an air of mystery.

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

[But not THE ONLY woman he wants. D: Unless Cecil counts as mysterious. Kain frowns and considers this.]

...I see.

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

[She's not sure what to make out of that frown. Is he just that serious or does he like men or something entirely different?]

What is it?

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

[He's just fixated on the Wrong Woman. Siiiiiiiigh.]

It's all right... it's nothing.

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

[Too bad he's not sharing, Penelo could almost empathize. Her competition is an airship.]

I'm not blind. It's alright if you don't want to talk about it, but you don't have to cover.

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

I'm not covering.

[Putting up a tough-guy front, perhaps...]

It really is nothing. Thank you for that information, anyway.