guestservices | AUDIENCE FOR: Hope Estheim

[ well. this is. a lot to take in! hope feels like it's a little rude to just barge into someone's room without making his presence known, even if it's not really his fault that he's currently without a physical form. before he really takes a full look around to get his bearings, he starts off by righting himself back up and clearing his throat a little to hopefully gain gemini's attention. ]

. . .

Hello, Gemini.

[well. they startle so fucking badly that there's a Wah! kind of noise and a heavy-ass book goes flying off of the desk, landing on the floor.

it's a dictionary.

but they turn to look at him, blinking in surprise for a few moments.]

Oh, Hope. I didn't hear you come in. [...and then it registers.] Wait, what? [WHY ARE YOU A GHOOOOOOOST?]

[ he is so glad he is transparent so the book doesn't land on his ghostie foot or something. while he does glance at the dictionary on the floor, he figures they can save that discussion for another time... ]

You didn't hear about the bus tickets? Harrowhark and Lup chose Claude and me, respectively, to return to this side.

No, I heard. I sort of tuned out after everybody started yelling about who to choose and that stupid lollipop and stuff. But that doesn't...I mean. You're kind of a ghost?

For the time being, that seems to be the case. I'm more here than I am there, though; I don't think Claude and I can return to the other side now that we've been brought back. So, we can talk with you, but...

[ to demonstrate a point, he bends over to try and pick up the book that gemini dropped, only for his hand to completely pass through it. ]

There's only so much we can do.

No, I don't suppose you can. [...they finally turn away from the papers to look at hope entirely though, leaning forward on their knees to examine him.]

But that might be part of the problem. [and they seem a little...unsure.] Um. You still have the copy of the contract, don't you?

[ he frowns. ]

I know—the clause about how we must be present in the lobby in the same state of existence that we arrived in, right? [ ... ] Our contracts aren't over yet. We still have time.

Right. This--[a wild wave at hope's everything]--probably isn't the same state of existence unless there's something you're not telling me. You're starting to run out of time is the other thing.

Maybe so, but the fact is that it isn't over yet. There's still a chance that we can change our fates, and I intend to do everything in my power to make that happen.

[ . . . ]

That includes you, too, you know.

[they.

pause, actually. and sort of look at hope for a second.]

...I'm not going to stop you. But I don't know how much I can help you right now. You get that, don't you? [it's hesitant, because they are kind of worried about this.]

I do. But I meant more in the way that I want to ensure that you and the other staff members are released from your contracts, too.

[they tilt their head then, and they still remain silent.]

...seriously, focus on your own contract first. That's all I'm asking for you guys.

...You have to make it back to him.

[oh.

okay.

that kind of blindsides the hell out of them so they sort of make a weird sound that isn't quite a word.

actually yeah, no, they aren't sure what to say. sora.exe has crashed, please hold.]

[ man it sucks being a ghost. hope will allow them some time to collect themselves, but not before trying to reach out and pat their shoulder... only to withdraw it yet again. ]

...Sorry. That may have been a bit of a low blow.

[GHOST TOUCH? they allow this and kind of glance at hope's hand.]

...I knew what was going to happen when I left, Hope. [evenly.] As long as he and Kairi are together, I can wait.

Edited (where tf did the first part go.) 2022-07-27 19:04 (UTC)

[ help your tag became a ghost too ]

Not if the reason you can't be with them is because you're stuck working for the Nightman.

...Trust me. I know what it's like to be beholden to your duties. But in my case, my loved ones were gone, or otherwise unable to reach—yours are out there. You should be with them.

And I agree with you. [but? ] But being here isn't why we aren't together. My employment here came a year after that. So it's different.

Is it? No one should be forced to be here with a ransom held over their head.

And I agree with that, too, but you are missing the point, Hope. Even after this is over, I don't know when we'll see each other again. It's not the same.

...

Ah. A similar situation to mine, then.

[ except on the other side of things... ]

[..there's a soft laugh.]

You never wondered why I understood exactly what you were talking about?

...I just thought you were enthusiastic, or at least being kind enough to let me ramble.

All of that can also be true. [. . .] ...I'm the one who ended up going back to fix stuff that went wrong to save them. But because of it, I'm not with them anymore. That's what happened. The dormhead that you knew--[they don't say riku's name in case people are Listening]--is from before any of that happened. He doesn't know.

[ hope nods; it's the same reason he referred to riku simply as "him" earlier. ]

So you're more like Serah or Lightning than me. Haha... I have to wonder if all of this is connected somehow. The reason why people like us get roped into these games... do you think it's because we've already had so much taken from us?

(no subject)

guestservices - 2022-07-28 06:02 (UTC) - Expand