Ninth Suite♪

[tsunmuse]

[Filtered to Negi - Phone]

Apologies for kissing you like that Negi. I wasn't quite in my right state of mind... but I don't think any of us were. Again, sorry.


[Filtered to Cain - Phone[

Cain I am so sorry for how I acted under the influence of flowers. I still want to remain friends though, if you're willing.


[Filtered to Yuna - Phone]

Yuna, that teacher of yours is a cutie. But I dunno if I could kiss him again after this. How are you by the way? Have a good date?


[Phone - Drone Filter]

Apologies to anyone else I've kissed. No harm done?


[Locked to Housemates or Street Members]

[Once her phonecalls were done, Ako sighed as she went over to the bed to flop over onto it. This sucked. She had been completely out of her control. What's worse was that she was feeling conflicted about this. Dodori floated around her, chiming a little. If the housemates came by, Dodori would flit under the pillow.]

That sucked. And worst of all is that I think my 'parents' did it.

[She did the laundry, she KNEW.]

Comments

[outlandished]

Well, still. Jus' wanted t', y'know, make things right.

[ She gave a little smile to Ako before ruffling her hair playfully. ]

Ye know, when I was yer age, I said th' same thing. Th' whole "I'll be fine, really" when I really wasn't. I know a brave face when I see one.

[ She took a moment to chuckle lightly, shaking her head. ]

Lemme tell ye somethin'. Ye can be strong as much as ye want 'n tha's fine. Tha' shows character 'n all. But, ye know what one's true strength really comes from?

[tsunmuse]

[Damnit stop ruffling her hair! She wasn't a scared six year old anymore when she ran away to her grandpa's place in the human world... and yet...]

Where's it from?

[outlandished]

Bein' part of somethin', for example, a crew. A ship, or in our case, a house, can only function when we all come together t' work on goals, dreams 'n aspirations.

So, if ye've been feelin' left out, jus' let any of us know 'n we'd be glad t' include ye in stuff. Ye can go at stuff alone, but does it really make ye happy in th' end or just more lonesome?

[tsunmuse]

...

[Ako clutched a bit of her sheets in her hand. She really didn't understand why she was like this, why she had closed off her heart like so. The only people she was able to relate to was her grandpa, and even then she never spoke to him about being Cure Muse.]

... All right.

[Damnit. Why was she accepting this?]

[outlandished]

[ Ambrosia turned to give Ako a genuine smile, bringing her feet up to sit on the bed. ]

Th' reason I'm sayin' this is 'cause I tried t' be too strong when I was little. Y'see, me mum - great woman, lemme tell ye - ended up dyin' due t' some kind of disease 'n I could tell me father was tearin' up inside when nothin' we did worked t' save her. So, I was forced t' be th' strong one 'cause he wasn't gonna have th' crew lecturin' him all of a sudden.

So, I cried at nights 'cause I saw me father upset 'n I didn't know what t' do t' fix it t' make him happy again. I felt more like a grown-up tryin' t' fill in some pretty big shoes with th' weight of responsibility on me shoulders. But, th' point is with all this is don't be afraid t' make mistakes, scrape yer knees, 'n whatnot, 'kay? I want t' see ye be happy 'round here, too.

[tsunmuse]

You don't understand...

[Ako clenched the sheets tightly.]

I... I shouldn't be here, I have a duty to do, people to protect back home... I can't... [Her voice choked.] I want my mama and papa back together...

I DON'T WANT MY PAPA TO BE EVIL ANYMORE!

[And here, Ako clapped her hands across her mouth, realizing what she had said. Wide, horrified eyes looked at Ambrosia and she scrambled off the bed, hoping to get away...]

[outlandished]

[ Oh, this wasn't the first time she was yelled at and it won't be the last. With the news Ako gave her, Ambrosia just silently got off of the bed to go to her and takes her in her arms, quietly shushing her. ]

It's all right, love. Let it out now, 'kay? I won't think any less of ye.

[ Because she's here and she won't abandon her in her time of need. ]

[tsunmuse]

[Ako struck her chest, but she also buried her head in Ambrosia's own.]

I want to go home... I have to save my papa... he's not himself, he's doing horrible things, trying to spread the Score of Sorrow across the world! I can only stop him, but if I'm here... My mama's suffering, we've been apart for years... why won't this place send me back?

[outlandished]

[ Ambrosia let Ako do what she wanted, threading her fingers through her hair in an attempt to try to console her. ]

Ye definitely have been holdin' in all this fer a while, huh?

[ Her voice had dropped to a gentle tone to try to help her further. ]

Bein' away from yer parents fer so long must be scary, huh? 'Specially when there's these many problems 'n all ye want is t' have 'em be together again 'n return t' before this whole thing happened, eh?

Ye know wha' I think might help?

[tsunmuse]

What?

[Her voice was muffled, as she rested her head in Ambrosia's chest. She didn't want this, she wanted to go home, and yet...]

[outlandished]

With however long ye are here, love, ye will never be truly alone. I bet me ship tha' there's others 'round here with the same situation as yers, so ye can have th' help of others in order t' turn ye pop good once 'n fer all.

[ She places her head on top of Ako's, still rubbing her back in a consoling way. ]

Remember what I said 'bout a crew? Th' people here can help ye out in so many ways with trainin', advisin', 'n th' whole seven seas. Ye'll be prepared so tha' ye can see t' yer dream of havin' yer parents back together.

[tsunmuse]

M'not a pirate though... but I guess you have a point.

[Her grip on Ambrosia's shirt tightened.]

I miss my mama and papa...

[outlandished]

Doesn't matter if ye are one or not. Th' idea's all the same with friends or th' "family" ye've been given.

[ She thought for a bit before grinning, looking down at Ako in a sweet way. ]

Ye know wha' I've just thought of?

[ She motioned to the trinket in her hair that's woven tightly so that it doesn't fall out. ]

This was given t' me by me own parents. Ye know th' flag that's on me crow's nest? Th' heart is part of th' Bloody Mary's symbol. So, tell me wha' symbol represents yer parents together.

[tsunmuse]

A G-clef. From a score. It's the family symbol actually.

[The same G-clef that empowered her Cure abilities. She wanted to make certain she carried her Cure Module with her wherever she went anyhow.]

[outlandished]

Show it t' me 'n I'll carve ye one of these t' wear so tha' it feels like yer parents are here, mmkay?

[tsunmuse]

All right.

... can you keep this between us for a little while? I don't want to worry Serah and Marvelous. Especially since, my papa...

[outlandished]

I'll be honest, ye probably have worried 'em, but don't worry. It'll be our little secret 'n if I squeal at all, ye can make me walk th' plank.

[tsunmuse]

All right, that's fine with me then.

[She smiled just a little.]

I just felt like everything was boiling up inside me lately. I needed to get it out.

[outlandished]

[ Ambrosia chuckled, ruffling Ako's hair again before offering her a small handkerchief to wipe at her face. ]

Anytime ye need t' get somethin' out, ye can come t' me 'n we'll have girl time.

Now, what say ye t' havin' some ice cream or whatever? My treat!

[ By which she means steal it because that's what all good pirates do. ]

[tsunmuse]

Sure. That sounds like a plan for today. I could use it, considering the last couple of days I've had.

[outlandished]

Hmm...

Well, in tha' case, let's make a day of it. Did ye want t' have a day out with th' entire family, love?

[tsunmuse]

Well we may as well. It's not like we're not doing anything important right now.

[outlandished]

Perfect. Lemme go 'round 'em up 'n we'll have plenty of fun.

[ She gives Ako a tight squeeze before getting up to her feet. ]

I'll say it again - ye ain't alone. Ye are strong 'n we'll take good care of ye.

[tsunmuse]

Thanks...

[Still feeling a little miserable, but okay for the time being.]

[outlandished]

Y'welcome, 'n smile, all right? Ye look good with it.

[ And then, with that? She goes out of the room, glass in hand. ]

OI! Marvelous! Serah! Get th' barnacles out of yer rears! We're goin' out fer th' day!