Exploration and Contemplation

[heavenslament]

Who: Terra Branford and OPEN
When: Now-ish? I'm flexible.
Where: Lunar Subterrane (Cosmos territory)
What: Scouting the area
Type: Log/Action (Both are welcome; I'll reply in whatever format you tag me with.)
Notes/Warnings: New threads okay, no limit to number of responses, separate threads for different characters

Comments

[hopeandapromise]

Hope was... well, let's face it- he'd gone off to the Rift, had met Fang, and then tried to get back, and somehow had ended up here. The poor boy was a little lost and even more confused overall. Just how many places were there in this universe? It was one thing to move around on Cocoon, or even Gran Pulse- because that's what they were, Cocoon and Gran Pulse. This place changed landscapes and times so quickly it felt like they were all different worlds, all being shoved into one location at the same time.

Still, he wasn't about to give up hope or worry about where he was. No one had attacked him, so he was okay for now. And even if someone did, he had enough firepower to back himself up, at least for a while. He was thankful for having the ability to know so many spells at once.

So, off he went, carefully looking around and making sure he wouldn't be sabotaged while trying to get back to everyone else.

[heavenslament]

The stars were beautiful, but after a moment, something else caught Terra's attention. She straightened, tearing her gaze away from them as she glanced around. Her hand rested on her sword hilt, wary that she was being watched. Perhaps that seemed a bit paranoid but in this realm -and all the others- Terra had learned that one could never be too careful.

She waited for a tense moment...and then she heard footsteps heading in her direction. Turning, she stared and then below, along the lunar ground. It took her a moment to spot him but when she did, Terra relaxed at once. Relief, surprise and a little curiosity all mingled. "...Hope?"

[hopeandapromise]

"Terra!" Though he hadn't known her for very long, the sound of her voice was something Hope had already gotten used to. Thankful that she was the one he ran into in a place like this, he looked upwards, grinning a little and running forward to where she was. It was good to see a familiar face.

"You came here too? What is this place?"

[heavenslament]

Terra smiled warmly as Hope approached, leaping off where she was standing to land before him. That spot had afforded her a good view, but she had already seen enough of that today. Company -especially friendly company- was far more worth her time.

She glanced around briefly, then back at him. "This is the Lunar Subterrane. I'm glad this place is still here, as it's one of my favorite spots. It's almost...peaceful." That seemed a bit silly to say, as no place around here could ever really be there, but she wanted it to be true and that wistfulness in her expression said s much.

[hopeandapromise]

The fact that this place was quiet and peaceful was definitely something he took note of. In a sense, he felt really at home here. Or, at least- it reminded him of Cocoon, a little

[heavenslament]

"It's okay." Terra shook her head, a small smile on her lips. "It's nice to have a place that reminds you of home when you're far away. I'm not sure if it reminds me of home, but that's okay if it doesn't. I would still want to visit, anyway."

Terra wished it did remind her of home. She wished anything did, but all she recalled were some very hazy memories that kept slipping out of her grasp despite her best attempts. Perhaps something would change that, allow her to break through...but she had a feeling that the time hadn't come, yet.

And since that train of thought was depressing her, she needed to change the subject. "...wishing fireworks? What do you mean?"

[hopeandapromise]

"Well, Bodhum has this huge sphere it set up a while ago, and whenever the district celebrates something, they let off fireworks in the sphere. People say that if you make a wish when they go off, that wish will come true."

He remembered his mother doing that, and him joking with her. It was a good time, one that was happy memories, and if anything- it was a motivation to keep going forward. He wanted to see them again, to even possibly be with his dad this time, once they saved Cocoon.

[heavenslament]

Terra stares upward, as though imagining those fireworks overhead right at that moment. Contrasted against the dark sky of the Lunar Subterrane, they would have made for a brilliant tableau. And...there was something appealing about fireworks and wishes combined like that.

"That's a lovely tradition. Did you make any wishes, then?" She paused a moment later, abashed. "You don't have to tell me what you wished for...I was just curious if any of them came true."

[hopeandapromise]

He shook his head at this, smiling. "Not me, my mom did though. That stuff is mainly for kids."

He'd told her the same thing when they were there, and his mind hadn't really changed on it. If he wanted something to happen, he'd make it happen himself, or with the help of others. Still, he supposed it was nice to think about once in a while, or let things not be cared about for a while. Maybe that's why people did it. They needed a reason to believe in the happiness that came with rare things, so they made wishes.

[heavenslament]

"I guess it is." Terra nodded thoughtfully. There was something innocent about wishing on fireworks; if only problems could be solved that easily. "I want to live in a world where any dream is possible...but I know they won't come true if you just wish for them. You have to do whatever you can to make them happen. That was true of this place, before...and I think it'll be true this time, too."

[hopeandapromise]

"Right. Wishes won't make things better- you have to work towards something if you really want it." It was good to hear that there were at least some similarities between places, even if they weren't familiar at all. This was the same as before- telling his father he was sorry for being there, and being told that this was his home. That entire scenario brought back so much memories, including the one thing he said he would do on his father's behalf.

"When I was back in Cocoon, before I left my dad, I made a promise with him. That I would make my own choices from now on, and that I'd make them and not regret what happened because of them." With that, there was a soft smile from him, a part of him reminiscing of the things they had fought for back home. "I want to make him proud, and I want to be proud of myself for choosing what I think is right."

[heavenslament]

As Hope told her about his father, Terra listened intently. She had no real memory of hers, or much of anything else, but for some reason that she couldn't pinpoint, his words struck a chord with her. Though she couldn't be certain if anything she had done had been motivated by the desire to please a parent, that last part of is comment was met with a quick nod. That she could definitely understand.

"It's not always easy, having to make your own choices, but you'll never become your own person if you don't. There comes a time for everyone when they have to stand on their own feet. Even if you make mistakes, at least they're your mistakes, and you'll learn from them. That's the important part." A sad smile touched her lips. "I think you'll make him proud, Hope. And I'll do whatever I can to help this end, so that you can see him soon. Families...shouldn't be separated."