It's a three-parter! Slightly backdated to before the VI trip

[sonoffigaro.livejournal.com]

[Today, Edgar is a busy man. First, a phone call, to one particular little girl who just happens to have summons at her beck and call. No, he doesn't want to talk to your father, he would rather speak with you directly, Eiko.]

[Second, he will climb to the roof to visit Reis. She's been wasting away again, and Edgar is not going to let her do that without a fight.]

[Third, once the rest is accomplished, he will make a broadcast from his office, an official-enough place that is less imposing than the throne room so as not to drive people away.]

I have something of an announcement to make, on behalf of the kingdom of Figaro.

Over the past few months, more and more children have arrived on Gaia without a protector, and many native Gaian children have seen their family and neighbors disappear before their eyes. I have acquired a large, empty building in the town of South Figaro that we plan to renovate extensively to provide a home for these children, a place where they can be assured of safety and security.

It will be run primarily by Terra Branford, but many children need many caretakers. If you are interested in either helping with the construction or at the facility after it is completed, please let me know in response to this message.

The world is changing around us, but together we can provide help for those in need.

Comments

Phone Call

[sonoffigaro.livejournal.com]

By arranging lovers' assignations? I know you're only a girl, but that is low, Eiko.

Phone Call

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

I did not! That was an accident! It was only supposed to go to him!

Oops...

Phone Call

[sonoffigaro.livejournal.com]

[And of course Edgar pounces on that.]

Him? Which him, Eiko?

Phone Call

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

I... I promised. And he doesn't like her back and...

[Eiko feels so so so bad for her bestie.]

Phone Call

[sonoffigaro.livejournal.com]

[There's a pause, then a deep sigh as Edgar pushes his hair out of his eyes.] I will not tell anyone if it isn't of vital importance to the safety of Gaia. But you interrupted the most pleasant evening I've had since arrival on this world, and I think I deserve an explanation as to why.

Phone Call

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

He didn't come. I had to go get him. We tried to send it just to him but it went all over and we were afraid if he saw us, he wouldn't stay so we hid. Only everyone else came instead.

You and Terra were really cute. It made me happy.

Do you like her?

Phone Call

[sonoffigaro.livejournal.com]

You shouldn't have tried to drag that poor man out there in the first place.

Yes. She is my friend and I respect her a great deal - she is one of the genuinely best people I've ever known.

Phone Call

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

But she loves him! That's not fair! How come grown ups can kiss and like each other but kids can't?

Phone Call

[sonoffigaro.livejournal.com]

[What in the... Eiko, you're getting odd.]

It isn't that they can't, it's that children aren't done growing yet. You will most likely be a very different person when you're eighteen, let alone my age, than you are now. The things you like, even the people you like, will very likely change drastically. And frankly, it doesn't matter if you want to accept this or even hear this, because it's true.

[He knows she's very resistant to change. She's gotta learn this sooner or later.]

Phone Call

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

That's dumb. I'll still like Denzel. Forever and ever!

[Because, of course, she's forgetting that at first Zidane was the object of her affections.]

Do you just like Terra or do you like her like her?

Phone Call

[sonoffigaro.livejournal.com]

Oh? And you've never liked some other boy in your lifetime?

[Low blow. But he doesn't feel like putting up with childish stubbornness at the moment.]

I would not have kissed her if I did not like her. Terra isn't someone to be played with in that way - I will not be one to put more hardship on her for my own selfish desires.

Phone Call

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

Ohhhh. You're going to marry her, right?

[Obviously this is the only correct solution to liking someone.]

Phone Call

[sonoffigaro.livejournal.com]

[And that takes him a little aback.] It's a little early to declare such a thing, Eiko.

Phone Call

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

But you just said you liked her. I thought you weren't thick like Zidane.

Phone Call

[sonoffigaro.livejournal.com]

Yes, but liking someone isn't enough to instantly make them move for marriage. Liking someone is enough to start the process of discovering if you will be able to spend the rest of your life with this person, but too many hasty marriages only end in unhappiness for those involved. And I do not want Terra unhappy in any way I can prevent.

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

[She thinks about it and.... nope, it still sounds done.]

Well I have to ask you questions if you're going to be a part of the tribe.

How old are you?
How long have you known Terra?
What's your favorite color?
What's your favorite food?
What kind of Eidolons do you like?
What kind of Moogles do you like?
What hobbies do you have?

[sonoffigaro.livejournal.com]

A part of the tribe? Eiko, you can't mean-

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

Terra is a summoner. That means she is part of the tribe. And as the official representative of the summoners of Madain Sari [Not to mention the only one left alive in the village...] I need to make sure that anyone taking one of the summoners is fit to be adopted into the tribe.

Answer the questions.

[sonoffigaro.livejournal.com]

[There's a sigh, then he decides to just get this over with.]

I am twenty-nine, and my birthday is in August. I've known Terra for close to two years now. My favorite colors are blue and gold, and my favorite food is spiced grilled lamb. I like any Eidolons or Espers that are friendly to us, and I like moogles that remind me of Mog, a moogle who traveled with us at home, as well as the moogles that work in my castle inventing things and most of Gaia's moogles. My hobbies include inventing and technology, and also exploring.

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

Mog?

[Forget Terra and Edgar. That's the one name that would stop Eiko short. And the utterance of the name comes with a sad wobble to it.]

[sonoffigaro.livejournal.com]

[Which Edgar doesn't notice quite yet.] Yes, Mog - a moogle of great intelligence and bravery. He's a friend of ours back in our home world, though he might not be there any longer. He fought valiantly against Kefka with the rest of the Returners, after defending Terra for no other reason than she needed help.

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

Sounds like my Mog.

[Okay that's a bona fide sniffling back tears now.]

[sonoffigaro.livejournal.com]

You know a Mog as well?

[...He hears that. That isn't the best sign he can imagine.]

Eiko, what is it?

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

Mog was my best friend. We were born on the same day and everything. We were going to grow up and be fine ladies together.

But when Kuja tried to take my Eidolons, she rescued me. She was an Eidolon and became a moogle so she could take care of me like I took care of her and..

[More sniffling. Sure she can summon the Eidolon, but it's not like having your best friend since birth around.]

[sonoffigaro.livejournal.com]

[The sex difference throws him for a bit of a loop, but it's quite obvious that the two Mogs share more in common than just a name.]

She sounds like quite a valiant moogle. I would have been honored to have made her acquaintance.