mogmelodies | [June 23] Recipients: All Heroes of Light

Dear Asbel,

I will start looking to see if I find her now. If I hear word I will let you know. Do you know places she liked to go in the city? The other option is to ask your moogle to contact hers. I'm not sure how but I suppose it's working together at the mognet office but most moogles can contact each other easily.

Your friend,
~Zelda

[[ooc: The first place Zelda will look is the hospital just because this happens.]]

Dear Zelda,

Okay, thank you. And let's see

I already checked around, but maybe we just missed each other. Sophie's been training out on the Calm Plains a lot lately, and she's made lots of friends. She could be visiting any one of them right now. It might be a good idea to re-check the gardens and the flower shop, too. Maybe something caught her eye.

As for Taiga, I'm sending Tern to look for him after he finishes delivering letters.

Asbel

[[OOC: Even if it has crossed his mind, he's going to be in denial for a while and won't check the hospital for some time. So...good luck with that! Also he'll probably be sending any further correspondence through the other moogles since Tern's out searching for Taiga.]]

Edited 2015-06-24 14:19 (UTC)

Dear Asbel,

I don't know what to say except I'm sorry. I have found her. She's at the hospital and she's completely covered in crystal.

[The letter isn't signed and if Asbel were to come to the hospital he'd find Zelda staring at the statue of the young girl.]

What! What the hell are you talking about?! There's no way that could've happened!

I just saw Sophie this morning! She was fine!
She was looking forward to spending another day with her friends
She said she'd be home later She promised!!

She can't be

[The letter cuts off there, a violent "e" that slashes across the rest of the page. He can't accept that! It can't be true!! But...what if it is?! What if it's all true? ...No!!]

[When searching along with the other letters yields no Sophie, he finally makes his way to the hospital, dread welling in his gut. He's barely able to keep calm, his limbs already shaky. Why? Why are there so many Heroes here...?]

[How did this happen?]

[Zelda waits at the hospital after receiving Asbel's letter. She can understand the loss and she doesn't want him to have to go through it alone.

When she finally spots him she stands back letting him grieve.]

[His eyes flicker to where Zelda stands only for a moment, because the next thing his gaze falls on is...]

Sophie--!

[At least a dozen emotions flicker across his face as Asbel breaks into a fierce run, skidding to a stop at the base of the crystal. Reaching out with shaking hands and grit teeth, his fingers meet only stone. Inside, Sophie's eyes are closed, like she's asleep. Fear rips its claws into him. No, no no no this can't be happening. Not again! Not again...!!]

Sophie, come on! Wake up, you have to wake up! Sophie!!

[Zelda doesn't move closer. Her eyes are on Asbel watching as he mourns the separation with his friend.]

She is safe in there and out of danger.

[She doesn't know if they are really still in there.]

Safe? Safe?! [Asbel turns his head then, his voice shaking with frustration and anger.]

How can you even say that?! She's trapped in crystal!

[His fingers scrape against the hardened shell, as he tries to hold on. Can she feel it? Does she hear his voice? Is she okay in there? He doesn't know, he doesn't...]

She's all alone! She could die like this--!! I can't lose her again!

[Zelda knows what it's light within those crystals even though it's only been there for a week.]

She's dreaming... [Her voice is soft but she doesn't know what else to say.]

Edited 2015-07-03 20:40 (UTC)

[Zelda's words don't make him feel the least bit better. Asbel's shoulders heave, his expression twisting as a sob threatens to break what little control he has left over his emotions. Just like a little kid. Deep down he's nothing but an eleven-year-old boy trying to make up for his mistakes without a damn clue how to do it.]

Dreaming?! What good is that? I swore I'd protect her this time, I promised!!

[He turns back to the crystal, wet trails straining his face. Sophie'd probably tell him it isn't nice to yell at friends, but he's beyond reasoning with and no one's trying hard enough to stop him.]

Sophie! You can hear me, right? You're going to meet lots of new friends, and you wanted to see the sopherias when they bloom, remember? And we'll make lots and lots of new memories together. So, come on! You have to wake up!

Edited 2015-07-04 03:22 (UTC)

[Zelda's eyes shift down towards the ground at Asbel's out burst. She doesn't know what else to say. She wishes she could help but she knows that there is no comfort she can give those left behind. Her gaze shifts over to the young girl who she taught how to garden. She had promised to plant those seeds for her and she knew now it might never happen. She will still try, so if Sophie ever woke up; she'd be able to see that purple flower bloom.]

I'm sorry.

[There is nothing more that Zelda to say and knowing that hurt more than the young goddess care to admit. She's been trying so hard to help others but when it came down to it she can't help anyone.]

[Of course, no matter how much he shouts, there's no response from Sophie and no change in her condition. There's nothing he can do, only wait in uncertainty for as long as it takes. However long it takes.]

[Asbel slumps slowly to the floor, his head bowed forward as he cries.]

What am I supposed to do? I can't protect anyone...! Not Richard, not Sophie... Not back then an-and not now.. I'm not a hero, I'm a failure.

[There isn't anything else that she can do. She feels tears gather in the corner or her eyes but she doesn't let them fall.]

You aren't a failure.

[of course he has to be the one to believe that.

Zelda steps towards the door.] I will leave you alone with her for now. If you need me, I'll be here.

[Asbel's head bobs, although it's impossible to tell if he's actually acknowledging Zelda's words or not. Whatever the case, he's too exhausted to do any more shouting, and he has no one to blame for what happened but himself. If he'd been more, he could've done something. But he didn't. How can he not feel that he's a failure?]

[Later he'll be grateful for what she did, but for now...he's just going to stay with Sophie for awhile - at least until the tears run out, heaped on the floor at the dreaming girl's feet.]

Asbel,

I haven't seen her lately, sorry. But I can check where we usually train out in the plains, if you want? She might have just lost track of time.

Ventus

Ventus,

Thanks, that sounds like a good idea. I'll take another look around town. Maybe she was indoors when I checked earlier.

I really hope that's all it is. She does like to spend time watching animals, after all. Something could've caught her interest out there.

Asbel

[Or maybe she ran into some really strong monsters! What if she's in trouble and desperately needs their help?! Uggh, Sophie where are you??]

Asbel,

Right! I'll head out now.

Ventus

[And then, a little over an hour later, a second letter comes -- this one in much neater handwriting, as Ven's dictating to his moogle as he goes.]

Asbel,

I've been through all the usual places and haven't seen Sophie yet, kupo. But I've got some daylight left so I can double check, just in case.

[Triple-check, actually, but eh. Also, he's unaware of Mograe's extra insertions there.]

Have you heard anything yet, kupo?

Ventus

Ventus and Mograe,

Thanks again for your help looking for Sophie but you don't have to anymore
She's

[Asbel might have joked about the letter on a different day, but he's not in such a humorous mood now. Tern, who delivers the message, will shake his head sadly with a quiet: "they--they found Sophie in the hospital, kupo".]

[Ven hasn't been to the hospital before, but he's heard of it. He knows why a lot of Heroes end up there. He'll ask Tern before assuming anything, but after that, he's quick to jot out a response.]

Asbel,

I'm really sorry. Is it OK if I visit?

Ven

Yeah, it's fine. Sophie would want you to.
Besides, there isn't much to see or do in the hospital.
It's kind of depressing.

Asbel

[Rather than replying, Ven decides to just get up and go. With Mograe's direction, it doesn't take him long to find the hospital, and a quick inquiry of the staff helps him find Sophie's location. As he goes, he can't help feeling uneasy at the sight of all the other Heroes, none of whom he looks at too closely. He heard there were a number of people here, but... this is way beyond what he pictured.

For some reason, though, the eerie silence doesn't bother him. He doesn't like it, but it resonates with him, somehow, as do the white walls. Familiar, but neutral, like a place you've been to so many times that you're kind of sick of it -- but you know you're safe there, too, so it has a permanent place in your heart.

When he spots Asbel, Ven makes a beeline for him, Mograe respectfully in tow.]

Hey...

[It sounds like he's considering adding something on there, but he lets it drop.]

[As for Asbel, his feelings about the hospital are more conflicted. It's not a bad place, but there's no warmth. It's too quiet, too tidy, too methodical. Imagining people being happy here is impossible because the hospital feels more like some kind of museum than a place of recovery. That everyone in this room is trapped in crystal stasis doesn't exactly help things, either. Visible, close, but still so far away. So very...far away.]

[Asbel's slumped on the floor next to the crystal containing Sophie, arms wrapped around his knees, and head ducked forward in a weary bow. He's worn himself out from crying, although for now he seems to have run out. He glances up vaguely at the sound of Ven's voice, but doesn't bother lifting his head more than a fraction. After all, what can he even say?]

[If he'd been more careful, if he'd been stronger and not let Sophie out of his sight, things wouldn't be like this now. If he'd just stayed with her...!]

[Tern, floating beside him, gives a timid wave of his paw.]

[Ven nods politely at the moogle, but then his attention's on Sophie. So this is crystal stasis. Some unknown affliction, according to what he read in Zelda's notes, which doesn't seem to kill anyone as much as simply... trap them in place. Some recover, some still haven't.

And that's the most frustrating and disheartening thing about this: not knowing. It's not as straightforward as helping Aurora was, it's not anything Ven can make a personal comparison to. Not really.

He's still not sure what to say, so he doesn't rush words. Something meaningful and thought out is always better than small talk, at least as far as Ven's concerned. Honestly, though? It's weird, being on the other end of this situation for once.

It's a long moment before he does speak up.]

Do you... know where she was when this happened? Where they found her?

[If there's any lead to follow, any at all on how this happened...]

[It is frustrating, and sad. Asbel has no idea what's caused this or how it can be undone. Just that it happens, and that sometimes people do recover. So in the end, it's...a game of waiting. Waiting and looking for answers.]

[--But, Asbel hasn't gotten that far yet. He's been too busy trying to cope, too busy feeling sorry for not being able to do more, for not being there. When he finally answers, his voice is rough from shouting so much earlier.]

I don't know...where she was exactly. I just got a letter saying she was here. It must've happened...a few hours ago...

[Tern stammers a few times before finally managing to add:] T-taiga would have been with her, kupo. I-I still need to ask, kupo.

Edited 2015-07-04 04:38 (UTC)

[Ven deflates slightly. Just like the other cases, from what he's heard.

The urge is there to cast some healing magic on a whim, as if it might help by some small chance, but he resists the impulse. It's clearly not that simple.

Instead, he reaches out to -- carefully -- touch Sophie's hand. That reassures him a little, odd though it feels, so then he covers her hand to hold it fully. A comforting gesture, even if he has no idea whether she can feel it.]

...You look tired, Asbel. I can stay with her if you want to take a break.

[He glances sidelong at him, openly concerned.]

Dear Asbel,

I can't say that I have seen her since I spoke to her last time. But given what I do know of you, I can see why this is a big worry of yours. But if you ever need help, I'll be here to help you.

~ Hero of Love

Hero of Love,

Thanks. I just, I don't know where she could've gone.
She should've been home by now.

No one's seen her since this morning, Tern still hasn't found Taiga yet.
I've looked everywhere I can think of!

If something bad's happened to her I

[The letter cuts off here.]

[June 23] Recipients: All Heroes of Light

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I am so sorry.

<3 HUGS

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THat wasn't suppose to submit!!!

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1/2

2/2

A few hours later.

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