[Action] 011

[fallenambitions]

[So, Bellemere was sent home. He didn't need anyone to tell him that though. He found out when he discovered a photo that wasn't originally on his desk. There was a message behind it and that basically told him that she had gone.

"You need to keep living or else!"

Alexei continued reading her message...how much she believed that he could still turn things around and find happiness here. Although it was through the Malnosso's influence that brought them together last month, he was able to learn more about her, properly, not what the Malnosso had implanted in his head during the last spring. And if he were to be honest...that week was the happiest he has ever felt in a very long time. Even after, they continued to spend some time together, though without the romantic flare and as friends. It was...the strangest experience. He never exactly had the time to make friends after all, nor cared to have them. It was a welcoming change.

...But now she was gone, reminding him of the instability people often forget about Luceti. Loss was something he was already familiar with. He was sure he had grown numb of that feeling by this point, but Bellemere's leave proved him wrong. He knew what was waiting for her back home as well. He held the photo against his forehead, closed his eyes for a moment and muttered quietly under his breath.

"Thank you, for everything"]


---

[Sometime during the morning, Alexei can be seen around the plaza area. He's just there to visit one shop in particular and that was the flower shop.

Once his business was finished at the store, he'll be making his way over to the mikan orchard and spending the rest of his afternoon there. He had a small bouquet of flowers with him, planning to leave it at the very center of the orchard. There, if he wasn't wandering around looking over the the blossoming trees, he can be found meditating underneath the tree he placed his flowers. Although Bellemere was gone, Alexei would continue to look after this place. He always had before, but now there was more of a purpose behind it.

By the evening, Alexei will have returned to the village and settled inside Good Spirits. Vaguely he recalls that night when he lost a bet with Bellemere as he ordered himself a drink. Heh. Why did he agree to that challenge again...?]

Comments

[fallenambitions]

...Because I enjoyed the time we spent together when she was here. She may have forgotten, but I haven't. [...And there's the fact, she just went back to her death.]

Knowing what I've learned about her...she doesn't have much time back home as well.

[crisisrain]

What makes you so certain that she's forgotten? Some people come back with memories in tact.

[fallenambitions]

Some. That's the key word.

[crisisrain]

Pessimism, that's the key word yer lookin' for.

[fallenambitions]

Pardon me, if not one of those people who constantly hope for something that may not even happen.

[crisisrain]

So you'd rather spend the rest of yer days here in despair? That doesn't sound like a good idea ta me. It's not a sin to be happy.

[fallenambitions]

I'm not living in despair. I'm merely saying I don't want the idea to take over my life.

[crisisrain]

I never said it had ta take over yer life! There's nothin' wrong with having a little hope! And it took me a long time ta realize that myself.

[fallenambitions]

Hope. [Heh. He just shakes his head at that.] Yes, I was once familiar with that word, but now...

[His glass makes a sound as he puts his empty glass on the table] We're getting off the subject.

[crisisrain]

[Nope, not dropping it just yet.] I'm not the best at maths but I'm sure that ya can't have any sort of future without hope. Even if it's the hope that you'll wake up tomorrow, or the hope that you'll get sent home, or the hope that something will change, I think yer more familiar with it than ya might be aware of.

[fallenambitions]

I don't think that quite applies to me anymore as I don't exactly have much of a future now, do I? [No, everything he did had to blow up in his face instead. Hard to say whether he was being serious or the alcohol was starting to have an influence on him.]

If I'm here for another day, than I'm here, if I leave, than I leave. Hope has no place here when the decisions will be made for you.

[crisisrain]

You have a future here though! Even if it's short, a future is still a future, you can still have hope!

[fallenambitions]

...Why are you even telling me this? [Not to say he's going to listen to you. /tsun]

[crisisrain]

I've been drinkin' here alone for days, it's nice ta hear a familiar voice.

[fallenambitions]

[..ha] You must be desperate to be saying that to me.

[crisisrain]

Desperate isn't the word I'd use, more like slightly tipsy.

[fallenambitions]

Of course, it's the alcohol talking. Well regardless of whether there is hope or not, my fate won't change.

[crisisrain]

Huh? No! It's not the drink talkin'! I'm telling you the truth!

[fallenambitions]

Hmph. I still stand by what I had said. Hope is only for those who still have a place to return to. [He stands.]

Our discussion ends here.

[crisisrain]

This is why you don't have any real friends here. [Raven remains seated, flagging the bar tender down for another drink.]

Shame ya have ta leave so soon, I suppose a busy Commandant has better things to do than sit in a bar. Like, maybe sit at home alone with a glass of wine and wonder where it all went wrong?

[fallenambitions]

You speak of friendship like it matters to me. I'm not as dependent on others like some people are.

Good evening to you, Raven.

[crisisrain]

[He's surprised when he hears Alexei call him "Raven". It has been over a year since he came to Luceti and a lot has changed, yet hearing that name from Alexei seems awkward in a way. He knew that Alexei had accepted the fact he had chosen to become "Raven", but only because he'd "sacrificed" Schwann. Maybe he was thinking too hard about this.

Instead he just waves a dismissive hand.]

It should do, memories are all we have, it's better ta make positive ones and the easiest way is with friends.

See ya.