49 - text;

[islandshore]

[It's been months since they last talked. Months since they'd even seen each other. And with Terra wide awake now, Riku decides enough is enough and shoots Ven a message via PokéGear.

But the ID no longer exists. Riku instantly feels the weight of a thousand boulders rolling over him.

He tries again to no avail. And again. Maybe he shouldn't be surprised. But still, for one of his most trusted friends to leave without even a chance to hang out for one last time...

There's a reason why he's writing this message in text instead of video.]

Ven's gone.

I don't know how many friends he actually made here, but I figured I'd pass the message along. It's probably what he'd want, right? And it's not like this place ever gives people a chance to say goodbye. Why change things now?

You'd think that after every other disappearance we'd all be used to it, but it never gets easier. Not with the people who really matter. But Kairi's left about a million times now, and I've lost plenty of other friends. Guess it was only a matter of time before he waltzed off, too.

Just... let me know if you wound up with any of his Pokémon, okay? Otherwise, I'll be around.

And no, nothing's wrong.

Comments

text;

[eagletalons]

I have Princess, Paladin and Valkyrie.

text;

[islandshore]

Ah, good. Glad to hear they're in safe hands.

I'd say take care of them, but I'm pretty sure that goes without saying.

[Plus, Hope was one of Ven's close bros, too. It'd be different if someone shady wound up with his 'mons.]

text;

[eagletalons]

Yes.

Do you have anything else he had aside from Pokémon?

text;

[islandshore]

Not that I can tell. No notes, no personal belongings. It's possible he left something behind, but I haven't seen it.

[text]

[chosen_light_child]

Wait? Ven's gone?

[That... didn't even seem possible. This was VEN, one of the leader's of the Guardian Corps and someone who had been here even longer than Hikari is.]

It's kinda hard to even imagine...

[She's not even going to ask if he's okay, she knew that if Riku wanted to say it, he would. If she knew him enough to know that if he was bothered by this, she wasn't going to be someone he'd tell.]

[text]

[islandshore]

It's always hard to imagine when someone's practically been a constant here. Ven was one of the guys who jump-started the PGC, and he's stuck around almost as long as I have.

It's one thing if someone leaves after a month, even just one year. But those who stick it out... well, it almost feels like they're here to stay. The moment they're gone, it just feels wrong.

[That was more rambly than he intended, but Riku's really in one of those venting moods. It's a good distraction to boot.]

[text]

[chosen_light_child]

Yeah. That's what I meant.

I'll check to see if I have any of his pokémon, but we haven't really talked much these last couple of months, and I don't know how this place even decides how that works in the first place.

But even if we haven't really talked all that much lately, I'm still going to miss him...

[text]

[soggypastry]

[Riku's angry, and rightfully so. Lightning...she doesn't know what to think. Even after two months of silence, Ven was a constant. Part of the group that was just too stubborn to be sent home...and now he's gone. It's hard to believe, even though she knows it's true.]

I have three. Lebreau, Shiva, and Claire. I don't know where the others are yet.

[But she's looking. Hope got some, she knows, but the rest...Etro how could this have happened?]

[text]

[islandshore]

I'll have to drop by Celadon to see if any of the ones at the TC stuck around. Until then, we can only guess. I just hope they didn't wind up in the wrong hands. They deserve better.

[Especially coming from such a kindhearted trainer. Sigh.]

Are the Pokémon at least holding up okay? His departure must've hit them just as hard as the rest of us.

[text]

[soggypastry]

I know what you mean.

[She'll be watching the network extra close from now on. While she doesn't doubt the ones in Riku or Sora or Hope's care will be well cared for, the rest? That'll take some watching like a hawk. Any sign of trouble and she's there.]

They're holding up for now. These three used to be Serah's, so I think they're used to people leaving them behind. Lucky's staying with them for now.

[video]

[usedfeatherdance]

Considering how you wrote about it and that you decided to end your message by insisting nothing's wrong, I'd say the truth of that statement is highly suspect.

text for now

[islandshore]

Maybe you're just looking into it too deeply. It just took me by surprise.

and josh will be sticking with video

[usedfeatherdance]

Then why bother assuring everyone unprompted?

action

[heartdive]

[ this isn't good at all. doesn't matter what Riku says. it's everything that he's not saying. his friend really needs someone and Sora isn't about to just not be that someone.

he gets up from poking around in the water and leaves to hunt down a bff that is likely killing people with his scowls. yeap. can't have that. ]

action

[islandshore]

[Sora will find Riku off at the edge of town, leaning against a tree trunk with a scowl that could terrify a rabid zombie. Flare's looming close by, occasionally stomping over to Riku and tapping him with his claws.

He doesn't budge.

Yeah, he's in one of those moods.]

action

[heartdive]

[ that's okay. Sora can sit down against the tree in silence. gonna pat Flare's foot with a reassuring smile.

Riku will talk when he wants. ]

[Text]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[... Well. She can't claim that she knows Riku well. But they've talked a few times lately, enough for her to get a slightly better impression of him than just 'that guy who's like super ultra obsessed with having strong Pokemon'.]

[So maybe... aw, fuck it. She'll say something.]</sub>

Something's pretty obviously wrong, man

but it's okay

pretty sure that's normal, no matter how many times someone leaves

so yeah. you're not alone.


sorry about your friend

Ven seemed like an all-around decent dude

[Text]

[islandshore]

More than decent. He's a lot like Sora, always able to see the bright side of anything. Never letting your mood stay sour for wrong, even if you're too stubborn to smile.

I think what makes it worse is that I hadn't heard from him in months and it's only now that he's really disappeared. Talk about adding insult to injury.

[And really, as much as he'll deny his bad mood, talking does help. It's good to get this off his chest.]

[Text]

[foolishwren]

... yeah

i've been there

the way people sometimes just fade out months before going


it's awful

_{[Especially when it was someone you were close to... it was what had happened when her father had disappeared, back in that first December in Johto. She'd last heard from him one or two months before that... in October.]}

but you never know... he might come back

text

[teablossom]

I'm so sorry.

I never had a chance to speak to him. But I know no matter how many times it happens, it's never easy to lose a friend.

text

[islandshore]

Thanks.

And you're right, it's not easy, but I should still be used to it. It's just a million times harder when the person who leaves lasted so long. It was hard to imagine this place without him.

text

[teablossom]

[She doesn't think saying she doubts anyone could get used to it would help... so she skips her first point for the second.]

Then I take it his impression in this world was equally big?

If not in his personal team, than his friendships?

voice; sorry for the late tag :(

[earthshattering]

I ended up with Bolt and the rest of his pikachu.

[ His voice sounds a little off, but he's trying to stay strong ]

voice; it's okay!

[islandshore]

You gonna be okay, Terra?

voice;

[earthshattering]

Yeah. I think so.