[ action - to those in Luca ]

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

[ Since the news about Cloud departing, Denzel has withdrawn himself almost completely. He should be used to people leaving by now, but every time it happens it hurts more and more, and rather than talking about it, he's taking a page out of Cloud's book and bottling it all up inside.

He's been spending his days locked away in his room or out with the dog, barely talking to anyone, unless necessary, and today is no different. ]

Comments

[starprism.livejournal.com]

[The next time Denzel emerges to take his dog out, he'll find it's been apprehended by the tiny artist who came to visit Marlene. She sits cross-legged on the doorstep outside, sketchbook open on her knees, alternating between throwing a ball for the dog and adding to the collection of quick doggy sketches while the dog returns it.]

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

... Rex needs to go for his walk...

[starprism.livejournal.com]

[Relm considers this, throwing the ball one last time, and then stands up and closes her sketchbook.]

I'm gonna go, too.

[Not a request.]

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

Come on then.

[starprism.livejournal.com]

[Relm stands and puts her sketchbook into her bag, ready to set off.]

So he's called Rex, huh? He's cool.

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

He's the best dog in the whole world. He does tricks too.

[fairesthero.livejournal.com]

[Since Cloud's disappearance, Zack has been trying to spend time with Tifa and the kids, just checking up on them and the like. And since he's the "uncle" it only seems right that he keeps that familiarity with Denzel and Marlene.

And he has a feeling that maybe Denzel needs a guy to be around. Girls are great and all, Zack knows this, but you can only really be a guy with another guy.

So as he heads over to the house, he sees Denzel and his dog on the front steps.]

Hey, buddy.

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

Hey, uncle Zack...

[fairesthero.livejournal.com]

[Zack doesn't say anything about Denzel's mood, just sits next him.]

Y'know, I don't think this guy and I have been properly introduced.

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

This is Rex, he's our dog.

[fairesthero.livejournal.com]

[Zack holds out a hand for the dog to sniff. And lick. And do whatever it is dogs do.]

Hey, Rex. I'm Zack.

[He sends a small smile in Denzel's direction.]

He's cute.

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

He's the best dog in the whole wide world. He's my bestest best friend.

[fairesthero.livejournal.com]

You're lucky. I never had a pet when I was a kid.

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

Really? Not even a little one? I always wanted a dog back when I lived with my real mum and dad, but I wasn't allowed.

[fairesthero.livejournal.com]

Really really. I wasn't allowed, either. Ma and Pops always said I was too much of an animal myself, always running around gettin' into trouble. Now that I think back on it, they were right. I wouldn't have been able to take care of a dog or anything.

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

Aw... well, you can play with Rex any time you want to, uncle Zack. He loves to play fetch and wrestling.

[fairesthero.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Denzel. That sounds like fun.

[Now comes the not so fun part.]

Hey, I'm sure you've already been asked this a million times, but...how are you?

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

I'm fine.

[fairesthero.livejournal.com]

Yeah? That's good.

[Though he sees right through that smile.]

I'd be a mess if my dad disappeared.

[And he was. Angeal's death, by his hand or not, really hurt him.]

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

I gotta be strong. I'm the man of the house now.

[fairesthero.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I understand that.

But just know that if you need some time off, no one will think any less of you.

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

[Knock knock! Marlene knocked on Denzel's door. She was still feeling a bit down with all of the disappearances, and Denzel could always make her feel a bit better.]

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

Hey, Marlene.

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

[She managed a small smile.]

How are you feeling?

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

I'm okay. I'm always okay. How are you?

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

[She rushes to him, wrapping her arms around him. She really needed some big brother hugs right now.]

I'm sad. Really sad. Cloud and daddy's gone, so is Firion... it's not fair.

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

It sucks. Why can't the bad people be taken away and not the good people? Maybe they'll come back... We can hope.

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

[She nods her head on his shoulder.]

They'll come back. They always do, right?

before she went back to Dali!

[winhillstime.livejournal.com]

[Well, worried Sis is worried about everyone, and she really needs to go back to Dali, but she's going to make sure to say goodbye to everyone first. So, when she spots Denzel outside with the dog, so heads out herself. She understands what's going on. She feels it, too.]

Hey, Denzel.

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

Oh, hey.

[winhillstime.livejournal.com]

[She understands. She so understands.]

How are you doing?

[As she takes a seat on the ground wherever they are.]

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

I'm okay.

[winhillstime.livejournal.com]

[She understands. Pause.]

Hey, do you want to hear a story?

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

Okay!

[winhillstime.livejournal.com]

Once upon a time, there was this little girl named Elise. She was raised by two people who weren't actually her parents, but they loved her so very much. One day, she was kidnapped by mean soldiers, and the man, who she called Uncle, went to rescue her. He sent her home to live with Aunt and every day she hoped he would come home again.

A long time passed and she finally got to see him again, but it wasn't until later that she realized he'd been there with her all along. Every day when she thought about him and when she prayed that he'd come back, he was with her. She believed in him, but her actions brought her to him. She didn't wait to let someone else find him. She did it herself.

Now she lives with him in a small town and whenever he has to leave, she just has to think about him and he'll be with her. He'll be back. She knows he will.

[A few details were definitely skipped in the story of her life, but for the most part, it was all real. Her feelings, her experiences. Maybe they could help Denzel a little, too.]

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

She found him all by herself? Hey~ maybe I can find Cloud! Maybe I can find a way to get home and then we'll all be together again!

[winhillstime.livejournal.com]

Mhm. [She nods and smiles.] Exactly, so you can't give up now. You have to keep trying and work with your family and friends here, okay? They need you, too.

[She's trying to be encouraging, so he'll feel better, but not knowing the boy very well, she's not sure if it'll work. It seems to be, though, and she can hope.]

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

[Tifa's finding it difficult not to withdraw completely herself. She can't lock herself away like Denzel though; instead, she's been withdrawing emotionally, going through the motions of her normal life.

Which includes cleaning. Obsessively cleaning, in fact - anything to distract herself.

And Denzel's room is no exception, of course. Tifa knocks on the door softly before entering.]

Denzel? I need to clean your room, sweetie.

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

I can clean it if you want...

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

[No, it really isn't. Tifa bites her lip.]

You can help, but you'll have to get out of bed. The covers need changing.

Why don't you go take Rex for a walk? Get some fresh air.

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

... Do you think he'll ever come back?

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

[Tifa sighs.]

I wish I knew. But he always has done before.

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

I hope he comes back... it's not the same without him.



I miss him. I miss my dad.

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

[Tifa's heart melts. She goes to give Denzel a hug.]

I know, sweetie. I miss him too.

[xnotyetaherox.livejournal.com]

It's not fair!

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

[She holds him, stroking his hair and trying to hold back her own tears.]

I know... I know... We won't stay like this, Denzel. We'll get out of here, all of us, together.