[video] deja vu bubbles

[booyaka_boom]

*Selphie's slumped on her bed and there's a bubble beside her - no words, just a little cartoon drawing of Selphie giving a big sigh. But instead of being coloured as normal, the image is just blue. She's a real emotion hider - everything hidden behind a big smile and a bright voice, and this curse has hit her again. Of course it would.

Real Selphie is smiling, but the image in the bubble remains the same. She glances at it, and her expression becomes more thoughtful*

 

These bubbles... Everyone gets so sad and so scared...

It's just so stupid.

Comments

video

[bufudine]

[A small ripple rolls through his bubble, but ultimately the sight of still waters doesn't change.]

Would you prefer to speak in person?

[His bubble ripples to show a giant demon bird, except with yellow feathers.]

I'd like to see the chocobos.

video

[booyaka_boom]

*Ah, Serph, how do you do it? How do you keep just calm waters in your mind all the time? Selphie's own bubble, though, turns instantly to a images of the real chocobos, definitely much cuter, and she giggles*

Then we can go see them! But you shouldn't be so worried!

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[bufudine]

[PROTAG POWERS that's how. He's looking at Selphie's bubble, his own reflecting the strange creatures. The images quickly ripple back to water when Selphie speaks.]

Where are they located?

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[booyaka_boom]

*Whoo! Like magic! And here the bubble did come in handy, because there's an image of the barn, and just exactly where it is*

It's near Nostalgia Nook.

Video -> Action FOREVER

[bufudine]

[His bubble is quickly drawing a mental map of the path he'll take from his current location to the barn before it ripples back to water.]

I'll be there soon.

[ACTION]

[And so he is! It doesn't take him long to reach the barn, since he's jogging there. He'll be opening the door to the barn -- no knock to signal his arrival -- and entering.]

action forever and ever

[booyaka_boom]

*Ta da! Selphie's in the barn, lost among a small crowd of birds. Not quite feeding time, but they are getting treats, and they're quite excited*

[bufudine]

[Serph's shoes make an audible sound with each step as he approaches. However, he approaches slowly, so he neither startles the birds, nor Selphie; the chocobos looks excited enough as it is.

His bubble is... very yellow is he looks at them.]

[booyaka_boom]

*Some of the birds are still busy eating, but a couple of them turn to look at Serph, and so does Selphie. Her bubble is yellow too, and there's some chocobo eggs there too*

Hey!~

[bufudine]

[The chocobos seem nonaggressive, like the black cat in the Junkyard -- his bubble ripples to show it -- so Serph moves to conversation distance with Selphie and gives her a nod in greeting.]

Are you taking care of all the chocobos?

[His attention is going to the birds again, but he neither makes any friendly nor aggressive advances towards them.]

[booyaka_boom]

*Selphie takes a step out from the group, all of whom seem happy that Serph is a welcome guest*

Well, kinda. They look after themselves mostly, ish.

*She smiles at Serph and looks at the birds*

You can talk to them or something if you want.

*Not that he was the most talkative person she knew*

[bufudine]

[Er. Talk to... birds? His bubble ripples a little to represent his confusion. He doesn't move any closer to the chocobo herd, but he does tilt his head.]

Do they talk back?

[booyaka_boom]

*Selphie smiles and shakes her head* They make little noises, but they don't speak. I know they're listening, though. You can tell! They're clever birds!

[bufudine]

[Oh, okay.

...Um.

Turning to address the flock of chocobos.]

Are you enjoying yourselves?

[booyaka_boom]

*Some of the birds just glance at him, but some others look at him, seeming to nod, a few tilting their heads curiously*

Tee hee! I hope so!

[bufudine]

[Well the birds seem smart enough. Serph addresses Selphie.]

What do you do with them?

[booyaka_boom]

Well... We sing, and we dance. And we race!

*There's an image of Selphie on a cowboy's hat, racing on a chocobo in that bubble of hers*

[bufudine]

[Singing, you say? His bubble ripples to show a girl singing.]

I'd like to hear a song.

[booyaka_boom]

*Selphie glances at his bubble, the first time it's really shown something concrete and different. She tilts her head and looks round at the birds*

Okay! What kinda song?

[bufudine]

[He's no musician, but of the few songs he's heard, he likes the calming ones best, and his bubble ripples to show blue skies.]

What kind of songs do you know?

[booyaka_boom]

I know all sorts of different songs. And I make some up too.

*Selphie smiles at his bubble then crosses the barn to where her acoustic guitar was sitting. She picks it up and settles herself down on a stack of hay. The song she sings a soft and gentle one, perfectly calm, a reminder of home*

[bufudine]

[Serph watches her curiously before she starts singing and making sounds with that object in her hands. He closes his eyes to silently listen to the song, his bubble filling with gentle rain.

The Junkyard may have been a terrible place by most standards, but... he likes the rain.

...Though rain as thoughts might not evoke the same positive feelings for other people.]

[booyaka_boom]

*Selphie continues to play her song, and some chocobos sway along in time as she finishes singing and plays the melody on the guitar on its own. She takes just another minute to finish, and she glances up at Serph's bubble. After a moment's silence, she speaks up gently*

Are you okay?

[bufudine]

[...Huh?

Oh, right, Selphie's talking to him. He opens his eyes to look at her before speaking, bubble rippling back to water. Headtilt.]

Your song is very calming. It's nice.

[booyaka_boom]

*Selphie rests her guitar across her knee, stroking it gently*

Thanks! I'm glad you like it!

[bufudine]

Did you play that instrument in your home world?

[Perhaps Serph is lucky he doesn't wear any loose clothing for chocobos to tug at.]