102nd moon [video]

[paladinlost]

[The video starts simply, with a wooden floor. On the floor rest a bright red chest and a flowering plant. On the chest, a crowned bridal veil and a large stone have been placed. Cecil can be heard somewhere offscreen, walking aimlessly.]

Over the last five years-

[He stops himself for a moment. He's been telling people that this day was coming for months, but removing the 'almost'...]

Over the last five years, we've had four opportunities to obtain keepsakes from home. These are the four gifts I've received.

[The footsteps stops. Cecil's legs are now visible to the left of the screen.]

They might not seem like much, but they are my only physical link to worlds that I've not seen in far too long. Thus, I was wondering... I was wondering what you'd consider an object worthy of representing your home. What sort of memento you'd consider a blessing, if you were to receive it. And why that particular object is so important to you.

[A hand reaches down, slowly passes over all four items. Stills a few moments over the veil, but soon rises up again, out of sight.]

I'll be happy to share my stories, if anyone is interested. But I'd truly like to know what everyone considers important, when every familiar comfort is out of reach.

Comments

[audio]

[nullorvoid]

[As usual, there's no video accompanying it, but...hey there, Cecil.]

I've never really been one for material stuff, so I don't even know what I'd get back outside of what I've already got. Last time, though...it was some handmade things that I tend to keep around, that's what I got back.

[He's quiet for a moment; not hesitant per se, just not entirely sure he should keep going with the rest, either.]

Sometimes people just wander into your life, and you know no one but you is going to remember them when they leave it. And since I am the last person who should be given that sort of power, I make things so that there's some sort of physical reminder that they were there.

[video]

[paladinlost]

A physical reminder of a particular person, handmade specifically to remember their existence... It's the sort of object that surely exists in no other world, that can only belong to yourself. That's a good keepsake to receive. Whatever granted our wishes was kind to give you that, and to let you keep it.

[audio forever]

[nullorvoid]

Yeah. Like I said, we're not really into physical stuff where I'm from - I don't have much other than these that's really considered mine. But it's good for what it is, I guess.

[...]

You gonna be okay, or...?

[video forever]

[paladinlost]

I'm fine. Truly.

[His smile is slight and offscreen, but still almost audible.]

I was merely thinking that these treasure chests are so common, I could not even tell you if this one truly belongs to me. The perils of owning mass-produced objects. That's unlikely to be a problem you had, when you first found your mementos.

[video]

[solas_ion]

That's a tough call. I was never the type to own a whole lot--treasures and weapons, but not much that was important.

[Lancer frowned, tilting his head slightly as he considered the question.]

...I'd want my spear back. That's the most important thing I've ever owned.

[video]

[paladinlost]

It's a shame that the one item you'd like back is one that this world rejects. A good, old weapon tends to come with the best stories and memories, especially if it was yours for a long time. Was it a gift?

[video]

[solas_ion]

Yeah--it was a cursed lance given to me by my teacher, Scathach.

Kinda unfortunate, but there's nothin' I can do about that.

[video]

[paladinlost]

Cursed? Wouldn't a cursed weapon be unpleasant to wield? Unless it only affects your enemies...

[video]

[solas_ion]

The curse had nothing to do with me--part of what it did was to leave wounds that didn't heal. Long as I didn't go stabbing myself, that wasn't a problem.

[hahaha. ha...]

[video]

[paladinlost]

I've no doubt you handily managed to avoid self-inflicted injuries.

[Complete faith on his side.]

Did it also drain the life force of your targets? Make them feel the pain of the wounds anew with every step?

Video

[anexcitableboy]

I got a couple of things from home, but they're not really important.

I guess I'd want...my ma's book of Shakespeare sonnets. I'm not into Shakespeare or anything, but it was important to her. And she used to perform'em for me, when I was little, instead of bedtime stories. I still kinda remember how some of'em go, but I've forgotten a lot.

Video

[paladinlost]

That you've managed to remember even some of them is quite impressive. If the book was so important to her, it must be well-worn and well-loved; you'd be able to recognize it among multiple copies, then?

Video

[anexcitableboy]

Well, some of'em are pretty famous, so I've heard parts of'em other places. Like, uh...the one about comparing a girl to a summer's day, only I think he's saying the summer day's prettier.

Yeah, it was old. It came from Europe. Had her name on the inside cover, too, and a little note from a famous stage actor who admired my ma.

Video

[paladinlost]

I hope he was not trying to court the girl in question, if that was his conclusion. Your mother must be a woman of great talent, to have impressed a famous actor.

Video

[anexcitableboy]

I dunno, I never got literature. I'm more of a comics kind of guy.

She was something special, man. One of a kind, my ma.

[audio]

[stonebones]

[It was unusual to have network posts without someone's face being shown.. Stilzchen, eager to show his trainer, passes off the 'gear and taps at the blindfold. He knows better than to pull it down himself, and skitters out of the room so Emil will feel comfortable removing it.

When he replies, his blindfold is back on and he's sticking to audio, but he sounds enthusiastic.]

Oh! That was a wedding veil, right? I'd love to hear about that, though I might have to think about what object I'd want to have here...

[video]

[paladinlost]

[Asking about Cecil'S favorite keepsake earns Emil a lot of brownie points. Offscreen, he beams.]

Indeed it is. It's my wife's; I received it a little over two years ago. She's not worn it in over twenty years, but we've been preserving it as well as we can, for our future daughter-in-law and grandchildren.

[For a daughter, once, but life is funny sometimes.]

You can take as much time as you want thinking about it. I doubt this world truly listens to our requests, most of the time.

audio forever on this end!

[stonebones]

Oh, that sounds wonderful! Is that a normal wedding tradition, or did you guys just want to make it special that way? Not that any wedding wouldn't already be special...

[WEDDINGS, HURRAY.]

Ah, right... I guess that's true... [Still, he's taking it pretty seriously.] I had a lot of things, but none of it ever felt like mine... And of course I'd rather have my friends around than any object, so it's hard to concentrate on that, you know?

[paladinlost]

Brides that can afford the price usually wear a veil, though some forgo them due to personal preference. Or at least, they do in Baron. Most veils are not quite so ornate, but as this one needed to be fit for a coronation we spared no expense.

[And the result was worth every single gil, as far as Cecil is concerned.]

You are in luck, then. Opportunities to see friends again, whether for a quick visit or for a longer stay, are much more common than gifts from home.

[stonebones]

A coronation, too! You both must have been very excited.

[Though that one's hitting...a little closer, so Emil's own eagerness is a touch more strained than before. Still, happy occasions were happy occasions.]

I'm looking forward to that happening... I'd like to think that they'd like it here, too, although they'd have their own things to miss.

[armoredsoul]

Well, I do have this coat...

[Al plucks at the worn red wool around his shoulders with a somewhat sad smile.]

I've been wearing it for several years, but it was my brother's originally. It's about the only thing I have to remember him by, here.

[paladinlost]

[Ah, missing a brother. A feeling he knows well.]

That's a very striking color, excellent to find a sibling in a crowd when meeting up in a completely different world. Is he older or younger than you? Since it must fit you both, I suppose the difference in age cannot be too great.

[armoredsoul]

Heh, it was a useful way to find him back then, yeah! He's my older brother by a year.

[paladinlost]

An older brother! He'll be glad to have an easily visible sign of your presence, should he come here.

[armoredsoul]

I bet! It's usually the other way around, though; he gets into so much trouble I feel like need a leash half the time.