❖ 003 // [Voice]

[crisisrain]

[Filtered from Xion | 95% Unhackable to her]

Hey I got a little problem I could use some help with. There's this nice, little, teenage girl who's never read a book before, so I told her I'd get her one as a surprise gift. But uh, I'm drawin' up a blank. What kinda books do girls even read nowadays?

Comments

[Filtered]

[knightofratatosk]

Hey, um, Raven? I wanted to thank you for taking me home the other day when I couldn't talk, and I'm really sorry I caused so much trouble for you.

[Filtered]

[crisisrain]

Emil? Hey you can talk now! Didn't I tell ya it'd clear up soon?

And it's no worries, I couldn't just leave you there like that. I'm glad ta see yer feelin' much better!

[Filtered]

[knightofratatosk]

Yeah, you were right-- it only lasted for two days. It just seemed a lot longer than that.

Better... yeah.

[Filtered]

[crisisrain]

Still feelin' a bit down then I take it? Anything ya need some help with? I've got nothin' else to do after I get a book for Xion.

[Filtered]

[knightofratatosk]

Huh? N-no, I'm fine, I just...

[I JUST SUCK AT LYING.]

[Filtered]

[crisisrain]

Just?... Don't leave an old man in suspense!

[Filtered]

[knightofratatosk]

I just... want to go home.

[Filtered]

[crisisrain]

How long have ya been here in Luceti now?

[Filtered]

[knightofratatosk]

Almost a year and a half now... since last August, but sometimes it seems a lot longer than that.

[Filtered]

[crisisrain]

Ah, I can see why then. But wouldn't ya be gettin' used to livin' here by now?

[Filtered]

[knightofratatosk]

...

[... that's part of the problem. He was used to it until his closest friends were sent home.]

[Filtered]

[crisisrain]

Ya don't have to tell me if you don't want too. But it might help to get it off yer chest once in a while. Seein' as your not barkin' any more.

[Filtered]

[knightofratatosk]

[He's silent for a moment, pondering this.]

... they sent my friends home. That's... that's why I went through that portal.

[Filtered]

[crisisrain]

All of yer friends got to go home and you got left behind. OK that makes much more sense for why you'd be wantin' to go home so desperately.

But what if they get sent back after you left? They'd be stuck alone in the same predicament as you are.

[Filtered]

[knightofratatosk]

[That thought had not crossed his mind.]

I... I hadn't thought about that before.

[Filtered]

[crisisrain]

I'm sure one of 'em will show up again eventually. How long has it been since they left?

[Filtered]

[knightofratatosk]

Marta's been gone for nine months, Tenebrae's been gone for a month, and... Richter will have been gone for two months tomorrow.

[Filtered]

[crisisrain]

So two of 'em only left quite recently then. When I left, I came back again within a couple of weeks. Other people have come back before too, I don't think ya should lose hope just yet!

[Filtered]

[knightofratatosk]

There are lots of people coming back now. You, Flonne, Chie, and Yuna have all returned, so why not... why not Richter? Why hasn't he come back too?

[Filtered]

[crisisrain]

Was Richter like yer brother or somethin'?

[Then he remembers those drawings in his journal...]

..... Actually....... I won't ask.

[Filtered]

[knightofratatosk]

No, he's, um... he's my boyfriend. Well, he was my boyfriend.

[Filtered]

[crisisrain]

If he comes back though there's a chance he won't remember, unless he was yer boyfriend before ya came here.

[Filtered]

[knightofratatosk]

I know. I know that, but I don't care. I just want to see him and Marta again.

[Filtered]

[crisisrain]

I know that feelin' kid. Least you've got the comfort of knowin' they're still alive. I'm sure they'll come back eventually, either that or you'll get sent home.

Or you could bash yer head till you get amnesia and totally forget about them!

[Filtered]

[knightofratatosk]

But what if they don't, or what if I don't get sent home? What if I'm stuck here forever?