silversnowfall

[69]

[It was almost a relief, to hear about so many people going home recently, even as more were due to arrive.

It was too sad to mention, knowing that one of those people was Professor Nebilim. That she wasn't really returning to anything. Just to the completion of a sad tale of a boy who thought he should be able to do everything.

And now Nephry is lonely. She has been, off and on, for a while; she feels it especially strongly today. At first she tried cleaning the kitchen but now she's sitting there, chin against her hands, staring at the table. With almost half of the house away or out of commission...things are quiet.

In the silence, she turns to her journal for a while.]

What do you believe happens...when you die?

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That so? What part of the idea're you interested in?

A friend of mine returned home. She...she's been gone for years.

[Oh, Ginji. The things he's saying - part of me can go flying wherever it wants to - are going to break her heart. In a good way, though. It's a beautiful thing to think about Gelda.

Silent apologies if it takes a little while, on her end.]

I would like to believe in that, too.

Talking to most of these people has helped. It can't change what happened...but that's the way it is.

...Oh.

How terrible.

I would not fault you if you did.

...so then, it's still not too late to have a birthday party?

[He sounds like a little kid, with the way he's asking. He feels a bit like a kid, but there's nothing wrong with that. This was supposed to be, after all, his first real birthday.]

Not all of it has been comforting. But that's the way different beliefs are.

...I didn't get to ask, earlier. Are you all right? Your friend is also gone.

You do need to wait about seven days, I suppose.

I just wanted to hear what people from other places believed. ...Or even from those who are from Auldrant. It isn't something we discuss very often.

Well, I can't very well force you to talk about it, if you would prefer not to. Since you began, though - I am curious.

[She makes a sound when he pulls her arm, somewhere between saying Your Majesty and saying Peony and saying What Are You Doing.

It's hard to argue with him when he makes up his mind like this.]

May I at least know where we're going?

This is true. Jade has that affect on people.

Thank you for your time, also.

Oh, it is. It's years too late.

[She is incapable of leading him along for more than a few minutes, though.]

We'll just have to do our best anyway.

That's unfortunate then.

...sorry for your loss.

... me?

... It'll take some getting used to. But that's how it usually is, when someone goes ...

If I would mind talking about it, I wouldn't have replied in the first place.

Oh. We all realized it and rejected it in favor of fighting against God.

[He speaks very sincerely.]

I understand.

It's hard to tell. Sometimes people don't really express how they feel until... after the person is gone.

[ nope, if nothing else, peony is bullheaded. especially about these sorts of things. keeping his loved ones happy is a personal task that he takes very seriously. ]

Good question. We'll figure it out when we get there.

[Peony you are incorrigible sometimes. It is a good thing she likes you.

She goes into her room for a few minutes, trying not to look so sad. There's no helping how she feels. When she comes back out, she's at least looking at him and not the ground.]

I'm ready, I suppose.

So. About as well as I am, then.

...!

I suppose there's... hardly any use in feigning otherwise.

Is there anything you need?

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