audio;

[conjoins]

Sora.. and Riku, and Roxas are all gone. Sorry—for those of you who knew them. They probably made a lot of friends while they were here, that's how they are.

[ he pauses; there's not much else to really say—not anything the network needs to know.

but who's listening, anyway? ]

They were.. well, Sora and Roxas were here for a while. I didn't think they'd leave, but I guess everyone's gotta go eventually, right? [ he swallows, throat dry. what he wouldn't give for ice cream, right now.. ]

. . . anyway, that's all. [ and the feed cuts. ]

Comments

audio;

[dissolves]

Ah.

The pests are gone.

audio;

[conjoins]

[ —!! ] You—? —Don't call them that.

audio;

[dissolves]

Gnats? Roaches?

audio;

[conjoins]

[ he was almost numb before, with sadness—but it melts into a burning anger. ]

They're not insects! They're my friends—don't you talk about them like that, Vanitas!

audio;

[dissolves]

It's all the same, to me.

audio;

[conjoins]

Is that so?

[ .. taking a breath, eyes closing. ] I feel sorry for you, that you consider friends to be the same as bugs. It's pitiful.

audio;

[dissolves]

( stop you're supposed to be pissed at him for calling them bugs. )

Your friends, idiot. Not mine. ( not that he has any ?? )

audio;

[conjoins]

Is there a difference? You don't have any. [ no, I have matured in the months you were gone!! ]

audio;

[dissolves]

Your friends are pests who get in my way. Nothing more than garbage to throw away. Ants to smash.


You should be left to suffer all alone. That's how it was meant to be.

audio;

[conjoins]

They're the strength that I needed to beat you. Some ants they are.

Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not going to suffer all alone. Even if I'm alone here now, they're still in my heart—and so are Aqua and Terra. You won't get any satisfaction from me.

audio;

[dissolves]

Everyone breaks, when put under enough pressure.

You'll see, Ventus. It's only a matter of time.

audio;

[conjoins]

You're going to be waiting for a while, then.

audio;

[dissolves]

I've waited several years already. I can wait a few more.

audio;

[conjoins]

You'll be waiting all your life.

audio;

[dissolves]

You don't get it yet, do you?


When it ends, it's my win. You'll either be dead along with me, or we'll be one again.

audio;

[conjoins]

Then I'll just make sure it doesn't end.

audio;

[dissolves]

You can't.

audio;

[conjoins]

Watch me.

audio;

[dissolves]

I could end this game any time I wanted to, Ventus.

You can't control me.

[unflagging]

Tough break, kid. I didn't know 'em, but, still. That's rough.

[conjoins]

.. Yeah, it is. [ he's quiet, unsure about how to handle this; it's never easy. ] They're—back at home, so ultimately, that's probably for the best.

They're great people. My best friends.

[unflagging]

That's the kicker, isn't it? You know they're at home, and that's great, but you're still here, and that stings like he--something awful.

I bet they are. Best friends always are the best people.

[conjoins]

[ .. there's a sadness in his tone, but also the beginnings of a sort of cheer—not happiness, but optimism. ] You're right.

And they are. In retrospect, we haven't known each other for that long, but I feel like I've known them forever. So—I know they'll be fine back home, and that's okay. Even if it hurts. Plenty of people here have to deal with that.

Besides, sooner or later I'll be going home too, and maybe—maybe I'll meet them back there.

[unflagging]

Now you're getting it! I mean, I'm here by myself. So don't cry because they're gone. Smile because they were here.

[No, don't listen to him. He's only doing this to be creepy.]

Hey, everyone has to deal with someone going away sooner or later. That's part of growing up. But maybe you will see them again.

[conjoins]

[ I'm too dumb in my protagging to know that! ]

Yeah.. I wish it didn't, but that's part of life. But goodbye doesn't always mean forever, you're right. [ sounding more cheery! ] Thanks, mister!

[unflagging]

No problem, kid. You're welcome. Being here by myself, I guess I just kind of felt for you there.

[conjoins]

The name's Ventus—but just call me Ven, everyone calls me that. Are you living by yourself, too?

[unflagging]

Rory Fletcher. It's good to meet you.

Yeah, I am--mostly. I've got a cat, which is something. Although a few people--who will remain nameless--seem to think it's a naked mole rat rather than a cat.

[conjoins]

Nice to meetcha! [ . . . what ]

A cat that looks like a naked mole rat? You mean, it doesn't have any fur? [ this is. almost funny ]

[unflagging]

Yeah, pretty much. But it's still a cat. It's just a bald cat. And we're bros now, so he's staying.

[conjoins]

It's not nice to reject a cat just because he has fur or not. It's great that you have company though!

—I have a dog now, I guess, too, since Roxas is gone..

[unflagging]

Exactly! He's a cat--he even looks like a cat. Just a cat with no fur.

Congratulations on your inheritance.

The dog, I mean.

[conjoins]

I think there are some cat species like that..

Thanks. Axel'll have to get used to me, but I think we'll get along.

[unflagging]

I'll look them up the next time I'm in the library.

Hopefully so, hopefully so.

video;

[subecho]

Friends who flee might yet send message to recover you. Do not yet despair.