victory_road | fifth feather [Video] backdated to the 16th

[The video opens on the carpeted floor of an inn room in Ecruteak, swerving in definitely shaky hands. The person holding the camera is unmistakably Rakka, even before the Pokegear is facing her fretful visage.]

O-okay I know this is happening all over, and it's all people who were... gone. And I guess I thought it wouldn't happen to a Haibane. B-but then it did, and now she just follows me everywhere and...

[Breathe. Okay. Trying to control herself now. Over what? Well to the point, Rakka finally positions the camera until it's focused on her bed, where a young woman is sitting. The simple (and admittedly old-looking) clothing is one thing, but the adage of angel wings and a halo may definitely raise alarm. She's definitely not a threat... but that's not stopping Rakka from shaking.]

I-It should be fine. If I talk to her, I mean, right? I know her. We always talked to each other...

[Which she isn't right now. Silence permeates the air. It's fine.]

Can you say something? Anything? We're... we're friends!

[......]

So, just... tell me what want, I'll... I can...

[As quiet as the visitor is, Rakka's pleading does not fall on deaf ears as it would first appear to. The ghost tilted her head, and finally lifts herself from the bed, stepping towards the screen.

Rakka bolts. The video remains a blurred and jolted mess until, miraculously, she switches it off.]

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[That's true. He did show Rakka a picture of her, once upon a time, did he not? In fact, Rakka can't help but notice the ghost standing there, and how familiar she seems...]

...Rachel?

[She's not getting an answer, but she really should be listening to Tobias anyways. He's here, on her bed. Kuu doesn't seem to mind, scooting a bit to give him room, and Rakka too, if she's up for it.]

...Kuu isn't saying anything either. [That's her name, Kuu. Might sound a bit familiar.]

Yeah.

[Rachel doesn't answer, just crosses her arms and watches the little group.]

... Well. Hello, Kuu.

[He goes quiet for a few moments, before sighing.]

Do you want to come out of the closet? It might be more comfortable out here. You can sit next to me if you want.

[Tobias does glance up at Rachel, but she doesn't say anything about that. She doesn't frown, but she doesn't smile, either.]

[Unlike Rachel, Kuu smiles. It's just about one of the only things she does do now, much to Rakka's distress. Besides following Rakka, that is.]

...

[There comes no answer, at least in words. Becayuse after a minute of consideration, Rakka pulls herself out of the closet - knocking some coat hangers and stuff lose, don't worry about it - and she'll take a seat on the bed beside Tobias. Particularly, with him between her and Kuu.]

[He doesn't move, just lets her move in her own time. He doesn't say anything, either - but he he doesn't mind that she's got him between her and Kuu. Carefully, he puts a hand on her hand, smiling - and he catches Rachel's frown out of the corner of his eye.]

[He takes a deep breath, and lets it out slowly as he turns to face her more fully.]

You're... you're dead. Okay? And I... I don't think I can ever love anyone the way I loved you. That's impossible. The things we went through... no one will go through those things again. Not on our planet, at least.

[He squeezes Rakka's hand gently, trying to draw courage from his friend. It's not like they're romantically involved, but... friends are important.]

... I love you, Rachel. I always will. I don't think I'm ready to love anyone else. Not yet. I don't know if I will in the future... but I love you. And I'm sorry I couldn't be there with you. If I had known that he was sending you to die... I would have at least gone with you. Maybe I could have done something. Maybe I just would have gotten killed. But you wouldn't have been alone. ... And I'm sorry that I couldn't... I couldn't... that you were alone when you died.

[His breath comes in gasps as tears start to stream down his face, his voice somewhat strangled.]

I'm sorry. I love you, Rachel. I miss you.

[There's a light from the ghost, and Tobias blinks in surprise.]

Wh... what?

[The ghost disappears, leaving a Yamask in its place. It floats there, and Tobias scrubs his face, trying to see more clearly.]

You... oh. Oh.

[He turns to look at Rakka, and then at Kuu.]

... Maybe they want to help you say goodbye.

Yaa...

[That might be a yes.]

[Rakka was comfortable drifting into silence, first by Tobias's hand, then everything his conversation with "Rachel" turned out to be. The speech was undoubtedly sweet, even through tears, and Rakka felt somewhat... happy to be there. If being there with him helped, that is.

Now, her gaze flickered from the new ghost in the room, to the old one, then one still sitting there. Expectantly.]

That... that's really it...?

[Kuu nods. Though Rakka couldn't be more confused now.]

...I...

[If there was anything Rakka needed now, it was a moment to think, to compose herself. There were tears already glinting in the corners of her eyes. ]

[He sniffs and nods a little, giving her hand another squeeze. He's here for her... but he's not going to tell her what to say. He wouldn't know what to say, anyway.]

[The Yamask watches them carefully. What're you guys gonna do?]

[... Tobias will talk to that Yamask later.]

[A little encouragement could go a long way. Finally, Rakka was even registering Kuu, who had risen from the bed at some point to circle the floating Yamask.]

Kuu... I'm sorry.

[It's the first thing she can think to say, and so the rest of the words just seem to follow it.]

You're not here anymore, you can't be, because when you left... [Her gaze dips.] I know what happened that night now. You came to find me, just to say goodbye, and thank me for whatever I did. And before I knew it, you left, and then I saw the light in the woods...

[Kuu stands there, expectantly. Silent.]

You left. [Hard words to say.] And it hurt everyone, but as best they could, everyone tried to move on. But I couldn't, not for a month. I just felt myself growing sadder and sadder, and it got worse... [She looks up again.] I missed you so much! And now... now I feel worse because I wanted you back.

[The combined events of today piling up, and the support she's been given so far, forces some tears to well up in Rakka's eyes. These were things she had to get off her chest for some time now.]

Everything just got worse for me then, but... then I found a way out. And I understand it now.

[Kuu nods, and smiles.]

I miss you, Kuu, but I know I just can't keep you here. I'm sorry, Kuu.

[Just like before, a light forms around the ghost and forces Rakka to look away just briefly. And when either of them looks back... there's another Yamask in the room, floating beside the other.]

...Goodbye, Kuu.

Edited 2016-11-16 22:55 (UTC)

[Tobias stays quiet, letting her get it out. He can't really understand what happened, but he doesn't have to. He can tell she's upset, but the best thing is to just let it out, right?]

[... Right. He glances away at the light, and then looks back, leaning against her slightly.]

You're... I'm here. It's...

[It's pretty clearly not okay, but...]

I'm here.

[That has to be enough.]

[It's just the simplest gesture of his, but having something to lean on at the moment seemed to help Rakka more then she expected. Especially now that she felt so heavy... like the weight of her feathery wings had returned tenfold.]

I-I know... I know.

[Maybe... that was enough.

She leans back against him, almost certain she could see that faint glow above her head right now.]

She's gone, but I'm still here.

You are. I'm here with you. ... And maybe someday we'll see them again.

[He's hoping, at least. He has a lot more he could say to Rachel.]

[....]

Tobias?

... Yeah, Rakka?

Thanks for being here.

... Oh. Of course. That's what friends are for, right?

[He smiles at her.]

... Right. [a little nod.

That's what friends are for.]

fifth feather [Video] backdated to the 16th

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god this is late im sorry

It's fine!

once again this is late and I'm sorry /also Haibane spoilers

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