[video/action for Bodhum?]

[focustrigger.livejournal.com]

[When the feed cuts in, there's just sand. Dark sand, like the colour of sand at night, not during the day. Serah lifts it up, slowly, and the view of the sea beyond can be seen. The stars in the sky are shining, and as the camera rotates around- an empty beach front, where hundreds of people should be, but aren't. Where a dome is in place over the water, where fireworks are going off, irregularly, in performance for its vanished audience.

The annual fireworks display, the night before the city was Purged.

Even though the absence of the population makes it feel like that's already happened.

In truth, she's been looking for the nonexistent population ever since exiting what was the exact double of her and Lightning's house. And now she's on the beach, she's just... in a stupor. When she finally speaks- after a long while- she sounds exhausted, like she's been running.]

Home. But empty. How is this happening? And why is there nobody here?

[It just had to be this night. There were so many things about this night. She half chokes up on her next word; it's so quiet it's like she never said it.] Snow...

Comments

[video]

[winhillstime.livejournal.com]

Serah?

[Around Ellone is a different room from the one she usually inhabits in Dali. It's got two beds and a number of other furniture, including wardrobe, mirror, tables, a couple of comfy chairs, and a sofa. She's sitting on one of those chairs right now.]

[video]

[focustrigger.livejournal.com]

[It takes her a minute to respond. When she does, she turns the camera on herself, stood against the edge of the bar NORA used to hang out in. Despite the fact she's expressionless, her voice is shaky.] Ellone?

[video]

[winhillstime.livejournal.com]

Are you okay?

[She looks serious, worried.]

[video]

[focustrigger.livejournal.com]

[It takes her a moment to contemplate that.] I'm not sure. There's just so much about this night, and... it's overwhelming.

[video]

[winhillstime.livejournal.com]

[She understands.] Whatever it is, wherever you think you are, it's not real. I don't think these places are here right now. This... has happened before, but last time, it was only one room, not an entire town.

[video]

[focustrigger.livejournal.com]

[Serah nods, slowly.] That's a little reassuring. For the town and how empty it is, at least.

I just... remember someone that I miss. [her hand unconsciously goes to the necklace she's wearing.]

[video]

[winhillstime.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I know it was a little frightening the first time. We didn't know what had happened.

[She smiles a little, sympathetically.] Maybe they'll show up someday. You never know. The unexpected has happened before.

[video]

[focustrigger.livejournal.com]

Maybe he will. Even though that's selfish of me. [she smiles slightly.]

[video]

[winhillstime.livejournal.com]

[She smiles warmly. A "he," hmm?]

It may be selfish, but we all wish for that. There's someone I want here who was here before and isn't now. Just keep wishing. You'll see him again.

[video]

[focustrigger.livejournal.com]

[she nods, smile a little wider.] ... y'know, there was a myth here, at my home... that if you wished on the fireworks, it would come true. Maybe I should make the most of that... for everyone who's missing someone.

[video]

[winhillstime.livejournal.com]

[She looks touched at that.]

Aw, that would be really sweet of you, Serah. We'd all appreciate it.

[Video]

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

[Rydia's pacing around her old house in Mist when she stares into the screen.]

I think every place being visited is empty. It's like these places are purely from memory, not the real thing.

[Video]

[focustrigger.livejournal.com]

[There's a delay before Serah turns the image onto herself, and she nods. She's expressionless, and her voice is under control, but just barely.] ... that would make sense if it were true.

In some ways... I hope it is true.

[Video]

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

[Rydia smiles reassuringly.]

I think it is. This happened last year, too. Only, it was a smaller area and not an entire town, for the most part. You can leave at any time, the way you came...but if you do, I don't know if you'll be able to return here.

[Video]

[focustrigger.livejournal.com]

[Serah nods. Now she knows that the entire population hasn't up and vanished, like they did, oh so very soon after this particular night... it's somewhat reassuring. For one of her worries, at least.] It's just overhwelming... to find everyone gone, y'know? Particularly here.

I'll keep that in mind. Thank you- [and then Serah notes she doesn't have a name.] -oh. Names first. I'm Serah.

[Video]

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

[Rydia nods--she knows very well how that's like, having been through the same thing herself.]

I'm Rydia of Mist.

[She pans around to show a peaceful small town -a few buildings and a pond- also devoid of anyone else.]

And...this is Mist; home of the Summoners.

[Video]

[focustrigger.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Rydia.

[her eyes swivel as she looks around. though a word catches her attention.] Summoners?

[Video]

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

Summoners are a tribe of people that can summon Eidolons, beings to help us in battle.