( open ) there are countless stars in my heart, there's one star that shines painfully

[forthelight]

Who: Warrior of Light and you?
Where: Around Verens
When: Throughout the first week of the month
Format: [ brackets ]
Open/Closed: Open
Summary: The longer he's here, the more something about the Warrior seems to become... off.


A) the wall of names part 2;

[ Another month, another trip to the wall, another moment in allowing his gaze to roam over each and every name there. It's getting closer to a year since his arrival within this world and while he's been departed for a short period of time due to a calling back within the conflict, still he finds himself here... and he finds that as time goes on, more and more names appear on this wall... and he's come to notice that he recognizes quite a few now.

There's a particular man who comes to mind as he glances down to a cracked stone on the ground. Blond hair and in so much pain, having injured himself due to his grief at the realization that someone he cared for very much had disappeared from this world with only their name left behind on this wall. He remembers the way in which he had gently healed his hand and listened to his pain... and now he finds that this very same man has his name on the wall as well. The Warrior comes to frown a little. Perhaps he went back to the one he had missed so much. He can hope for that, can't he?

But that's the problem with this wall. The names seem to multiply more and more as time goes on and he finds that this wall becomes more familiar with those who appear on it, going from one to three to five to nine. Nine names. Nine that he can put a face to, recall memories with. Nine that are no longer within this world and he comes to find that it means something... somehow.

There are no cats with him this time nor company as he tends to travel alone. There is, however, a dull sort of ache that bleeds from him and strips the very grass around his shoes of its colour, leaving it cold and gray. He'll be standing there for quite some time... more like hours to be exact. ]

B) the tree of memories;

[ This is a place in which the Warrior doesn't often find himself, the wall of names being more the place to frequent rather than this tree. But today... today he is looking for something... a memory, wanting to see it with his own eyes. The petals that come to touch his palm show brief glimpses of a conflict which he seems to hail from. But these fleeting memories are not the one he's looking for and it's with a sigh that he allows these petals to gently fall from his palm. Peculiar that the grass around him seems to be devoid of colour... ]

C) to market we go?;

[ To be here at the market is not at all unusual for the Warrior given the fact that he comes here once a week to pick up food and any supplies needed what with his cottage being a little ways out of the town. However, on this particular day, he is without his basket that he typically carries under his arm and instead, walks through merchant's square without even coming to stop at any of the usual stalls. He seems dazed, out of it, not entirely lost within his thoughts and yet... not exactly here in the now either. With every step that he takes throughout the square, a washed out colour of the very ground itself is left behind as sort of footprints in a way. He doesn't seem to be listening to anyone or anything else but rather to whatever (or whoever) it is that seems to be playing over and over again in his head. A knight clad in dark armor and a spire-like sword which he drags alongside him... memories that seem to be pushing themselves to the forefront of his mind more and more as of late.

Paying attention to where he's going? No... not today it seems. ]

D) winter in summer;

[ It's a lovely day for a stroll in the park and if one happens to be doing that, they might come across some beautiful flowers, trees lush with green leaves... and a Warrior sitting on a bench... more or less frozen. His head hangs as he stares to the ground, a gentle frost having coated him entirely but it's his fingers curled under the bench that seem to be wearing a thick layer of ice over them, freezing them to the bench more or less. But it's not just the frost in the warm weather that is strange. It's an almost distortion around the Warrior that seems to somehow blur everything around him, almost seeming dreamlike and unreal. But it's very real, as is the ice and frost that have covered him here on the bench.

Best to watch your step lest you slip on a little runaway frost. ]

Comments

[innermonologues]

Don't.... start thinking about leaving me. I'm not sure I'd be able to handle it...

[ Squall frowned deeply, grabbing for another cup of warm water he brought over and pours the rest of it onto the bench. ]

[forthelight]

Would anyone remember me I wonder... it's... ironic, isn't it? To want to be remembered and only to be once you disappear.

[ The temperature in the room drops suddenly, the Warrior's mood taking a dip at the thought. ]

[innermonologues]

[ Squall shivered slightly as he stared at Warrior. ]

You wouldn't be forgotten... so many of us care about you...

[ This was so hard to be the positive one. How does Sora do it all the time? ]

[forthelight]

[ The Warrior seems... unsure about that. But, rather than continue, he bows his head, allowing his eyes to fall shut. ]

I... want to sleep.

[innermonologues]

You can't sleep... not right now. We have to find your amulet first.

[ Squall leaned in again and very gently pats Warrior's cheeks. He then stood up and gently grabbed for Warrior's hands to help him up. ]

[forthelight]

[ Allowing himself to be pulled up, the Warrior nearly stumbles into Squall but doesn't seem to make much effort in the way of keeping his balance. ]

I usually... keep it by my bed...

[innermonologues]

[ Squall let out a quiet ommph when he caught Warrior from losing his balance completely. When he was sure he had a good hold on him, he let out a soft groan. ]

Then lets get to your bedroom to look.

[forthelight]

[ Mindful of the cat around their feet, the Warrior nods very slowly before he begins the task of trying to walk up the stairs for the bedroom. ]

Squall... when I am like this, I feel tired. When armored, I don't. There are things to be done. But I wonder... I wonder if this is how I truly feel inside.

[ Alone. ]

[innermonologues]

There... are ways to fix this kind of feeling... if this is how you feel inside. You just... can't let yourself give into it, Griever.

[forthelight]

Because I am to fight until I die?

[ That's what he's worth, right? ]

[innermonologues]

No... no! Griever, no. This is loneliness you're feeling but... you are so much better than it. You aren't meant to be alone... you aren't meant to fight until you die. You're meant to live...!

[forthelight]

[ Words that are but a whisper within his mind, the Warrior comes to see those wisps of purple and a smile that, once upon a time, he couldn't seem to remember, but now, but here, he does.

Prishe.

She had said something similar to him and it has the Warrior allow his gaze to drop for a long moment as he continues to make the effort of going up the stairs. ]

It's difficult.

[ To simply live. ]

[innermonologues]

[ Squall keeps his grip on the other tight so he doesn't fall down the stairs or something. He doesn't trust him to make it on his own right now. ]

It is... It's extremely difficult, but... I know you. You're strong enough to fight it, Griever.

[forthelight]

[ No sooner had that been done, the Warrior trips to a step and nearly falls as a result. ]

That is what I do...

[innermonologues]

G-Griever! Are you alright?

[ Squall almost fell with him, but managed to catch himself and Warrior before they face planted into the stairs. ]

[forthelight]

[ Nodding, the Warrior does his best to regain his footing. ]

Yes, I am fine.

[innermonologues]

[ Squall wraps his arms a little tighter around Warrior to help him keep his balance better as they reach the top of the stairs. ]

[forthelight]

[ Coming to reach the top of the stairs, the Warrior indicates which room belongs to him with his chin as he remains close by Squall's side, more or less leaning his weight against him. ]

[innermonologues]

You should move your room closer to the floor. You're clumsy enough to fall down these stairs...

[ He tries to lighten the mood a little as he starts heading toward his room. ]

[forthelight]

[ The Warrior simply nods in regards to that and carefully makes his way through the doorway of his room and... sure enough, there on the bedside table, is his amulet. ]

[innermonologues]

[ Squall gently sits Warrior down and quickly swipes up the amulet to slip it around Warrior's neck. ]

Thank hyne it's here...

[forthelight]

[ Despite the amulet being placed around his neck, the Warrior remains silent as he sits there on the bed, fingers gently grasping at the sheets, head bowed a little. ]

[innermonologues]

[ Squall watches him sit there in silence for a moment before he sits down beside Warrior. He tugs him over so his head lulls to his shoulder. ]

[forthelight]

[ Quiet still, the Warrior continues to not say anything. However, the kitty with a round little belly comes to make their way inside the room and cries up at Squall there near his feet, perhaps wanting treats. Or attention. Or both. ]

[innermonologues]

[ Squall glances down when he hears the crying and leans over a little to scoop up the kitten. ]

Hey there... Your dad is feeling a little under the weather so you should try and cheer him up.

[ Squall holds the kitten up to Warrior's face. ]