Twelfth Breeze

[salvagedlight]

[Cambot turns at the sound of running footsteps, barely catching a glimpse of Ven as he races past as the camera turns to follow him and starts floating in his wake. He either doesn't notice or doesn't care about the fuzzy ears and tail of a golden retriever dog that have sprouted from his body, because he's obviously looking for someone.]

Aqua! Aqua, where are you?

[Normally, the best place to find Aqua would be the library. Today, this doesn't seen to be the case, as she turns a corner only to almost be run down by Ven. If she's noticed her own set of fuzzy ears and a tail (those of a Russian Blue cat), she's paying them no real attention in favor of somewhat more important facts.

I'm here, Ven.

[He pulls to a stop in front of her, breathing a little harder, but definitely looking distressed now that he's in one place for the camera to focus on his face.] I can't find him anywhere - have you?

[Aqua shakes her head at the question, and with the camera focusing on them, it's easy to see that her tail is swishing gently in irritation.] He's not anywhere he'd usually be. Is there anywhere we didn't look?

I don't think so - I went all the way down to the engine deck, I even got the Servos to help me look. [Ven's newfound puppy ears are drooping; clearly, something very unhappy has happened for both of them.] He's not on the weapons deck or the sports deck or anywhere.

I was afraid that might be the case. He's not in his room either. [She sighs, and while her own ears don't droop, she doesn't look at all happy either.]

Then... is he... really gone?

...Yeah. He's... gone.

[Ven's ears and tail drop all the way, every inch of him looking defeated and sad as he just stands in front of Aqua.] ...What are we going to do?

[There's a moment of crestfallen silence from Aqua as she gathers her thoughts.] I guess... we just have to hope he's alright?

We... We'll find him when we get home, right? [And then he catches himself, rephasing:] You'll find him.

...Yeah. I'll find him.

Comments

[optimistickey]

[He doesn't like that trailing off.]

But what?

[wavesinherheart]

We were all fighting a battle, before we got here. I... haven't seen him since it ended, if you don't count here.

[optimistickey]

Still, that doesn't necessarily mean something bad happened! Terra's really strong. I'm sure he'll get out all right.

[wavesinherheart]

What if he can't?

[optimistickey]

But he's real tough! If he's fighting out there, then he'll need you to trust in him to know that he'll come out all right!

If you were in the same situation, Terra would believe in you, wouldn't he?

[wavesinherheart]

Mmm. He would.

[optimistickey]

Right! So Terra would want you to do the same, wouldn't he?

[wavesinherheart]

Of course he would.

[optimistickey]

So that's all you gotta do! Believe in him, and he'll pull through.

[wavesinherheart]

I wish it were that simple.

[optimistickey]

Well, why can't it be?

[wavesinherheart]

Because that's not how the world works. Not always.

[optimistickey]

Maybe so. But then what's the use of not believing in him? That's not going to help you, or him.

[wavesinherheart]

I guess not.

[optimistickey]

So...you should believe in him anyway, and hope for the best!

[wavesinherheart]

I... I'll try.