WEEK 8

[grimgrinningghosts]

[Two months. Two months of being trapped in this mansion. Two months of heartbreak and despair. Two months of wondering if you are all going to die here.

You finally have a real ray of hope thanks to Mr. Walt, but even he claims that it will be a hard journey ahead. You all have to be strong, physically, emotionally, any kind of strength will work against what you're up against. Maybe take the next few days to rest before the long journey, or prepare for the dangers that await, the choice is yours, but...

Will you be able to escape?

8 guests remain]

[ SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY ]

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Comments

[chainbroke]

[ It breaks the heart she's still not sure she has to see him in such a bad way. Then again, it's only natural, isn't it? She can't blame him one bit, and Naminé knows the others wouldn't, either. He lost his most important someone because of a fatal error, and Naminé cannot imagine how that feels. All she can do is be there for the people she loves, and hope it'll be enough.

She walks over to him and hugs him. ]

Thank you. I know they made me happy. So, I thought they might help some of the others too, even just a little bit.

[sixfingeredstan]

[Ford's still in no position to turn down hugs; he needs this. He needs a physical reminder that he's not alone in this. That he still has people here who love him and care for him. So he goes ahead and bends down to lift Naminé right off the ground, giving her a gentle squeeze before he sets her back down. She's such a good kid. He'll never be able to replace her in his heart, that much he knows.]

That's very sweet. I'm sure everyone else will love them just like you did.

[With a heavy sigh, and a groaning from his knees that makes him feel very old indeed, Ford sinks down into a chair and serves himself up some pancakes, eggs, and bacon. He chews thoughtfully at a slice of bacon, before glancing over at Naminé with an apologetic look.]

I...you shouldn't have to see me like this. All broken up. I hope you won't hold it against me.

[chainbroke]

[ She squeezes him--not tight, but not particularly gentle, either. Enough to remind him that she's here. That he's not alone, and he won't ever be alone. She's sure he knows, but it's always good to help someone remember. ]

I hope so. I'll just be happy to see the others eat.

[ She pours him a cup of coffee, and herself a cup of vanilla tea, before settling in next to him. Then, she shakes her head. ]

No, never. I'd be much more worried if you were trying to pretend everything was alright, actually...

[ She rubs her thumbs against the ceramic of her cup and takes a sip. It warms her from the inside, but not as much as knowing she has a family. It gives her a new sort of strength, one that makes her think that she can be strong enough for the two who are hurting the most. ]

[sixfingeredstan]

We could all use it. God knows I didn't eat a thing yesterday.

[He'd been a little too busy to remember something so trivial, after all.

He takes the coffee, dumps some sugar into it, and takes a big, scalding drink of it. He doesn't seem to notice it burning his mouth; on the contrary, it's almost like a coping mechanism. Something to distract from his emotional pain.]

That's a relief. I was born in the days when men didn't really—they weren't supposed to show how they felt. And I suppose a lot of that I still carry with me.

[He heaves a heavy sigh, shoving a bite of pancake into his mouth.]

[chainbroke]

I think a lot of us didn't.

[ Herself included. She's pretty concerned when he just gulps the hot coffee down, but... maybe he's okay?

Anyway. Her eyes widen a little, and she takes that in while she sips at her tea. He's serious, she can tell, but she can't help but feel like that's completely silly. ]

Why not? Hiding your feelings... nothing good comes of that. It would only make things worse, not better.

[ It builds and builds until it breaks, and you run the risk of losing yourself. ]

[sixfingeredstan]

[Ford shrugs one broad shoulder, staring down at his plate contemplatively.]

That's just how things were. My father...was a very stern man. Not easily impressed, and my twin brother and I had to do things his way for the most part. We had to be tough.

[chainbroke]

I see...

[ She goes quiet, looking into her cup. At first, she hadn't been sure she could understand. But... that's not entirely true, is it? When she'd first been taken to Castle Oblivion, scared and uncertain, she'd cried more days than not. The loneliness had been suffocating, and Marluxia and Larxene had been far from comforting.

Is the witch crying again? Hah! Pathetic.

You are a Nobody. Nobodies cannot feel, as much as you pretend to.

You'll never be strong if you keep crying, Naminé. ]

... I think I understand, actually. Still... [ And she seems a little nervous as she carefully replies, ] Your father was wrong. You're one of the strongest people I know, after all.

[sixfingeredstan]

[Ford hardly notices how quiet she's gotten; silence is a welcome part of his life, right now. When things are silent, he can almost imagine he can hear Fiddleford's voice again. But when she breaks the stillness, it shakes him out of his contemplation, and he blinks a few times.

This time, Ford's smile, however small and strained, is real. Not just a mask put there for show.]

That's very kind of you, Naminé. It...means a lot to me, coming from you.

[chainbroke]

[ She relaxes, now that she knows she didn't upset him or make him mad by telling him she thinks nothing of what his father thought. Her smile is relieved as she reaches out and puts her hand over his. ]

I'm glad. But it's only the truth. I know anyone here would say the same.

[sixfingeredstan]

[He wants so badly to believe that; he's had a hard time coming to terms with the fact that the people here see the best in him. Self-esteem and egotism have always been a fine line for him, and now is no exception. But he doesn't refute what Naminé's telling him, because he trusts her enough to know she wouldn't lie to him.

Ford takes a thoughtful sip of coffee.]

I meant it, you know, about taking you to Gravity Falls. After this is all over, if you like...you could come stay with me. Me and Fiddleford. Just for awhile. Show you the sights.

[chainbroke]

[ Her eyes widen, and she's glad she's sitting and her cup is firmly on the table. Otherwise, there'd be a huge mess. Her own future is so uncertain that, quite frankly, it scares her if she thinks too much about it. Will Kairi be angry? How long can she put off going back to her, going back to being a part of her?

How can she burden Kairi with all the terrible memories she's made here? Even if she's made so, so many good ones, the bad ones are what she remembers most vividly, the ones that drag her from her sleep at night. ]

R-really? You mean it? Oh, I would love that. I want to see everything about your home. And I'd love to meet your family, too.

[sixfingeredstan]

[Bless her, honestly, because her reaction is just fuel to Ford's fire right now, another thing to keep him going instead of letting himself grind to a halt and let everything go ahead without him. He has to get through this. For her. For Lefou. For Fiddleford. He has to be strong for all of them at once.]

Of course I mean it. I know they'd all love you, too. My brother Stanley has a soft spot for kids, even if he'd never admit it. And my niece and nephew, when they come and visit—I know they'd love to show you all the normal kid stuff you've missed out on.

[It's so easy to talk about this like a given thing, like it'll happen no matter what, that even though he knows he shouldn't, Ford lets himself believe it. He needs that right now.]