video | un: Ventus

[salvagedlight]

[When the feed turns on, it's very clear Ven's in his room in the dorms, seated at his desk. It looks like just the other two-person rooms, with the basic furniture and everything. There's two differences, though: very unlike normal, someone's gone and stuck those glow-in-the-dark stars over the portion of the wall that's visible and even onto the bit of ceiling that can also be seen, and a small telescope of the old fashioned brass spyglass type is laying on the desk behind him. Ven himself gives the camera a wave and a smile, looking for all intents and purposes like a completely normal, cheerful, sixteen-year-old boy with abnormally fluffy blond hair.]

Hey there, everyone - I'm Ventus, but call me Ven, I usually go by that most of the time. If you know Aqua, she might've mentioned me; we're students together. Or we were, until she wasn't an apprentice anymore, but we still live together and train together. She's one of my best friends.

[There's another smile, a happy one, but those with sharp eyes might notice a hint of wistfulness in it. Ven is Not Good at concealing his emotions, and the lack of the third member of their trio is something that brings him down.]

Aqua explained what she knew about this place, but I got a message on this phone and I had another question, and neither of us really know a lot about this world so I'd thought I'd ask everyone. Has anyone heard of "dualiseats?" [There's a brief glance down at something off-screen, like he's checking something, before he nods and looks back at the camera.] Yeah, that's it - "dualiseats." There's a message about going to work for them tomorrow, but I've never really had a job before, so I don't know what's going on. And I didn't sign up for this, so can you just... have jobs here? Like the guys in charge just decide you need one, or something like that?

I mean, I don't mind having a job, I just don't know how you get one. But I need to pay Aqua back what she lent me.

[A moment's pause, then a small shrug and another smile.] Anyway, uh, I guess that's it. If anyone's got any answers for my questions, thanks in advance!

Comments

UN: Almasy

[firacrux]

Oh hey, you're one of Aqua's friends! She's mentioned you a bit. Bet she's thrilled you're around.

[It's no secret she's seemed a little lonely in the Iteration and since, it'll be good for her to have friends from home. He huffs in amusement.]

I dunno, this place can be a little strange. Just kinda landed in my job too. I think I've heard the name of the place you're mentioning around. Delivery or something?

[salvagedlight]

She is. And I'm thrilled to see her, too.

[There'd been too much separation in their lives, for far too long. Too many things had happened to them. Now they have a shot at making up for some of that lost time.]

It's something about delivery, but I'm not really sure what. I've never heard of a job like this, but... [He shrugs.] I haven't heard of a lot of jobs at all, really. It's probably just something else I haven't experienced, yet.

[firacrux]

She could use some old friends around.

[She's been lonely, he expects. Not that Aqua opens up easily, but it's not hard to figure out. Anyone would in her situation.]

No? Why's that?

[Admittedly beyond being a mercenary neither has he, but he at least has a concept of it.]

[salvagedlight]

Don't worry, I'm not leaving her alone.

[Ven's savvy enough to know that after what Aqua's been through, what he knows of it, she really does need her friends around her as much as possible. All those years wandering in the Darkness... Out of the three of them, he'd ironically gotten off the best after their battle with Xehanort and Vanitas. So it was time for him to step up and be there for her, like she'd been for him in the past.]

[But at Seifer's question, he kind of shrugs, one hand coming up to rub the back of his head in what is clearly a habitual gesture.]

We were all in training - we didn't really have a lot of reason to go other places and see more things. We were pretty self-sufficient and didn't get a lot of visitors.

[Or pretty much none. World order and all that.]

[firacrux]

Good.

[Seifer has been slowly gleaning details, though he doesn't know the whole story. What he does know is that Aqua very much misses the friends from her world. It would do her a lot of good to have more of them here with her.]

Did they not have jobs where you were from? Or was training your job, you a soldier?

[Perhaps a warrior of some kind not directly attached to an army. That he could imagine, again given what he knows of Aqua.]

Video | UN: RankA

[skyward_eyes]

[You can't even begin to understand, Ventus, how happy he is to hear of this boy associated with Aqua. So here, have a video of a man with a warm, soft smile.]

I'm glad you found her. She missed you a lot, Ven. But yeah, jobs. Enjoy that. I think that's a food delivery one. Haven't used it. My brother Seifer cooks for us. it's going to be a good way to pay her back, though. Be extra quick and maybe you'll get tips.

[salvagedlight]

[That is a good smile, Ven approves. And he seems to know and like Aqua, which is even better. Nida gets an answering smile back, pleased at how people have accepted Aqua as someone worth knowing. Which is definitely is.]

I missed her, too. We've been apart too long, but now we can fix that.

[There's a slow dawning realization on his face as Nida explains the company, and a soft "ohhh" under his breath, then a nod.] Food delivery, got it. I'll probably need to use it myself a bunch, I'm not any good at cooking. But, uh, what are tips?

[skyward_eyes]

Well, if nothing else, Aqua knows how to peel potatoes. So you'd always have those as an option.

[But he was there when she started learning to peel. And had almost hurt himself. Aqua was a relief of help.]

[salvagedlight]

And cereal, and crackers, and fruit.

[Really, Ven lives up to the "teenage boy" stereotype in the way he can eat practically anything, no matter how "good" it is, but he does have a preference for well-prepared foods thanks to living at the castle for so long. He just also has no hope of preparing that food himself.]

Maybe this job will give me food. It could happen, right?

[skyward_eyes]

It could. More likely it will give you money with which to buy food.

[Restaurants are a thing. Clearly, if Ven's going to deliver for them.]

un: unemployed

[ichoosefight]

Hey Ven, I'm Steph. I think I remember Aqua... she's the one with blue hair, right?

[salvagedlight]

Yeah, that's her! She's pretty great, isn't she?

[Of course, he's biased, but Aqua is pretty great.]

It's good to meet you, Steph. Have you been here long?

[ichoosefight]

You too.

It hasn't been long really, around a month. Long enough that I don't have any excuse for being unemployed. Well, any aside from "I need the break".

[salvagedlight]

If you need the break, what's wrong with that? If you just keep working and working and working, you're gonna wear yourself out.

...You can eat, right? You can get food?

[ichoosefight]

Oh yeah, for sure. The dorms supply food, and just enough spending money to support my caffeine habit. It's a pretty generous setup, actually.

un: aqua

[aguidingkey]

[ there's a small, but fond smile here, even if it's punctuated by a slightly tired sigh. she really should've expected this. ]

You really don't have to pay me back, Ven.

[ pause. ]

I'm just glad to see you.

[salvagedlight]

[Of course you should have, Aqua, you know him far too well. He's still got that happy expression on his face, but she should be more than well aware of that stubborn cast coming over his features. He's not going to take no for an answer.]

Of course I have to, Aqua! That was yours, I'm not gonna take something from you that I can get myself.

[Unlike food. Because remember, he's a disaster in the kitchen. At least he knows it?]

[aguidingkey]

[ well, she still says he doesn't need to, but she can already tell this isn't a battle she's going to win.

look at that! she's learning to let go! ]

All right. I know one way you can pay me back: I've been exploring on my days off, just to see how the layout of the city changes every day. You could help me with that.

[ it'll give them something constructive to do together. they haven't had that in far too long. ]

[salvagedlight]

[Yay, they're improving as a family unit!]

[His face lights up at that suggestion, and it's ridiculously easy to tell how much that idea appeals to him.]

Yeah, we could! We've got our gliders, we could make a map and everything!

[aguidingkey]

[ given how few of her things seem to work, she hadn't even tried that. it's been so long since she had her keyblade with her; she hasn't been able to use her keyblade, her armor, or her glider in over a decade. ]

I'll have to see if mine works. But either way, we'll be able to map as much as possible every day if we keep at it. Maybe then we'll find a pattern to all the changes.

un: mason

[merged]

[ He seems like a sweet kid, just the kind of person she sees Aqua being friends with. ]

The job situation seems to vary a little from person to person. Some get them from job fairs, others seem to stumble into them. [ She shrugs. She can't be sure. She's not really sure of much these days. ] Maybe someone up top thought you'd be suited for delivery work.

[salvagedlight]

[He'd not be thrilled with that "kid" bit, but since she didn't say it, Ven's got no reason to object.]

Maybe? I guess? I mean, I can get around really quick, so that might be why they gave it to me.

[He shrugs, then flashes another grin.]

At least it means I get to explore. I always like seeing new places.

[merged]

[ He seems so positive in spite the situation; she's not sure whether or not she envies him or pities him. She really has no room to judge, though. ]

I guess that's one way to look at it. [ The best way, really. Better than drowning in your own pessimism. ]

I hope you're good with navigation. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten lost just getting to and from work. One week a shortcut goes where it's meant to, next day I end up six streets away. [ It's all very difficult. It's like the city itself is a living entity. ]

[salvagedlight]

[He's been through a lot, though it doesn't show. He's just, more or less, done with letting it decide what he's going to do. And if he can't be at home right now, well, he's going to find something to make being here worthwhile. Not to mention getting to meet all these new and interesting people.]

I noticed that - the way this place changes. I haven't been able to see if there's a pattern to anything yet, but if there is, maybe I can find it.

[His grin has calmed down into a more thoughtful, serious expression; not somber, but definitely thinking things through and making decisions. Whatever else he is, Ven isn't stupid.]

Aqua's been trying to explore and hasn't had a lot of luck, either. But if they want me to take food and things around the city, they'll have to give me some kind of directions, right?

[merged]

[ She blinks in surprise. Huh, she never thought to look for a pattern. ]

I'd hope so. They'd be dicks not to, honestly. [ It'd be kind of like setting him up for failure, after all. ]

So, how long have you known Aqua?