❧ Two Roads Diverged in a Yellow Wood

[luministimods]

[Nothing much has changed in the interior of Dr. Caligin's office since Nathan gave everyone leave to make their decisions. Nathan is still there waiting by Lab #3. If they are returning from doing whatever around the spacestation, they'll notice that all of the photos on the wall have been removed and stacked neatly on the desk, along with all of Caligin's possessions that had been shoved into a desk drawer. (Of course, if one had never left the office, one would have seen him pulling all of the photos down.)]

If you have made your decision, please let me know now. And, uh, if you haven't for some reason and want to ask me something, I guess you can do that too.

So what have you decided?

[ooc: When your character is ready to leave, please write "Going home!" in the subject line of your comment and that will be your exit from the game for the season! And if your character is staying, please write "Staying in this universe!" in the subject line of your comment once you are done with your conversation with Nathan. (This will also be your "exit" from the game, but just in a different sense.)]

Comments

[irreversibly.livejournal.com]

[There isn't anything Xion needs to go get. Anything she ever needs, she always keeps on her person. She watches as Nathan starts to take the pictures down, and then decides to help.

She's so relieved. Everyone who wants to go home can go home. Everyone who wants to stay can stay. Opening the door was the right decision. And now... There's the opportunity to find the answers she's been looking for. How did they bring her back? Whatever little was left should've been inside Sora. How did they do it? Did it hurt things back home? Is Sora still asleep?

But... She can't go home to check and then come back. I'm sorry, Donald, Goofy, Riku... Kairi. If he's still asleep, you'll have to be sad just a little bit longer. I'll do my best. I promise.

Once the pictures are all down, she looks over at Nathan. She speaks without hesitation.]

I'm staying.

[luministimods]

[Nathan smiles faintly, the expression warm] I had a feeling you would. I'll be able to provide transport for you, if he's willing.

[irreversibly.livejournal.com]

"He"?

[manicurious.livejournal.com]

You really should have mentioned that we wouldn't be forced to leave if the lab was opened, you know. If I had been the first to find that key it's likely that someone would've had to cut me open to retrieve it.

[A handwave;]

I suppose that's not important now. At the moment I'm concerned about that Resarci fellow - if we're as alike as I think we are, I don't think that he'll be living for very long unless he's exceptionally good at hiding.

[luministimods]

[yeah, that's not exactly reassuring, but he has an idea about how to handle that]

Let's hope that you aren't as alike as you think. I just need to track him down before...[he hesitates]...someone else does. I need that information he has.

But as for you. [he takes a step forward] This spacestation is important. It needs to stay in our hands for as long as possible, and from what you said, I can kinda get that you don't want to go home. Why that is, that's your business. But I'm not always going to be able to come here, so I need someone to stay behind here and keep an eye on things. Can I trust you to guard a doorway that you don't want to go through?

[manicurious.livejournal.com]

I do hope that that happens. I'd really like to speak with him a bit more casually some time.

[Nathan's plans for him make his eyes widen.] You want me to watch over the whole station? Like, managing it while the others are absent?

I'd definitely be willing to keep track of things including that door, but I'm not sure that guarding it is necessarily something that I'm capable of. The most I could do is catch someone in the act - if anyone wanted to physically overpower me to get through, I'm almost certain that they could. See, typically I'm the one being guarded, not doing the guarding...

[grandbellknight]

[Croix doesn't head back for town - really, he has no need. He needs to return to Metafalss. To protect Luca and Lady Cloche. To find the Goddess and demand answers. To save the world, really.

But Nathan needs help too, and he still remembers what the others said about time not passing back home...]

You said that you need someone to stay behind and help. What for?

[luministimods]

[sticks a hand casually into his pocket] Well, not just someone. I didn't want to say this before because I know people want to go home, but the more people I can get, the more eyes and ears I have out there searching for him.

He's far more important than you realize. If we don't find him, someone else will and that will be that. We'll have to wait until he finds another human helper and start things all over again with you and your friends.

[wind-of-reason.livejournal.com]

[For all that a part of her would like to stay and help... she has to return home.

Fuu returns to her room to dress as she was when she came here, in her Kyūdō (http://faculty.washington.edu/kendo/025.jpg) uniform. She then distractedly tidies up her rooms, her mind on other things. Mostly on the questions still remaining, but in the end, she trusted Nathan and whomever else was staying to solve it. They are all excellent people.

She then thinks on what she should do before leaving. Certainly she wants to say goodbye to everyone. It would perhaps be useful to transpose some of the information from the notebook in the office into her own book. Because.... with so many things left undone, perhaps Luministi was not finished with her yet. She hoped it was, but... even if it ends up being a wasted couple hours in the end, she will still do it.

On her way back to Lab #3 she considers just how little she knows of what is happening behind the scenes- literally. Like when she had been speaking with Filippo Resarci... she feels like there is a whole tangle of things just beyond the threads she holds.
It is a feeling that she would dearly like to never have again. Cephiro had suffered for their not knowing. This world should not bear the same.

...

So after doing all she needed to do before leaving, Fuu comes up to Nathan, log bow in hand, small bag over her shoulder, and a light smile on her face. She bows deeply.]

I have decided to return home. Thank you for all your help, Nathan. You have been invaluable. But, if I may ask something before I go?

[luministimods]

[he's unsure what to do for a moment and bows awkwardly before straightening] Sure, what'd you want to?

[fortune_sought]

Are you leaving, Fuu?

[Sophie has not been able to change back into what she was wearing, as it wouldn't fit her now. but she's still carrying a small parcel of things, ready to return to her own world]

[desertdaggers]

[Hawk took most of what he thought he'd need when they had to evacuate, but it doesn't hurt to double check. His hand is still bandaged when he gets back to the office, and he raises the other hand, smiling. He's fairly sure of his decision, but before that…]

…are you alright for help?

[luministimods]

[he nods] I have a few interested parties. I won't say no to more, but I know people do want to go home.

[lamb_of_gold]

Unfortunately, my duty lies elsewhere, and I have been removed from it for too long.

[fortune_sought]

[Sophie approaches slowly, carrying a parcel of belongings] Are you returning to your student?

[luministimods]

[he nods] Understandable. Then, uh, I shouldn't keep you then! I take it you have all that you wish to leave with?

[bonnypiperlad]

[Jamie approaches Nathan. If he's going to help, he'd like to know what he's getting into.] What sort of help are ye going to need, then?

[luministimods]

I need eyes out there in the universe searching for Filippo Resarci. There's only so much ground I can cover myself. I can tell you it won't be easy, but men like Resarci can be found when they slip up. And considering the type of man he is, he will.

[vengefulagent]

[after a quick conversation with Nathan, Wash is heading out of the office, arms crossed in front of him. a lot is still on his mind...]

[fortune_sought]

[Sophie sees him going by, but she's not walking quickly enough these days to try to catch him]

Agent Washington!

[grandbellknight]

[Croix is already outside the office, leaning against a wall and lost in his own thoughts. He looks up when he hears Washington.]

What did you decide?

[fortune_sought]

[Sophie returns to the office looking nervous but resolute. she has her head held high as she approaches Nathan. she is firm in her decision]

I know you need help, but I can't stay here. [she puts a hand to her abdomen. as much as she wants to help the others, there are some things that will always take priority for her] But you will make sure the others get home? And that Audrey is safe?

[painlessfighter]

[Natsuo is all set to go home, and trying to take a lot of little trinkets with him, from the looks of things - he's dragging a bag behind him, stuffed with little knickknacks and odds and ends. It doesn't look like it's going to hold up for much longer, either.

He smiles when he sees Sophie.] Sophie! We can go home now!

[luministimods]

Nor should you stay. You need to have your baby in your universe. And you can trust that I'll get them home once we're done. And Audrey is safe. She's still in a lot of pain despite all the fronts she puts up. [softly] I can tell.

[bit_impossible]

[he smiles when he sees her, untucking his hands as he nears] Thought I'd find you here. I'm surprised you haven't already left.