001 | video

[oracledriven]

[Alright. This isn't something he normally does, but everyone else has been so quiet about it that it's starting to drive him a little nuts. So in the true form of someone who can't keep their mouth shut— here's Noel.]

Okay, so. Who else stayed in town when people went out to the desert? I can't be the only one who noticed the people in town acting strange, right?

[He frowns a little, thoughtfully crossing his arms over his chest.] It was like they couldn't figure out what to do with themselves, but even when I ask them what happened, they look at me like I'm crazy. [Which he's not. Right??] Like they don't even remember it happening.

Anyone else notice anything strange happening back then? And for everyone who went out to the desert— anything strange happen with people out there? Anything see anything like that happen since you got back?

[He's about to cut it there, no introduction, no nothing, but he pauses to add:] Thanks.

Comments

[baldrshand]

O-oh! My apologies! [god that was. SUCH A PROGRESSION OF FACES THAT NOEL MADE. and her own is more than a little mortified.] I see! Fighting partners! Yes, I understand, that does go beyond normal friendship. That's all you meant.

[she's STILL NOT SO SURE THAT'S ACCURATE BUT. SURE. SHE ALSO GETS THAT AS A BOND.]

[oracledriven]

[Now that he's had that big reaction, he's feeling kind of embarrassed over it --it's really not as big a deal as he just made it out to be-- and gives her an apologetic look for a moment.]

No-- it's fine. It's really not like that, but... I can see why you might've had the thought.

[... Not like that for practically a million reasons, chief among them her being dead, his own issues, and her whole engaged to someone thing.]

[baldrshand]

Yes it's just the--"more than friends," that's what made me think--but no, I do see what you mean. My brother and husband were like that with an old academy friend of theirs. They shared all their hopes and dreams with each other. They were closer to each other than anyone else in their lives back then.

[oracledriven]

[Noel notes the use of past tense -- were. They were close. Whether Ethlyn meant anything by it or not, it resonates with him. Serah's not the only one he's shared hopes and dreams with. She's not even the only person that'd be referred to in past tense.

He nods in agreement, but something in his expression closes off a bit.]

Yeah. I get what you mean. That kind of friendship doesn't come around all the time.

[baldrshand]

No, it doesn't. That's why it's so important to treasure it for as long as you can.

[Eldigan had made his choices, and so had Quan and Sigurd--choices that put them on opposing sides of a battlefield. In the end, no matter where Eldigan turned, there was nowhere to go but towards his own death.

That isn't Noel's past to live with, though, and Ethlyn struggles to regain a more cheerful aspect.]

Sorry. We got serious there, didn't we?

[oracledriven]

[Noel is quiet for a second. He doesn't really know how to respond. Yeul, Serah, even Caius... no matter what they meant to him, it never seemed to last, did it? Even his alliance with Snow and Hope. After Hope disappeared, everything fell apart.

He treasures those friendships. Treasured. Even so-- for a long time, it's been easier to work alone.

It...it's good that she tacks that last bit on. Good that she says something else, anything else to get him out of his head. Whatever happened to those friends of hers -- it's different than him, but that doesn't make it hurt any less for her, he's sure. It takes a moment, but his expression does finally twist back to a bit of a smile, maybe a little rueful.]

... A bit. Yeah. I guess everyone has their own personal stuff to deal with, huh?