IC Inbox for Empath

[innermonologues]

Messenger Bird/Voice/Image/Action

Comments

[innermonologues]

[ Squall snorted softly as he approached Auron with his hands in his pockets. ]

He nabbed me up when I first arrived and wouldn't take no for an answer.

[nofarplaneyet]

[Sora then wisely decided that he couldn't force an adult to do that same thing and he'd be spot on.]

So you've been way too near the ball of sunshine that he is. No wonder you wanted to leave the house. [He checked his sword at the door and they got a booth.]

[innermonologues]

[ He follows behind Auron, choosing not to bring his weapon with him when he came out. ]

He's... not that bad once you get used to him. Besides he doesn't really spend much time at home anyway.

[nofarplaneyet]

[Auron can't NOT bring a weapon. Force of so many years of habit.]

Probably out punching the world with love and happiness or whatever it is he likes doing.

Get whatever you want. Since I asked you to come here, I'll buy.

[innermonologues]

[ he snorts softly at the comment. And he thought he was bad when it came to teasing Sora. ]

What sort of food does this place serve?

[nofarplaneyet]

Good food. [Well, perhaps he should be more specific.] This isn't a light fare kind of place. More like solid meals. I like their stew. [And beer. But he'll set a good example and forgo the alcohol for once.]

[innermonologues]

I'll just... take whatever you get. I'm not really picky.

[nofarplaneyet]

[Fine, then they're both getting stew because it's delicious and it's cold today, like it's been for the last few days.]

So how you been? Still training?

[innermonologues]

Every day I'm not doing a task I'm usually training. It's... the only thing that can settle my mind usually.

[nofarplaneyet]

Good. I bet you've improved yourself. Probably can knock my sword out of my hand if I'm not paying attention.

[Oh yes, delicious food and drink delivered to them. He takes a moment to appreciate how good it tastes because he's pretty sure he's going to annoy Squall with his next comment.]

Met some of Sora's friends from his world. Including Leon.

[innermonologues]

[ Squall went to grab for his glass of water but the moment Auron mentioned Leon, the glass started freezing over. ]

Oh. Did you?

[nofarplaneyet]

I imagine that was a rude surprise for you. Sora's told me about people he knows that are actually people I know from Spira and they're wildly different. He says he's met me or that I'll meet him in my future. I really don't know how that will work.

But I imagine if I ran into an echo of myself, it'd be a little off putting.

[innermonologues]

That's what he told me as well... but it turns up that wasn't true.

[nofarplaneyet]

So when he said he'd met you before, he was talking about Leon? [Ouch. But still, it sounded like Squall and Sora were friends. Or that Squall felt like he'd been lied to, which might be understandable as well.]

[innermonologues]

It's... not big deal.

[ No big deal, right? The glass is turning frozen but it was no big deal. ]

[nofarplaneyet]

[That's probably going to be added onto his check. Good job, Squall.]

Except you're still you and Sora probably likes you all the same. Is that what you're afraid of?

[innermonologues]

Nothing is wrong. I'm the same as I've always been with or without him.

[nofarplaneyet]

[Oh fayth. He never liked it when Tidus got into those moods. Speaking of Tidus, maybe using a little story might actually get his point across.]

Uh hunh. Sure. Unfrost your drink then. I might just have a little advice for you.

[innermonologues]

[ He makes a tch noise as he tries to concentrate on the glass. It starts to slooooowly melt. ]

[nofarplaneyet]

[He'll just be enjoying his stew while Squall does that. When he's done, he starts speaking.]

So you're more than a little annoyed that you're going to be compared to Leon. You're not going to be able to avoid that. Now, I haven't told this story with as much detail as I'm going to tell you so keep this to yourself. But I'll only tell it if you want to hear it.

[innermonologues]

...What kind of story is it?

[nofarplaneyet]

It's a story about someone I looked after. He's about your age. Kinda went through the same thing.

[innermonologues]

...I'll listen.

[nofarplaneyet]

Okay. [He took a moment to eat and drink before leaning back in the booth.]

I met a man on pilgrimage in Spira. Name's Jecht. I didn't like him at all when we first met, but over time, he became one of the greatest friends I've ever had.

As a result of the end of our pilgrimage, he was unable to take care of his son and asked me to do it. So I made my way to his hometown and to his wife and kid. Unfortunately, his wife didn't live very long after I explained how he couldn't be with them any longer.

So I was left to watch over his kid. His name's Tidus. When I first met him, he was 7 years old and pretty much hated his dad.

[innermonologues]

Auron, Unless Leon was a really fertile 9 year old, I'm pretty sure he's not my dad.