47 - (voice/video)

[conductyourself]

I've returned.

[ This is said in a neutral and quiet tone - or, rather, what passes for somber or half-hearted when you are Clef. He isn't really interested in announcing his arrival but merely thought that it would be rude to go and take a nap in his room and then show up to dinner or whatever without saying hi to anyone first. So he is saying hi

Comments

[willofthewinds]

[She would have told him that it was good to have him back, but that would be selfish. She would have told him you sure took your time but that would be adding salt to an injury. So Fuu settled on the next best thing, however generic it may sound.]

Welcome back, Guru Clef.

[conductyourself]

Thank you, Fuu.

[ Pauses, and then tries a smile. ]

I'm glad to be back. Really.

[ It's the truth, honestly. He... wouldn't have wanted to be gone for very long. And he was happy here before, and there are people--

Well. People. ]

[willofthewinds]

Home is where the heart is, they say. [Translation: Presea's here!]

[conductyourself]

That's one definition of home.

[ Yay~ ]

[spiritofsorrow]

It isn't easy to become attached to a place that wants to kill you. Sometimes I wish that we would all leave at once, save for those who have nothing to go back to and who want to stay here. They do exist.

[conductyourself]

I know of one or two.

Yet, I never said that I wouldn't want to stay.

[spiritofsorrow]

Do you?

[conductyourself]

For the time being.

voice; 1/2

[pharles_at_life]

[ Well, here's someone with enthusiasm that you're back. ]

Clef! Clef, you're back! [ She sounds quite relieved. ]

action; 2/2

[pharles_at_life]

[ And you can expect her arrival a few minutes later, somewhat out of breath. Yes, she ran. ]

[ And... it's strange to see you in formal clothes again, and there's something in your quiet... She wonders when you've come from, because you really don't seem happy. So there is hesitation, and she stops before embracing you, allowing a length of distance, should you need it. ]

Are you all right?

action;

[conductyourself]

[ Hesitates, but then shakes his head before drawing closer to her. He doesn't need all that distance. ]

I--

[ Lied. LIED. ]

... can't discuss it right now. I'm sorry.

[ Stares absently at her hand, though. ]

action;

[pharles_at_life]

All right.

[ Yeah, you came back from a bad place. And you don't want to talk about it, okay. But you are getting a hug, no protests. Because she thinks you need one. ]

[eagleofautozam]

[Probably the last person Clef wanted to see… and yet… ]

Clef, I see the City brought you back after all.

[The Mage’s subdued tone wasn’t lost on him, but Eagle countered it with a more cheerful upbeat one. He wasn’t unsympathetic… Clef was clearly deeply upset over something… ]

You weren’t gone very long, a week at most.

[Confirming the Mage’s suspicions without realizing it.
And there was clearly more Eagle was considering saying, but Clef looked so drained right now. Maybe it should wait? ]

[conductyourself]

So it has.

[ Does try to be a little more upbeat to match - perhaps Eagle knew he'd do that, somehow. Of course, he still sounds subdued, but obviously not hopeless. There might even be the tiniest desire for social interaction. ]

That's good to hear. Has all been well?

[eagleofautozam]

Everyone is fine. There were no really horrible curses while you were away.

[Save for his own… ]

Some thing interesting did occur though…

[A pause. He really should be told, if he didn‘t already know.]

The City brought Lantis here.

[conductyourself]

[ Unfortunately, blinking does not come through in voice, so you just hear some stunned silence. ]

I see... [ That is interesting. Clef would admittedly be more interested, however, if this didn't mean one more person to greet and subsequently try to avoid until he's less of a wreck. ]

Is he staying with us, or...?

[onceaweiss]

[They haven't really met before but...]

The girls will be happy to have you back.

[conductyourself]

[ Aya is probably right. Astonishingly--... He sighs, not unhappily. ]

You must be Aya.

[ Umi talks about you a lot. A LOT. ]

[onceaweiss]

[He would love to say he's surprised...]

I am.

[conductyourself]

[ Hey, Umi knows a lot of people. The fact that there's one person who stands out among them as "that guy she talks about a lot" is amazing, and he should certainly take it as a form of compliment. ♥ ]

It's good to finally speak with you. I hope they were alright in my absence?

[ Didn't almost kill themselves/each other/random strangers? ]