34th Crystal: [Voice/Action]

[cladinthedark]

[Golbez fusses with his journal, muttering a little to himself as he does so. He doesn't seem to actually be addressing anyone yet.] Nnnn... dieing is a singularly unpleasant experience. My head pounds.

Where is that... ah, there we are.

[Filtered to FF IV Cast + Selphie]

Cecil. Ceodore. Selphie. Valvalis. Rydia. Kain. I have returned. Are you all alright?

[His need for the journals dealt with, Golbez returns to hobbling back to the village through the forest where he was dropped off. He tries to walk straight and tall, but every so often he'll slip up as the leftover impact of his revival hits him.

More than anything, though, the biggest change apparent is the lack of his omnipresent armor.]

Comments

[Voice]

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

Golbez!

I'm fine, but--where are you?

[And no, you can't escape seeing her. She's already on her way, from the sounds of it.]

[Voice]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

Returning to the village by route of the forest. I should be able to give you house numbers soon...

I'm glad she didn't manage to find you again after the Warp spell.

[Voice/Action]

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

[Footsteps. Now she's leaving the center of town and looking around....]

I'm glad, too, but....

[She trails off, that lump in her throat interfering.]

[Voice/Action]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

No buts, Rydia. True, things did not work out perfectly. I did succeed in what I intended, however, and I was prepared for the consequences.

[He steps (more like staggers) out from behind one of the houses, using one of the sides to support himself as he catches his breath. Raising his head, he sees her and raises his voice.]

Rydia! Over here!

[Action]

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

[Rydia perks up, slams the book shut, and rushes over. As soon as she's within range, she launches herself at him. Hug time.]

[Action]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

Oh, Rydia... [He accepts that hug with a sigh of both relief at seeing her and sadness at what he knows his death did to her.] I am so very sorry for what I put you through.

[Action]

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

[Her fist strikes his shoulder in a not-very-harsh attempt at a reprimand.]

Wasn't there any other way?

[But her mood shifts a moment later, towards something else on her mind.]

It's my fault. I brought her there, I thought we could sedate her in time....

[Action]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

[He ignores her question to focus on her self-blame.]

You brought her there? I'm surprised she allowed anyone to take her anywhere, given how hostile she was acting.

[Action]

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

She didn't 'let' me. I cast Sleep on her, but it wore off soon after we arrived.

[And then had been too late to sedate her. Her tone is just a little bitter along with guilty.]

[Action]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

Sleep? Sleep worked on a foe so powerful?

[Golbez's eyebrows raise practically into his hair.]

Her magic resistance must have been minimal.

[Action]

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

[She sighs, nodding dully.]

Even so, it wasn't enough. I would have been better off knocking her out through more direct means. Maybe then....

[Before she can guilt-trip herself some more, Rydia concentrates enough to use Nala's healing magic on Golbez. He looks as though he could use some.]

[Action]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

There's no point dwelling on that. You took what you thought was the correct course of action, and it's hardly your fault that she shook off the spell before you had a chance to sedate her through other means.

If you'd tried to take her on the traditional way, I don't like to think about what could have happened to you...

[Action]

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

[She looks him over, then nods a bit, unable to refute that logic.]

I was going to Warp us out, but I didn't have the chance.

...how do you feel?

[Action]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

That's what I ended up doing, but even after I got the spell off... [He trails off there.]

... Naked, without my armor.

[Action]

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

[Rydia smiles a little, shaking her head.]

That's not what I meant...though it is nice to see your face again. Did they take anything else?

[Action]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

It doesn't seem like it. Perhaps they thought my armor was a proper penalty.

[Action]

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

You'll get it back, at some point. It'll just take a while.

[Not that she wants to encourage him to hide his face, but she can understand all too well the loss of something so important.]

Can I walk you home?

[Action]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

Mmmmm, hopefully before I'm sent on my next draft.

[And he gives her a good reason not to want him to get his helmet back, in the form of a wide, warm smile.]

Nothing would make me happier.

[Action]

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

[Awww. See, who needs that helmet?? She smiles warmly back.]

Likewise. Besides, it's been a while....

[If he needs it, she'll help steady him but otherwise will simply remain at his side.]

[Action]

[cladinthedark.livejournal.com]

Indeed it has. We should look into ways to remedy that.

[He seems steady enough for now as he walks with her.]