Let's See What's In The Cards (Mmhm)

[missrecalled_mods]

The weather was still bitterly cold, and the snow was still thick on the ground, but it was finally possible to at least go outside by the front doors. The King and Queen have still forbidden anyone from staying overnight at the museum district in case it started snowing again. But the King could be seen outside trying to shovel snow enough to make a path to the castle at the least.

The snow was still too thick to get easily anywhere not shoveled, and the snow was so heavy that even beasted out, Ben needed to take constant breaks inside to sit down and dry off. This wasn't going to be a fast task.

It was only made harder when it started. For those who slept, it would start after they have fully awoken for the day. For those who don't sleep, they'd find that they had fallen into a pleasant daydream, even if it wasn't normal for them to do so. When they came out of it, that was when it would start for them.

But what is it, exactly?

Small snippets of memories, playing for anyone who was with the person remembering to see. But the thing was, these memories... were memories the person had not yet made. Memories of the future.

Not enough to give answers, probably not enough to give reassurances for much other than "oh hey, I do have a future after all," but generally pleasant, and short. Hey, it will give people a thing to talk about, at least. Especially since this will go on for the next two weeks or so.

Comments

Ian Wright | Quantum Leap | OTA | CW: some bigotry, some violence

[ubuntu_programmer]

Signature found and lost

A huge room full of machines. Ian was leaned over a desk looking at somethings when a whole bank of screens lit up with information that was... not legible in the vision. The whole thing was blurred and impossible to make out. But it did make some cheerful chirping type noises.

Ian stood up at once, even as things were happening. "I'm picking up a signature." Their voice raised. "I'm picking up a signature!"

Other people started flocking around Ian.

"Where is he?" someone asked. Female voice.

"He is..." Ian trailed off, then looked and sounded confused. "Um he's... he's gone..." said in a this makes no sense sort of way.

"You said you had a signature," male voice.

"Yes, I... I did... but then it vanished," Ian said.

"What I miss?" different female voice. There was now a small crowd around Ian.

"Ian finally picked up Ben's signature, then lost it." New female voice. Judgmental.

"Please forget you saw that," said instantly to whomseoever happened to have seen it.

Gibberish

Ian and a woman were standing over what looked like a glass table with all sorts of numbers and seemingly random letters and odd diagrams on it.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" Ian asked.

"I don't know," the woman said. "You wrote it."

"Yeah, like 30 years from now based on advancements in the field that I can't even begin to anticipate. This litterally looks like gibberish to me." Then Ian laughed. "Well, except that part. That's um... that's an inside joke. You wouldn't understand. Are you sure that I didn't say anything about how this code is supposed to work?"

"No," the woman replied. "All you said is that we need each other." She gestured at the table.

"Okay," Ian said. "Glad I used my time wisely."
Ian was rushing to copy as much of the code down as they could into their tablet, hardly even listening to the conversation.

Growth

Ian and a woman were going over a glass table that had scribbled code and diagrams and formulae on it.

"Wow, this is incredible," the woman was saying as some sort of computer in the table was changing some of the numbers and letters. "No idea what it means, but the pieces I do understand are brilliant."

Ian was shaking their head, looking more and more frustrated. "Why can't I figure this out? I mean, future me is just casually writing this thing in some Blade runner apartment, probably wearing a very cool trench coat, and I still can't put one and one together."

"Should we get you a trench coat?"

"Mm, couldn't hurt."

"I think you're being hard on yourself," the woman said. "If your 2018 self could see you now, they'd be pretty proud of who they've become."

"Well," Ian said, standing up and rubbing their nose awkwardly. "That's a pretty low bar, because in 2018, I was a mess. I had just broken up with Rachel," they shored themselves up on the edge of the table. "I was lonely." A deep breath. "And you saw how desperate I was to get everybody to go to those trivia nights. It's because the other six nights of the week I was at home playing this impossible to beat video game called Dark Souls. Which is actually a very appropriate title for my state of mind back then."

"Huh. I haven't played Dark Souls in a while. Kinda miss it." They said, because it was easier to talk about that then handle their complex thoughts about being so friendly with Janice of all people. Friends were great and all, but...

We Need Each Other

"The game is nearly impossible to beat on your own," Ian was saying, tense. "You need another player. It's" Ian paused as realization slowly dawned on their face. "We need each other."

((More to go as the threads continue))

Cassidy and Grey | Black Jewels | OTA | CWs: it's Black Jewels, so usually all, but these are safe

[thinking_about_it]

Feeling A Little Horse?

Grey and Cassidy were standing with two other people. One was a woman with long dark red hair and flashing green eyes. The man had curly hair blue eyes that looked like trouble.

"And you're here to teach me what exactly?" Grey was asking.

"How to handle your wife," the man said, impishly.

Cassidy looked ready to blow her top. The woman took her arm. "And I'm here to help you know what to expect the first time your horse tells you you're not allowed to ride..."

"What... was that?" Cassidy asked, so confused.

"Beats me," Grey said, shrugging.

Cassidy - In Full Bloom

This one was from Cassidy's POV as could be told by the angle with her hands in the dirt. She was clearly tending to a small plant. She sighed and looked to the small dog beside her. "Yes, Vae," she said, exasperated, "I am allowed to be doing this. No! You do not have to ask Grey!" The dog took off running, about a foot off the ground. "VAE! VAE!"

"Why bother?" a female voice asked with a laugh, coming to sit beside Cassie in the dirt on her other side.

Cassidy sighed heavily and looked to the two women now with her, the one that had joined her and the one that had been already there. "Apparently I can't avoid a losing battle," Cassie said dryly.

The two women with her were very different. They both had darkened skin and dark hair and green eyes, but one was a girl in her late teens that could only be described as very pretty. She wore a simple dress, but wore it well. The other was a woman in her 30s, all lines and angles. Skinny, sharp cheekbones, thin limbs, it gave her a severe look at odds with the humor glimmering in her green eyes. "The Tradition Keepers wrote a new song," the angular woman said, pushing back some of her hair to under the wide brimmed hat she wore. The other girl wore a smaller one.

"Oh good," Cassidy said. "I hope they'll share it at the planting festival next week."

"Oh, no, I think you'd rather hear it in advance and be prepared for it," the woman said. She looked like she was very amused.

The younger girl looked like she was fighting a laugh as well.

"Oh no... Why? Shira? SHIRA!"

"You know what?" Cassidy asked whoever was near her. "I'm sure I don't want to know."

Grey - man to man

Grey was seated in a well appointed room. In the room with him were three other males. One was tanned, his long black hair pulled into a tail at the back of his neck. He had dark leathery wings folded against his back, and a dark grey Jewel stood out against his white shirt. He was pacing.

Sitting across from Grey was a handsome older man, at the end of his prime. His thick black hair was silvered at the temples, his gold eyes were framed by delicate lines, and he wore a warm smile as well as a very expensive looking tailored black suit. His fingernails were long and black and he wore a ring with a Black Jewel that matched the one he wore around his neck.

The other man was lounging on a couch between them and to the side. He looked like the younger, more refined version of the older man. Where the older man was handsome, he was beautiful. His clothes were just as expensive and tailored, but he had a white shirt under his black suit jacket which made his own Black Jewel necklace show off all the more. There was something almost feline to how he reclined, and to his motions.

"We wanted to extend our congratulations," the older man said, his voice a deep rich rumble.

"Then... shouldn't Cassidy be here too?" Grey asked, he bounced out of the chair.

"Sit back down, boyo," the winged male said.

"Trust me," the lounging one drawled lazily, "she's going to enjoy spending time with our wives far more than she's going to enjoy being in this conversation."

Grey sat back down. "Why?" he asked, seeming younger just from his eager attitude.

"Because," the one with wings said, his grin sharp as a blade. "We are going to give you some additional lessons on fussing."

"But.. I already know about fussing," Grey said. "Given how often Cassie snarls at me... Kharry said that meant I was good at it.

The older man coughed, probably to hide a laugh.

The man lounging on the sofa grinned. "Yes, but we get to do some extra special fussing in cases where a woman we love is in the condition Cassidy is in."

Grey's eyes lit up and he started bouncing again. "Really?" he asked, eager to learn.
"Wait... why did it stop there?" Grey asked, distressed. "I want to hear what they had to say...

Lea OTA- KH3 Spoilers for those who haven't played

[hotheadwarmheart]

Guardians United

Timestamp 3:42-4:11

Seen from Lea's perspective, the assembled Guardians of Light stand together in a room as he addresses them in a somewhat frustrated manner. To those from modern Earth who might know- of which there is at least one among the current Misrecalled- three among their number are unmistakably Donald Duck, Goofy, and Mickey Mouse. A few others may be familiar faces as well at this point, though not quite blatantly fictional characters come to life.

"This is all very touching, guys, but where do I fit in?" Lea says.

"Ven looks just like Roxas- or is it Roxas looks just like Ven? And now I have to explain all of that to him- which is in itself a crazy long story-, and apparently everybody already knows everyone, and this is an insane amount to GET MEMORIZED!"

Judging by the way the view shifts, Lea apparently throws up his hands just as the memory ends.

"What in the...?", Lea said, then sighed as he realized. "Don't tell me were doing this kind of song and dance again. Though that seemed more like the future than a memory from the past..."

Upside-down Tears

Timestamp 2:56-3:23

Seen from the outside, Lea and Siax sit on a familiar clocktower ledge. Lea holds two ice cream bars, one partly finished, the other whole. Siax holds an empty stick having apparently just finished one. The two have clearly been arguing, or at leas Lea has, looking angry and frustrated while Siax seems unperturbed.

"The marks under your eyes," Siax said, turning to look at Lea. "They're gone."

Lea seems a bit surprised by the remark, but snaps back, "Yeah. Don't need 'em."

"Always told you they'd stop you from crying," Siax continued as he got up to leave. "The upside-down tears."

"Would you get lost?!", Lea yelled. "I'll clobber you tomorrow!"

Siax gave a soft 'heh', then spoke once more before vanishing in a swirl of darkness, leaving Lea alone on the ledge. "I expect no less." As the swirl of darkness fades, so does the bit of memory.

The real Lea shared some of his memory-self's frustration. "Tch, typical," he said. "Never gonna let me live that down are you? And of course this place decides to show everyone..."

No one axes Axel

Timestamp 0:36-1:04

Seen from Lea's perspective, he's crouched on the dusty ground amid what look like some sort of ancient stone structure. He's facing off against Siax and Xemnas, the former with glowing eyes and surrounded by an aura of blue energy, indicating to those familiar with his powers that he's in his 'berserk' state.

"Ah, ever the rogue pawn," Xemnas said in his deep, all but toneless voice. "Knocked from the board early in the game. Utterly useless and forgotten."

"You kidding?", Lea responded, snarky as ever. "Do you know how popular I am? I got load of people rootin' for me. Sorry, boss. No one axes Axel. Got it memorized?" The fragment cuts off just as Lea lunges forward, swinging his Keyblade at Xemnas' head.

"Aw, come on, really?", present Lea said, frustrated at the multiverse's poor timing yet again. "You're cutting it off there? I wanted to seem myself clobbering him right in his smug face!"

All together

Timestamp 3:44-4:14

Seen from outside, Lea and Roxas sit together on the familiar clocktower ledge, gazing out at the sunset. They look up as they're joined by Xion, who's wearing a simple, black sleeveless dress rather than the coat that those in Auradon would be familiar with. Isa joins them a moment later, bearing four ice cream bars. he hands two to Roxas and Xion, before sitting down on the opposite side of Lea, giving him one of the remaining two.

They're about to start in on their ice creams when Roxas looks up and smiles as three other young teens- Hayner, Pence, and Olette- arrive, waving cheerfully at him before also taking a seat on the ledge. The view shifts to show all of the sitting on the ledge together, eating ice cream and watching the sun set as the memory fades.

Lea didn't seem to have any commentary on this particular snippet of memory, simply gazing at the spot where the group had been a moment ago, smiling fondly. Or maybe hopefully? It was hard to tell.

Re: Lea OTA- KH3 Spoilers for those who haven't played

[aquawayfinder]

United - to start
Aqua chuckled. "So that's what you were like back then, is it?" she asked, with a warm smile.

Re: Lea OTA- KH3 Spoilers for those who haven't played

[ubuntu_programmer]

Also United

Ian had been heading to speak to the King and Queen when they stumbled across that and stopped dead. "Okay so.... I have questions, starting with how did you manage such a life like hologram out here without any apparent equipment. And probably ending with, if you aren't from my world, and with that hair I have no choice but to accept that, how did you know to include so many Disney characters?"

Xion | OTA | CW: angst, abuse and gaslighting implied if not mentioned

[nobodys_puppet]

(Also spoiler warning for the end of KHIII)

Xion had been trying to find a way to the beach to get shells when it happened. She had been trying not to be seen, but black coat, white snow... she wasn't succeeding as well as she thought she was.

A reddish brown dusty area. Most of it can't be seen. But what can be is Lea, in a sized for him version of the coat that Xion always wears, on his knees, in pain. There is a man in a matching coat with ice white hair standing over him, looking triumphant and sneering. He looks down to Xion, the hood of her own jacket up, who is kneeling beside him.

"That's right," the man sneered. "You were friends. Then... you take his life."

Breathing audibly, sounding pained, Xion pushed to her feet.

Lea looked up at her, breathing raggedly, also clearly in pain. In worse pain. "Who... are you?" he asked.

Xion's Keyblade appeared in her hand. She pointed it at Lea's face. She gasped, like she was at war with herself, and the weapon faltered, for just a moment. But then she steeled herself and aimed at him again, clearly about to strike....

For someone who was usually trying to be quiet and unnoticed, Xion could scream really really loudly.

She fell to her knees in the snow, sobbing.

Sephiroth | Kingdom Hearts | OTA

[3wingedangel]

Cloud

1

“Sephiroth?!”

It’s a familiar voice, at least to Sephiroth, but anyone else witnessing this memory may or may not know it. It’s a shadowy scene and impossible to tell what has happened to prompt this, but Cloud Strife is standing there, mostly silhouetted but with his bat wing very visible and drooping. He’s looking off at something not visible, or someone, more precisely.

“Sephiroth, please . . . come back. You have to come back. I . . . I don’t hate you anymore. I understand now. I love you!”

Sephiroth is sitting in a chair while this scene plays, and at this he just lurches forward in utter, complete shock. “What is this?!”

Some sort of bizarre enchantment? Someone’s idea of a cruel joke? Cloud will never feel that way about him, Sephiroth is very sure. But ... he wishes it were so.

Zack

2

“Seph! Oh man, Seph! It’s so great to see you again!”

Sephiroth is standing there in shock as he’s suddenly glomped by a human tornado with wild black hair.

“Zack?! You’re alive?!”

“Sure am! And everything’s gonna be okay now that I’m back with you!”

Sephiroth hugs him close with both arms and all wings, stunned, still barely able to believe this is real.

Sephiroth watches this, the color draining from his face. Can he really believe such a scene is possible? He has never given up trying to find Zack, but this ... to see all his hopes and dreams fully realized ... it seems too incredible, too impossible. Would he really be given such a blessing? And what about the scene with Cloud? Something else he has secretly wanted but believed could never be....

“What is going on here?” he finally rasps. “I don’t understand. Who is doing this?!”

Pictures

3

Sephiroth is in the living room of his house, Cloud and Zack with him as they're looking at the pictures on the wall courtesy of Sephiroth's adopted parents. Sephiroth seems to be explaining one of the pictures. Cloud looks interested and surprised while Zack is nodding happily. They all seem to be happy being together.

Sephiroth is reaching out to the scene, confused and bewildered and wanting with all his heart to believe this will someday come true. His happily ever after, which he believes he doesn’t deserve yet can’t help longing for. For Zack to be alive would be more than enough on its own, but for Cloud to care about him and all of them to be happy together ... it all seems a precious dream of beautiful impossibility.

Hope a late in is okay?

[souls_of_roles]

Cloud


Something passed through Kyoko like a shudder at that scene, driving all other thoughts from her mind.

For a moment in her fantasy lala brain she saw Cloud as... as her mother. She shuddered, wishing, but feeling bitterness in her throat. And then when her brain caught up and she realized that never could and never would be something anyone said to her... ever...

She tried to swallow the bitterness, turning away.

At Sephiroth's question her shoulders stiffened. Still faced away, she said softly, "another cruel joke of this place, probably."

Curses were the other side to magic, after all.

Pictures

[phoenixwiz]

Oh how does one wish to have one’s friends to be with them again. That is something Harry longs for too: it was nice to have ghostly visions of Ron and Hermione visiting him for a short time but even then he really wants to see his old friends once again. He has been watching this vision quietly so far, not uttering a single word while Rose and Hedwig also watch it as well.

Re: Sephiroth | Kingdom Hearts | OTA

[aquawayfinder]

Zack

Aqua smiled, moving to stand beside him. "Sometimes we never get an answer, we just enjoy the moments that we can, my friend."

Bitty Leia OTA

[princess_weia]

Sparring

Seen from the outside, a young girl who can only be Leia- now around 11 or 12, judging by her appearance- spars with an adult woman, both using some sort of staves. Little can be made out of their surroundings, but they're clearly outdoors somewhere, grass beneath their feet and blue sky behind them. Surprisingly, despite her young age and much smaller size, Leia is definitely holding her own.

The woman, apparently her instructor, calls a halt to the match, giving the young Princess a satisfied smile. "Well done, Little Ma'am," she said. "How does one so small get so strong?"

Leia grinned and flexed a bicep. "I eat my ruica!", she confidently declared before the scene faded out.

"What was that?", Leia in the present said. "Was that me?" A pause. "...And do I really need to eat ruica if I want to get strong like that?" Given the face she made at the thought, ruica was clearly not a favorite food of hers.

Day of Demand

From a first person perspective, what is clearly a throne room is seen. Multiple important looking people flank the path and the viewer- who can only be seeing through Leia's eyes steps up to stand before where Queen Breha and Viceroy Bail Organa sit on their thrones, dressed to look even more regal than usual, almost forbidding. A crown sits on a marble pillar between them, illuminated by a light source specifically meant to single it in the large room. Though the room is well lit, a rumble of thunder is heard from outside. And the whole view is seen around the polished blade of a sword, held vertically and close to the body.

Leia stops a few meters shy of her parents and Breha speaks. calling out, "Who is this who disturbs the queen in her seat of power?"

"It is I, Leia Organa, Princess of Alderaan. I come before you to hear you acknowledge that on this day it is known that I have reached my sixteenth year."

"We acknowledge that you are of age," said Bail. Those paying attention might notice the slightest crinkling around his eyes, as if he's fighting the urge to smile and regal pomp is winning out. "Why then do you come before us armed?"

"I come to demand my right to the crown." As the view shifts, seemingly with Leia kneeling, the scene fades.

"Aw, why'd it stop?", Leia in the present said. "I wanted to see what my challenges were going to be!"

A New Acquaintance

Seen from Leia's perspective again mixed group of humans and a few aliens Including an Ithorian are gathered outdoors. All look to be in their mid to late teens, and all look to be dressed for mountaineering, wearing cold weather gear and carrying camping backpacks. Most of said cold weather gear is white with silver or orange reflective strips, but the girl now staring at Leia- and thus the viewer- and smiling in a slightly loop manner was a very notable exception.

A tall, gangly girl with a narrow face and a long nose. Her hair was acid green and her gear was a rainbow of colors that clashed so painfully they were almost difficult to look at. She wore antique-looking goggles over her eyes with pink lenses that curved out from the frames to an almost ridiculous degree.

"Hi," Leia's voice greeted her. "I'm Leia Organa."

"Of Alderaan," the girl said, in a curiously even tone, like someone slightly groggy from anesthesia.

"Um, yeah. And you are-"

"Amilyn Holdo of Gatalenta." The reply was in the same drawn out monotone. "Thank your mom for inviting me to the class."

"Are you looking forward to trying pathfinding?", Leia's voice asked.

"Definitely," Amilyn said, her loopy grin widening. "I hope it's dangerous! I want to get mor comfortable with the nearness and inevitability of death."

"...okay." The scene faded just after Leia's uncertain reply.

"Wow, that girl dresses weird," Leia in the present said, but smiled. "I bet she's fun though." Whether those around her should be a bit concerned about that assessment was a matter of debate.

Dance Now

Seen from the outside, Leia is seen dancing in an elegant ballroom. She wears a stunning white and silver gown, her hair done up and braided into a tall coil atop her head, and jewelry sparkles at her throat. Her partner is a handsome young man with brown hair dressed in a stylish blue suit, and to any familiar with such things it's clear that he's more than just her dance partner.

The first sound other than the music they're dancing to is Leia laughing loudly enough the it turned a few heads of those near them. "You didn't," she said.

"It was awful," the young man said. "Nothing like this." The song finished a moment later as did the dance, with him pulling her close to his side.

After a moment, a glint of mischief- and perhaps something else- lit Leia's eyes. "Let's get out of here," she said.

A smile slowly spread across the young man's face. "Aren't we supposed to stay?", he asked.

Leia smiled in return, pulling him closer. "I don't care," she whispered.

Then, hand in hand they turned and headed for what must be the room's exit as the scene faded.

"Future me's pretty smart," present Leia said approvingly. "There's way more fun things to do than hang around fancy parties. Most of them are pretty boring."

Re: Bitty Leia OTA

[ubuntu_programmer]

Day Of Demand - Better late than never

Someone had been up to their dyed roots in working on things and had missed Leia's arrival altogether. In fact it was only because Ian was out to get some air that the programmer noticed the child at all. Just in time to see the vision.

Wait, was that....

WAIT, hold up, did she just say Leia... Leia Organa? But...

That had just been a dream, right?

"Your... challenges?" Ian asked, voice a bit strangled.

Re: Bitty Leia OTA

[souls_of_roles]

Dance Now

Don't mind the starry-eyed Kyoko staring at the dress and jewelry and other fancy bits with so much eager excitement that she totally missed the actual scene. She might be dancing in place until it vanished.

"Aw, it's over?"

Sparring

[phoenixwiz]

It seems like Harry has accidentally stumbled seeing a future memory of Leia in the middle of training. Judging from the looks of things, she seems to be a bit older than where she is currently is. Please pardon him as he tries to wrap his head around what he just witnessed after seeing the future memory.

“Erm, it seems like it could be possible,” he sheepishly admits her while Hedwig softly lets out a hoot, “Although I will admit that I have never heard of a ruica before until now.”

A New Acquaintance

[3wingedangel]

Sephiroth definitely found it a matter of concern after the strange girl's last comment.

"She sounds reckless."

He wasn't even going to address that insane fashion "sense."

Harry Potter | Harry Potter (OTA)

[phoenixwiz]

Maybe This Time We Can Fall in Love Again
Seen from a few inches, two individuals, Harry and a young lady with bright red hair, are seen at a park, going on a walk and both in their mid 20’s. Both are dressed warmly in coats, scarves, jeans and sneakers for a nice autumn day.

If one can look closely though, Harry could be seen fiddling with his fingers and sighing deeply as the ginger haired lady looks on in worry.

“You know, it has been a long time since the battle in Hogwarts and the world hopping I have went through and I don’t know how to put all of this in words without sounding so weird,” Harry confesses to the lady.

“Harry, you do need to tell me more about your adventures in other worlds. It is not like it caused you to have doubt about dating me or anyone again if you want to,” she asks him inquisitively, the sound of her voice being one of concern, “I wouldn’t make fun of you if you tell me more about Avalon and Auradon in greater detail.”

“Ginny, I don’t know if I could go back to being with you again. I mean, you’re a great friend to be with and a wonderful daughter and sister, but with dating, I, I, I…”

“Listen Harry. You don’t have to rush things like we did back in Hogwarts. It is okay. No one shouldn’t hold this against you for not getting back to the dating game sooner.”

“Are you sure about it, Gin?”

The red haired lady, Ginny, giggles lightly, “Of course. At least you do have all the time in the universe to consider your options.”

Hope a late in is okay?

[souls_of_roles]

Kyoko was used to seeing her own daydreams all the time. Seeing someone else's fantasy was new.

But still.

"Good for you," she said nodding. "Love only rots your brain."

She was, for Kyoko, very monotone.

Morgana McCawber | Ducktales 2017 AU

[lovebites_sodoi]

So, things have not been going well for Morgana. Not that she'd ever say her life's been a bed of roses, but here... it's taking a nosedive.

Archie was still with Facilier, enduring who-knew-what. Then came the lamps, which provided her with a teasing reminder her sorta-boyfriend was not here and never would be. That event also cost her a heap of dignity with one of her so-called friends, and she was starting to feel very unappreciated. Combine all that with the hopelessness of possibly never leaving this stupid place, and... yep. very, very bitter.

How could it get any worse?

A dumb question.

She'd been practicing her guitar when the startling "future" memory occurs...

On the surface, it shouldn't be anything shocking. It's Morgana and her band - a female cyclops, a two-headed troll, and a Frankenstein's monster of a drummer. But within seconds, it's clear something is wrong. Morgana's red outfit has been replaced with pitch blackness, and there are mascara tears running down her face. They're not playing at a concert hall or theater - it's some sort of television news room, part of which has been destroyed due to the monstrous takeover.

Terrified cameramen are pointing at the band as they play. Around Morgana, a page that has been ripped in two is glowing. When she begins to sing, the cameramen's eyes begin to glaze over...

"NO!"

Morgana nearly dropped her guitar in horror, stumbling to her feet. "That... No! No, no, NO! I would NEVER use that spell! I wouldn't! I... I..." She began to shake, holding her arms as all the implications of what she saw dawned on her.

"That... that was my autograph I gave to Drake... why... why was it torn...?"

Gabriel OTA

[papillion_de_resistance]

Keeping Updated

Seen from Gabriel's point of view, we see he's apparently sitting at a desk going over some paperwork. The image of the paperwork isn't subject to the translation the world normally provides, so it's only really understandable if the viewer can read French, but for those who can, the brief look at the paperwork shows that it's some sort of legal paperwork regarding the custody of a child. There's no time to read it in detail as a knock on the office door makes Gabriel look up. "Come in," he said.

The door opened to reveal a woman in a professional-looking blue pants suit. She wears round glasses in slim wire frames, and her dark hair is pulled up in a tight bun. Combined with her serious expression, she'd look overly severe if it wasn't for the streak of bright blue in her hair. "The attorney you requested has arrived, Mr. Agreste," she said.

"Thank you, Nathalie," Gabriel said. "Send him in."

She nodded and started to leave, but pause mid-turn to glance back. "If it's not too forward of me to ask, sir," she said, "why did you suddenly feel the need to update your will?" The vision ends there, leaving it a mystery what or if he answered.

Meanwhile the real Gabriel was rather stunned. "That was my office," he said. "Back home in Paris. But how? And what was that? That conversation never happened, I'm sure of it."

Macarons

Seen from outside, Nathalie and Gabriel are standing in a fancy-looking kitchen. She hands him a flat, rectangular, white box with the words 'Tom & Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie' written on it in gold lettering. "Thank you Nathalie," he said. "Adrien's bodyguard said he's asked to stop by this bakery the last four times he's been out, so he clearly enjoys their pastries. And given the ones I tried, I must say I agree."

He sets the box down on the kitchen counter and opens it, revealing it to be full of what must be a hundred or more macarons in various colors. "Would you like one?", he said. "I'm sure Adrien won't mind."

She looked mildly surprised, but then smiled and nodded slightly, selecting a pastel blue macaron and take a bite. "Thank you, sir," she said once her mouth was empty again. "They really are delicious."

He chuckled. "No need to thank me. You're the one who-" The vision vanished, cutting him off mid-sentence.

"They really are delicious macarons," he said almost wistfully. "I had no idea Adrien was so fond of them though. Then again, perhaps he isn't yet, but will be eventually? It's difficult to tell with these... visions."

Movie Night

Seen from the outside yet again, Gabriel opens a door and looks inside. Within is a bedroom bigger than most apartments, and decked out with every kind of movie, game and toy that a teenage boy might dream of. Two boys are sitting on a couch watching what looks like some sort of B sci-fi movie; one of them is blonde with a punkish haircut- shaved close on one side, long and straight on the other- and a bit too much eyeliner, the other has darker skin and glasses and wears a red knit hat. They seem to be enjoying themselves, with the dark-skinned boy excitedly pointing out one of the characters on the screen as they pull off some impressive stunts, and the blonde one laughing in response.

Gabriel just watches them with a fond expression for a moment before speaking up. "Adrien?"

The blonde boy paused the movie and turned to look at Gabriel standing in the doorway. "Yes, father?"

"Don't forget you have a photoshoot in the morning," Gabriel said. "You mustn't stay up too late, so Nino will have to go home soon."

"I haven't forgotten," Adrien said.

Nino nodded his agreement. "The movie's almost over anyway, Mr. Agreste. After that I'll head-" There the image faded.

Once it had, Gabriel simply staring at where the image had been, smiling fondly, just as the other version of him had done. He didn't really say anything, but would respond if spoken to.

Re: Gabriel OTA

[souls_of_roles]

Macarons

"Oooo, those look good. I wonder how they're made..."

Re: Gabriel OTA

[death_from_above]

Movie Night

Wow. In any universe Adrien and Nino were always going to be besties, huh? It made Spark a little sad not to be in the image with them... but he was happy for them all the same. He'd focus on that. Yep he would.

He would.

He... Oh for furball's sake. He looked up at Gabriel. "MEROW." Feed him so he can stop thinking lonely thoughts.

Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashbacks

[kings_knight_rocks]

It was quiet. The sick joke that was the lamp’s half answered wish had hit a bit harder than he was willing to admit. As nice as it had been to see the guys, now that they were gone again it hurt twice as much.

Long story short; he wasn’t doing too hot. He’d spent a couple days in his room, and when the silence got too loud he’d only ventured as far as the dining hall or the library.

He was dozing in a soft ray of sunlight in the library when the first memory startled him to wakefulness.

Ardyn

Right off the bat it was a cacophony of input, everything loud and shaky. The entire scene seemed almost blurred around the edges, like an action shot in a movie. Smoke and heat clogged the air.

Noctis, Gladio, Prompto, and Ignis were hunched over for balance in a tight group. It was clear enough they were in some sort of rocky crevice in the ground. Despite the dusty air, it was just visible that sharp rocks fractured up around them. Steep walls kept them hemmed in. The ground only a dozen feet to the group’s left split with a rumble and a reverberating boom, lava rocketing up into the air.

Disorienting would be an understatement. Gladio’s grim shout could barely be made out over the din. “Doesn’t get much worse than this!”

Another crash and spray of lava. Ignis seemed to catch something the others hadn’t seen yet and glanced up, just a moment before a torrent of wind crashed into them. “The Empire? Now?” Ignis didn’t sound pleased about the large metal ship as it approached.

The whole back end opened with a whine, revealing a finely, if eccentrically dressed man with auburn hair. He grinned down at the group. “Fancy meeting you here!” And then the scene abruptly fizzed out, the man’s face the last thing to clear out of the air.

There were a lot of questions Prompto had, about why Gladio and Ignis had allowed Noct to remain grounded instead of flying to safety. Prompto couldn’t, but that shouldn’t have meant they risked the prince’s- king’s life. He didn’t know if this was an alternate reality, the future, some kind of twisted dream or vision. He’d never experienced anything like it before.

But somehow, the thing that left him shaking, every feather standing on end, wasn’t any of that. It was the man who’d been in the drop ship. He knew that face. His wing and shoulder ached at the memory, his stomach rolled violently. The Instructor’s eyes as they glassed over. Prompto’s hand unsettlingly still on the grip of his gun. That man’s gleeful laugh as he praised the Scientist for Prompto’s discipline. He shuddered and stumbled back into a shelf of books, which wavered dangerously under his weight.

He wasn’t ready for the next memory when it brushed static-like into the air.

Blame

This time it was from Prompto’s point of view. The room was unfamiliar, but the unfocused details weren’t important, what was, was Gladio’s finger, hard against his chest.

“Do you have any idea how stupid a secret like that is? You almost got us killed! What the f-” Static fizzed across the memory like an old TV with bad reception. When it cleared, Gladio had advanced several steps, Prompto retreating until he nearly hit the wall. “-re you thinking Prompto?”

“Enough!” Ignis’ voice was quiet, the simering fury worse than Gladio’s explosive rage. The bigger man whirled away with a huff, and Ignis’ stony face replaced him. “I have extended every grace to you Prompto, and I will continue to do so to the best of my ability, but understand this.”

He stepped closer and Prompto’s retreat was finally brought to a harsh end by the wall. “The moment your secrets and lies endanger Noct, I will not be able to allow that same grace. You are my friend, but he is my king- our responsibility. You would do well to remember that the next time you decide to put his life in jepordy.”

The memory snapped apart like glass shattering on hard tile. Prompto couldn’t breathe. The iron claw of a Magitek unit felt real and heavy across his throat. At some point he’d stumbled to the floor, half collapsed against the bookshef, knocked books fallen astray beside him.

Surely, that couldn’t be real. He wouldn’t- He wouldn’t ever put Noct in danger. He would rather die himself, but Ignis had said- Ignis and Gladio had both said he had. He hadn’t even seen Noct. If he was hurt or-

He tangled a fist in his wing. Barely restrained from yanking the feathers free, but the uncomfortable tug was enough to kickstart his lungs into action. He pressed his other hand over his eyes. “It wasn’t real.” He didn’t believe his own shaky whisper. “They aren’t here, it can’t be real.”

Re: Prompto ~ OTA ~ FFXV spoilers??? vague and AUed ~ CW: panic attacks, violence and death, flashba

[death_from_above]

Blame

Spark jumped up onto his legs. He huffed a large over dramatic and overly loud sigh. "Even with wings humans are all so dramatic," he said, flopping onto Prompto's legs with all the drama he accused humans of. "It was a vision. One of my humans used to get them all the time. Weird I saw it too, but you're in luck. Cause I know what you do with bad visions."

Kyoko Mogami | Skip Beat | OTA

[souls_of_roles]

Saved By A Foe

Kyoko had been enjoying the cold air outside... by opening a window and leaning so far out of it she almost looked like she was about to fall outside of it. Until she heard a voice from behind her.

"She's going to retire from showbiz."

"Wait, who is?" Kyoko asked, spinning to face the scene as it formed in the public room she'd wandered into in her quest for air.

Kyoko stood by some railing, a thin blond man with glasses beside her. There was a girl in a wheelchair behind her and a man in a suit talking on a cellphone. What he said couldn't be heard anymore, however.

"Oh? Hmm. This isn't as high as I thought. Are we on the third floor? I might have survived a fall from here."

"No!" the blond man said, sounding horrified. "You'd be dead! Don't be stupid! You would have died depending in how you hit the ground!"

"Well, I freaked out cuz I thought I was on the tenth floor... But now I think I might have just broken a couple of bones.." she said with a small laugh.

"You're right," the girl in the wheelchair said. "The video would have been more effective if you had actually fallen... So I wish you'd gone over the side like a victim in a murder mystery."

"Exactly!" Kyoko said as the scene faded.

"What in the world.... I know I said I'd help her but... I don't remember saying I'd let myself get hurt like that.... then again...." if it meant defeating that horrid Morizumi.... maybe it would be okay. Rage on Kyoko's face as she considered that. To think that horrible little miserable cheater was the girl that...

Rage twisted in agony into deep sorrow.....

Flower Ring Daydreams

Kyoko was in a field of small flowers. The kind you'd find on a lawn that are probably weeds but too pretty to pull. a man was kneeling, picking flowers and weaving their stems together. For those who have been in her room here or in Avalon, they might recognize him as one of the people she has a poster of up. then again, half her curse dolls are of him, so he'd be familiar to most of her friends by now.

"Excuse me for picking you," he said, seemingly to the flower he was picking. "You can reinforce the stem with this one..." he added, still looking at the flowers he was weaving. "And use this one to tie them together."

"I see...." Kyoko said, seeming fascinated as she watched. "I'm surprised you know how to make flower rings, Mr. Tsuruga! When did you learn? Can geniuses do everything from the moment they're born?"

"Come on," he said with a laugh. "My dad used to make them for my mom. I learned by watching him. I wasn't as good as him, but I would still make them for her too. This is an easy way to make one. Dad's got amazing skills. He's as good as a floral specialist."

"Oh." Kyoko got a dreamy look on her face. "He sounds like a wonderful dad...." she said, dreamily.

"Ms. Mogami... You're imagining my dad looking like director Ogata."

"He doesn’t?!" she asked, stunned out of her fantasy. "Birds don't start singing and flowers don't start dancing when he talks to them?!"

"I'm sorry to disappoint you," he said, standing up. "Dad's slender but macho. He's got muscles. He looks like...."

The scene faded with Kyoko looking like her brain was melting with confusion and the man looking sheepish.

"Looks... like... Who? LIKE WHO? LIKE WHAT?! GET BACK AND TELL ME THE REST, MR. TSURUGA!!!!!"

That Elevator Scene

Again, the man she had the poster and curse dolls of was with her, this time he was standing there, looking down at her with an intense look on his face that Kyoko in the memory didn't see, because that version of her was staring at nothing in the general vicinity of his shirt. Clearly from her shifting expressions her mind was moving a mile a minute, but she was flushed dark red. Her eyes kept changing in how wide they were, as her mouth moved through various thoughts rapidly.

After a moment his expression changed as well, going all but blank.

"Ms. Mogami..." he started, voice almost monotone. "Um." Now he looked a little awkward. "I'd like to verify why you look so flustered..."

Her flush got worse. She looked panicked. And cornered. "I'M SORRY! Y-YES Of... OF Course..." she stumbled over her words, volume and pitch changing wildly. She looked panicked still, and didn't look up at him at all. "I can't believe I WAS SHAMELESS ENOUGH TO MISUNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SAID! MR. TSURUGA ALWAYS ACTS SLIGHTLY AMERICAN!" she all but screamed, hands on either side of her head. She looked like she was about to pass out.

"WHAT?" he asked, almost matching her for volume, leaning as sh started to collapse inward on herself.

"This was your best American joke!" Kyoko said, desperate.

"What? What?" he looked so confused now.

"I'M SORRY! AMERICAN JOKES ARE DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND! I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THEM, SO I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS A JOKE RIGHT AWAY. I WAS FOOLISH ENOUGH TO DELUDE MYSELF THINKING OH, MAYBE MR. TSURUGA IS"

And the vision cut off there, withi him looking almost as panicked as she did.

"MR. TSURUGA IS WHAT?!" Kyoko yelled at the spot where the image was. Mr. Tsuruga is what?! And why did he look so panicked? He was Mr. Tsuruga! HE didn't get panicked! Not like that!

Exchange

Kyoko and the same man. He was sitting on a chair staring at the stone that Kyoko calls Corn in his hand. She was sitting on her knees on the floor at his feet. He was looking at the stone in confusion.

"Uh... Maybe... you've forgotten who he is?" Kyoko asked, panicked sounding, but not as bad as in the scene before.

"What? No." He said, then laughed, smiling at her. "Of course not. I remember him. But.. Won't Corn hold a grudge... if I keep it?"

"IF YOU WHAT?! GET BACK HERE?!" Kyoko yelled at the vanishing image. Why did this keep happening?!

And why would she ever give away Corn to anyone?! Even Mr. Tsuruga?!

Invitation

Kyoko was sitting on a sofa looking thing as she opened an envelope. The post mark on it was 3/13. There were two things inside. She pulled out the first, a note card. Pretty stationary. The note on it was written in a neat hand.

"To Ms. Mogami

Thank you for the delicious jelly you gave me on Valentine’s Day.

This return gift is a very simple one, but I hope you still enjoy it.

Ask Ms. Kotonami to go with you.

Ren Tsuruga"

She stared at it a moment then pulled out the second item. A very sparkly and ornate ticket. No, two of them. To Dayjowey land. There were little ticket looking things on the bottom of each ticket.

Kyoko was flushing and staring at the tickets, seeming overjoyed. She curled in on herself, pressing the tickets to her face as she curled into a shaking ball.

A woman walked up behind her. "What are you doing? Why are you here?"

Kyoko screamed, shocked and surprised. It could have been a perfect jump scare from her reaction. She turned to face the woman, and she seemed to be sparkling, face shining.

"Dayjowey land. With Moko?!" Kyoko squealed and started dancing happily in place.

First WHAT?!

Kyoko stopped like she had just walked into a room. She was wearing nicer clothes than usual. A nice blouse, a skirt, nice shoes with a bit of a heel and decoration on them. She was holding a small purse, rather than her usual bag. She saluted, flushing and beaming happily. "Now... Kyoko Mogami... Is going..." the flush and the smile got brighter "...on her first ever date!"


"First ever WHAT?! WITH WHO?!"

Princess Promise

Kyoko was on the ground before an ornate fence, sobbing.

A woman crouched down beside her. "Kyoko. Hey, Kyoko. What's the matter? Is the castle closed today?"

"Saaaaraaaahhhhhhhhh" Kyoko sobbed, looking up at her.

"Oh dear," Sarah said. "Hey... Kyoko. You should come over to the U.S. Someday. I'll take you to the American DWL. Let's wear... sparkly dresses together... And go to the Masquerade!"

Kyoko's tears stopped in an instant and she stared at the woman with an expression that was clearly not daring to even hope. "MASQUERADE?!" she asked, as hope won.

"YES!" Sarah said, clapping her hands as Kyoko flushed happily.

"Uh... but... I'm a commoner..." Kyoko said, reality crushing in on her. "I can't go to the Masquerade..."

"It's a Masquerade. It doesn't matter if you're a commoner or an aristocrat cuz no one will know who you are."

"OOH!!!!" And just like that, Kyoko looked thrilled again.

"Ooooooooooooh! That's a good point!"

Rare Princess

Kyoko dropped to one knee in front of a woman in a sparkling ball gown and her attendants who all looked like they stepped out of a fairytale storybook in their shining and perfect uniforms. Kyoko was crying with happiness as the woman in the gown helped her to her feet. She then got to take a photo with her and the dark haired woman from the other memory. Kyoko looked thrilled, the princess had a happy practiced smile. And the dark hared woman looked... awkward and unsure.

"SARAH! You join us too, Sarah!" she called, reaching out.

The woman with the freckles and high ponytail flushed and begged an attendant to take photos with her cellphone before joining Kyoko and the others as they posed for another photo.

"That.... That was the mermaid princess in human form!" Kyoko gushed. "She rarely makes an appearance! And we got to see her?! Wait... but... if that didn't actually happen...."

Mood crash in 3... 2....

Eggs Benedict Arnold

A really nice looking plate with 2 servings of eggs Benedict on it. Kyoko and that man were looking down at them. "It's done?" he asked

"Yes, it's done!" Kyoko said, taking a photo of the dish with a cellphone.

"This is the first time I've made it, but it turned out great." Th man said, seeming pleased and surprised.

"Yes, looks delicious!" Kyoko said, encouragingly. "Eggs Benedict is high in calories... so heat them up and eat them for breakfast," she instructed, rolling down her sleeves.

"Huh?" he asked, puzzled. "I wanted you to be in charge of tasting too."

"No worries!" she said, "It's delicious!" She looked almost annoyed.

"How can you be so sure?" he asked. "You haven't eaten any."

"The sauce is difficult to make," she said, "But it turned out delicious. Everything else is easy, so there's no way you can fail. I was watching very carefully."

"I see, makes sense." a pause then he asked "So how do you eat eggs Benedict? May I eat them with my hands?"

"When I did my research the other day, people were eating them with knives and forks. I suggested you make Eggs Benedict because I thought the fancy dish would suit you. But you'd need a little technique to eat it neatly-"

He cut her off. "See, that's the problem. I don't have any preliminary knowledge of Eggs Benedict. I won't look comfortable eating it. Then the moment I actually eat it, people will know I've never eaten it before."

"The moment you actually eat it? But you shouldn't have to."

"What?" he asked.

"Mr. Yashiro told me he accepted the job because you only have to make it, not eat it."

"... Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"But... won't you eat it anyway?"

Her eyes narrowed and she looked stern. "Mr. Tsuruga. I get it now. You just want me to get rid of it. Because you don't want it. If you take your build into account, you should actually eat two of them. Especially because you need energy in the morning. So what if it's high in calories? It's perfect. You'll be able to finish it in three bites. So eat up. My mission is over."

She sighed heavily. "There has to be some better way to get him to actually eat real food..." she mumbled.

Dupe?

She was sitting across from him at a table, as they both ate Eggs Benedict.

"No," he said. "This isn't a spare."

"What?" she asked, startled out of her thoughts.

"You've been wondering about this," he said, lifting his necklace.

"I... I'm sorry..." she said, awkwardly.

He laughed. "Why are you apologizing? I was a little sad because you hadn't asked me about it yet. I thought maybe you didn't even notice. This isn't... well... um... a spare. It's more like a replica. I was rebuked for being careless and not thinking about your safety. I didn't know Mr. Yashiro was preparing this."

"Huh? HUH?" Her expression all but yelled HUH!?!?!?

What... did his necklace... have to do with her safety? What? Just... what!?

Spark | Dominic Deegan | OTA

[death_from_above]

The One And Purrhaps only

Spark was laying in the lap of a man in a violently green shirt with a purple striped scarf. The woman curled on the sofa next to them had what looked like small fangs protruding up from her lower lip.

Sitting in a chair to one side was a young man who probably looked familiar. To some it was clearly Greg, to some it looked like Gar but with red hair and eyes that were hard to see from the angle.

And across from the man and woman sat on another sofa an older couple, the woman was holding a crystal ball. The man wore a pink coat that could have rivaled Kyoko's clothing it was so bright.

In the back was a cloaked figure all but hidden in the shadows.

"So, let me get this straight," Greg said. "Spark showed up in Auradon right after I left, with someone who looked just like me, who he spent years with that we never noticed him missing for. Like you never noticed I was missing?"

"That's about the size of it," the older woman said. "though I wouldn't say that none of us noticed. We just couldn't risk the future by interfering."

Greg gave the man who Spark was sitting on a pointed look. The man smiled. "If I couldn't interfere there was a reason. Because things were going the way they should," he said with confidence, giving Spark another fish since Spark was almost done with the one he'd been eating. "Now as soon as this vision is over, we can go see about opening a portal to Paris. I'm looking forward to meeting this Agreste family."

"What do you mean after this vision? You're seeing a vision right now, bro!?" Greg asked, all but launching himself out of his chair.

"Not me..." Dominic said. He looked to whoever was watching with Spark and gave a nod as the vision faded.

.... Wow.....

Dominic was amazing as ever. And Spark was thrilled at this glimpse into the future!

Aqua | Kingdom Hearts | OTA

[aquawayfinder]

Another Parting

"Aqua?" the boy who looked a lot like Roxas asked, sounding and looking sad. "Are you really leaving?"

Aqua nodded, sad as well. She walked over and stroked his hair, leaving her hand on the back of her head. "It's time, Ven. I need to leave now. Before it is too hard to leave at all."

"Then don't leave at all, Aqua! Stay!"

"She can't," a needlessly tall guy said. "And you know it."

Aqua's free hand moved, so her arm could go around his shoulders. "I'll miss you both. And you'll both always be in my heart."

"No!" The younger one said. "I don't know it! Why can't you stay?"

"Because," Aqua said, gently. "You already have her. If I stay, we'll destroy each other. And there will still only be one of us."

"But..."

"No, Ven. Don't make this harder than it has to be," the other guy said. He turned to Aqua. "No matter which you you are, your heart is connected to ours. That's never going to change." He rested a hand on her chest, over her heart. "May your heart be your guiding key, Master Aqua. And may it always lead you where you need to be."

Ven sniffed then nodded. "Terra's right. We're always with you, Aqua. Even if we wish we could actually go with you. But there's another us out there waiting for you, and I bet they miss you as much as we would." He took a deep breath. "May your heart be your guiding key. But.. if it ever wants to guide you back for a visit... that would be okay too."

She hugged them both, kissed the top of Ven's head. "Thank you, both. My heart is always with you. May your hearts be your guiding keys. Master Terra. Master Ven." She stepped back, summoned her Keyblade, and bowed with it crossed over her chest.

They summoned their Keyblades and returned the gesture. And behind them, another Aqua, did the same.

Aqua gave the vanishing image a watery smile and rubbed away a tear.

Working It Out

Woods. The scene was from Aqua's point of view which was not helped by the fact that she was working out, staring at the forest, and the voices were coming from behind and to the sides of her.

"So that's it then?" a woman's voice. "World is saved and now...?"

"And now," Aqua agreed. "I did warn the three of you."

"You did," a male voice, gentle, and to some who have been in Auradon a while, familiar. "And our answer remains the same."

"All three of you?"

"Not like we have anywhere else to go," another familiar voice. Another person no longer in Auradon.

Aqua chuckled. "I'm sure Rabbit and the others would let you stay..."

"We're with you," the first male voice said. "But maybe we should rest first."

A snort laugh. "Not sure Aqua knows how..." the female voice said.

Roj gave a loud hwonk noise, seemingly in agreement as the image faded.

Aqua watched where the image had been with a small smile.

Where Once We Fell

Aqua was standing atop a sheer cliff in a very brown area. The wind ruffled her hair and clothes as she stood at the endge of the cliff looking outwards.

"Are.... you ever going to come back and join the rest of us?" someone asked, coming up beside her. His huge clown like shoes almost overhung the cliff.

"In a little bit," she said, softly. "At least long enough to say goodbye. I wouldn't leave before I do. I promised."

"You did," he agreed. "Do you always have to, though?"

"Have to?" she asked, looking at him for the first time.

"Say goodbye, I mean," he asked.

"Well," another voice said as someone else came to join them, "I for one prefer to say see ya real soon. At least when a friend is leaving.

Aqua nodded and knelt down to rest a hand on his shoulder. "Alright then. I won't say goodbye. I'll say see you real soon. Though I think it will be sooner for you than for me."

"Maybe," the first boy said, even as the mouse nodded. "But she's you... but also not you. You're your own person, and we love you just as much as her. So don't go forgetting that, okay? Cause we really do want to see you again, soon."

She stood and gave him a hug. "If I can, I will. No words will ever be enough for me to say thank you to you, for taking care of them for so long."

"Well that's good," he said, returning the hug before stepping back and putting his hands behind his head. "Cause no thanks are needed. That's just what happens when you're friends, right?"

"How does he grow so wise and yet somehow stay the same, every time?" she asked herself, trying not to cry again.