exsilium | 02 ✽ video & action for UNIT 103

[ The video feed switches on to show a large number of stuffed animals lined up neatly across Sophie's bed. A stuffed rabbit sits on top of the pillow, further away from the rest. Those who were around during for Separation Awareness Day in February may recognize that these plushies came from the festival in February. Sophie can't be seen on screen, but she can be heard speaking. There might even be a quick glimpse of her long pigtails swaying around. ]

When my best friend Lara was sick, she couldn't get out of bed. I didn't want her to feel lonely when I left her house, so I brought her lots and lots of dolls. That way, she'd never feel lonely again. It made her really happy.

I was thinking... since I have lots of dolls left over from the festival a few months ago, I want to give them away to people who need the company or something to cheer them up.

Kaneis already took the dragon, Allen has the chicken, and I have the rabbit. Hmm. Kaneis named his Flarey, I think. [ ...Or was it Flamey? ] Allen and I named our dolls in memory of Tiger Festival. [ Their pet rabbit, Tiger Festival. Or more like only Sophie herself decided on that name. ]

So, if anyone wants one, come to Unit 103. If you can't come, let me know. I'll bring the dolls to you.

[ And finally, Sophie shows herself on screen, waving goodbye and ends the feed. ]

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Sure, Sophie. [And that's just fine. It's clear Tiger Festival meant a lot to her, just listening to Sophie talk.]

Wait, what? G-grandfather?! [Um. Well he's sort of following her logic here. Kind of. Mostly. He is her guardian, after all. He'd promised to take care of her. And if her pet was...then... yeah. Still, when she puts it that way, it feels a little...weird. He scratches the back of his neck in embarrassment.]

...Wow. It's kind of hard to imagine myself as a father, much less a grandparent.

...? [ His reaction puzzles her, especially since the day that Asbel decided to adopt her is still clear in her mind. It's that moment that made her very happy to have someone to call family. She's aware that time differences happen in Exsilium, though it's not crossing her mind at the moment. ]

But, Asbel... you were the one that decided to give me a family. By becoming my father.

[Seeing her confusion, Asbel attempts to explain.]

Well, um, you know... At this age.

[He's not quite nineteen. And he's not even married yet, even if Mom would prefer it were otherwise. It's just too early to be worrying about all that. But her next comment silences him again.]

[Because, okay, his mind's not that slippery. He'd definitely remember something like becoming Sophie's father. Asbel continues to rub the back of his neck, his expression less awkward now, and more...troubled. He can't recall anything about this.]

Really? I did that?

[It sounds like something he would do. And yet, why can't he remember doing it? What's going on?]

I became your father?

Edited 2013-07-08 14:00 (UTC)

I wanted to have a mother and father, but I wasn't born a human like everyone else. I couldn't have any of that. It was at the Amarcian Enclave when you decided to adopt me into the house of Lhant. [ A beat. ]

You really don't remember? [ She thinks she knows the reason. There's a clearly disappointed look on Sophie's face. It's not Asbel's fault for not knowing about it, but she can't help but feel somewhat upset. ] ...oh. I think I understand why.

[The retelling still isn't jogging any memories of the event, but even so, Asbel takes in every word.]

[What Sophie wants...is a family...]

[It's true, isn't it? For all those years Sophie didn't have anyone to care for or support her, at least not as far as he knows. Shouldn't being part of a family - a real family - be one of the things Sophie gets to experience? One of her happy memories?]

[Asbel thinks so. And that's why he's currently wearing his not-angry-but-frustrated face.]

Sorry, I honestly can't remember. Do you know what's going on, Sophie?

I think so. [ It took her awhile to be aware of it, but she has been living in Exsilium long enough to understand time differences do happen. ] It's... a little weird, but sometimes when the Initiative brings others here, people come from different times.

Asbel... what's the last thing you remember before you came here?

From...different times? [What does she mean?]

[AND WHAT ARE FILTERS.]

[The last thing he remembers, huh? It still feels like it happened just yesterday. Asbel takes a breath.]

Well, we'd just fought Lambda. ...You were going to sacrifice yourself to stop him, even though you promised you wouldn't do it. And I couldn't let that happen, so I absorbed him myself. When I woke up, Lambda and I were in some kind of a shared mindspace - at least that's what he called it.

We talked, and after that he said he was going to sleep for a while. Then - I guess it was when I opened my eyes again - I wound up in the Initiative Hold.

Edited 2013-07-09 02:45 (UTC)

[ YEAH WHAT ARE FILTERS. ~~Like father, like daughter.~~ ]

That was six months ago for me. You're from my past. No wonder you don't remember... it hasn't happened for you yet.

Six whole months?

[He hasn't even thought that far ahead yet - about what he'll be doing in half a year. It hinges on so many things, and seems so far away. Of course he knows Sophie's telling the truth about this, even if it is pretty incredible.]

This feels kind of backwards, huh? I mean, I know there's no way I can remember it, but...

[Right. Okay.]

Listen, Sophie. Would it-

[He kind of wishes he were asking in person. It's strange to him as it is, but doing so over a device he can barely even operate on his own doesn't exactly help.]

Would it make you happy if I adopted you? ...Um, well you know, if I...adopted you again? Officially?

[ Just when she was fearing that she would have to ask the question, "does this mean we're no longer family?" her eyes are beginning to light up again. She clasps her hands together; giving the video feed a very hopeful look. ]

That would make me really, really happy.

[Asbel's troubled expression slowly ebbs away, replaced with a smile.]

All right. Then from this moment forward, you and I are family.

[He rubs the back of his head.] Although, I have to admit, it's still a little strange thinking of myself as your father. You used to be bigger than me, remember? But I'll do my best. I really mean that.

[ For Sophie, it's like reliving that day when Asbel first decided to adopt her. It was one of her happiest moments. She smiles back at him. ]

When you first adopted me, you said almost the exact same thing.

[ A head shake. ] It's not strange... it's happy. Thank you, Asbel.

Oh, I did? [Heh.] Sorry for not being more original. Hopefully that means I said the right thing, at least.

[It makes him a little curious, actually. What else has he said and done? He can trust his future self, can't he? But no. Somehow...he feels like this is something he needs to learn on his own. He'll find his own way to take care of Sophie.]

Yeah...you're right. It is happy. You know, after we defeated Lambda, I was going to ask if you wanted to come live with me in Lhant. Then we could see the blossomgale together and make all kinds of happy memories. But I guess that'll have to wait for a while longer.

02 ✽ video & action for UNIT 103

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It's that Lineage & Legacies cutscene all over again!

Trufax: Echoed it on purpose.