24th moon [video]

[paladinlost]

[The room is dark, as befitting the middle of the night. The soft sounds of sleeping Pokémon can be heard, undisturbed. A shadow that appears to be an Eevee can be seen sleeping on a pillow at the head of the bed. Cecil is in the middle of it, sitting up, his skin so pale it almost glows. The sheets around him are rumpled, twisted by an uneasy sleep. He looks tired, but does not sleep.]

I dreamed. I dreamed of them. I miss them all, I think. Even those who are waiting for me. Even those who came here but left. Even those we've forgotten. I hope they do not think badly of us because of it. I'll try to remember their names, next time.

[He sounds lost, somehow. Perhaps lost within a dream. Perhaps lost within a memory. But he soon shakes his head.]

So many opportunities, yet I've never asked. About any of it, Conflict and home both. Well, he never volunteered the information either. All that talk of foolishness and crystals and plans, but he never bothered...

[He interrupts himself.]

I apologize. I appear to be overly sentimental tonight. The exact date matters little in the end. I should simply choose one and be done with it, after all these years.

[He reaches out and closes the Pokégear.

Not that he'll sleep for the rest of the night.]

Comments

[video]

[fathersbeloved]

Excuse me, I know it's late... but you look sad. Kumasawa always says hot chocolate and talking helps!

--I'm afraid I don't know where to get hot chocolate, though... But maybe you'd like to talk about it?

[video]

[paladinlost]

The local inns offer hot chocolate, Miss. However, it is far too late for me to wake up the innkeeper.

I was... merely thinking of my brother, and of a dream I had earlier tonight. It made me feel nostalgic.

[video]

[fathersbeloved]

I see... It's hard for me to understand, since I don't have a brother and I ignore the feeling. But I know what loneliness is... It's certainly a thing I don't want to feel again.

Is that how you're feeling?

[video]

[bakaitoukid]

[headtilt]

Oi. Cecil?

[video]

[paladinlost]

Hello, Kaito. Should you not be asleep at this hour?

[video]

[bakaitoukid]

[he waves a hand]

Wasn't tired. You gonna be okay?

[Video]

[savedinapinch.livejournal.com]

Aah, sad.

[Video]

[paladinlost]

[For some reason, he stares a little.]

I apologize. I did not mean to wake anyone up with my sad mood.

[Video]

[savedinapinch.livejournal.com]

Oh no, it's alright. [She shakes her head.]

Jus' gotta let it out sometimes.

[Video]

[of-france.livejournal.com]

Would you like to talk? I'm going to be up for a while yet.

[Video]

[paladinlost]

I could, but I'd not know where to start...

[A sigh.]

...Is being bothered by something that has not bothered you in years normal?

[Video]

[of-france.livejournal.com]

I'm not the best person to ask about normal, but all of our life experiences matter and shape us, so, yes, I think so. Is there something that stands out more than others about this particular something?

[video]

[biteisbigger.livejournal.com]

Cecil-ojichan..?

[ yeah, she can't sleep either. ]

[video]

[paladinlost]

Good eve- middle of the night, Miss Kisa. Up at such an hour? Will you not be tired tomorrow? ...Later this morning?

[video]

[biteisbigger.livejournal.com]

I... couldn't sleep.

[Video]

[for-cosmos.livejournal.com]

[With how sensible and even-headed the warrior is, you would expect him to be asleep at this time of night, right?

Except that he's awake to answer this. And there's a pokemon pile on the bed in the spot where a person would usually sleep. He also looks just as tired as Cecil does.]

You dreamed of the Conflict?

[Video]

[paladinlost]

[The sight of that poképile makes him smile a little, not happily but not sadly either. He pets the sleeping Eevee softly.]

Of the Conflict, of my best friend, of my brother... Smiling faces upon smiling faces upon smiling faces whose names I cannot remember. So many smiles, yet upon waking I felt nothing but sadness.

video.

[reveiller]

[What is sleep?]

It sounds like there's a lot on your mind.

[video]

[paladinlost]

There must be, for me to be so unable to sleep.

[Video]

[radiantxsmile.livejournal.com]

Cecil? [She looks really worried after listening to those words.] Is something wrong?

[Video]

[paladinlost]

I'm fine. I simply... dreamed about events from a long time ago. It brought a wave of nostalgia with it.

[video]

[usedsubstitute.livejournal.com]

M-Mr. Harvey. Are you alright? _{[Iris gives her friend a concerned look.]} It sounds as if you past is weighing heavily on your heart.

Y-You don't have to, but if you have the desire, you can talk to me. Sometimes telling others about your past helps.

[video]

[paladinlost]

I'm fine, Sister Iris. I was merely thinking of a dream I had, and of the date. Neither would be very interesting to hear about, I assure you.

[Video]

[mimicofthewind.livejournal.com]

Don't say that, Cecil! We can still do something about it!

[Video]

[paladinlost]

Unless you know a way to remember forgotten names, especially ones that were possibly deliberately erased, that might be complicated. And the other issue... only Golbez could tell me the truth. Anything else would be mere guesswork.