001 | accidental voice

[makingfriends]

[After glancing around town and staying on the beach for a stretch, it's a while before Ventus finally turns his attention to the strange book he woke up with. He flips through it once more, again finding it blank save for that enigmatic entry, but this time he and his curiosity are a little more lucid. He turns it this way and that, tries closing and opening it at random pages, but all in all it doesn't hit him as anything special. So he leaves it open beside him, unaware that it hears him when he speaks.]

It's been so long... At least, I think it has. [It feels like it. And for the most part, feelings are all he has to go on.] It's... kind of weird, not having anyone close by.

[A beat, and then a sigh and the sound of something heavy hitting the sand.]

I'm not sure where to start. Why am I here?

[He doesn't sound sad, necessarily -- just tired, puzzled and probably really familiar to some of you. After a moment, though, he makes a disgruntled noise.] Ahh, but what am I moping for? [More movement, like he's sitting up, and then his tone's a bit brighter.] I'll just go back to town and... figure something out. Like always.

[SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN. His only plan, but a plan.]

Comments

[Voice]

[heartismyown]

Why is no one close by? Did you get lost somewhere?

[He makes a hmm sound.]

I don't know why you're here. Or anyone else, but people come and go back home. It's a ghost guy that does it.

[Voice]

[makingfriends]

Ah--?

[IT SPOKE!!

...Actually, a talking book isn't the weirdest thing from Ven's perspective, so... he'll roll with it!]

Oh -- uh -- no, I'm somewhere called... [What was it...] ...Isla Empieza? Something like that.

But a ghost, huh? ...Wait, did you -- did somebody bring you here, too?

[Voice]

[heartismyown]

I know that island! That's the island I woke up on. There's a really delicious bakery there.

[Many priorities.]

Yeah, I got brought here a long time ago now. Like a year and a half, I think.

[Voice]

[makingfriends]

[Don't talk about food, bro, Ven has yet to realize how hungry he is.]

Huh... so... you say this guy brings people here and sends them back? You can't go on your own?

[Voice]

[heartismyown]

Nope, can't go back on my own, even though I have to go back.

[He sighs softly.]

My friend Lea just went home a little while ago.

[strongworld]

You're here because someone deemed you worthy to be here.

[Have a gruff-sounding voice from a man furiously puffing on a cigar.]

[makingfriends]

Well... that's nice and all, but this wasn't exactly how I thought I'd come back. And where exactly is here, anyway?

[strongworld]

Not sure if this place has a name. Just a collection of islands with a living map.

[makingfriends]

Huh... That nobody can leave, right? [According to Roxas.] Has anyone actually come here because they wanted to?

[Voice]

[fierybluebird]

Just how far did you run?

[Voice]

[makingfriends]

[There's a short pause.]

Run? I... haven't run anywhere.

[Voice]

[fierybluebird]

Walk, wander, carouse, travel...

You started off at the fountain, didn't you?

[Voice]

[makingfriends]

Oh. Right.

Ahh... not too far? Just the beach. But there are other islands, right?

[Voice]

[alwaysgrumpy]

I'm pretty sure the initial questions have been answered by now. Got anything left you need to know?

[Voice]

[makingfriends]

Oh. Uh... yeah, pretty much, I guess. But... no one seems to have any idea why we're actually here to begin with. Just that this Jones guy is the one who brought us.

Is that really it?

Re: [Voice]

[alwaysgrumpy]

Well, he did brings us here to get things that he needs.

[Voice]

[makingfriends]

Things? What kinds of things?

[Voice]

[song_princess]

[have some warm and gentle cooing.]

Roxas, is that you, little nestling?

[Voice]

[makingfriends]

[NOT AGAIN.]

Uh... no, ma'am, my name's Ventus. You know Roxas, too?

[Voice]

[song_princess]

Ah, my apologies then my lord Ventus!

Ah yes, I do know him.... He used to be a member of the crew I belong to before he left.

[Voice]

[makingfriends]

Oh, ah, no, it's fine! That's, um... A lot of people have made that mistake today.

[...wait, did she just call him lord?]

But, um, just Ven is fine. That's what my friends call me. Who're you?

[Voice]

[vanitas_veci]

I see you're still a moron.

[Voice]

[makingfriends]

[There's a heavy pause before Ven responds.]

Who...

[But... no. He knows that voice. He knows it, except...

No. No, no, it's not -- no--

Ven just might be looking up and down the beach in a slightly paranoid fashion, his grip on that journal tightening and his temper already flaring in his tone.

He doesn't have to ask.]

Where are you?

[Voice]

[vanitas_veci]

Not too far away. Still in town. Just got here myself.

[Just as the anger is flaring up in Ventus' voice, you can here the smirk in Vanitas']

What? Not happy to see me again?

[Voice]

[makingfriends]

You're not--! You died!

[Normally Ven has more tact than that, but with Vanitas, nope.]

Why are you here?