mooglenet_backup | [video/action] [backdated to yesterday]

[The camera is static, as the feed starts. Serah's sat at the living room table in the house, the flowers that Basch gave to Lightning just visible to her left. She looks tired, exhausted - and her eyes are red. It's not been long since she found out what happened the night before, after calling Basch, and why Lightning never came home. It's only taken her a few minutes to set up the feed, and she hasn't told any of her friends what's happened, yet. And even though she feels like her world is crashing, she has to let the people who cared about Lightning know before it does.

After a moment's quiet, she swallows, looking towards the camera, her eyes glassy.]

Some of you won't... know me. I'm Serah Farron... Lightning's sister.

Sis has- sorry, Lightning has-

[pause. every word that follows, her voice is on the edge of breaking.] Lightning's gone home.

[She's silent, before wiping at her eyes, and the feed ends.

A little while later, she can be found still in the living room of the house, arms folded across the table, her head buried into them. Next to her is a photoframe - of her and her sister, back in Bodhum - what she brought back from the world merger.]

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[ It'll be a good distraction for them, Vanille is sure of it. So she stands up, reaching out her hands to take Serah's and pull her up. ]

I know just the place we can go!

[ And even though Vanille's heart is breaking, too, the smile on her face is just as bright as it ever has been. ]

[She gets up, but doesn't let go of one of Vanille's hands. She isn't planning to for a while.

She tries to smile, but it's weak, trying to take the distraction offered.] Really? Lead the way.

[ Vanille's really good at distractions. It takes her a minute to get ready because she has to go into her room to grab a large piece of paper, which she holds to her chest so Serah can't see what's on it. Still holding onto Serah's hand with hers, she starts hurrying out of the house. ]

It's not far. And it'll be worth it. I promise!

[She follows like a shadow, the paper briefly attracting her interest, but soon forgotten and the focus is back to climbing down the stairs and getting to the front door and down the street. And however many other streets.]

Can I guess? Or is a surprise?

It's a surprise, but... you can guess.

[ Serah might be able to guess where they're going as they head on up towards the stairs that once led to the Mi'ihen Highroad on Spira, but Vanille knows she'll never guess why. ]

Hmm... to see the sea, maybe?

[She's really fairly clueless, and it shows.]

Nope! [ Vanille shakes her head as they get to the town square and starts heading up to the stairs. There's a wonderful view up at the railing at the top and that's where she'll stop. ]

Here. I come here when I'm really upset or I just need to think about things.

[ She pauses and turns to Serah seriously. ]

Serah... Did you ever see Oerba... the way it looked when I was a child?

[Serah nods. She can see why she does: it's quiet and fairly out the way. Not that Luca's got much free time these days; there's only a scant few out like them; the rest are helping with repairs, or prevention of monsters.

At the latter, she shakes her head, somewhat slowly.] Only from what you showed me, when the merger happened.

... Snow showed me the way it was... when you went there with everyone.

[ Vanille nods, still holding the paper, though now she lets go of Serah's hand slowly. ]

When I was in Memoria, I met a girl. Because of my memories playing out, she got to see Oerba the way it once was, the way I remember it being. She drew this for me when we got back.

[ And she finally pulls the paper away from her chest, holding it up in front of them so that if they stand next to each other, the picture covers a good portion of the sky in front of them. ]

When I'm really lonely, I take this up here and look at everything I remember. It's like I never lost it at all because it's right here and even though I know it won't ever be the same, it's nice just to remember the happier days. Those memories won't ever be gone.

[ It's an open invitation for Serah to do the same, both with Oerba and her sister. ]

[Serah looks, and keeps looking: her eyes absorbing every detail, Vanille's words like a monologue over a scene laid out before her eyes. By the time she reaches the end, though, her eyes have turned back towards her.

She's right.

Of course she is.

As long as they remember in their hearts, whatever it is, won't ever fade.

And she attempts to smile, even though her eyes gloss over for a moment.] ... we'll always have the memories...

[ And Serah gets a big hug. Vanille knows that even with the picture, even knowing the memories won't fade, it's still not the same as having Lightning there or having Oerba back to the way it was. But if memories are all they have, then they have to make the most of them. ]

It's gonna be okay.

[She nods into her shoulder: her eyes are glassy again, but- she's managed the attempt to smile.]

I... I know.

[She does. Now she does. Though she always knew.] Everyone's here... we're all here, for each other... and for sis. And that's what really counts.

[ Vanille rubs Serah's back gently. ]

No matter how hard the days and nights, we've always got each other. And Lightning wouldn't want us to worry about her anyway. We can wait for her to come back. She won't leave us alone like this.

[video/action] [backdated to yesterday]

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