Private-Letters------>May become action?

[bloodypast]

[Letter delivered by hand to Albel, via Mogdelina or Ophelia. :) "I think this was really difficult for him to write kupo." If Ophelia delivers directly to Albel, she'll add that comment. ]

Albel,

I do not reach out often, nor am I all that comfortable simply 'talking'. But...I find myself needing to, and though you are blunt--I respect you, and would ask your confidence. When would be good for us to converse?

--Vincent





[Letter delivered directly via Ophelia.]

Dear Lucrecia,

I hope you are settling in well. Please do not forget your promise. Do not also hesitate to ask for help if you wish.

--Vincent

Comments

[wickedone]

[Albel didn't like to ask for help. But this was Vincent -- and this was clearly very important to him. It was important it be done perfectly.]

That... might be helpful, actually. Yes.

[He carefully put the slugs, and shell, away.]

[He cocked his head to the side, looking hard at Vincent and trying to understand.]

She'd been crystallized? Like here?

[bloodypast]

[It would be offered without strings or judgement, as Vincent understood. It would be a blacksmith's craft and even he knew his own limits. But a familiarity born of many years and experience would be an asset when it was unfamiliar to Albel.

A longer pause, as Vincent tried to think of how to explain.]

Not exactly the same, but similar. There is, on Gaia, something known as the lifestream which all souls return to. Ultimately it is also the source for Mako, and Materia. When we last spoke, on Gaia, it was a month or two back from my viewpoint before arriving here on Crystallis. She was encased in crystal all around her, as the cave formed natural deposits of it. I presume these are other manifestations of the lifestream, but could not say for sure.

[A pause, and then it was hidden by his cowl, but there was a small ironic twist to his mouth.]

Think of it more as if it was a crystallized coffin, albeit I could see her. I am not entirely sure how we spoke, either. It was an odd experience.

[Nor could he honestly remember if it had been verbal speech or not. Save that Lucrecia had confirmed they had indeed spoken, he would have wondered if it had not all been a hallucination. The strangeness of it was the best evidence Vincent had for why the cave might be tied to the lifestream. That was the source of many odd things on Gaia.]

[wickedone]

[Strange. And yet, not so strange as to be unbelievable. After all, plenty of things happened on Crystallis that would have been considered impossible back at home. In other worlds, anything could happen.]

[A crystal coffin... The idea nearly made Albel shiver. Seeing a woman that was clearly so important to him like that must have been difficult for Vincent. And now she was free, and here.]

Did she say how she got that way?

[bloodypast]

[Easy enough to politely ignore the near-shiver. Ophelia made herself more quiet, stopping from where she was rolling up the target papers. Easy enough to sense this was a subject Vincent didn't talk often about.]

We have not had the chance to talk about it. Finding her here, in Aquares Ixen was something of a surprise.

[A pause, and then Ophelia chimed in, albeit a bit quietly.]

We dropped the groceries, kupo. Finding her on the street, as she was lost and looking for directions.

[Finishing her rolling of the paper, ignoring the faint surprise and half glare as Vincent's eyes found her.]

I left, so they could talk kupo.

[wickedone]

[Knowing Ophelia, it was probably a pretty big disruption to drop the groceries. And then have to pick them all up. And hope that they were still good. Poor groceries.]

So, you haven't really talked yet.

[Just a guess. The middle of the street after a chance meeting isn't usually the best place to hash out past issues and relationship problems. But Vincent likely would want to talk to her at some point. If the Heroes had to work together, they wouldn't really be able to avoid her.]

So what are you thinking now?

[bloodypast]

Not beyond establishing how she found herself here on Crystallis, and some basic information beyond that.

[Which was not what they really needed to talk about.]

When...the other Heroes started to vanish, or die--I did seek her out. She has remained, but it was obviously traumatic for her. Both of us would like to speak, but we're not sure where to start.

[Much more quietly and soft.]

I am not sure where to start...

[wickedone]

[Albel was silent, mulling this over. He couldn't give much advice. There were things he should have said, wished he'd said, to people who had since been crystallized. And if they returned... he still wasn't sure if he'd say anything.]

If... you were concerned for her, when the others began to die... perhaps you should tell her that?

[Not that it would be easy. It was honest and vulnerable. But it was a simple place to start.]

[bloodypast]

[It was, and the approach was very like Albel. It didn't surprise Vincent, and actually perhaps made half of his mouth quirk very slightly upwards. At the edges. Barely visible.]

I...did. Somewhat.

[Not in as many words or perhaps as clear and blunt as the other man would be.]

To clarify, it was obvious to her that as soon as I learned what was happening, I went to find her.

[A deep breath, crimson-eyes down as he recalled that night.]

With all the trauma, Lucrecia also indicated she was...glad to see me. Was worried she would not have gotten to speak with me again, were she to die.

[Oh yes, Vincent still cared--even with all the trauma and heartache. Maybe not as strongly as he had at one point, but enough to want the closure and for them to be at least allies. All clear enough in the way he said her name, or spoke of her.]

But neither of us felt that was the time, with all the emotional trouble already tiring us, to discuss the things between us we need to talk about. We have agreed to a later time, but it has not come up yet.

[wickedone]

[Albel flexed the fingers of his gauntlet thoughtfully.]

The way things go here... I'm not sure there ever is such a thing as the "right" time. You just have to make time while you have it.

[His jaw was tight. He hadn't made enough time with Fayt and Nel. There had been no "good" time with Terra, and that relationship was now over before it really began.]

I'm sorry... I'm probably not helping.

[bloodypast]

[Vincent could see the tightness in Albel's expression, was aware perhaps the other was regretting something similar. It was a familiar feeling to Vincent; in the end, things had gone so far because he had only watched...

The latter comment though, brought a hint of a smile at the edges of his mouth.]

You are helping, actually.

[Quietly voiced but firm all the same.]

It is useful to have someone to discuss this with.

[Albel had made his opinion on Lucrecia obvious, when witnessing Vincent's memory. But he still did not have the outright hatred that many from Vincent's own world would.]

[wickedone]

[Albel glanced up with some surprise, then managed a small smile himself.]

If you say so. I guess sometimes it helps just to say something out loud.

[He wondered if Vincent knew what he'd say now... or at least when he'd say it. Either way, if Albel had made his friend feel even a little better about the situation, then Albel was satisfied.]

[bloodypast]

I suppose that is why more people do it.

[A genuine nod of his thanks though, moving to take the rifle case with him, preparing to leave.]

I'm not used to having need of it for myself. Or trusting others, to be able to do so.

[That's about as close as you'll get to an admission of friendship, Albel. You're free to come to Vincent too, in turn.]

[wickedone]

So you trust me?

[A small smile fluttered over Albel's features. He'd felt a sense of kinship with Vincent for a long while. It was reaffirming to have it reciprocated in this way.]

Thank you. I'll keep your confidence.

[He touched the bullet one last time before stowing it away and nodding.]

Until we meet again. Good luck.