synopsychic | Heartbroken Call

He is gone.

I- but... but I didn't even get a chance to tell him goodbye, I-

He can't be gone!

He is, just like everyone else who does not make it back to liminal space.

Nobody got a chance to say anything, you are not an exception.

But I- I got a second chance and I didn't... I thought- he'd been here so long, I thought he'd always be here to greet us!

...second chance?

[Sorry. This is... about to get terrible.]

Most of us have only had the moments between jaunts to be ourselves with those we come to love and you are whining about not getting a second chance?!

I never got even that, I- I barely, I just barely- human time is so short, what would you know of what I'm feeling?

The last time I saw my Leonardo- I was a child, a child watching him suffer and flee to France while I could do nothing to help him, to stop him- I was useless and I thought- I thought seeing him here was...

...a second chance...

You think I do not know how it feels to lose someone? I have had everyone and everything I have ever loved ripped away from me one way or another.

Just because you are thousands of years old and a human lifetime is what it takes you to sneeze you still had something before being brought here, child or not.

This was the only chance everyone besides you and Ezio had to know him as a person. So how dare you sit there and argue that yours is a more important grief than that of anyone else.

How dare you?!

I never- I never said mine is more important! I never- you're the only one hearing that! I'm mourning- I'm mourning him and my time with him- what does that have anything to do with you?!

What is wrong with you?

Both of you, STOP.

[Helena's voice is firm, and more than a bit sharp.]

No one's grief is more or less than any other, and no one is trying to argue that fact. Both of you need to take a step back and calm yourselves.

Many people are hurting, and taking that hurt out on others will help no one. I understand the instinct to lash out when you have lost someone, but that will not help anyone at all.

Malik, would you focus your attention on me for a minute?

Lupa I-

Leonardo took part of my heart with him and I... I will be dead before he is ever born, and a name mentioned once in a book is all he will ever see of me again.

I understand.

[Lupa thinks that Malik will know why, after his dungeon. They had only just barely met, and then Gale was forced to help kill him, and even if they got to meet briefly again after death, it was not possible to stay together. Here, though... If one of them leaves this place, Lupa shudders to think of it, feeling it almost as physical pain. So he understands. He even thinks he understands why Malik is angry at the one he's talking to, too.]

Comforting others after a loss isn't something I have much experience with, but I can come and be with you so you're not in pain alone.

And... there's a good chance he's in a dungeon that will appear given time. I will keep watch with you.

If you wish to.

I am... not planning on leaving my quarters until I have a better handle on myself as it is.

I will be there shortly.

[And he is, knocking on the outer door of Malik's created space in as short a time as he can manage to get there from his own rooms.]

[Malik's metal arm is still missing when he pulls the door open for Lupa, and he's in just his tunic and leggings.]

I am not apologizing to him.

[There's anger and grief in his expression and the set of his shoulders, even if there is also a wall of stony stubbornness being built to deal with it all.]

I don't think this requires an apology.

[Lupa says that with a shrug. As far as he can tell, neither man was really at fault, but emotions can make it difficult to clear up misunderstandings easily. But he will do what he can to help Malik with his emotions. After a moment's contemplation he lifts one of his hands and starts a motion to lay it on Malik's shoulder. Lupa stops partway, clearly waiting for permission before completing the motion.]

All I can offer is company, and if you wish to talk, I can listen.

It seems that the Renaissance's greatest artist has taken his leave of this journey, along with several others.

[Hint hint please stop digging a hole with Malik. Although that's probably too subtle for Feliciano.]

I just... I... I knew people came and went, I just- I wasn't ready.

I wasn't ready to say goodbye again...

That's the nature of departures, sadly. Death comes in the twinkling of an eye, and so does removal from our little caravan here.

I'm so sick of this. I- it hadn't... it hadn't sunk in until now.

How fragile even this place is.

Did I ever tell you of my Golden Land, Feliciano? I wanted to create a perfect Earthly Paradise, where everyone could exist forever, untouched by the cruelty of the world. I dare say I succeeded, using many of the same tricks this place uses...but it was still as fragile as a soap bubble, if the right weakness was found. Nothing is truly eternal and unchanging, or at least nothing made by humans or Trumps.

Nothing ever changes, in that respect, though, does it?

Everything is... bound to end.

Everything ends.

T-That's why I don't want to let go. I can't help but not want to let go...

I'm well aware, Feliciano. No one wants to let go of a loved one, for a variety of reasons. That experience is part of what makes us human. Or a Witch and the collective will and culture of several million humans, in this case.

Ahah... ha...

I guess that's... it, then.

That's how it's always going to be no matter how we try.

[She's making things worse, making him think about this, she's sure of it. On the other hand, making things a lot worse can sometimes have good results.]

Would you rather live a life free of suffering, or would you rather understand it, I wonder? No judgement here, just curiosity.

I already understand it.

I understand too well.

Too much- it's enough! Isn't it enough? Isn't this just beating a dead horse- what is the point of all this?

I-I've had enough!

I've... had...

Immortality is a terrible thing, isn't it? No matter how much we care, no matter what we do to hold on to people, the only thing we can be certain of is remembering them.

It's not so bad, though, in this case. We know from the fact that Maestro Leonardo came here as he did that there is a world out there where the "now" is still during his lifetime, and his country is there and loves him as well.

[She's careful to only imply that that's where Leo departed to, of course - she has no idea what happens when a Traveler leaves the journey.]

I hope we do love him. I hope- I hope he is... flourishing, and happy, and safe, and...

[The voice grows soft even across the network.]

I wish I'd just gotten to tell him just how much we loved him.

Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most brilliant men in history, and you're one of the most emotionally transparent. I think he got it.

I hope so... I- I couldn't... tell. I didn't know if he thought of me as a person or as a Nation, so, so I...

...I hope he knows.

I haven't, but--

[What Tybalt was about to stay is stalled by the announcement.]

I see you've already got confirmation. My condolences.

...I wasn't ready for him to go...

[Even the mental voice is soft and weak now.]

I wasn't even ready the first time.

No one, not even humans, can ever be ready for a loved one to leave. Claims to that effect never hold entirely.

[But Tybalt gets it, and his mental voice is as gentle as it ever gets.]

However, in this place, he might not be entirely gone. I haven't experienced any myself, but I've heard that people who disappear from here show up in dungeons later with fair frequency.

I've heard it, but... I've heard most people just don't come back.

[There's a long pause.]

Even if he's in a dungeon, it means he's suffering now, isn't he?

Don't ever, or haven't yet? When we're brought from so many times and places, and so many lifespans, one must ask the important questions.

[Tybalt sighs.]

For the second, I don't know. If he is, he will need support when he gets out, I'm sure, but as trite as it can be, the saying about what doesn't kill you making you stronger has a core of truth to it.

[There's a long silence.]

...I hope he's alright, wherever he is. I just... I wish I'd gotten to say goodbye properly.

In my experience, proper goodbyes are few and far between. I do emphasise with you loss.

[There's a little pause.]

Anything I might be of assistance with for easing the sting?

[There's a long silence, and a weak laugh.]

I probably couldn't coax you into letting me cuddle you, could I? I could use a cute kitty right about now...

You would certainly have to owe me a favor, but for that and the good cause of improving your mood, I would allow it.

[Really, Tybalt doesn't expect to call in the favor except for dire circumstances, but his dignity won't allow any less.]

[There's a weak set of laughs, but there's a soft, relieved tone to his mental voice.]

Grazie... grazie. I'll do whatever you'd like. I'll come find you.

[Tybalt gives as precise directions as Liminal space allows.]

Look for the door that's rather gaurish for diurnal eyes. I'll set up a... bubble for lack of a better term, outside of it so we shall not be bothered.

[The other reason is because Tybalt isn't quite ready to invite the man into his "home" here, not yet.]

Alright, I'll go look for it. Grazie mille.

Heartbroken Call

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[private]

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[private] -> action?

Action!

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should we move this elsewhere or end it here? :o I'm never sure when the psychic/space boundary ends