caughtinanetwork | (three) | accidental video

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(three) | accidental video

[ Cheria's SFC is actually on the bedside table, but it's facing toward her bed, where she is currently curled up, shoulders shaking as she tried to hold in whatever tears are trying to make their way out. she's not really succeeding.

The cause of these tears is pretty evident to anyone who comes close to her, but for those who are viewing this via the SFC and can't see the images that are haunting miss Cheria, here's what's going down.

There are three figures sitting nearby her on the bed, three figures which may seem familiar to some of you out there in vatheonland.

One of them, is pretty clearly Sophie. The other two are a red haired child and a blue haired child, both of which seem an awful lot like Asbel Lhant and Hubert Oswell ...

... and, well, that would be because they are. Or, that was how they were as children.

The three of them stare at Cheria, Asbel looking angry, Hubert looking ~~like a woobie~~ sad, and Sophie looking blank. They each take turns speaking to her. ]

Why did you let me die? I died for you. For you, and for Asbel, and Hubert, and Richard ...

Did I have to go away? Was there anything you could have done to stop it? Am I really that important to you?

You're too sick, you'll just get in my way if you keep tagging along with me! Just mind your own business, okay?!

[ These are more representative of fears Cheria had when she was a child, and what her friends must have thought about her ... what could have been done, and what wasn't. Even though the fears themselves had faded over time, they never really went away.

Cheria's realizing that the hard way now.

She knows this isn't real. She knows that this is some trick the city is playing on her, some extremely cruel trick that she can't get rid of for a week.

It doesn't stop it from hurting, though. ]

( ooc: if you want to have your character barge in to see what's up with her, please ask first! NOW WITH FIXED PICTURE LINKS )

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[Asbel had left his room before his ooze had materialized into anything; the fairy's sudden death was disturbing enough. He stopped outside Cheria's room when he thought he'd heard voices beyond the door.

He knocked twice, not wanting to intrude if nothing was wrong.]

Cheria? Are you okay?

[ As if the fairies weren't disturbing enough ...

Cheria heard the knock at the door, and Asbel's voice. She didn't want him to see her like this, much less hear what his younger self was telling her. No, he didn't really think that way!

... Did he?

No, he ... not anymore. Maybe before, but ... she was stronger now.

But she was still in the way.

Right?

Cheria shook her head and tried to compose herself enough to answer, but she couldn't manage to keep down a sob as she tried to answer. ]

I-I'm fine ...

[ No, she wasn't. Maybe Asbel would be convinced she was though ... ]

[The video causes Malik's SFC alert to beep at him. He takes out the communicator and opens it to see a new video from Cheria.

He's not home at the moment but he see's Cheria huddled in her bed, apparently tormented by something he cannot see or hear.

"The curse." he thinks to himself.]

[His voice is soft as he sends her a reply.]

Cheria, it's not real.

[ Of course her SFC had to record it ... she realized that it had as soon as she heard the Captain's voice over the communicator. Cheria immediately felt her face flush up in embarrassment; despite how awful she felt right now due to the three figures at her bedside telling her the exact things she feared they had all felt, she was still pretty embarrassed that the SFC had to record such a vulnerable moment for her.

But she simply burrowed more under her blankets, shutting her eyes tightly and trying to calm herself down a little before responding again. ]

I ... I know it's not.

[ The figures at her bedside? Not real at all. The fears they represent? Very real. ]

Don't start doubting yourself.

Come on, come back out of your blankets.

[ The words 'teenage girl' are laden with the underlying meaning of self-doubt, Cap'n. Cheria does listen, though ... somewhat.

As he asks her to come back out from under her blankets, she pokes her head up so that her eyes are over the top of the blanket. Malik won't be able to see more than her head and her eyes, which are red and puffy from crying. ]

That's better.

Now... what's the problem?

[Having no children of his own, Malik seems to easily take on the role of a parent when he needs to; and who needs parenting from people who aren't their actual parents more than teenage girls?

Fortunately for him he only needs to parent when he feels like it. Fortunately for the Graces crew, that's primarily when they need it. The rest of the time they're on their own!]

[ She looks away, in the direction of where the figures haunting her are. Cheria then looks away from them, too, and down more toward the bed. ]

This place ...

[ Yes, that is quite a big problem. Especially when there are images of three of her best friends sitting over there and blaming her for things she couldn't help. ]

Vatheon? Your room?

[He remains gentle in his questioning.]

Cheria... what are you seeing?

[ Vatheon. She means Vatheon. But he's pretty much hit the nail on the head. ]

It's ... I don't want to talk about it.

[ No, it's okay, she knows they're not real. She knows none of it is real.

... right?

What if they still thought that?

What if they always had?

It's pretty plain to see that Cheria's got some obvious conflicts in what she's feeling versus what she's saying. ]

You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but it might help to let these fears out rather than keeping them in.

They can never go away if you seal them tight within you.

[ He's right, and she knows it. ]

It's stupid. I know it's not what they're really thinking, so ... I don't know why I'm so upset by it.

[ it's a start, at least. ]

It's not stupid.

[Though she hasn't said it, Malik guesses from what he knows about her and what she said that her fears seem to be what other people think of her and that it is likely guilt-based.]

You're right, they're not really thinking that about you. Whatever it is that they're thinking or saying is just a reflection of what you fear. It's hard not to get upset when presented with that kind of problem.

[ She knows he's right. She knows, and yet ... she doesn't feel any better. Cheria wipes her eyes and sniffles, trying to calm herself down.

It doesn't help. ]

W-When I was young ... I was sick. Whenever I was feeling okay enough to play with them, I felt that they never wanted me around, because I only slowed them down ...

Even now, I wonder if they really think I'm an asset to the team, or if I'm even important to them at all. I wonder if they think I've really gotten any stronger ...

Cheria... [His voice is low and soft.]

None of us are the same people we were when we were younger. Whatever may have happened back then is in the past.

I've seen how much Asbel loves you. I've seen how much Sophie cares about you. Even Hubert cares deeply about you - though he wouldn't admit it. Without you there to help hold everyone together, they would fall apart and drift away. There wouldn't be a team without you there to lend your strength.

[ There really isn't much she can say to that. For a long time, Cheria is quiet, as are the figures at her bedside, miraculously. She doesn't really know if she believes that she's that vital to their little team, their little family that they've got ... but it makes her feel just a little better just to hear it from someone.

Finally, she speaks again. ]

Does everyone ... really depend on me that much, Captain Malik?

[He still speaks quietly but there is more warmth in his voice.]

Of course they do.

[He smiles a little.]

I seem to remember a very determined young girl who was waiting outside the Knight Academy in order to speak to one of our students a long time ago. If it wasn't for her, we would never have formed a team or become friends.

We would have all continued on our separate ways - just as we were before she decided to take matters into her own hands.

[ At that, Cheria can't help but smile, even if it was a small one. That wasn't the fondest of memories, but it was definitely something that paved the way for her reunion with Asbel, and in time, with Hubert, Richard, and Sophie as well. It also opened up the chances for her to meet and befriend the Captain himself, and Pascal, and everybody else they had met and become close with during their journey.

Even if it had started out on a not-so-great note ... it did ultimately turn into something Cheria was very grateful for.

Cheria wipes away more tears, sitting up a little more in bed. ]

Thank you, Captain ... I'm glad we were able to meet.

[ She's still feeling really crappy ... but it's definitely less so, after talking with Malik like this. ]

I'm glad we met as well. If it weren't for you I don't think I would have fully come to terms with my life.

So... [His voice returns to the more standard matter-of-fact tone with hints of teasing.] there's no need for you to doubt yourself so much.

[He has a large smiles on his face.]

You really think that, Captain? That I played that big of a role in your life?

[ Ah, there's the Captain she's used to hearing. But she's smiling now, so he definitely had helped. ]

I'll try not to. Thank you, again.

I can't say that things ended as I wanted them to with Kurt, but I was able to see him and talk to him before he died.

[Although the smile fades, he remains in good spirits. It's more a sentimental tone than a sad one.]

I would have remained in Windor, content to run away from my own problems.

Thank you Cheria.

[He smiles softly as he thanks her.]

[ She's mirroring his soft smile with one of her own. Yes, he's definitely helped her feel better. Her fears aren't completely quelled ... and they wouldn't be, not right away. They'd been with her for too long. Still, she was feeling better, and as a result, the figures at her bedside were quieter than they had been before. ]

I'm glad I could help you, Captain. I'm glad that we could help each other.

Cheria...

[Hubert's knock is a very light tapping of his knuckles on the door. He doesn't want to startle her any more than she already is, but he's certainly concerned. Over the SFC he couldn't see or hear anything, but as soon as he was in proximity of the door he can hear the voices.]

... Cheria, I never would have said such a thing to you. I thought a lot of... horrible things after I was adopted, but they were never directed at you, I assure you.

Please... open the door. If you must face your fears this way then at least let us face them with you.

[ Oh, Hubert ... he'd heard. He'd definitely heard. Cheria couldn't bring herself to actually respond to him, though, instead becoming so choked up that she had to curl up into a tighter ball to try and keep it all from escaping her.

The door's unlocked, Hubert. Cheria won't be getting up anytime soon, so you may as well come on in if you want to. ]

[He notices the door is unlocked, and even puts his hand on the handle, but hesitates. He doesn't want to just burst in on her like that...]

Cheria... ? Can I please come in... ?

[ she's not sure if she wants him to, really.

on one hand, Hubert knows what's going on now. He knows that there is a tiny him blaming her for the fact that he was adopted, asking her why she didn't fight to keep him there ... and he has told her already, he never thought that way, not about her.

on the other hand .... she doesn't want him to have to see this, or to see her like this.

so she opens her mouth to respond, but ... hesitates to actually do so. ]

... Cheria?

[His hand turns the handle sightly, but not all the way. He waits, still anticipating some sort of answer.]

Come in.

[ he already knows anyway ... ]

...

[Slowly the knob turns the rest of the way, and he slips inside, closing the door behind him.

He doesn't move to embrace her, but after a bit of hesitation at the door way he does come to the bed and sit down, putting a hand over hers.]

[ She's very quiet, and barely reacts as she feels his hand on hers ... but slowly, she turns her hand up to grasp his gently.

The tiny Hubert from the bedside looks up at his older self, regarding him for a moment ... and then looks back to Cheria, scared. ]

Cheria, why did you let it happen?

[ Cheria visibly tenses. ]

Don't I mean anything to you? Or to my brother? Am I really that important to you?

[ She can feel another onslaught of tears coming ... ]

Edited 2012-11-13 06:30 (UTC)

[Well that's... highly unnerving. Even if he knows it's an illusion, he's still hearing things coming from his own mouth that he knew he had never said.

He can see why Cheria would have such a hard time shaking it, though.

He scowls at the child-version of himself, but keeps his focus on Cheria.]

Cheria... why do you feel like I would have ever said such a thing?

[ Here, let your bitty answer that for you. ]

Didn't you feel scared? When you were adopted, didn't you feel scared? Didn't you feel like nobody in your family wanted you, and that any of them could have stopped it?

Why did anybody stop it?

[ Bitty Hubert looks like he's going to cry. Cheria already is, clinging to Hubert's hand tightly as she tries to hold it in and fails. ]

[Hubert's scowl deepens.]

Of course I was afraid. I was terrified. But I never had any reason to be angry with Cheria over it. It was my parent's choice and my parent's responsibility.

Asbel and Cheria, though ... they could have done something, right? Couldn't they?

[ It may be evident that he's speaking more of how guilty Cheria felt about it. Could she had done something? Logically speaking ... probably not. But emotionally speaking, she felt like maybe there had been something she could have done. Maybe she could have tried harder to keep her little family together from the start ... ]

[Hubert picks up on that very quickly, and turns his attention back to Cheria.]

I don't think so. Not now, anyway. We were children, all of us, and as children we're at the mercy of what our parents decide for us. Arguing, fighting with them... even going so far as to attempt to "rescue" me... it would have ended in failure.

Cheria's guilt is understandable, but misplaced.

I still could have tried ...

[ her voice is rather small as it comes from her. Cheria isn't looking at Hubert at all, but rather, staring straight ahead of her. back then, she couldn't do a lot; she was a sickly child, after all. she could barely keep up with her much healthier friends. but even if she had been completely healthy, she wouldn't have been able to stop what happened to Hubert, or to Sophie. and she couldn't have stopped Asbel from leaving, though she did try.

she knew this. she knew that she had no way of stopping what was going to happen. and yet, she still tried to convince herself that maybe, maybe there was something she hadn't picked up on. maybe there was something she could have read into, something she could have seen and stopped in time.

Cheria never really stopped blaming herself, even if she knew that there really wasn't anything she could have done. ]

No, you couldn't have.

[He's blunt, and even a little harsh, but he knows in moments like this beating around the bush isn't going to help Cheria at all.]

What you're feeling right now is your own guilt, nothing more. What's done is done and none of us can change that. You had no power over that situation, Cheria, and telling yourself otherwise is only feeding this ridiculous illusion.

The Cheria I know now did not grow in to a coward afraid of the voices in her head. She is stronger than any of that. Strong enough to save an entire world from destruction! If you let these paltry imitations convince you otherwise than you haven't grown at all!

[And he knows that isn't true, so he's hoping that by speaking so honestly she'll start to see that she shouldn't listen to what they're saying.]

[ she's quiet again. though he was harsh, Cheria knew Hubert was speaking the truth ... now she just had to beat it into her own mind. she knew she was not at fault at all, even if the voices at her bedside were telling her otherwise ... ]

[Hubert is silent for a long moment, before finally doing something very out of the ordinary for him.

He hugs her.]

[ Cheria's surprised at the sudden hug from Hubert. Of all the things she expected Hubert to do, this was not among them ... but after that moment of shock, she finds herself quickly wrapping her arms around her friend, burying her face into his shoulder and trying to keep herself from sobbing all over again. ]

[There really isn't anything else he can do for her. Until the curse is over she'll just have to learn to face these things at night.

Awkward as it was for him, he embraced her tightly, rubbing small circles in her back. He would stay until she stopped crying, and longer if she needed. One thing he could still do was be there for his friends.]

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(three) | accidental video

Action;

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/CRASHES IN LATE also action;

action; NOW I NEED TO FIX THE CEILING. 8|

action; I HAD TO GET IN SOME HOW

action; YOU, FIX IT. SO I DON'T HAVE TO.

BUT I'M NO GOOD AT THAT SORT OF THING

GET GOOD AT IT, BRO

DAMNIT CHERIA, I'M A LIEUTENANT, NOT A CARPENTER

YOU WATCH TOO MUCH STARFISH TREK

WHAT IT'S TRUE OK

TRUE AND INCREDIBLY NERDY

shadup

never

sob

♥

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