o7 | Written

[bustered]

[It's taken him forever to actually care enough to make this entry -- and when it comes down to it, when the journal is finally on his lap and open to a blank page, Zack doesn't feel like speaking to it. But he's got to; he's allowed himself this funk for much too long, however justified it may or may not have been.

He finally chooses to write, the letters indented with the pressure of a pen gripped too hard.]

Angeal Hewley has gone home.

[That's enough, he thinks -- and all he cares to write, really. People who knew Angeal would know the bits he didn't write, how he'd be missed as a mentor and a friend, and people who didn't know Angeal wouldn't care.

He closes the journal after leaving the sentence, tucking it safely away and standing from his perch on a bale of hay in the stables. He'd planned to go for a ride, but it won't happen if he doesn't actually get his butt in gear.]

Comments

Zack

[heal_theworld]

...Zack... [She knows that he went home to death, what happened to them.] I'm sorry.

Martel

[bustered]

[It's Martel, so she gets a spoken response; Zack has the journal propped up in front of him as he guides the chocobo into an easy pace with reins and legs.] It's not your fault.

[It's that automatic response, the one that tumbles from lips before the brain can stop it. Zack shakes his head with a sigh.] Sorry. I've been... ['A mess,' it goes unsaid.]

Zack

[heal_theworld]

It's all right. I know that feeling too. [A pause.] Yuan went home last month.

Martel

[bustered]

I'm-- [Sorry, it's there, though the word goes unsaid. Automatic responses, Zack isn't free of their clutches either. He knows it's a hard blow though, as hard as the one he's been dealt himself.]

I'm going riding You're welcome to join.

Zack

[heal_theworld]

Depends on what we're riding on. I don't know how to ride a horse.

Martel

[bustered]

...chocobo? [ 8D ]

Zack

[heal_theworld]

Never ridden one of those before, either, but you can teach me.

Martel

[bustered]

I'd love to. I promise, it's not hard.

Zack--->Action

[heal_theworld]

All right, I'll be right down! [And true to her word, she's in the stables a few minutes later.]

Zack...?

Action!

[bustered]

Here!

[The answering call comes from the back of the stable, but the head that pops up first is large, yellow and avian. The chocobo lets out a wark and Zack's head pops into view a moment later, followed by a second chocobo.]

Hey Martel.

[heal_theworld]

Hi Zack. [She smiles at the chocobo and goes over to it, her hand held out.] Hello to you too.

[bustered]

That one'll be yours. I don't know if anyone ever gave them names, but I'm calling him Friendly. [Zack is the most creative, clearly. He leads the second saddled bird out of its stall.] This one's Bitey.

[heal_theworld]

[Don't worry, Martel isn't very creative with names either. She named the mongoose dragon Scaley.] I'd call him Feathers.

[...Martel, they both have feathers.]

[bustered]

Feathers sounds better, yeah. But this guy's still Bitey. [He leans close, as if imparting a great secret.] Didn't want to have his saddle put on.

[But both birds are saddled up all properly now, and a pack is secured to Bitey's saddle -- more greens in case they need to bribe the birds, and a picnic lunch wished up from the castle.]

Have you ever ridden anything before?

[heal_theworld]

[She giggles and then answers him.] A mongoose dragon and a protozoan. So I know how to ride animals... I suppose a chocobo isn't much different.

[bustered]

[He's seen that mongoose dragon thing in the stables! So this is good, especially since the chocobos are much smaller. He starts to lead the way out of the stables, past the other stalls of animals.]

Yeah, you should be fine, I'd think. Both of these two are used to taking a rider. The only thing you probably have to get used to is their gait.

[heal_theworld]

[She leads her chocobo out as well, following him.] Oh, good.

So where are we going?

[bustered]

[He looks back over his shoulder with a big smile.] I dunno!

[No seriously, Zack hadn't had a destination in mind. He just wanted to get away from the castle a bit, to distract his mind from recent losses. He raises a hand to wave at the castle above them as they exit the stable.] Just... not here, at least for a couple of hours.