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[undyingflames]

 

Feel free to hit me up with anything!!  I'm honestly always down for anything ₍՞◌′ᵕ‵ू◌₎♡
I've finished the game so spoilers are totally fine, though be careful looking in here if you haven't beaten it yet!

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[undyingflames]

[ Joshua laughs, soft, reserved as they usually are, but this one carries a certain heartiness to it.

But then he softens, saddens a little at the mentioning of their return, as though it were already an assured thing. Though he tries not to dwell on it, and makes a small gesture for Gav to follow as he starts to lead him along the path he came from as he talks; ]

The Motes of Water are a kind people, but they are wary of strangers, though it's not hard to understand why. They were forced from their home in Ash when the Blight claimed it, and faced persecution by the Empire when in search of another, which led to the death of many of their own. Which is why they have managed to remain so well hidden for nearly eighty years, even from a nose such as yours. As well as for fear of those who might seek to take yet un-Blighted lands for their own.

That is why we believed it best we arrange introductions ere we left for the Hideaway, that we might ease what worries they might possess. [ His smile quirks a little ] But, I have little doubt that they will like you. [ He doubts there are many people out there who wouldn't like Gav, truly. ]

Have your travels ever taken you through the North?

[anoseknows]

[ Oh, they're coming back! They have to. ... Right? That's how stories always go, right? The heroes kick the bad guy's arse, the heroes come back, the heroes live happy ever after... That's how it's supposed to go. Cid won't get to see their mission through so Clive and Joshua have to make it back in one piece in his stead.

Maybe two pieces. Tarja could probably patch up two pieces...

Gav doesn't even want to entertain the possibility that they're not going to come back. He's lost too many people he cares about. He can't lose anyone else. ]

I can see why they've remained hidden. Folks would kill and worse to get their hands on lands this beautiful. Un-Blighted lands... Still can't quite believe it.

[ He shakes his head. ] Been awhile since I've been very far up North. The Blight has taken most of it. En't much up there other'n bad memories. At least, I din't think there was. Yet this was here the whole time...

[undyingflames]

[ Would that Joshua could say he were right, would that he could bring himself to believe that, that this is just like one of Clive's favorite storybooks from when they were children, of heroes and villains where the hero makes it back from their grand battle alive... that Tarja, for all her hard work making medicine for him (and that he refuses to take--) could help, but... all he could offer are false reassurances. That Clive -- that they would make it home, even though Joshua's long since accepted what awaits him at the end of this path.

But he would do anything to see Clive live, that he might see the future, the future Cid and their father strove for, saved. Because that's all he's ever wanted.

Light blue eyes flicker over to Gav curiously as he mentions bad memories, but decides not to ask him, not yet, at least, and gives a small nod. ]

I thought the same. There are few who would've dared to believe otherwise. I too traveled here not long ago to see for myself what had become of the North, to see with my own eyes how quickly the Blight spread. And I believed it to confirm what I had thought to be true... that the North had been lost.

[ A soft frown pulls at his lips. It was nothing short of devastating, to see blackened lands stretch across the horizon, as far as the eye could see, no birds, no insects, no life left. And in truth... it scared him, made him question that what he was doing was the right thing. To chase after Ultima's shadow to learn more of him and whatever plans he had, that Joshua might get ahead of him, might be able to stop him, all while the world rotted away ever faster with each passing moment.

But, as they approach the cliffside, he gestures ahead of him with a smile, beyond the edge of the cliff to the impossible green vista that stretches out before them for miles, across the mountains and coastline of the bay that couldn't be seen from the boat. ]

But, as you can see, much of the North still remains.

[anoseknows]

[ The Blight is spreading at an alarming rate. Gav sees all too often how more and more land falls to the endless, lifeless black. Lands he scouted only months, weeks before becoming vast nothingness.

He knows that Clive and Joshua need to do what they need to do. But it doesn't mean he has to like it.

Gav tries to push those feelings of worry deep down inside. He tries to ignore that clawing unease in his gut. But he knows all too well that his instincts about things are usually right.

Still, he does his best to put a bright smile on for Joshua, giving him a nudge with his shoulder. ]

Would you look at that... gives us hope for the future, aye? Mebbe one day the whole world will bloom just as beautiful...

[ He slows his steps. He knows he has to meet these new folks, needs to win them over for when he takes on the name of Cid but well, he's never been great at the whole delegations or leader type things. He's a scout and a damn good one. He's no leader. Otto or Tarja would be far better than him.

What if he fails? What if he lets down the Hideaway?

Eventually his steps come to a complete halt. How long can he put this off? Is it too late to flee? ]