ⅺ - [video]

[mnementomori]

[the mirror shows a wooden shelf, with several items lined up in a row on it. A gold key, a box of matches, a glass flower, a black and silver star, a black ribbon, another ribbon in yellow tied in a bow.]

[a hand reaches up to place a green stone by the star shape, and the view shifts to show Xion, wearing something a little different today.]

[

Comments

[video]

[headedforhope]

-No, it's a natural thing to feel.

[just a bit of hesitation, because she's thought that over as well and honestly believes otherwise....at least, when she does it.]

But I guess it depends on how far you take it.

[video]

[mnementomori]

How far...? You mean, like trying to bring them back here?

I...I know better now.

[video]

[headedforhope]

....Well, yes, that would count. Did you really try something like that?

[video]

[mnementomori]

[her already soft voice shrinks further, if possible.]

I--asked the Queen to...bring one of my friends back, once.

But she's gone again.

[video]

[headedforhope]

[a sigh; she had honestly expected a lot worse. Mami inwardly tsks tsks, then changes her tone to something more gentle.]

I'm honestly surprised she didn't listen, in that case. I've met our....esteemed host, and I think that the one thing she wants the most is ["what I want"] to not be alone. Regardless of how selfish it is, but she didn't seem much preoccupied with those kinds of concerns. [a pause] I'm sorry, I probably sound like I'm judging you. You must have cared for them very much, right?

[video]

[mnementomori]

I...she said she'd do it, and she did. But then my friend disappeared a second time.

[she fidgets, looking down, her hood hiding her face completely, and nods a little.]

Sora was one of the...first people to be my friend here. I missed her.

[video]

[headedforhope]

A second time....that must have been hard on you. I'm sorry.

[Even though, really? She's just a little jealous.]

Mmm....it's not quite the same, but I know the feeling.

[video]

[mnementomori]

It's okay...there are important things she needed to do at home. People she needed to protect.

[video]

[headedforhope]

So she was that type of person, huh?

[video]

[mnementomori]

[she nods.]

Friendly, and...she cared about everyone she met, no matter what.

I was lucky to just get to know her.

[video]

[headedforhope]

I knew someone just like that back- [she almost says "home", but that word has been empty and meaningless for too long now] -where I lived. I was lucky, too, even though it didn't get to last too long.

I'm sure that you, though, deserved your friend.

[video]

[mnementomori]

[something about that phrasing seems off to her.]

Are you saying...you didn't?

[video]

[headedforhope]

[a careless, evasive shrug]

Sometimes I wonder if anyone could. She was just that nice.

[video]

[mnementomori]

But if she was that nice...she'd want to be friends whether the person deserved it or not.

[she adds, tentatively]

So...does that matter, then?

[video]

[headedforhope]

Mm, true....[this girl strikes her as being very skittish, so she tries to keep her tone more gentle than usual] Maybe it's just hard for the other person....to accept the kindness.

[video]

[mnementomori]

[she mulls over this for a moment. It rings true.]

I think...you're right.

But I don't want to make anyone sad by pushing them away, either.