043 - Rinoa - Voice [filtered from bad guys]

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

[Rinoa sounds absolutely exhausted. Almost like she's talking to herself, even, though she's not; she knows the phone is switched on but she's saying whatever comes to mind.]

We're going home.

Home... That's what it is now. I don't know if I ever used that word to describe Gaia, but... it feels right. I wonder if Squall thinks the same. We all chose to stay... Even though Selphie and Irvine aren't here. I talked to a lot of people who had to make choices like that. You never know what to say to them. But you know how it feels.

[She coughs. Rinoa's not in the best of health at the moment.]

So that's it. Matoya, she... That's what I was gonna say. I don't know how many people have already heard, but she's gone. I thought that I was giving it everything... All my power to fuel the portal. We all thought that. But she was doing most of the work and then it was like she just expired; she knew it was the end. She wanted to go.

Y'know, I think she would have told me off if I'd said that I wanted to save her. It's all up to the rest of us now, isn't it? I'll have to catch up, but I'm so tired... Hmm...

[Filtered to Zidane and Garnet]

So... About that invite to Alexandria. Does that still stand?

Comments

[Voice]

[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

'Tis closed then. You have my gratitude and appreciation for holding it open so long.

[Voice]

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. We did what we could.

[Voice]

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

[Overhearing the message, and her friend's sorrowful reply, Ashe approaches Delita from behind to rest a supportive hand on his shoulder. The closing is deeply significant to him, that knowledge bringing sympathy to her eyes.]

[Action]

[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

[The stiffened shoulder softens slightly at the touch.]

She's not coming, is she?

[Action]

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

[While her sigh is quiet, it's pained. The possibility of the sorrowful young man being reunited with his sister lessens, and her heart is filled with regret.]

Delita...

[Action]

[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

[He turns his head back to Ashelia, speaking plainly.]

She's never going to come.

[He had held on to that hope, ever since his arrival. He was beginning to lose his composure as all the blood drained from his face.]

[Action]

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

[Hearing his fear stated so bluntly - as a fact, combined with watching the sudden paling of his face, is enough.

Enough for Ashe to react in instinct. Slowly she wraps her arms around Delita, resting against him in what she hopes is the comfort he needs. To embrace a friend... this is a first for her, but it feels right.]

[Action]

[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

[Delita's body tensed up immediately, shock registering throughout at the impropriety of it all. He opens his mouth to speak when he feels the warmth of her friendship.

Saying nothing instead, he closes his eyes and allows Ashelia's strength to sustain him. His shoulders finally relax, releasing the tension centered therein.]

[Action]

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

[When he tenses she almost pulls away, fearing herself to have made matters worse or that the contact is unwanted. However, instinct is telling her to stay.

While Delita may not return the embrace, feeling him relax against her is reassurance enough.]

[Action]

[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

[Delita lets his head dip and rest on her shoulder.

Feeling a little uneasy hugging another man's wife, he hesitates returning the embrace.]

Ashelia...

[Almost unbidden, his hands rise up to Ashelia's sides in an attempt at returning the comfort that has been lacking in his life.]

[Action]

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

[For her the sensation is also largely new, particularly once she feels the lowering of his head, his hands upon her sides.

Not for a moment does she consider this a mistake, the embrace meant to support, save him from falling further into despair. Surprisingly, the hope that she's succeeding is equally as comforting to herself.]

[Action]

[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

[He knows it's wrong to garner such strength and support from another man's wife, but he really isn't concerned at this point about Lord Nabradia's feelings on the matter.

He needs the comfort she is imparting, refusing to fall once more into the depths of despair. Were it not for her presence, he surely would hide from living once more.

He speaks softly and says little, lest the spell of healing be broken.]

Thank you.

[Action]

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

[Ashe allows the embrace to continue for as long as he needs it, comfortable in their trust and reassured by the voicing of his gratitude.

If she has held him back from falling over that ledge of distress, then whatever reservations in the eyes of wedlock, whatever wrongs exist in this, mean nothing.]

[Action]

[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

[Despite a desire to remain, the embrace had to come to its inevitable close even as his fingers lingered longer than they should.

Stepping back, he felt oddly refreshed.]

I am sorry that you will never meet her.

[For had Ashelia reigned over them, he believes Tietra's fate would have been different.]

[Action]

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

[For two causes her eyes lower - respect for his fallen sister's memory, and regret that what he says is most likely true.]

Your sister... she will always be part of you.