Lost [FINISHED]

[Ellie who has 0%]

"Wow," that wasn't the reaction she was expecting, nor was she complaining, "Wooow...you're really excited about this. Wow...I like you. Well shake a leg baby cakes. First stop, Merlin's house," using her hands, she thrust herself off the chair and started a long stride gait, while beckoning Merida to follow suit, "Merlin's a wizard, and...I don't think he's from this world either, and he tends to come and goes as he pleases. But eeh if I had the power of a wizard, I doubt I'd stand still either. Come, come, come..."

She led her up a few stairs pointing out some shops like the Accessories, Weaponry, and so on; then with a turn they passed a duck with a small pair of glasses and a top hat. He wobbled around with a cane, while trying to lure people to try is new delicious ice cream flavor of the month; Rikku merely gave him a wave, "No thanks, I don't think this figure needs more icecream."

The blonde chuckled at her own joke, then turned her head to look at Merida, "If I recaaaall I think he's from Disney Castle. Alright missy, another turn and voila welcome to the neighborhood!"

All the houses were pretty much fashioned the same: dull gray stones and bricks with a reddish toned shillings for a roof. Some had a flat top roof with just gravel, but everything looked pretty uniformed and only varied in height and width. As soon as Rikku left the busy part of time towards the quieter suburb, one could hear the light beeps of Tron echoing throughout the winding sidewalks. Light illuminated some of Rikku's frame and face as white target wavered on the floor before it stretched into a cylinder. With a beep, it lowered down to a sphere before homing towards Merida. After checking her out with a beep, it stopped.

"Oh don't mind that, that's the world's defense mechanism program, Tron. He pretty much looks out for heartless, nobodies, and what not, then handles them. He's why you won't see them as much within the city. Still some like to be bold and come through anyway."

In the next minute, Rikku stopped at a door, "And here we are Merlin's Hoooooooouse!"

Raising her knuckles she gave it a knock, "It's Rikku and a guest; her name is Merida and may be with us for a while!"

Yes, she was talking to the door; looking over her shoulder, the blonde whispered, "It's a hexed temperamental old thing. I think once it actually turned on Yuffie, she's another 'overseer' here too. I guess it confused her for a foe...rather than a friend....unleeeeeess Yuffie diiiid something she wasn't supposed to doooo IN THE HOUSE."

Yeah, that would explain it, and it seemed the house lacked animosity towards Rikku as the door opened after a click. Stepping in, she introduced Merida to messy house. There was old books of magic, recipe for teas, and a crap load of other junk that Rikku never indulged to even try to comprehend. Amongst the mess was a small kitchen with a table, a bed not too far from it, and a computer on the farthest wall, "And this is precisely what...the house of a wizard look like...a wizard named Merlin. I come here time to time, but I certainly don't live in it. You may find others here too, but when in doubt, tell them Rikku sent you. Alright next...MY PLACE!"

Leaving the haunted house of a wizard, that had so much magic one could feel it rub on you, Rikku continued down the winding walkway ignoring the inclining stairs towards an upper level, "That's the way to the Bailey, The Castle, The Ravines, and the Ravines of Doom. Hehe last year I think we kicked like a thousand heartless butts there; ppsssh and I wasn't even an eighth of my height then!"

After a few sharp lefts and rights, Rikku stopped at a door of what appeared to be a narrow house, but it was certainly longer than it appeared; she needed SOME SPACE to pack her ship, which is in the far back in the garage, "Now where did I put....those...FORSAKEN KEYS?"

Jumping up and down, her hand wandered until her ears picked up a jingling sound. With a yoink out of her butt pocket, she fished out the devious utilities and unlocked the door, "Hooome sweet home...well it's not my HOME HOME, but it is for the time being. Iiii really didn't leave my world willingly the ship kinda sped us off to here. We could've gone back...We as in me, Yuney, and Paine, but we lingered her as this world warmed on us. Plus it was hard to go back to home sweet home when there was people and worlds in need you know."

She talked a mile a minute before turning towards the red head. The house was pretty neat due to Yuney's nitpickiness; the main chaotic domain was Rikku's realm, the garage with the Falcon amongst the series of parts and gummiblocks she bought and found. The living room had meek and humble furniture, since the girls didn't want to spent all their munny on it, while not being able to spend a single gil in this world.

"There's a floor above this one, and three rooms. You can take, borrow, or whatever Yuney's since she's gone; she went traveling with some boy...I think near your age; she won't mind and I doubt she's coming back soon, since she was so anxious to go. Whatever you do...DON'T go in the room on the far right side....it's Paine's room..."

It seemed pretty darn self-explanatory to her, "and everywhere else is up for roaming including outside that door."

She pointed towards the rest of Radiant Garden.

[Ren]

Merida got out of her chair with an air of fervid excitement. The curious girl couldn't hide her feelings anymore; she was really ready to explore, and find ways to remain positive about this whole situation - which was proving to be almost as easy said as done.

A wizard. They were going to see a wizard's house.

Now, within Merida, there was some reservation; her last entanglement with a magical person hadn't turned out too promising. But, she reasoned, she wasn't about to ask for wishes this time, now was she? She just might meet the man and leave it at that, which was enticing enough in itself. She'd always had an affinity for magic - even if she possessed no magic herself.

Up the stairs, and suddenly Merida froze in her tracks. She inadvertently froze up, watching the figure before her - the walking, talking duck. Back where she was from, this sort of thing would be almost considered demonic - unknown and terrifying. Getting past old superstitions was hard, even to an open-minded, rebellious teen. When Rikku passed by it with hardly anything more than a joke, Merida finally moved again, taking a deep breath. That was nothing; she could handle much worse. she was still just a little shocked at the strangeness of it all.

"Alright missy, another turn and voila welcome to the neighborhood!"

The little village was enchanting, there was no other word for it. Unlike her homeland - which comprised of a little town within the confines of the castle grounds - the only castle in sight was one far off on the horizon. This pleasant little town was growing on her more and more with each passing moment in this -

"Wha' is THAT."

A cylindrical light had illuminated Rikku for a moment - a strange light, something that seemed too artificial to be real - and then suddenly it came for her.

Her bow was out and fitted with an arrow before she had time to think, and then the light materialized around her and she didn't have a target to shoot and what was even happening -

- and then it was gone, and Merida let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. The moment she started to have a good thought about this town, it threw her for an unfathomable loop once again.

Then Rikku explained - apparently that light had a name (another strange one too, Tron) - and it was some sort of... defensive mechanism against Heartless and... what was that last thing she said? "Nobodies?" Not quite sure what she meant - too many thoughts tumbling around in her head, unable to become untangled - Merida didn't ask, just merely stood there with a rather bemused look on her face.

Was this Tron thing a benign Wisp? It must've been magic; that was the only explanation. She strung her bow back over her back again and dropped the arrow in her quiver, not sure what to think.

Merida's bemusement continued all the way through Rikku's conversation with a door - which was only mildly unnerving compared to the even that had happened moments before - and all the way into the wizard's house. But when she stepped inside, a quiet chill came over her - the kind she felt in the presence of magic. She walked in hesitantly, drinking in the atmosphere, though keeping her wits about her all the same.

So the wizard's name was Merlin, hm? Merida tried to make a mental note to file that away for another time, she really did - but as she had mentioned earlier, she wasn't really good with vague facts. So, needless to say, the name was in one ear and out the other as she continued to study the house, wanted to inspect everything in sight but too entranced to really move.

Then, all too soon, Rikku was off again, and Merida had to scurry after her before her guide was completely out of sight. The enchanted door closed behind her, and she thought she heard it make a noise akin to a gruffy sigh - but she did not look behind her, determinedly placing the blame on her vivid imagination.

They passed by some stairs - Rikku listing off some more names of places that Merida actually held onto and would remember for later (it just wouldn't do to get lost in this place) - and she also mentioned that she was... an eighth of her height? What? All right she was really confused now, and she let out a semi-audible groan as she ran her fingers through her fiery tangle of hair.

"Leave one confusin' place only t' find another tha's even worse," she grumbled under her breath - though continued to trot after Rikku.

After Rikku had an episode with her keys - which were of a different shape than Merida was familiar with (another unfamiliar thing; was there nothing here that she actually knew??) - the blond introduced the redhead to her humble abode. It was nice, if a bit neat; the castle had always been in some state of dirtiness, despite her mother's cleanly nature.

When Rikku said she could borrow anything of her friend's - Yuney? - Merida hesitated for a moment, and then figured it was okay. Rikku knew her friend better than Merida, and if Rikku thought it was okay, it probably was. Besides, it was charity, right? She needed help, and they were offering it up.

"Thank ye," she said, after a long time of being silent - but the words were sincere. It was nice to find out that asking for help this time around hadn't led to disastrous consequences - rather, she felt much better. "Would Ah... eh... be sleepin' in this... Yooney's room, then? Or do Ah need t' find another place t' stay?"

[Ellie who has 0%]

What the pebbles? Rikku turned towards the younger girl eyeing her as if the redhead managed to sprout a horn from her small forehead, "Yeeeah you're bunking in Yuney's room. What kind of person do ya take me for?"

Her arms folded over her chest feigning to be insulted with only a small smile to show that she was kidding, "Aah yes, I would just fling into the outdoors and you're a new arrival to everything. What a beastie I'd turn out to be. Plus I doubt anyoooone's a guide like me. Wait until you start pinpointing the places from the rooftops."

Waltzing over, Rikku parked her toosh on one of the couch's cushions, and with the squeak of the springs, she sank a bit in it. Her arms stretched out on the top as she reclined to full-blown lax mode. A leg, like before, folded over the other, and now she had time to look the girl over entirely: unruly red hair, a very conservative blue dress, and a concealing cloak that she hid herself in earlier. From the looks of her, Rikku doubted her world was anything like her own, and yet she wasn't ready to inquire about that. And that was more so for Merida's sake to starve her curiosity.

Still despite sensing the obvious of differences, she won't deny that this girl seemed like a tough cookie, which only urged her on to look out for her. She was more than willingly to show Merida the ropes, and it would be far from...normal. Seeing how this girl had a lot of spunk, Rikku wondered how long could she keep up. Rikku was built with speed and with her nature, she tends to do things to the rhythm of her own drum, a far cry from normality. Noticing the girl had a bow and by mere observation she didn't spot anything spectacular about her arrows, she wondered what this girl was made out of to have so much fire in her spirit, but for the time being, she'd give the little flame a hearth to dwell in,"Nope, oui can stay as looooong oui like."

"You can go up there now if you like; rough it up a bit and what not. So ruica ec ouin ruica, so make yourself at home. And when you're ready to wiggle about do so juuuust don't get yourself in too big of a tangle. That would be quite a lot for one day dontcha think?"

Probably after being exposed to Radiant Garden in the briefest yet impacting moments, it probably slipped her mind that she just recently lost everything she knew. Rikku had watched and heard it happened to some to be blown away by everything and later on crash once revisiting the realization of everything. She kept the probabilities open for Merida, since she's still getting to know the girl; she's something else and knew that for a fact, but she wasn't invulnerable. Even Paine wasn't invulnerable despite how much stuff and baggage she kept to herself including that shield of being a meanie and stiff.

Still it wasn't in Rikku to prowl around waiting for her to crack underneath it all. Instead, she let the other carried everything at her pace,"So anything else Missy Miss?"

[Ren]

Merida felt weak with relief. So, Rikku was giving her a place to stay. It was a little off-putting to realize that she would have a roommate - the highly independent girl she was - yet she didn't mind Rikku all that much, really. The blond seemed willing to let Merida have her freedom rather than traipse all over her territory.

As Rikku sat down, the redhead examined her clearly for the first time. There was a clear moment of the two of them really taking into account the other's appearance, manner, and dress. It was apparent from Rikku's attire that she valued freedom; indeed, Elinor would have a conniption if she would see the amount of skin that the blond was baring. Even Merida felt a little embarrassed for her; she'd never had much inkling to show much, rather she desired freedom of movement.

Rikku's relaxed, un-lady-like nature was entirely appealing to Merida - it was like the life she always wanted to live.

Suddenly, something about Rikku's eyes caught her attention. Merida narrowed her own, seeing what looked like tiny swirls instead of pupils -

- but then the blond was speaking again, and Merida blinked, certain it was just a trick of the light.

The older girl said a few words she didn't understand - "oui" and "ruica ec ouin ruica" - but she didn't question it; she thought it might be slang terms around here that she might learn later... or maybe a different language entirely, perhaps the main language that was spoken on this world? Who knew.

"So anything else Missy Miss?"

"Uh... no, Ah think Ah'm good." Merida glanced towards the stairs. "Yooney's room is... jus' upstairs then?" Without waiting for an answer, the ginger turned and began to take the steps, her movements tentative. The excitement of the last hour or so was beginning to wear off, and unbidden images crept into her mind... images of the last few moments on her home world...

Ugh. She didn't want to think about that.

She reached the top floor and glanced at the rooms. The door to the far right was shut tight; she guessed that was the room of the mysterious "Paine," the very room Rikku had advised her to stay out of. (Was there no end to the odd names? Paine? Really?)

The door closest to her was slightly ajar, and at first glance it looked like a storm had surged through - but then Merida came to realize that it was simply very messy. She frowned - wondering if that was perhaps Rikku's room, or if it was Rikku's friend Yuney that was the one lacking cleanliness.

Merida continued on to peer into the next room. It was a completely different scenario in there - not a stray article of clothing in sight, the room seemed squeaky-clean... and a bit empty. It felt like no one had been in here for a few days. She figured this room was Yuney's room, but she had to check.

"Rikku?" Merida called down, sticking her head down from the top of the stairs. "Wha' room is Yooney's room?"

[Ellie who has 0%]

Rikku hummed a reply, while watching the wildfire ascend the stairs; her eyes then followed her footsteps as if she had x-ray vision. Bringing her legs up, she sat Indian style on the couch. For a moment she smiled to herself, then leaned her head against her rest right arm. It has only been a few days since Yuna's been gone (or that's how it felt) and look at her, she felt disconnected enough to reach out towards another. Small lips pouted at the unresolved question in whether she did this because she'd didn't like living in a silent space without someone to break the silence with her or for just being a good Samaritan. Was there ever really a crystal reason, and wouldn't any attempt to knock two birds with one stone?

Yuna left, but why? She was in a way restless, a detail that Rikku missed, which annoyed her to a degree. One would think being her cousin and being so close, she'd be able to spot that instantly. Now that she thought about it, since they truly housed in Radiant Garden they pair didn't talk as much. Was she really wrapped up with fixing the ship to not even notice anything?

Some friend I turn out to be...

And that boy she was with; he was anxious for her to go and even pressed Yuna to tell her. What was his motives? He barely knew Yuney, so she doubted he whole-heartedly thought this up for her best interest. Sometimes it made Rikku feel better that he needed her to tag alone for he wouldn't be alone; at least then she wouldn't be the only selfish candidate. If everything in Spira didn't happened, Rikku would've refuted and urged her to stay. Just like that, she was stolen from her, but she couldn't feel completely bitter for too long; Yuney needed some free time. If anything it was about time...even if it meant some sacrifices must be made.

"Ra paddan dyga lyna uv oui un E puq rec meddma aync eh ihdem ra kuac buugetco," the Al Behd muttered darkly, while glaring at the sky towards the starts through the floors and roof of the town house. Somewhere...she wished that Novi could feel a slight burn to the back of his head.

Hearing her named being called, her eyes widened back to its kindly nature, and she hummed aloud in recognition. Despite the semi-grumpy grumbling mood Rikku almost sank it, the ring of that distinctive voice brought a smirk to her face. Nope there was no reason to be too big of a sourpuss now. She had company. Who knew how long that company would last, but it was company none the less, "Yuney's room is on the left side; knowing her it should be all spit shined to radiating glory."

"I might try to cook something tonight, but ...if ya smell something's burning...you'll know why," Rikku shouted jokingly. Her smile melted after a few chuckle.

Oh niblets...I hope we have stuff in the fridge.

Rikku wasn't so uppidy to the idea of leaving out the house dragging the girl BACK to where they came...or just leaving her here so suddenly on her lonesome. In a panic, Rikku clumsily fell of the sofa as if it up-chucked something awful; her legs were tangled with one another as she pushed herself up and bolted towards the kitchen. She skidded to a halt for the moment of truth.

The refrigerator door was a jar, and the luminous light shined through. It was now or nothing, do or die, STARVE ...or take another trip to the market place. The door swung open.


"OH HAIL LADY YUNEYYYYY! SHE STOCKED UP THE FRIIIDGE!"

[Ren]

"Yuney's room is on the left side; knowing her it should be all spit shined to radiating glory."

Merida opened her mouth to thank Rikku yet again - seriously, the amount of gratitude the headstrong redhead was showing was reaching nearly unrealistic proportions, especially for her - but was inadvertently interrupted by Rikku's next thought process:

"I might try to cook something tonight, but ...if ya smell something's burning... you'll know why."

The princess couldn't reign in a little chortle (though she didn't snort this time, thank goodness). So, Rikku was no good with food, either? Well, that made two of them. Maybe it was about time Merida learned some household survival skills, since that was the environment she was about to be cooped up in...

She shook her head, smiling slightly to herself. It was interesting how much more she was willing to learn now that her mother wasn't breathing down her neck all the time. Just put Merida in a situation where she'd have to survive, and she'd figure it out with little fuss.

But... thinking about her mum...

She sighed and made her way to the aforementioned left-hand door for another peek inside. She opened the door a bit more, poking her head in slightly to really take in the room - a little bit apprehensive about using a place that looked so darned clean.

A shout from the kitchen startled her, and for a moment she thought they were under attack; but, it was just Rikku again, praising Yuney for... what? Did she hear right? Merida stuck a finger in her ear as if to clear out some earwax before hastily wiping it off on her dress. She could've sworn Rikku had said the word fridge, which wasn't a word at all - or not one that Merida was familiar with. And what did "stocking the fridge" mean? Was that perhaps slang for a storage area, or a weapons compartment? Merida didn't have the foggiest idea.

"Wha' on Eairth is a fridge," she muttered to herself. And with that thought, she finally took her full first step into the mysterious Yuney's room.

Merida's first thought was that it was rather empty. It looked as though it had not been lived in for some time - and that wasn't just because of the impeccably good condition the room was in. Spotless, really... it reminded her a bit of her mother (again). Nice shades of blue were here and there, which was quietly pleasing to the eye. Even if Merida wasn't much for the "prim and proper," she was not blind to the aesthetically pleasing; one of the thousands of reasons she preferred the woods to the castle was that it was so vibrant out there, with millions of colors and sounds... where the castle was just full of stone, and mud, and human voices.

The bed was something she hadn't seen the likes of before; comfortably circular, it had what looked like curtains dangling from ceiling, circling the mattress. The bed itself looked quite comfortable.

Tentatively - cautious of this lovely little room - Merida took off her bow and propped it up in a corner, away from things that might hurt it. She unbuckled the belt from around her waist - which held her quiver of fifteen arrows and her survival dagger - and placed those items gently beside her prized bow. She then whipped off her traveling cloak without a second thought; but, as she eyed it just lying in a heap on the floor, she bit back her lazy pride for a moment so she could fold it up nicely and place it with the rest of her things. It just looked too darn messy in this perfect room, and Merida had to remind herself that she was a guest here, and that it was only through the charity of others that she was allowed to stay.

Unbidden, an angry sullenness came into her head. Surely she'd have been able to find her way without this sort of "charity?" Surely she could have been off the world by now, and back home, if she hadn't been so dazed, if she hadn't paused and asked for help -

Ugh, who was she kidding. With a loud sigh, Merida flopped down on the pretty bed and stared up at the ceiling. She'd never make it through this on her own. She owed Rikku so much, she might never be able to repay the debt... It just wasn't fair that all this had happened, that the Heartless had come, that she had been torn from her family, that her world was gone...

The core of her mood swing rising, Merida sat up and put her face in her hands. Hot, wet tears trawled down her cheeks as what had happened to her finally hit her in all its depressing glory. In this single moment where her guard didn't need to be up and firm, it had completely dropped and clattered to the ground with a resounding crash.

Her home... her family... all gone, replaced with a place she'd never seen and a million things she didn't know. All her knowledge of traveling in the woods, all her combat skills... all of that, for naught.

Despite Rikku's kindness, despite her self-induced solitude for years, despite having to reverse her mum's stupid curse all by herself (that she herself caused in the first place)...

... she'd never felt more alone.

(OOC: I PM'd Zeph for the description of Yuna's room, so I didn't make up random stuff. XD)

[Ellie who has 0%]

Rikku leaned against the cool fridge with a sigh of content; now she doesn't have to go grocery shopping. In the mist of her joy, her eyes narrowed in speculation. What did Yuney brought in? Crouching down like a prehistoric homo sapien, her lips jutted in a pout as she skimmed and scanned over the booty in the fridge. A lot were meals to cook, which could've easily been handled by Yuna. Narrowed green swirled eyes stared at the nemesis, the oven. Although Rikku was a chemist, a rather skilled one, she hardly ever cooked. With Yuney being the borderline Martha Stewart of the three, it was just left as is. Now she wondered did she wanted to start that battle now.

To cook ...and potentially burn down the house or give Merida food poisoning...or not to cook?

With the graphic visual of the oven exploding like how her early alchemy experiments as an adolescence, Rikku promptly denied that mission," Ooooh...no. What else we got in here that doesn't calls for death by evil flamming box of doom."

There was a loaf of bread that was kept inside to stay fresh; there was some jam and peanut butter, and in the drawers, there were thinly sliced deli meat. It was probably purchased fresh from the butcher. That's what they were having...something safe, simple, and easy to make. But...what did Merida like? Did she had allergies and eating certain foods would make her spazz to oblivion? Was she a vegetarian? Did she even like turkey...what about salami...or ham? Rikku shuddered at the sickly meats, the wretched salami and ham. They weren't bad, but in Rikku's eyes they were aeons damned awful; she'd rather eat molded green chocobo instead. She couldn't just base 'what to stuff in Merida's face' based on her own preference. Oooor could sheee?

Gaaaaaah...I can't make up my miiiiiind. Decisions decisions not healthy for this Rikku, she thought to herself, "Well better make everything."

Stacking all the ingredients in her arms like legos, Rikku rose gracefully before kicking the door with her foot. While wobbling with everything, she slowly rested it on the counter, but during the exchange a stray jar landed on her foot, "AAAAH SHIDDLE DIDDLE SKITTLES!"

The house fell into a dead silence afterwards. In the kitchen, there was a show down as the Al Behd with her sore foot up in the air, her knee closely tucked to her chest, glared down at the forsaken jar of pickles. She wasn't so found of them either, and this only increased her reasoning; they had it out for her along with its peculiar taste. Now the thief was hopping around on one foot to not deal with the inflictions of putting weight on her victimized toes.

Drawers slid open and closed with a jingle of silverware; cabinets slammed shut after a clinks against plates. Along with other thumps of hops and clash of utensils, Rikku hobbled to work until she had a plate full of...diverse sandwiches. With all of these options, Merida was bound to like one of them. Looking at the variety, Rikku may have went overboard; some were cut in squares, others in triangles, and some were even crust-less. There was PB&J; there was some turkey with mayonnaise, some without, but with mustard, and it just continued with ham and salami, or combinations.

At least one thing was assured, they weren't going to go completely hungry tonight. Now was the upcoming challenge: to make it out of the kitchen, through the living room, and up the stairs on one foot. Wiggling her war veteran toes, she only felt a sting compared to the ebbs and flow of annoying pain. It was good enough to walk, but now...she really doesn't want to. Now she was fueled by curiosity in how well she could execute it. Bending down, she launched herself forward with one feet, while her arms barred the sandwiches for they won't fly south for the winter...all over the house due to her silliness. Rikku had an innate skill for her high jumps and being light on her feet, so it didn't take long to leap from room to room, and with an anticipated jump, she bent down a cleared the flight of stairs with ease...and a wobbly landing, "wow..."

"Hm," the silence of the upper floor was obvious, which only made Rikku tensed for a moment and silently creep to Yuna's room. The door was ajar enough for her to peak inside to see a bundle of Merida sprawled out on Yuna's bed. Her head tilted watching her, while wondering whether she should intrude now or perhaps make herself known before stepping in...rather then slipping in like a creep. Her ears made her wondered if she was imagining sniffles; her head rested on the threshold at the door ...thinking. Could she be crying? Even if she was...she had good reasons to, which only validates more reasons not to intrude on privacy...even if it was her house.

Poor dear...so much in one day....still...GIRL GOTTA EAT!

"Knocka-knock knock, Rikku's coming in." She announced perkily before allowing the door to slow creaked open with a push of her foot, "As may have notice, there isn't anything burning, becaaaause I made SANDWICHES!"

She presented the tray in all of its holiness; even the Princess of Hearts must step back to bask in its light!

"Iiiii have no idea what you like, sooo I whipped up a little bit of everything," Rikku continued as she stepped in. An arm lowered the plate down offer Merida a few of them, "And don't worry...even I can't mess up simple sandwiches. I've decided to spare you and give you food poisoning or burnt delicacies another day."

[Ren]

"Knocka-knock knock knock, Rikku's coming in."

Merida's eyes snapped open and she hurriedly sat up and adjusted herself. She'd been crying rather grossly, so she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, and did the same to her runny nose. Ugh... that was kind of gross... She rubbed her hand on her dress, trying to get the excess sticky moisture off.

Her blue eyes were still looking rather red, however, and she sniffed audibly again. Her hair - always a tangle - was simply a mess, even worse than usual this time. It was pretty obvious that she'd been crying.

Rikku then announced, rather proudly, that she had made things called "sandwiches." Merida wondered, unhappily, if she really didn't know anything about this place. The little food things on her tray must've been the aforementioned "sandwiches;" but they didn't look like they had any sand on them, nor did it look like magic made them (for Merida had taken the "wiches" to sound like "witches").

They were made of a bread she'd never seen before - too white and clean, with none of the hearty wheat - and each one was stuffed full of some different ingredient, a few of which Merida didn't recognize. She ended up just grabbing one at random and taking a bite. (Never let it be said that Merida isn't brave with her food.)

It tasted... sweet, which was pleasing to her rather large sweet tooth. She paused, mid-chew, to inspect the insides of this particular "sandwich." It was made of a pasty brown substance that looked rather sticky - she suspected that it was that that was sticking to the roof of her mouth - and... if she was mistaken... a sweet purple substance that tasted like jam.

Oh, Merida LOVED jams! They were a little rare, but whenever the kitchen got a hold of some fresh fruit, you could bet that there was jam to be made. This jam, however, tasted a little different. She tasted less fruit and more sugar - and its texture was funny, too, like big globs of wiggling fruit preservatives.

Either way, she found herself liking the sandwich she'd picked a lot. She crammed the rest of it into her mouth, her hunger becoming apparent.

After she swallowed thickly - that brown paste substance was tricky! - she managed to mumble yet another "Thank ye" to her blond hostess. To her horror, her eyes were clouding up again. Ugh, she was just too emotional today, and Rikku's kindness sort of made her miss her mother's mollycoddling.

She reached for another sandwich and took a bite in order to hide the silly tears, barely tasting the ingredients.

[Ellie who has 0%]

Uuugh maybe I should've given her more time. Rikku mused over to herself, while her trained eye picked up every detail of tears, sorrow, and solitude on Merida's person. Although she had whipped her face, she could spot the softness made by tears as the salt began to dry on her cheek. Her lids were already puffing red along with her eyes.

Sitting on the bed, Indian style, Rikku felt...hopeless with the plate of sandwiches resting on her green skirt, while she hunched over a bit. Her jackets was shrugged off her shoulders in a lax manner leaving them partially bare with the traps of her brassier like top. She was hardly maternal material, since she saw herself as a teen as well. Sure, she wasn't as extreme as she was in Spira due to all the darkness bringing back unlikeable memories of the pilgrimage, but she was still as spirited and rugged with her flared blonde ponytail with loose braids looping here and there. She was also a stranger to her, which can work against her in regards to helping her new housemate.

Overall, she hardly had a clue in how to respond to this...sadness. Rikku was capable to reply a 'no problem' towards the other's gratitude, while trying to keep her facial expressions to a minimum. She couldn't help but to feel sorry for her, but being sympathetic doesn't really heal wounds. Does it? Spotting the reflective pool of water collecting in her eyes, Rikku couldn't resist any longer let alone recollect her appetite.

"Hey," she started lowly with hesitation. Her brows knitted, while her eyes flicked up to the redhead and darted a bit in contemplation whether to indulge or not, to ask or not to ask, or leave her be. With the ominous aura of asking a question in the air, she might as well go for it, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Or maybe she shouldn't have. Her words began to double back into a uncertain ramble not wanting to pressure the other into a delicate subject with her. She even commenced twiddling her fingers after placing the plate down on the bed once noticing she was scrapping against the metal with her nails; "Y-you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. I get that, but it could help getting it off your chest, but like I said you really don't have to. You know I can just step out and have time to yourself and I can see you in the morning. You don't even have to talk about it then; we can just have breakfast and what not and do...whatever."

She was probably sounding like a nut job prancing around the question she just ask, while extending an elaborate excuse and exit way for the foreigner to take. The Al Behd was anxious enough to start spewing out in her native tongue, "E sayh ev E zicd mucd so funmt, so vneahtc, so vysemo, yht ajanodrehk E ghaf E fuimth'd fyhd du dymg aedran. E tuh'd ajah drehg E't ajan dymg ykyeh hud cyoehk dryd oui cruimth'd, pid E ihtancdyht aedran fyo, oui..."

Her words faded once hearing the foreign twang to her speech. It wasn't then did she blushed in embarrassment at the switched dialect, "Hehehe sorry about....that."

[Ren]

Merida swallowed the sandwich down with difficulty; it felt as though something hard was lodged in the middle of her throat, making anything that tried to pass down to her stomach go through extra pressure to get by. It was surely the fault of those darned tears. She brushed at her eyes again with a bit more anger.

When the blond sat on the bed beside her, Merida couldn't look at her. She stared at her lap, trying so very hard not to see and not to feel the obvious awkwardness oozing from the person next to her. Well, wasn't she allowed to feel upset, huh? Feelings conflicted inside her. An unjust resentment towards Rikku's silence and insecurity; an anger at herself for even crying like this when she should just be getting on with things already; a severe loneliness and fear that just ached; an impatience with Rikku for trying to understand... but also, a hard to explain sadness that threatened to choke her at the absurd kindness her hostess was showing her.

Merida sat in silence as Rikku spoke - though she swore she was going to burst into tears again. She was just trying to be so understanding, and it reminded her of her mother - though Rikku was more ready to listen than Elinor ever was. Heck, she was even saying "if you don't want to talk, I'll understand that, too." It was too much, too much kindness.

Besides, how to begin to even talk about your entire world collapsing, just like that...?

But then, Rikku's speech changed. Merida thought at first that she was just using words she couldn't understand - but then, after a moment, it became apparent that it was a whole other language. The loneliness bit at her a little bit more; this universe must be so big, since she'd never heard a dialect like it.

When Rikku apologized for using unfamiliar terms, Merida wiped her eyes - hopefully for the last time today - and turned to face her new found friend. A certain strength had started to come through; she would talk about the death of her world when she wanted to, but for now there was learning to be done and action to be getting on with. So she avoided Rikku's earlier questions and asked one of her own.

"Wha' was tha'? Was tha' another lainguage, Rikku? Wha' did ye say?"

Curiosity moved the conversation forward, but the tiny, shy smile that Merida offered said that Rikku's previous kindness had not been forgotten. Now was not the time to talk about the emotions twisting in the redhead's stomach like a hurricane - that would come later, when they were closer. Stubborn and independent as always, Merida felt like those problems were hers, and hers alone. But she appreciated the thought all the same... even if she wasn't quite ready for that.

[Ellie who has 0%]

She speaks! It was amazing enough since she was able to do it without her voice cracking from the obvious tears she had shed as well as being able to find some comfort in reply to Rikku's rambles. From time to time with her own quirkiness, the thief tended to find herself socially awkward whether she was too perky to chase her own demons away or thought faster than she spoke. Seeing how her company still had an air of sanity about her even with the Al Behd as company, she went limp releasing her pent up tension; even her shoulders slackened loosely.

"Oh that?" She started with her head tilted slightly to the right like a curious pup, "That's Al Behd; thus far it's a language only spoken in Spira. You know...the world I'm from. It's mainly spoken by the Al Behd...I know very few outsiders who does. Eeeh it took the world awhile to get used to us; pssh honestly it's still kinda is. To put it lightly, Al Behd weren't the mooost welcomed people to the party."

A finger casually went up to point at her eyes as an indicator to her people, a spiraled eyes. It was one of the crystal clears signs of who they are; even Yuna who was half Al Behd carried that trademark,"This, the language, and machinas tend to be our thing. Actually the eyes are a dead giveaway in my world; Yuney, my cousin who's only half Al Behd, have the eye too."

"Even Paine knows Al Behd too...shockingly," a revelation that somewhat shock the Gullwings crew when they were casually speaking Al Behd, while the warrioress coolly added her two cents, "and pretty much I just rambled all that I said before. But to further amuse you 'E's Rikku yht E's yh Al Behd. I'm Rikku, and I'm an Al Behd.' Although I'm fluent in Spiran, which it seems everyone is, I can hehehe have a slip of the tongue from time to time. Al Behd isn't that hard of a language...or so I think, buuuut it's truly only resourceful amongst Al Behd if anything."

Speaking of Al Behd, to Rikku's knowledge she was the only one around roaming the worlds. No wonder why she keeps her culture, wardrobe, and language close at heart, since that was the only link to the world and family she willingly stayed away from just to assist the others. Sure there were plenty of people learn about machina and spheres to collect, but it didn't sit so high on her priorities knowing that worlds can easily fall out of the sky at any moment. Spira was blessed to be going through a Calm right now; it could be tormented again like all the others. More hearts would be at risk, and like before Summoners may put their lives on the line just to return the light and outcast the darkness.

"Hmm I kinda miss Spira...Brother, Buddy, Shinra, and Father, even if heee doesn't agree with Yuney, Brother, and I sphere hunting. I think he'd rather us settle down with a cute boy and go on with our story," A chuckle bounced in her chest, "Well see guess you can see how life will throw some curvy curve balls at you! Look at me now...I can go on and fly about to see how endless the horizon is. It's kinda scary to know you're not alone with just your world, you know."

She looked at Merida with a bright twinkle in her eyes, "Guess you can say it's preeettyyyy OBNOXIOUS to think your world is the only one out there, but...it's such a shock to see what else is out there. Just you wait and see...you'll get to see the best of it! The worlds are your apples to nom on!"

Okay that sounded kind of bad considering that...heartless were already doing that. You know the pillaging, ravaging, and devouring of worlds.

Great going just go on and make a metaphor about eating worlds when her world just hit rock bottom

"Eeeh...figuratively speaking that is."

[Ren]

This was the most Merida had heard Rikku speak in one go. She became completely immersed in telling stories about her world, and it was nice to watch her become more open. Merida's natural curiosity became evident as her face dried a little bit more and her eyes brightened. The moment of sadness had been good to relieve a lot of the tension weighing on her heart; but the feeling of calm after tears was starting to wash over her, and she embraced the feeling after feeling so angry and depressed.

So her world was called "Spira"... and she was... what was that? An Al Bhed? Rikku showed Merida her eyes, and she was shocked - though pleased - to know that her own eyes hadn't been playing tricks on her; there were no pupils, only spirals. How strange, yet... interesting. Interesting in a good way.

But wait. Did that mean... Rikku wasn't even human? For some reason, Merida had little trouble believing it. Maybe it was because of all the absurdities she'd seen that day. Maybe it had more to do with the fact that just because her mom was a bear didn't mean she wasn't human. So, just because Rikku wasn't a human, it didn't mean she wasn't... human. If that even made a lick of sense.

Rikku uttered another sentence in Al Bhed, and then translated it for Merida. It was interesting to hear - sort of like her mother educating her on the other languages of the world she used to live on. Speaking of which... why did she and Rikku speak the same language? Rikku mentioned the Spiran language, and that a lot of people were fluent in it... was there just, perhaps, a universal language among worlds, even if they weren't aware of it?

Were all the worlds connected somehow?

And then Rikku went off about the people she'd left behind. A twinge of sadness hit Merida again, and she looked up, letting Rikku's words wash over her. At the "cute boy" comment, she snorted a bit - both out of humor and derision. She knew how that felt.

"Guess you can say it's preeettyyyy OBNOXIOUS to think your world is the only one out there, but...it's such a shock to see what else is out there. Just you wait and see...you'll get to see the best of it! The worlds are your apples to nom on!"

At first, Merida felt defensive; oh, so she was being obnoxious now, was she? But it occurred to her that Rikku was teasing her, and reminding her - gently - of the learning experience this whole affair offered. Merida was nothing if not curious. And she was right; so long as she kept traveling and learning, maybe one day... she could find a way back home.

"Ah do love apples," she admitted with a shadow of her impish grin.

"Ah ne'er though' Ah'd see much ootside o' ma 'ome," she confessed after a moment, the words spilling out of her. "Ma mum controlled every aspect o' ma laife... she e'en wanted me t' ge' mairried. Settle down an' stop livin' ma laife! Ah ken see whare she came froom, an'... an' Ah was gooin' t' go through with i'. But she chainged 'er mind a' th' last second, thank goodness. But Ah was afraid Ah'd ne'er 'ave an advainture ever again....

"Ah'm nae glad ma world is gone," Merida added, as if to defend her next thought. "But th' chance t' explore an' leairn so much... An' Ah 'ave th' chance t' faind oot 'ow t' ge' ma 'ome back! Ah believe fate ken be changed, an' tha's wha' Ah intend to do."

She'd sort of been rambling at this point, but a certain note of determination was at the end of the little speech - longer than most anything she'd said before, as words were not her forte. She didn't look at Rikku, but continued to stare up at the drapes surrounding the round bed, feeling emotions of sadness, anger, and depression twisting alongside excitement, curiosity, and determination.

[Ellie who has 0%]

Rikku hunched over more, very unlady like, until her elbows can rest of the plump soft comforters for her chin can rest on the cups of her hands. Her head leaned over curiously as she gets to peak through a little window of Merida's world, mainly her mom. She tried to keep her facial reaction to a minimum finding it a bit berserkles for someone so young to get hitched; Father even thought Rikku should be seeking out a nice Al Behd boy and settling down, and she was only 17. Rethinking that, she stared at Merida trying to figure out how old she was. Eeeh maybe their parents were too off-base with one another; then again maybe there was a fixiated tradition; with Sin being about, no wonder why anyone would think to marry young.

Green eyes nearly popped up thinking of the young girl actually going through with it. Although she knew very little details, Merida looked and felt like an overall tough wild cookie. What was that made her yield to even start considering, then executing it, but it didn't FELL THROUGH. Rikku slowly ebbed out a sigh of relief to that, since her mom saved her from that...endeavor.

Speaking of moms, Rikku briefly reflected about her own wondering how they be if she was still around. Unfortunately it was a hard imagery to paint knowing she would never see her again; it was the price of being in a machina freak accident and being an Al Behd. Rikku's train of thought stopped there; her beliefs didn't help stimulate a good imagery. Also with the Al Behd hardly ever being sent away, she couldn't even fantasize about seeing the memory of her in the Farplane.

Instead she occupied herself with watching Merida's face as she finally found the silver lining in her dark cloud. Still it was too soon to say she was over the destruction and separation from Home; she couldn't even look at her for too long, but Rikku smiled none the less. At least her fire still burned passionately. There were some people in the worlds who couldn't pick up the pieces and continue. It was fortunate that she wasn't deliberately wallowing in it. It will take some time, and by no time, she would get it all back.

"Don't worry, it will come back; I know Sora would go to the Farplane and back to make sure of it. He isn't one to rest knowing there's so much distress," she giggled at memory of him, "It's not in his nature...kinda like Yuna. We've all changed fates before...so let's do it again until the worlds get sick of us!"

Her eyes blinked like a doe as she contemplated, "I wonder if he'll make his way up here. With things going how they are, it'd be pretty soon I feel."

A hand then aimlessly roamed and patted the bed until landing on a sandwich. Picking up who knows which, she brought it up to her face. She was going to take a bit until noticed a little glimmer shimmering down out the window,"Hey...it's that time...look."

Oddily enough once the bog of darkness left this world with that massive heartless attack, the world somehow took back something it once had. Now periodically, it would rain glimmers of light. It was a phenomenon Rikku hardly understood unless she sees it as pyreflies dancing in the skies resembling the vitality of the world.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

[Ren]

"Don't worry, it will come back; I know Sora would go to the Farplane and back to make sure of it."

Merida didn't recognize two of the words in that sentence: "Sora" and "Farplane." Farplane - from its context clues - sounded like a place... perhaps a very far away one (thus the 'far') and hard to get to, which would increase the magnitude of meaning behind that sentence.

So, who was Sora?

The redhead creased her forehead for a tiny moment, thinking. Rikku thought that she knew of Sora, then, so perhaps he was... well-known? And she spoke of him restoring worlds... OH! But of course! The mysterious person with the "Keyblade" she mentioned earlier whose name had not been uttered. But now, she had access to his name! She could find him and -

Oh no. Tha's joos' wha' ye should nae do. Rikku mentioned 'e was workin' on bringin' th' worlds back. No need fer ye t' add more t' 'is load.

She deflated a little at her own reproving - but still, a fire flickered inside of her. This "Sora" was working on restoring the worlds. It made her hopeful that, one day, he would restore her own world, with or without her bothering him about it. She'd go home. Eventually.

As Rikku continued to speak, another unfamiliar name reached her ears - and Rikku spoke it in the context that Merida would be familiar with. Still, "Yuna" was vaguely familiar. She thought for a moment, and the name "Yuney" crossed her head - and then it hit her, again. Of course. "Yuney" was probably just a nickname Rikku used, and "Yuna" was her real name. Still, strange names. She supposed she'd get used to it.

Rikku speculated about Sora coming around Radiant Garden. Merida hoped so... she wouldn't mind meeting the wielder of this "Keyblade."

"Hey...it's that time...look."

The redhead glanced towards where the blond was looking and, for a moment, saw nothing strange; she simply assumed that she was tired and her vision was growing fuzzy.

But then... she saw it.

Unable to believe her eyes, Merida bounced from the bed and dove towards the window, her eyes huge and wide. She messed with the window a few moments until she finally figured out how it worked and flung it open, sticking her head outside.

It looked as though it was raining... but it was the most beautiful rain she'd ever seen. A thousand glimmering drops of light fell with a patience grace, illuminating the sunset and the Garden. They looked like tiny glowing Wisps, and her breath was caught in her throat; she felt the most peaceful magic washing over her, her eyes dazzled by this incredible beauty.

She grinned, and then laughed and let out a whoop of delight. She heard Rikku behind her and felt a rush of affection for her blond friend (for how could the two of them have gone through what they did today without being friends?). The glittering rain continued to pour, and she felt her core stirring with an eager restlessness.

She'd be all right, then. This would take some getting used to... but she'd be all right.

Besides, while she was here... she might as well live it up.

[THREAD FINISHED!]