Video

[dragonsgrasp]

Is anyone else being visited by someone from home?

What could it mean, that they appear like this? Are they really here or just figments of our imagination? They certainly seem real enough, when you talk to them...

[Another voice pipes up, a woman's voice who sounds much more cheerful than Kain. The phone shifts just a little, and the ghostly figure of a young, blonde-haired woman can be seen as well.]  Kain, don't be silly. Of course I'm real. Now, didn't you say you had a goal of some sort?

[Oh, right. Ahh, he’d initially meant to do this in order to reach out and be more sociable as Ikaruga keeps trying to make him do. He may have gotten a little too troubled there for a moment. Lucky him, Rosa, or the ghost of her, is as stubbornly on top of making him do things for his own good as ever. After a pause while he considers things, he finally adds more.]

What sort of people have appeared for the rest of you? Is it someone you wanted to see? Tell me about who's visiting you.

That wasn't so bad, was it? But aren't you going to start by introducing me?

Ah... right. Everyone, this is Rosa. She's my ...friend... from back home. [There's a small, barely noticeable hesitation on the word "friend".] We grew up together. I've... I've missed her. I've missed you, Rosa.

Oh, Kain... It's all right. I'm here now. [Aaand he'll stop this video now, before he shows too much emotion. He can't have that.] 

Comments

[blessedmaiden]

Rosa? ROSA?

[Rydia has strong conflicted feelings about this, it's just... too nice to be true between Rosa and her mom. And she kinds of expects this whole 'thing' to backfire with flaming colors but for now she's unable to tell her mom goodbye or anything...]

... Kain? [Talking about her mom, the woman (who is basically Rydia with bright red hair, she's still young as she was at her time of death) is looking over the summoner's shoulder looking at who she's talking with.]

I... I think it'd be easy to say if it's your immagination, our immagination or now. I shared moments with Rosa when you weren't there, if she can remember those... she may be real? Still... would you really risk to break the illusion now? I mean, this seems okay and safe for now.

[dragonsgrasp]

It does seem all right for now... but I keep worrying that it may be too good to be true. How long before they just vanish on us? I wonder which god is responsible for this, who would do such a thing...

[It's got to be one of them to blame, right? But if so which, and for what purpose? Still, some part of him just... really wants to enjoy Rosa's company and not be bothered with anything else.]

[blessedmaiden]

I take that as a no... [She sighs] either sorrow or love, I can't be sure about it but they seem the safest bets. Not that it matters... I'm... [and here she lowers her voice, not to be heard by her mother] expecting this to backfire...

[dragonsgrasp]

[Rosa has been reassuring Kain this whole time that it will all be ok, it will all somehow work out for the better. He has his doubts, and he’s very much afraid, but… he’ll take this, if it means finally spending time with Rosa, he’s missed her so much.]

If it’s Love, perhaps… perhaps she’s doing this as a favor to us. I just wish that they could be more… substantial.

[Be careful what you wish for, Kain]

But I’m glad I’m not alone in having doubts.

[blessedmaiden]

[As happy as the summoner can be to see rosa again, or whoever that ghost is, Rydia isn't too sure that this is a good thing to have her around Kain, especially after his words]

Don't say such a thing, please. Remember at the hot springs...? [She just lets the topic drop not being too sure of how the dragoon would react with her openly talkin about how they've been almost... in love under the God's influence] Would you really be satisfied knowing all feelings our beloved ones have for us are just forced on them?

One would have to be extremely naive not to have doubts in such a situation.

[sonofacesius]

They're not real. One of my brothers appeared to me. He's dead. In the Underworld, and he's not coming back. Hades really isn't big on letting ghosts escape and I don't see how he could have come through the Door without first making it out of Elysium.

It's probably a monster, maybe one that can read your mind, choose someone you're less likely to hurt.

Be very careful.

[Will was calm, his ghost had already been dealt with. That was not Michael, no matter how he appeared or talked. It wasn't him.]

Are you in danger?

[dragonsgrasp]

No, of course I'm not in any danger. The... person who's appeared here is a good friend of mine, and she's very much alive back home. She would never harm me.

[...Famous last words, eventually, apparently.]

What makes you suspect it's a monster? That there's any danger whatsoever? Perhaps it's just one of the gods playing a mind game and nothing more. Perhaps they'll all simply vanish in time...

[sonofacesius]

Well if it's not the person it claims to be what else could it be? A monster is the most likely possibility--we know some of the exist here. Even if it's a projection of some kind, something has to be pulling the strings.

This sort of thing happens a lot back home. Not necessarily this, but monsters in general.Maybe the monsters here are just more creative.

[Will paused.]

That wasn't an invitation for a monster to get out the crazy glue and start beading, I swear by the gods if the next monsters is covered in glitter....

[dragonsgrasp]

[Kain gives a darkly amused sound at that.]

Of all the things that monsters could do to us, that sounds like the worst possible fate. Let’s hope it never comes to that.

But you’re right… at this point, we don’t know much about the true cause of this. Are we only hallucinating? Who can say for certain… The gods surely have a hand in it, but how they’re causing it, and what the ultimate outcome will be… remain unknown.

It has the potential to be one of their cruelest tricks yet. [Kain still intends to try and enjoy Rosa’s presence, though he’s wary. But he’s missed her so much.]

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[unitas]

...But she's not really here, Kain. [ Her voice is soft, almost uncharacteristically so. How many people will this god's game break? Their cruelty knows no bounds. ]

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[dragonsgrasp]

Are you certain? This is... She knows so much more than some illusion or monster ever could. The only problem is that I can't touch her... I- I mean... I didn't mean that in any inappropriate way... [Ha, he's just... fumbling here for a moment, excuse him.]

The only problem is that she's intangible.

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[unitas]

Like I said, she's not really here. None of the ghosts we're seeing are. It... It fucking sucks and it hurts but you have to keep that in mind; the gods will do anything to get what they want out of us. [ She sounds genuinely upset over this. This is probably the cruelest thing they could have done to them. ]

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[dragonsgrasp]

[Siiiigh, that’s what he’s been afraid of. Rosa has been trying to reassure him otherwise, to make him feel better about this whole situation. But those doubts still linger, knowing what the gods are capable of.]

I wonder what their aim is this time… I suppose it’s more of the same, toying with our emotions.

It’s not a great idea, perhaps, but I’m tempted to make the most of this until it backfires. Until they… disappear on us. [He’s so afraid of that happening, and how terrible that moment will be.]

[farmboyjedi]

Yeah. I sometimes do see them, even back home. It's something that can sometimes be achieved by those like me. But, this is different. Too many of us are seeing them.

I don't think I like it.

[dragonsgrasp]

I realize it may all be a trick of some sort. [He sighs.] But trick or not, it's allowing me to see someone I've missed a great deal. I'll make the most of it before this ends, and end I'm sure it will.

What do you mean, that you see them back home? Is this some power of yours?

[farmboyjedi]

In one way it's true. But in my case, one of them still seems so disapproving...I know he loved me, but he was always afraid of what I could become. Of what could happen if I went wrong with the power I was born with...

In a way it is, yes. Only a few have mastered the technique while they were alive, though. It is something the Force allows...the energy which flows through us and guides those of us who can feel it.

[dragonsgrasp]

I can understand such caution... Power can cause terrible things to happen, in the wrong hands.

[All he has to do is look at Cecil and Golbez, and how different things turned out for them, just based on who had raised them, and what had been instilled in them.]

The Force? It sounds almost similar to magic in a sense, if it's energy of some sort... Do you think that this Force could be responsible for what we're seeing now?

[Video]

[elegant_and_proud]

My two best friends from home have paid me a visit. I know they're merely ghosts of the real ones...but it is nice to see their faces and hear their voices.

[She has her doubts about how well this is going to go for everyone in the end, but for now, it's a sad but fond reminder.]

[Video]

[dragonsgrasp]

You’ve seen two different people? [That’s the first he’s heard of more than one appearing. Is there potential for more, he wonders? That could be good, but it also could just make things worse.]

I’m of the same mind. I don’t know if this can be trusted. [Despite Rosa trying to reassure him that it will all work out for the best, somehow.] But I’ve wanted to see this person for a very long time. I wish they were more than mere ghosts, though. That part is disconcerting.

[Video] aaaah pardon my lateness, my inbox ate the notif

[elegant_and_proud]

I have. Their names are Vidaldus and Fukuro. No one else seems to be able to see them, though.

[She's not going to try to tell Kain that everything's going to work out for the best, but she's also not feeling heartless enough to tell her friend that they're not even real ghosts - they're magical constructs. The magic she can sense from her friends isn't the magic they had from home. They're unable to use their powers here. It's only a matter of time before the gods pull the rug out from under them, but it is nice to see their loved ones.]

The gods did say they could not control the Door...but given that everyone seems to be seeing loved ones, perhaps Love is attempting to give us the next best thing to them truly being here.

[Video] no problem!!!

[dragonsgrasp]

[Interesting. Kain wonders what that means, that she has two people here with her. Maybe he'll start to see more too? But it's enough to see Rosa, he knows that, it's more than enough. He's just afraid of the inevitable backfire. Because he knows it will, somehow, he knows better than to just hope for the best.]

[It won't stop him from feeling protective toward Rosa, and very attached for that matter.]

Perhaps so. Who knows what motivated the gods to do these things to us? I wouldn't mind if it were something... more benevolent this time... But I know that may not be the case. [He sighs.] It probably is for the better that they're not really here. For their sakes.

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[darthvaderfanboy]

I hope they're not here permanently.

[Kylo already has enough issues with his family. He keeps looking furtively over his shoulder like he's expecting someone else to appear. No matter where he runs in this blasted cave, his parents keep finding him.]

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[dragonsgrasp]

[That surprises Kain a little, since he's more than content to see Rosa again, and he desperately wishes she wouldn't leave. He knows it's wrong, and deep down can't shake that unsettled feeling. But he can't stop it.]

You would prefer not to see the person... or people... who've appeared to you?

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[darthvaderfanboy]

Yes...no...I don't know. [He sighs, sounding extremely gloomy.] It's complicated.

[Namely in that Kylo couldn't figure out whether he hated or loved them at any given moment. Once he did that, it might make this whole situation easier to bear.]

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[dragonsgrasp]

Believe me, I understand all too well what it's like to have... complicated feelings toward others.

[His two best friends are an all too good example of that. He's never been able to fully come to terms with all of his confused emotions toward them, with whether or not he wishes to be loyal to Cecil or kill him, as his darker self wishes.]

Unfortunately, that sort of thing never seems to change much.