[video]

[thejewelergem]

[There is a Johan. His eyes look a little red. There's also a Ruby, curled up in his lap. She looks pretty down, too.

A few seconds of silence. Then he speaks.]

It's funny. You think you're over being here, and then . . .

[He sniffles, then wipes an arm violently across his eyes as though he's afraid to let anybody know he's still crying.]

Comments

[ voice ]

[lonestray]

Not everyone has something they wish to return to.

[voice]

[girl_unlocking]

B-but ...some of us do. And ...and I'm not saying you ...have to feel that way, because maybe where you came from is really bad, but isn't there ...anything that you miss? Or someone that misses you? Or something that would make you ...smile? Or feel ...I don't know. Good? Better?

Crap.

I'm like, totally butting in and I don't know you, but...if it was really bad, [very tiny voice as if she's on thin ice] maybe you could make things better ...here?

[ video ]

[thejewelergem]

I guess not. But--some of us do.

[voice]

[girl_unlocking]

It's so not stupid. It's ...well, it's the least stupid thing ever. A-and Ruby doesn't seem to think it's stupid either. So...there. See?

We ...should. You know, if people want to.

Re: [voice]

[thejewelergem]

Nobody else seems like they're bothered. [Or at least, if they are, they don't go showing it.]

. . . I don't know if it'd make it better or worse. But I miss dueling. It's like I lost part of myself when I lost that. There've got to be people here who feel the same way.

[ voice ]

[pandamaiden]

I think that sounds like a good idea, Johan. [She remembered this time!]

When should we do it?

Re: [ voice ]

[thejewelergem]

I--

I don't know. [He wasn't quite expecting so many people to take him seriously.]

[ voice ]

[pandamaiden]

We can do it whenever someone misses home.

What do you miss?

Re: [video]

[thejewelergem]

Dueling. Jyuudai and Pegasus.

. . . .

Being able to walk down the street and get an ice cream to eat by the Old Town Bridge.

I never knew you could miss a place so much.

[ Video ]

[subrusticus_xiv]

I like that idea. [ Soft smile. ]

Re: [ Video ]

[thejewelergem]

[He . . . at least tries to smile back.] We should plan on it.

[VIDEO]

[raketen]

Ah... it's never "stupid" to care about someone, so please don't minimize the importance of your feelings by saying so.

Re: [VIDEO]

[thejewelergem]

[hfaawehoifds brief flail. Of a sort. He's. Pretty sure he doesn't know you, but you remind him of Quatre, and the only hope he has on that front is that nobody's dragged in a set of partially-gnawed bones wearing Quatre's clothes, so seeing you is a little bit of a punch to the gut. Finally he shakes his head.] There's no point in moping over it when there's no way out of here. He wouldn't want me to, he'd . . . [sniffle.] He'd want me to just go forward and not worry . . . not about him, anyway.

[He takes a deep breath and lets it out. Then he tries on a rather tentative smile.] I don't think we've met.

[VIDEO]

[raketen]

[ Alfons is exceptionally good at reminding people of others. He recognizes the déjà vu in the look he receives, shifts a little bit in its wake. It's always the wrong people that he resembles, always the people that someone's missing... ]

Yes, that's the best way to think of it. [ A pause, and he continues thoughtfully. ] But that doesn't mean you can't let yourself feel sad every once in a while. It's really no good to bottle it all up, you know?

No, we haven't. I'm Alfons. [ A warm smile in return. ]

Re: [VIDEO]

[thejewelergem]

. . . . I guess so. But isn't that just . . . not doing what he'd want me to do?

Johan. Andersen. [He's still a little out of it, but trying his damnedest to smile.] Nice to meet you.