[Text | voice- locked from baddies]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[And with one simple video, Celes' world has turned upside down again and she's not sure what to think. Gaia is messing with her now. Time was, she'd have rushed straight over to see him, but now... that's just what she needs: time. So she does the natural thing and high-tails it out of Figaro on foot in the middle of the night.

She doesn't leave without shooting off a couple of locked text feeds first, though.

Edgar:
Something's come up. I'm leaving for a few days. Don't try to find me. I won't be gone long.

and Terra:
I'm not in Figaro right now, but can we talk? Text, voice, or in person, I don't care. 

After that, she flicks on her Sky Phone to announce her departure to the rest of Gaia via voice post.]


If anyone needs me, I'm leaving Figaro for a few days. Call it cabin fever. I won't be gone long.


[For the early hours of the morning, she will be getting herself beaten up in the Sunleth Waterscape, as per her usual coping mechanisms. Once the sun starts peeking out, she'll head off somewhere else where she won't be found as easily, tucking herself among shelves of books and actually reading to pass the time.

After a while, she gets up the nerve to text Balthier.
We need to talk. Phone or in person, it doesn't matter.]

Comments

[Text]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[The short and seemingly urgent nature of her text concerns him, and his reply comes almost immediately, within a few minutes of the original message being received.]

I can meet you right away. Where are you?

[Text---action]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

Library of the Ancients.

[That's all she really has to say. The rest will be explained when he gets there. She's curled up among books, tucked away in a far corner of the library, though if he asks for someone fitting her description, some of the scholars might point him in her direction.

As far as looks go, she's a mess. She looks like she's been fighting things recently, but at least she's had the brains to heal herself this time. That still won't take away the exhaustion from getting so little sleep the previous night.]

[Text/Action]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

I'll be there as soon as possible.

[It, of course, takes him awhile to arrive as travel is not instant, but he does make it in a reasonably short amount of time. After asking a couple of the scholars where she might be found, he makes his way towards the corner she seems to have claimed as her own. He notes her appearance -- it's obvious that she's been fighting recently and she looks unwell, or at least like she hasn't slept. He frowns as he approaches her.]

Celes? Are you well?

[Action]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[No sleep would pretty much cover it. A few chairs scatter the area in front of her and a couple near the table might even be book-free if he wants to sit down. When she hears his voice, she glances up, takes a deep breath, and cuts straight to the chase.]

Locke's back.

[Action]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He raises both eyebrows. He supposed he shouldn't have been entirely surprised, Gaia brought people back all the time, and yet...

Wordlessly, he removed a single book from the seat of the nearest chair and helped himself to it, clasping both of his beringed hands together between his knees.]

I see. That explains why you vanished so suddenly.

[Action]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

It's how I cope. [Always has been. Sometimes gets her into trouble, like the big misunderstanding with Locke and the Empire back home, but... she doesn't know any other way.]

I just... thought you should know, if you hadn't figured it out already.

[The fact that she hasn't just gone ahead and told him what she's going to do about it should say enough that she doesn't know what to do about it.]

[Action]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

I had begun to suspect as much, I must admit. Many of your friends were quick to respond to him when he arrived. [He, too, had responded, interested in the findings of a fellow treasure hunter, but at the time, he hadn't the slightest inkling that the man in question might be Locke.

She just "thought he should know." That wasn't exactly the same thing as "it's over."]

You're not sure of what to do? [It was a question, more than an assumption.] I can only imagine how difficult this must be for you.

[Action]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

He's been gone for months... Good friends would be worried about him.

[And she is, too, but it's complicated now. She isn't feeling the "it's over" vibe and she hopes Balthier doesn't get that inkling.

His continuation gets a soft sigh from her and she shakes her head.]

I think... I just need time. I didn't want to disappear on you without telling you why. It wouldn't have been fair.

[Action]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He nodded stiffly. This was, truth be told, a better outcome than he had expected when the name "Locke" first passed her lips. He smiley gently, if only to show that there was no ill will as a result of her needing time to herself.]

I understand... and I do appreciate your contacting me. I was concerned. Is there anything I might do for you? Or is time the only possible aid?

[Action]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[He's being far too kind about this. Maybe that's what caught her attention in the first place. She's not sure anymore.]

I wish I knew.

[Her first instinct is to withdraw completely. But she's trying to remember that whole actions-hurting-people thing.]

I've never had to worry about something like this before. So few people are honestly interested in me.

[Action]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

I wish I had some prior experience that might help, though considering the situation... I'm likely not best-suited to give advice, am I? [His smile turns a bit wry.] Seeing as I'm rather biased.

[Action]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[She actually offers a small smile at that.]

Terra suggested giving it time. I... probably will.

[She doesn't want to stop seeing him, either of them, at any rate. Nor does she want to hurt them. This is going to be so difficult.]

If life had easy answers, I'm not sure it would be worth dealing with. This is a little more than I bargained for.

[But emotions are fickle things and she won't complain about having had someone be there for her when she needed it the most. If she were the touchy type of person, she might go lean on his shoulder right now, but she's not. So, she just leans her elbows on the table and rests her weight on her arms, trying to figure out what to do now.]

[Action]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

Sound advice. I do believe she has the right idea. [Although he imagines that time will drag on particularly long for those awaiting an answer.]

A part of me is apologetic for having complicated things, and yet... I have no regrets.

[Action]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[And she feels bad for that.]

Don't be. I wouldn't trade it.

[And she means that fully. What they have is special. Her decision won't be made lightly.]

Terra says he doesn't remember Gaia. [There's always a chance this won't matter, that he won't be the one she'd been building a relationship with for so long.]

[Action]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

Nor would I.

[He nods once as he considers the implications of this. Even if Locke had no memories of his time spent with Celes in Gaia, their feelings for each other had taken root in their home world, though he had to admit, he didn't know to what extent.]

That, I imagine, has the potential to either complicate things greatly, or make them incredibly simple.

[Action]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[At least he understands her position.]

That's what I'm worried about. I guess... at least this way I know he's safe.

[That's... one good thing to come out of all this. She glances at him and frowns slightly. How has she not noticed this before?]

I wasn't aware you wore glasses.

[Action]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He lifts a hand to gingerly touch the frames, as if he'd forgotten he was wearing them. Ah, right.] For reading, mostly, or working with small parts.

[He gives a bit of an embarrassed smile.] Since you chose to hide out in a library, I thought I might come prepared.

[Action]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

They're nice.

[She's not used to people wearing them anymore. But they really are nice.]

I'm just not used to people wearing them.

[Action]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

I'd noticed they don't seem popular on Gaia. [He straightened them a bit before lowering his hand, letting it fall benignly into his lap.]

I used to dislike them when I was young, before I realized how much of a help they were.

[Action]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

That would change an opinion, wouldn't it?

[Her lips might be attempting to curl upwards. Distraction: she needs one so much.]

Like I said... they look nice.

[Action]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He smiles again in reply, this one a bit more genuine than the last.]

Perhaps I should wear them more often.

[Action]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

That's up to you entirely. I won't tell you what you should or shouldn't wear.

[Action]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

I like the reaction they get. I'll take this into serious consideration.

[He smirks, leaning back in his seat with his arms crossed over his vest.]

I suppose I should be giving you your space before too long, however, much as I am loathe to leave your company.

[Action]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[She ducks her head in embarrassment, letting her eyes fall to the books on the table as she avoids his gaze.]

I...

[She pauses to give this serious thought.]

I won't tell you when to leave. ["Stay as long as you like. I enjoy your company." Somehow, he's helping to keep her calm.]

[Action]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

My only fear is overstaying my welcome. [However, that said, he makes no move to leave, only leans forward and reaches to put a hand over hers, even as she avoids meeting his eyes.]