so i'll just keep dreaming, dreaming

[endsorrow]

Who: Braska & YOU
What: Three open starters and one private one!
(1) Braska's door is always open, whether it's for business or chilling with friends.
(2) He's got a lot of learnings to do, about science and other cultures, so the library in the resort is somewhere Braska spends part of his free time.
(3) Machina used for fun??? OMG. Aka, Braska is entirely tickled by everything Mr. Jellicles has to offer.
(4) Braska and Lindir hang out to share songs and stuff.
When: Over the past week
Where: (1) Full Cure (Braska's shop); (2) the resort library; (3) Mr. Jellicles; (4) wherever Braska and Lindir decide to hang out
Notes & Warnings: Will match you for prose or brackets!

Title + cut text song. Gif involving bright colors and stupid dancing under the cut to make the OP feel less empty. Clickit if you wanna see the source.

Comments

[folkscallmewander]

Wander's eyes gloss over as he imagines the scenery. He recalls having seen blue plants on some planet before, but it looks more impressive blue leaves overhead contrasting the pink of the sky.

The color combination is one of his favorites, actually.

"That does sound like the perfect place to have a feast," he says.

[endsorrow]

"I agree," Braska smiles, settling back into his chair. "The town they are approaching seems to be well-known for the big harvest festival they hold. A happy time for all."

[folkscallmewander]

"I agree! An' harvest festivals are one of the best times to be visitin' any town, ever!" It's one of the times of the year where all the residents work together for a common goal, interacting with each other instead of staying at home doing farmwork and celebrating a good year.

[endsorrow]

Braska's smile softens. "You're quite right." Anything that brings people together, anything that encourages community and fosters goodwill -- These are the things that ease Braska's soul.

"Sadly, the heroes just intend to pass through. They have a deadline by which they must save the world. I have a feeling, though... That something will happen to encourage or force them to stay for longer than they planned."

[folkscallmewander]

Why do the heroes have to leave so soon? Of course, saving the world is a noble cause, and one that shouldn't be put off, but they won't have the chance to stop and enjoy the places they visit.

"Well, I do hope they stay a bit longer. It would be such a shame if those weary travelers couldn't even stop for one, single day to relax and eat some of the best food ever." And now he's gotten emotional about fictional characters.

"It's like if me an' Sylvia couldn't stay anywhere for more than a day because of somethin' else we had to do. Sure, sometimes we only stop by a planet 'cause we're goin' somewhere else, but it's never someplace so interestin' like the harvest town." This is very likely the reason why Wander never calls himself a hero. A helper, sure, but heroes don't get to focus on traveling, which is the greatest joy in life.

[endsorrow]

Braska laughs quietly. Not cruelly, he isn't making fun of Wander. But such a simple view... To live a life where one can take as much time as they liked in order to enjoy the world and people around them -- Braska hasn't known that kind of leisure since he was a boy. It's a relief to know that his friend could indulge in it, that he hasn't lived a life of hardship. A world without Sin. Truly, that is the kind of life Wander has known. It's still hard to wrap his head around sometimes, but... This kind of proof is the only thing that can make Braska laugh so carefree.

"If they spend too much time in the town, then it is that much longer before they can end the people's suffering. This is the kind of duty they carry." Braska's expression softens, grows a little distant. His tone sobers. "Duty always requires sacrifice."

[folkscallmewander]

He isn't sure why Braska is laughing, but Wander assumes that it's good-natured as usual. He looks happy, at least, and it isn't rare for others to find his optimism amusing.

But Wander's never been one of those full-time heroes. As appealing as an life filled with adventures of saving others sounds, it never was for him. But does Braska know a few? That is, the legitimate ones without selfish motivations. His expression seems too serious to be one of a person imagining the life of fictional characters.

"You knew a lotta heroes back home? I'm guessin' since you know magic, they'll come to you for help." He rests a hand on Braska's arm. "Where they all that serious 'bout gettin' places fast?"

[endsorrow]

... oh. This is officially no longer a conversation Braska wants to be having. He... thinks he might be able to continue to be vague, to answer Wander's question simply and not too personally. This is what he tells himself, anyway, until Wander puts his hand on his arm. That little bit of resolve Braska has crumbles under the weight of that small, light hand.

Oh, well, he tries to tell himself. He can still avoid... saying that he himself has been 'that serious' before.

"I did," he answers after a pause that is longer than he intended it to be. "Many of them were dear friends of mine."

[folkscallmewander]

Something tells Wander that this is a subject Braska feels uncomfortable with. Was it trouble with heroes? A friend he never saw again?

Braska's answer doesn't quell his curiosity. "What happened to those friends, then?" Most likely, they all left to continue on their quest, never to seek Braska's help again. He sounds as if he was really attached to them.

It's a feeling Wander understands. He scoots closer and picks up his feet, resting his head on his knees. "A lotta times we get to meet so many folks that we might never see again, either because they don't stay, or we don't stay. An' in a galaxy so big, we never know when we'll see each other again."

Usually Wander didn't feel so lonely since his love for traveling made everything better, and he always has Sylvia by his side. Once in a while, they'd run into others who also visited various planets, and meeting them again was always a treasured moment, at least from his perspective.

Other times, he and Sylvia made friends that had to stay home, and all they had left were the memories of their visit. He's gotten used to it over the years, but Braska seems like a fellow that stays in one place, so he wasn't as used to having to let go of friends you just met.

[endsorrow]

Braska draws in a breath, both to steady himself and to prepare himself for storytelling. Because if he's going to talk about how wonderful his friends are... Then he's going to do his absolute best to talk them up.

"They saved the world," he states simply, but proudly. He is so, so, so proud of them. But he is much less proud about this next part: "Not without... great sacrifice, I admit." He looks away guiltily. "But their names became known, all throughout the world. There was not a person in Spira who does not know their names, and though very few will know the depths of their sacrifices, those that do will never forget them."

Wander is trying to comfort him because... He thinks they won't see each other again? Braska is very relieved that this isn't the case, now, for when he returns to Spira -- and he certainly will, some time in the future -- Auron and Jecht will be there, waiting for him with Lanna. Braska smiles softly at Wander. "But you needn't fear. Whenever it comes time for me to return to Spira, I will be reuniting with my dear friends, and my wife, as well."

[folkscallmewander]

He huddles closer to Braska, feet now on the couch and wrapping his arms around his knees. There wasn't an upbeat way to address this at all, now that his friend mentioned sacrifices. He doesn't want to ask the nature of those, since it would probably just make Braska feel even worse, but there has to be something he can say.

"I'm sure they'd appreciate you and all the others rememberin' them. There's nothin' more comfortin' than knowin' that there're friends out there who still care 'bout them." He adds a small smile. "An' you got all those friends waitin' for you in your world!"

Because he's talking about the friends that are also alive, just like Braska, right?