starhuevalley | [Video]

Entry tags:

[Video] - 001

[ Have a confused ninja on your screens, fellow farmers! Because one second, she's, well--dead. And the next, she's bouncing along on a bus headed to Martel-knows-where.

Okay, a farm. And that very farm can be seen behind Sheena, and from the size and buildings, one can see it's a Standard Farm.

Nothing too big for our ninja. ]

Well, at least this thing doesn't make me choose an alias. [ There's a hint of wry relief in that statement. As she speaks and moves the camera around, it would become apparent that her clothes don't fit her too well--they're pretty loose. And somewhat tattered.

Especially the trailing ends of what appears to be a huge pink bow sneaking out from under her dark purple jacket--which is still closed up despite the heat. ]

Hello, everyone! My name is Sheena Fujibayashi, and I just arrived here! What was that thing, anyway? There wasn't anything like that where I was last, though it kinda looked like an EC. [ Yep, has no idea what a bus is, but can handle the jPad like a pro. ] I'm not too sure about what exactly is going on, but I guess I have a farm now?

[ And she'll just point over her shoulder. ]

I've never run a farm--though I did help with the herb patches back in Mizuho! So, I can definitely grow plants. [ She's kind of wistful about that--like she hasn't seen a plant for a long time. ] I'm not sure where to start, though. Any advice?

[ She starts thanking everyone but stops. ]

Oh. One more thing. I guess we can leave any time? But do you know if we go back home or to the very last place we were?

Thanks!

[ And the feed ends. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Sheena becomes sheepish. ]

Oh yeah...good point.

[ Nor does getting stung countless times help, either. ]

No...[ She pauses to think. ] I don't think anyone has an allergy to them. At least, not that I saw.

[ Martel, this IS the group that tends to keep problems from their friends so they won't be burdens to them, you know. ]

[She knows, but there are some things she'd hope even they wouldn't be able to hide effectively.]

Well certainly you, I, and my brother don't, and we're the ones here for the moment. So we don't have to worry at the moment, anyway.

[ Doesn't mean they won't try! ]

Would Mithos be interested in keeping bees? [ She's asking for practical reasons, since her farm is brand-spankin' new and without room. And she's pretty interested. ]

[It's true. I mean, when one of them tries to hide that her skin is turning green and crystalline...]

Mithos would be interested in anything I suggested might be a good idea. [She might sound... less than enthused about that. For obvious reasons.]

[ Doesn't keep the rest of them from being caring busy-bodies, though. ]

Martel-- [ Ouch. Considering how martel had greeted her, she's not even going to try to play innocent. Someone had to have told her what happened. ]

Don't blame yourself. Please.

... You ask a great deal of me.

[This wasn't exactly a conversation she'd intended to have with any of Lloyd's group. Trying to hold herself together for a discussion like this without breaking down into a weeping ball is hard, but she has no intention of pushing her emotional burdens on a woman she doesn't even personally know.]

Have you ever had to raise someone, Sheena? Teach them... everything? How to walk? How to put on their clothes? Right from wrong?

Martel...

[ Sheena's basically the Mom of the group, caring for all of her friends--and for strangers as well. So, if Martel does have an emotional break, the ninja won't be offended or mind.

Though, she'll probably feel guilty about having caused it. ]

No. I haven't. [ She doubts "herself" counts as an answer. ] But even children who have had the best role models can go against what they were taught--and it's not the fault of those who raised them.

[ Kuchinawa, for example. ]

[Raine would probably argue over that spot, but then again, they have both Regal and Kratos for the dad role.

Martel just shakes her head and sighs.]

I appreciate what you're trying to do, Sheena. But if Genis lost his way, do you think you could convince Miss Sage that she wasn't in some way responsible?

[ Raine's the pragmatic one, Sheena's the emotional one. It all works out.

Sheena's expression hardens slightly. ]

Actually, yes, I do think that. [ She just won't say why she thinks that. But she's going to change tactics. ]

Did anyone ever tell you about Kuchinawa?

[Martel raises an eyebrow at that assertion, and her lips quirk a bit. She doesn't argue, but it's clear she's not certain Sheena should be so confident about that.

Still, she goes along with the topic change alright.]

I'm not familiar with that name, no.

[ And Sheena will just give her a calm, confident look in return. It's not arrogance, but something Sheena just knows about her friend, that's all. ]

I didn't think so.

Kuchinawa once called himself a friend of mine. He, his brother, and I all grew up in the same village. They were taught the same values and ideals by the same mother and father, yet, when I failed to make a pact with Volt when I was seven, Orochi actually forgave me.

And Kuchinawa only pretended to, and wanted revenge for what happened.

[ Sound familiar? Though, not as extreme as the other case. ]

But, no one blames their parents for Kuchinawa's actions. And you can't blame yourself for Mithos'.

[There's a long, long pause as Martel listens to what Sheena has to say. When she's done, though, she just kind of shrugs.]

I imagine if you looked into the sad history of our world, Sheena, you'd find countless similar stories. People who react to a personal tragedy with rage and dedicate their lives to vengeance. And I can tell you now, in every one of those cases, if you could hear what those close to them whispered to themselves in the night, it would always be this.

"What could I have done differently?"

[She shakes her head, and sighs bitterly.]

No one would blame us, Sheena. No one would ever say that our failure to guide and raise them better led to what happened. It doesn't matter. Our own self-recrimination is always there. After all... what's the alternative?

[ Sheena returns the courtesy and listens closely, her own features remaining solemn after Martel finishes. ]

Oh, I know. I know people ask that question all the time--me included. But what do you do if the answer is "nothing"? Or is so extreme that it could cause more problems than solve?

[ Even though they're not face-to-face, Sheena does her best to meet Martel's gaze. ]

Martel, look at me. You didn't fail Mithos. The world around him--and you--did. You taught him right from wrong, to help others--no matter who they were. [ Yes, even Sheena had seen that in Mithos. ] And he shared your dream of everyone being accepted--which is why Lloyd had wanted him to stay with us and rebuild the world. [ Which in a way they are, since he had named the Tree after them. ]

Everyone makes mistakes, Martel. The only thing we can do is love them and accept them, and help them through it.

[Once again, Martel pauses for a while, thinking, clearly mulling over what Sheena said.]

I scarcely recognized him when I was inside Colette. You know, that Yggdrasill form... I'd always wanted to see him grown up. Properly, I mean. I know that's what he'd have looked like regardless, but his eyes... the look in his eyes was nothing I was prepared for. It was like some sort of body-snatching monster had taken over the body of my dear brother.

[She laughs weakly.]

I almost wish I could have made myself believe that, but I know full well what it really was. Even I have no way to heal four thousand years of hatred, bitterness, and regret.

[ Knowing how hard this is for the other woman, Sheena remains quiet while the other woman speaks. Time had robbed her of so much, but there is one thing Martel can do.

Sheena's voice is quiet yet sincere when she responds. ]

Yes, you do--you just haven't realized it yet. Accept him as your brother--the brother you've always known.

And show him that he's not alone.

[She's... not going to mention she already tried that. Inside another stolen body. And all he did was take all of the wrong lessons from what she tried to tell him. Besides, it's not exactly relevant at the moment, because...]

You know, of course, that the one I'm talking about and the one who's here are very different.

[ Sheena knows she tried through Colette. That doesn't mean she needs to stop trying. ]

Yes, I know that. He's not the Mithos from my world. [ A beat. ] Wait. You aren't holding the actions of one against the other, are you?

[ If Martel is, how the hell did Sheena miss that? Because that doesn't seem like something she'd do. ]

[There's a saying about trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results.]

No! No, no, of course not... Heavens, having him around is one of the nicest things about being here. I only brought it up because... honestly, he may be the only version of Mithos I ever have a chance to actually interact with again, given how everything turned out.

[ Then try different approaches. ]

Then cherish this, Martel. You have a chance that a lot of people would give anything for! [ Sheena herself would love to meet her parents. ] And from my experience, it's very possible that there are others that didn't follow the path that we know of.

That's true... who knows what other worlds are out there.

[Maybe one where they actually reacted to her death in something vaguely resembling a healthy way. Or where she didn't die at all!]

Of course, that goes both ways.

Exactly.

[ Those are certainly possibilities. As are the darker chances. ]

I know. But the risk would be worth it, though, wouldn't it?

Well, I suppose it's not up to us either way. We'll just have to see what comes.

At least it's a very peaceful world they'd be coming to regardless.

This is true--for both.

[ Have an impish ninja on your screen. ]

Though, I wonder how some of them will fare as farmers?

[Okay, she really can't help but laugh at that idea.]

Are you talking about my group, or yours?

[ Sheena laughs with her before answering. ]

Both. Though, I expect some would do better than others.

[ While one would probably whine and get whapped upside the head as usual by her. ]