○ 01 ○ Familiar Places

[connectedsky.livejournal.com]

[At first, everything is dark. There's nothing but black and empty space...yet, somehow, this isn't scary at all. Maybe because there's something nearby - something warm and inviting. Safe.

A bright light in the distance.

But maybe not so far away after all. Soon there's solid ground. It's a circular platform that looks like stained glass, but doesn't feel fragile. It's brightly colored, and covered in pictures...pictures that must come from somewhere.

Maybe they mean something to the child on the other side of the platform. The boy is walking around, looking a little confused...and with good reason. He had just been here a few hours ago, hadn't he? The person he had been talking to before was sleeping. So why was he back here? Was this a dream?

That's when he turns around, finally noticing that he's not alone. In a confused, but friendly tone, he asks-]

How'd you get here?

Comments

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[A little girl almost Sora's age, perhaps a few years older, gets as close to the pictures as she can, examining them before she seems to notice the little boy. She has dark hair and notably Asian features.

Most of the glyphs seem to be sea-themed, and that tickles her fancy enough to trace one of them on the ground: the ship. She only seems to notice Sora when she looks back up from this task and he's right nearby.]

I wanted to learn more about the pictures.

[connectedsky.livejournal.com]

Huh?

[He looks surprised for a second, before turning his attention to the pictures. Sora hadn't really noticed them before - he knew that they were there, sort of, but he hadn't taken the time to look at them.

Still, it didn't take more then a glance at a few of them for him to figure out what they were...but how could he explain it? He takes one last look at the few nearby, before turning his attention back to the girl.]

They're all things from my island. What about them?

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

What's this one? It looks like a bag with a face.

[She must mean the top left; and somehow her eyes never quite rest on the one she mistakes for a star, some instinctual aversion.]

Why are the pictures all here? Is this the island, too? [For that matter, where is this? It's nowhere familiar to her; she's only seen Sora's island once or twice, in dreams of herself as an older girl.]

[connectedsky.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't notice her avoidance of the paopu image, but his attention is immediately drawn to the picture she's talking about. He walks closer to it, taking a good look - after all, it's his first time really paying attention. He wants to take a good close look at them.]

It's a mask! There's this one shop that sells a bunch of them, and my mom takes me there a lot.

But...this isn't the island. At least, I don't think it is.

[But...what is it? He doesn't know. Or...he does. Maybe He just doesn't know the words for it yet.

Instead of trying to, though, he just turns around again, smiling at the girl.]

Who are you, anyway?

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[A mask?

From his mother. Her heart beats. Nothing's lessened that bond.]

It's after Halloween now. [She points this out reasonably, as if it's a natural concern regarding a mask.] Are you still wearing masks?

[Right now, he doesn't seem to be, of course. That'd be a pretty amazing mask, to look so natural!]

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

[Whether Sora initally notices or not, at the side of the pillar, a man is seated, with his legs dangling off the side.

He's holding a bright yellow lilly in his hands, staring down into the abyss with brightly-tinged green eyes. His normally jovial and lighted expression is blank, devoid of emotion and watching the misting clouds swirl by. He doesn't have the energy to get up, to greet the boy. He doesn't have the energy for much of anything anymore.

He just continues to exist.]

[connectedsky.livejournal.com]

[Sora does notice him. For a moment, he just stares, trying to figure out who it could be...but it's someone he's never met. He's sure of it.]

Um...hello?

[He comes closer, walking until he's just about next to the man. For some reason, he isn't worried about getting too close to the edge - he won't fall off. No way! He even leans over, trying to get a better look at the man's face.]

Are you awake?

[It's a weird question, but it makes sense to Sora. He's just sitting there, not saying anything...so maybe he's asleep. Even if his eyes are open...can people go to sleep with their eyes open?]

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

[He tiredly looks over, staring at the boy for a good while before he attempts a small, weary smile. It's obviously forced, judging from the rest of his demeanor, and it doesn't last long before he spaces out again, turning back to the blackness all around them.

For the time being, he's forgotten how to speak proper words. It's been so long since he'd said anything that wasn't a scream, or murmurs brought on by the mako's delirium. But he's still fighting to keep himself whole. He'll fight even if there's nothing left.]

[connectedsky.livejournal.com]

[For once, Sora doesn't smile back. Instead he just keeps his eyes locked on the stranger, his expression growing more concerned. Something didn't look look right - it was like he was sick, or...]

You look sad.

[hisdreamsmyfate.livejournal.com]

[Sad...? Maybe he was. Sad that they've been trapped in this place so long. And if he's starting to break down, he can only imagine the hell Cloud must be going through...

Cloud. Cl-oud.

He can remember that name.

There's a small shake of the head, his arms folding in his lap. The flower is kept securely there, protected from an unknown, hostile force. And it's then that the SOLDIER actually curls in on himself, bowing his head and unable to look the boy in the face.]

[yuffiekisaragi]

[This was....different. Yuffie takes a quick minute to look over the edge of the platform, judging the distance.

Total darkness and no bottom. Jumping off this thing won't be in the plans then.

She turns to look at Sora, putting her hands on her hips.]

Who knows, kid. It's pretty bananas, this platform all sticking up out of nowhere. What is this place?

[connectedsky.livejournal.com]

Um...well...

[The little boy looks away for a second, fidgeting while he thinks. How can he answer that?]

I don't know. It's just important.

[With that aside he looks up at the girl, already smiling.]

What's your name?

[yuffiekisaragi]

[She couldn't really expect a kid to know where they were. Yuffie is in the strange position of actually being the older out of the two, and it is....well, kinda weird.]

Yuffie Kisaragi. Ninja Princess of Wutai.

[She grins. Ah yes, it felt good to announce herself. Everytime.]

What's your name, kiddo?

[connectedsky.livejournal.com]

I'm Sora!

...wait, you're a princess?

[She doesn't really look like a princess...]

[yuffiekisaragi]

I'm totally a princess! Just an awesome one. None of that frilly dress crap, or the crown.

I kick as....[Oh wait, small child. Yuffie gulps back the cursing, secretly proud of herself for even noticing.] I kick butt and take names!

[no-hometown.livejournal.com]

[A child. The tall man regards the boy with a faint smile.]

Hello. I'm not quite sure, myself. I've been looking for someone. Someone I lost. [He studies the platform as he strides across it, toward the child.] Now I'm here, but he isn't here. [He comes to a halt, a few paces away, assessing the situation.] This must be another dream. [They never seem to end.]

[connectedsky.livejournal.com]

[At first, Sora isn't really sure what to say. The man seems nice, but imposing - like someone important. Still...he said that he was looking for someone.

Maybe he needed some help?]

Well...what does the person look like?

[no-hometown.livejournal.com]

[Sephiroth considers the question. Why had he said that? He realizes that he himself feels lost in this strange place. He's drifting somehow, but he's clearly not looking for himself. That wouldn't be logical. No, he has an actual, rational goal in mind. He can't let himself forget it. It's important.

He smiles at the child's helpful question, but there's a sadness in the smile, and it is very brief, disappearing almost as soon as it appears.]

He has dark hair and white wings. I think you'd know him if you saw him.

He's my friend.

[connectedsky.livejournal.com]

White wings?

[He looks surprised by the description, and in awe of the concept - someone with wings? Woah!]

I've never seen anyone like that. I didn't know people could have wings!

Does that mean your friend can fly?

[lockandkeyblade.livejournal.com]

[This place again. He can count the number of times he's ended up here on his hand, but each time was always important. Each time, something changed. But as he lifts a foot, stepping back and examining the new design, he can't say he ever remembers seeing these particular pictures in the glass before. But it reminds him of Destiny Islands. Of things that were important to him once upon a time.]

[A younger voice snaps him back to reality and out of his thoughts. He turns to face what appears to be a tinier version of himself. It's surprising... but only at first. This isn't the first time he's met another Sora.]

Hmm... If I had to make a guess, I'd say I usually end up here whenever I'm supposed to meet somebody really important.

[He crouches, resting his hands on his knees so that he's at the others' eye level. He gives a warm smile.]

Are you that somebody?

[connectedsky.livejournal.com]

[The smile the boy gives in return is almost instantaneous - somehow, meeting this person didn't feel strange at all. As if it was someone he already knew. He doesn't think to question why, or wonder who it is. For some reason, he feels like he doesn't have to.

Still, his smile becomes a look of confusion when he hears the question. The boy had no idea what he's talking about - how could he?]

Important? How?

[auncyenhalig.livejournal.com]

Hmmm? [ She looks up, distracted from her swaying backtrack over the glass, and smiles at the boy. ] That's a good question. How do you think I got here? You don't mind do you? It's so pretty.

[ Stained glass... it's not common to see outside of Migar's old architecture, and she loves all the panes in the church, even the ones unfortunately broken. Being able to walk with it under her feet, somehow feeling both fragility and strength, is astounding. ]

[connectedsky.livejournal.com]

Sure. I don't mind.

[Sora smiles, doing his best to catch up and walk with her. She looks so happy, how can he not want to follow?]

I'm Sora. Who are you?

[auncyenhalig.livejournal.com]

Sora? [ This young? But it fits... the unruly brown hair and those open blue eyes. ] That's a nice name. I'm Aerith.

Do you know this place?

[connectedsky.livejournal.com]

[Know it? Yes, he definitely does. Even if he doesn't really understand what it is.]

Yeah, sort of. I was here a few hours ago.