trans_9 | No Tears This Time (Open)

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No Tears This Time (Open)

Of all the duties of a summoner, the Sending was easily the hardest for Yuna to face. Every time she took up her staff and danced, it meant only one thing: more people had violently died, needlessly died, shouldn't have died, wouldn't have died had an outside source not torn them apart. Left alone to wander the universe with their anger at sudden death intact, their lost souls could coalesce into an even greater threat.

This time, she thought with a painful clench of her heart, she wasn't guiding the souls of a small army's soldiers or the scattered casualties of a ruined town. If their information was to be believed, with the possible exception of her guardians, all Spirans had perished in the Ohm's violent strike. Knowing that meant she was likely the last summoner still living---thus the responsibility for their souls fell to her.

Even as she picked up her staff and walked to the center of the observation deck, standing under the red sky as seen through the window, she had her doubts. Without a Farplane, where would they go? Could her prayers reach them this far away? Could one summoner handle so many souls? A total annihilation of her planet and countless others. It was a daunting task to be sure, but just a small pebble on the long journey awaiting this crew.

No matter what happened, she thought forcefully, she owed it to everyone to give it a try. With a strong enough prayer, they would have a chance at final peace.

Her mind made up, Yuna began her solemn dance. There were no hymns, water columns, or sparkling lights this time: just a girl left alone to mourn the deaths in her own way, the entire overwhelming situation putting her rhythm just slightly off.

When the last of her fervent prayers trailed from her mind past the tip of her staff, invisibly entering the universe, she let the rod clatter to the ground and dropped to her knees. Whispering into the humid air, she willed one last thing to be true.

"I'm sorry, everyone. If there's a way to stop this, even a way to right this wrong...I will. I promise you."

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"Then we are in agreement on that," said Phillip with a smile.

Thinking, he said, "I'll give it a try."

Standing up, he spread his arms as light blossomed from his feet, and he closed his eyes. "Keywords: Yuna. Shoopuf."

After a moment, he added, "There are a lot of books left. Can you try to narrow it down with a few more keywords? Something significant would be helpful to the location."

Edited 2011-04-06 02:11 (UTC)

Yuna closed her eyes and thought, remembering the story she'd heard over roaring laughter from a certain friend of hers. "Well, the shoopufs are....were located on the Moonflow. People rode across the water in carriages on their backs. If they fell...or jumped off," she admitted with a sheepish smile, "the shoopuf would scoop them up with their noses."

"Hmm..."

Wandering through the bookshelves, Phillip began to move through them. "Keyword: Water."

A few books vanished, but still left a fairly large amount of them. "Keyword: Moonflow."

About 40% of them vanished, leaving a single bookcase with about five books in them.

"One last keyword..." Then he thought about it, and then added, "Keyword: Friends."

All but one book vanished, spirited away as he took it up, and opened it up. After reading for what seemed like an eternity for anyone inside his head, Phillip opened his eyes to look at Yuna.

"The Moonflow before the crossing to Guadosalam, populated with shoopuf riders and tamers. They ferry people across it. Am I right?" asked Phillip, locking his eyes with Yuna's own unique ones. "I found it."

"That's right," Yuna confirmed. She hadn't doubted his claim---death, she was taught, brought unforetold knowledge. But that extensive?

"Guadosalam is where the Guado live. It actually looks a lot like...this," she gestured with a look around the ship. "I was there not too long ago, but afterward I almost wanted to run back to the shoopuf!"

She smiled. "It would've been worth staying there. At night, the lights of pyreflies dance across the water, but we couldn't stay. We were always in a hurry."

"I can imagine so," agreed Phillip. "The calm waves of the water and the pyreflies on the river... the ancient city that laid beneath it, providing foot holds for the shoopuf to step light over. And the Hypello who would have the most interesting accents, always bartering items with travellers."

Phillip smiled at Yuna as he sat back down. "I would love to see it for myself one day. For now, there are the sensoriums if we wish to recreate the location."

"I'd like to show you," Yuna agreed, "but how would I do that? I've overheard conversations about the Sensoriums, but I don't quite understand. The ship builds from memory?"

If Yuna had a notebook in hand, her pen would be poised on the paper. She was eager to figure out exactly what this meant.

"Ah the sensoriums are interesting," said Phillip as he took out one of his omnipresent markers and started to doodle on the meaty table. He'd clean it up later and he doubted Stacy would mind.

He made a few words such as Imagination pointing with an arrow to Physical. "What it does is it takes things from your imagination, and makes it physical. Like seeing a picture come to life but then you can step into it and experience it for yourself."

"Places such as location, sights, smells, people and food can be recreated in the sensoriums, and places that are special to someone can easily be recreated with astounding clarity. Those who you create an image of will respond the way you remember, so keep in mind that it is an illusion, even if you can touch the person or place."

"Although," amended Phillip, "food is real there. It is the ships on-board supply of nutrient paste recreated into a physical form you're used to. And it tastes the same as you expect too."

Yuna leaned forward with her hands on her knees, watching the diagram unfold. She tried her best to understand the words, with some sounding-out.

"So...it's like summoning a memory. It's there because our minds call it forth." Like the images of her family in the Farplane, she thought. "My memory wouldn't be best because I've never seen the lights personally, but..I'll give it a try if you want to see it."

She made a face at the sound of the food's description. Living on the road hadn't left her with much of a quality standard for food, but...nutrient paste? "I'll be sure to eat there when I can, then."

"Yes, though if two people or more are in the room at the same time with an idea, it can be formed easier," said Phillip with a smile.

"It would advisable," chuckled Phillip. "Unless you can stand something with the consistency of porridge every day."

"I'd like to do that. It wouldn't be an exact copy, but with our memories working together it would be our own."

Yuna seemed interested. "I'm not used to eating other than burned meat and whatever leaves we can find. It would be different."

"It would be wonderful," admitted Phillip with a soft smile, thinking of the possible sights to see. The sensoriums were really something, although he had a bad habit of coming up with his family once in a while, if in the distance.

"There's many foods out there too. I could show you a few of my favourites."

"Oh? And what are your favorites?"

It had been so long since she'd truly enjoyed a meal. Even with everything else on her mind, it would be a pleasant distraction.

"Well, I do like rice cakes called Mochi. They're usually served as a snack or a sweet treat after dinner," said Phillip, making a small cupping motion to show how small they were.

"Shotarou and I often made various things to eat to experience others, like various types of sushi, grilled fish and Korean BBQ."

"I think I've had something like a rice cake before. They're small and simple to make."

Yuna could definitely understand that. "It sounds wonderful, to have enough time to prepare a meal."

"Always spend the time you have, doing what you like." emphasized Phillip. "To get along well on Stacy, you should find your niche and excel in it. Would you like to go down later to the Sensoriums and help me prepare dinner then?"

"Yes!" Yuna jumped at the opportunity to do something messy. "It's been so long since I've been able to cook for everyone. They always insisted that I should rest and save my strength for the journey ahead."

"I'm sure your cooking is wonderful," assured Phillip with a smile. He was looking forward to doing this with her. It had been a long time since he had been anything remotely domestic himself.

"We'll make a date of it then, when you're more relaxed. And I'll pick you up as well. Speaking of which, have you found a place to rest other than the crew quarters? I know they can be disquieting at first."

Yuna giggled at his words, looking far happier than before. "Then it's a date."

She tapped her finger to her chin, considering. "I don't mind them. I haven't had a bed of my own for a long time. I usually have a tent if we're well-stocked and a blanket over the forest floor if we're not. Where else do people sleep?"

Nodding, Phillip explained. "There's a few buildings, mostly groups and roommates primarily in the city. While you can stay in the crew quarters, some people have claimed various buildings and opened it up, for people to live and rest in. The city is very large though and people are finding more things every day."

Thinking he added, "Two places I know of are the Outsiders Hotel, with many rooms for claiming, as well as the Bus which has a vast interior despite its small design. There are, of course, other smaller homes, but asking around can help too. And sometimes you'll get invited to stay with someone if they feel you deserve more than a simple place in the crew quarters."

"I'll take a look down there, but I think I'll be all right. Thank you for your concern, though. I really appreciate it."

Yuna bowed to him once more, marveling at the kindness she was receiving. How wonderful it was to give so freely, yet difficult as well.

"It's no problem, and I'm glad to help out when you need it," offered Phillip as he bowed back politely.

"Feel better, now that you've managed to rest?"

"I do, Phillip, thank you," Yuna smiled, carefully stretching. What a workout that had been.

"I'll see you soon, right?"

"The same to you. Have a good day Yuna." said Phillip, opening his book and leaning back, re-reading the information on shoopuf. My my, he just had to see this for himself later.

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No Tears This Time (Open)

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