video

[badend_replay]

 [video]

Mii... Has anyone seen Ambroisa? She is a pretty pirate lady... and she is supposed to be living with me. I cannot get her to come up on the phone and she has not been home all week.

Did Genessia take her away? Is this another trick? 

... Am I alone now?

[action]

[After concluding that Ambrosia isn't in Genessia anymore, the teen left her apartment to go for a walk. An aimless walk, at that. Rika's feet are moving, but she doesn't register where she's going.

She just wants to go away. Away from that 'home' that is empty again. When her feet come to a stop, it's because she's back at The Bay in Genessia. Silently, Rika stands and waits. Maybe someone new will come again? And she can start the cycle again? As long as she can get back to the part of the cycle of coming and going where she isn't alone.]

Comments

Action;

[timeless_king]

[There was an enigmatic figure, tall and regally drapped in a large cloak. Not standing, but floating above the water in a golden aura with a red and blue orb orbiting him.

This man with flowing golden hair has his reasons for coming so close to human society. His own personal investigation and research.]

Fate is as merciless as Time itself. Bonds, structures, land, all eventually erode away to dust and nothingness.

Ripped away from all that makes fate a blessing and time a companion, left with nothing but the emptiness. It is only natural to want to fight against them and change your fate.

Though fate and time are limitless, one thing else is eternal. Dreams. Through war, and peace and time itself, my dream shall never perish...

[He turns around and proceeds to leave, though before teleporting away, he sees another had arrived. It was a small human girl. Though he resents humans, he cannot fault a mere child for the sins of their fathers.

But he wishes she heard none of that.]

...Are you lost, little one?

[badend_replay]

[The teen looks up as she hears a strange voice. The man in front of her has already been flagged as strange due to his poetic talking. She can relate far too much.

Her tired eyes sweep back from his face to The Bay.]

No. I think I came here myself. I'm... [What is she doing?

The girl lowers her head.] I'm waiting, I think.

[timeless_king]

[Well, he feels pity. Just ever so slightly. She isn't physically lost, but emotionally.]

...You should run along home. It is not safe here.

[badend_replay]

[She's tired. Too tired to filter her personality through the rose coloured "Rika Furude" filter.

So she just shakes her head, otherwise unmoving.]

It's fine. I don't really want to go back there anyway.

video

[youfool]

[Who cares pirates are lame Rika. He has lots of experience in this area.]

It would seem so, Ms. Rika. I'm sorry. I've, ah, had to endure such partings a few times myself.

As for loneliness, I don't mind talking, or coming over and talking, if you'd like.

[badend_replay]

Mii... I do not know what to do. She was the one paying for our apartment...

[Rika is quick to try to think forward, about practical and logical things. Like money and housing. She doesn't want to think about how much it hurts to be abandoned again.]

Will I be kicked out?

[youfool]

[What, no job? For shame, bum-Rika. Ted hasn't seen her post around the network much either, so he figures she may be short on social connections.]

Ah, well, landlords and ladies can be very understanding, if one explains the situation. At least, so I've heard. Extensions can be applied for.

If, ah, you're as young as you look, the K&H Home could avail. I've seen the room and board there, and it's very decent.

[badend_replay]

K&H?

[She hesitates, then shakes her head slowly.] If I can earn money and pay for my own place, then I should. Being small does not excuse laziness...

But we were pooling our earnings to live here. I cannot pay for it alone.

[youfool]

Oh I'd certainly never recommend indolence, no matter the age. But in many societies, like this one, they may be spared the stressors of regular employment.

But if you insist on a roommate, I may know someone. Anything you look for in particular? Fiscal responsibility and the same sex, I'd assume.

video;

[gamerrep]

I'm sorry that your friend isn't here anymore.

[She paused, she honestly wasn't sure what else she could say really.]

It's really awful when that happens. You can never get use to it.

[badend_replay]

[Well, Rika is quite used to it. Between her home scenario, Mayfield, and now Genessia, a cycle of loss is pretty normal for her.

It isn't any less painful.]

What do I do now? She was letting me stay at her apartment. I don't have a place to stay.

[gamerrep]

Are you earning any money? I mean if you are, I think they would let you keep paying rent.

[badend_replay]

I don't earn as much as she did, though. Maybe I need a second job...

action

[astralera]

[ Despite being in this new world for a few days now, Era has yet to search for a place to stay. Firstly none of the cities really remind her of home of Eorzea, though Genessia is similar enough to Xistentia that it offers a slight bit of comfort.

Secondly - and most importantly - she still holds out hope that her husband will arrive soon. Aymeric had been with her the last she can remember, after all. They were meant to have a wedding ceremony proper in a little under a fortnight and while initially Era had been ambivalent toward the idea, the friends she had made were excited and their enthusiasm was catching.

Perhaps she can alter her wedding dress and wear it for the prom, if nothing else? There's no use letting her hard work go to waste...

Era is lingering near the northern most exit of the Bay, sitting down comfortably with her Carbuncle ^{(1, 2)} curled up beside her. Her tail is restless against her side though apart from that she's still, focused on reading a thick tome on her lap. It takes her a few moments to notice the young girl lingering nearby. Era hesitates to speak up, unsure if she should interrupt whatever the girl is contemplating, but eventually does. When she speaks her voice is soft and quiet - not the voice of someone accustomed to long or boisterous conversations: ]

Hello.

[ She makes sure to smile, both because it's something Era is good at and because she isn't certain how accustomed the people of this world are to non-humans. The horns and tails of the Au Ra convinced an entire nation they were spawned of dragons, which is ridiculous in Era's opinion, but it does mean there is precedent for people to feel threatened by her despite her very small stature and overtly gentle nature. ]

Are you waiting for someone?

[badend_replay]

Mii?

[Rika flinched at first. She doesn't recognize the voice, so why does she hope it'll be someone she knows? Even when she turns to face Era, she's holding hope that she'll recognize the stranger's face. Maybe if she looks long enough, this will turn out to be someone from Mayfield...

But nothing changes, even after staring in silence. Rika's shoulders sink.]

... No. There's no one to wait for. [Voicing it aloud makes the tears burn. She's struggling not to cry in front of a stranger, but it's hard when she just dashed all of her own hopes.] I got left behind again.

[astralera]

[ Era is not good with crying children. She knows that if she were the one crying she would rather everyone just ignore it and continue like nothing was wrong with her. Deciding this is probably the best course of action, Era does just that. ]

If you've been left behind then there is at least one person to wait for.

[ While technically Era was the one who did the leaving behind, she can certainly still relate to the girl. At least somewhat. Unsure of how to proceed from there, she offers: ]

I am waiting for my husband.

[badend_replay]

[Rika appreciates it. She isn't proud of this sadness... Especially considering that she knew it was coming. For Rika, people staying is the abnormal ending.

So she continues wiping her face, listening to the wise advice.]

A husband... I am sorry to hear it. It is very hard when families are split up. [That was what made Mayfield so cruel... Lonely people like Rika were teased with false families, then those families were torn up.]

However, waiting rarely causes anything to happen. I know this, and yet... I do not know what else to do.

action.

[yoyoofdoom]

[Somewhere near the Bay, there was a bench. On the bench, was a kid, cradle himself and was sleeping. He held a teddy bear and he seemed sound asleep. He probably was waiting for someone too then... dozed off. Oops.]

[badend_replay]

[It would take Rika a few long minutes, maybe even an hour, to determine that she was being an idiot. People from home don't just appear because you're lonely. Things don't just change because you're sad.

Sighing, she turns to leave. It's as she leaves that she notices someone on a bench, sleeping.]

Mii? [Rika stares. Unsure of what to do, she initially just watches... Then, curious, she approaches and reaches out to poke the stranger.] Are you okay, little one? You cannot go camping with a tent, you know.

[yoyoofdoom]

[The stranger mumbles and whines a little bit, twitching.] Mmm. Five more minutes mother. Please...

[badend_replay]

Mother?

[Rika tilts her head, then repeats the poking.] I am not your mother. I am Rika Furude... And you should not sleep outside. You will get a cold.

[Private]

[sailor_v]

Is this Rika? Hey there, I'm Minako! Ted told me to give you a call and see if you wanted to be roommates.

I have to warn you, though, I'm not really...uh...how do I put this...?

[A walking disaster when it comes to chores and cooking.]

Well, I'll just say that I hope you like eating takeout as much as I do, hee hee!

[badend_replay]

Mii?

[Rika didn't expect Ted to actually help her like this. She's a bit startled by the high energy blonde at first... then, finds herself right at home.]

You would need not worry about that, Minako. I am very good at cooking and chores. If you would take me as a roommate, I could help with those.

[sailor_v]

You are????

[Ted didn't mention that part! She's saved! They're going to be amazing friends! Yay!]

You've got a deal! And your own room too, this place came furnished. I'll, uh... Well, I'll see what I can do about getting some appliance replacements before you get here. Let me know when you're finished packing, I'll lend you a hand moving in!

[badend_replay]

[Rika is floored. Someone to stay with... a girl her age, too. She's never had female friends as a teenager. She stammers at first, flustered and awed by this turn of events:]

Y-yes! Minako, I-I... I will do my best for you. Perhaps even, some of the appliances may just need a baking soda bath. We can check together.