[CHAPTER 03 - SCENE] better days ~through my eyes~

[fatal-old-man.livejournal.com]

Who: Raven and Rhea Scarlet (Arche Klein)
Where: Daath
When: Around the same time Natalia and Ion are getting rescued.
Warnings: Raven's alone with a piece of fresh young virgin meat.


It had been a long trip, but after fighting that Sword Dancer, Raven was glad to be back in Daath... even if it was only to report back to Van what was going on. Yeah, it sucked, but his old bones needed a rest. Rest tended to help the elderly, after all, right? All he had to do was endure some interrogation from Van, and he could rest up a while before deciding what to do about Rhea's request.

Dragging two pink-headed women to Daath probably wasn't the wisest idea, but in the end he was sure Estelle would be safe in the library and Rhea... well, while he didn't really love her or hate her, if she got lost or something Raven didn't think it would be all that bad. Oh, who was he kidding? His conscience wouldn't let that happen. Sighing, he turned around, got two bars of ice cream, and sat down on the bench. "Here; for you, darlin'." He winked, handing her one of the ice cream popsicles.

Comments

[broomriding.livejournal.com]

Rhea blinked, a little confused at the gesture, but smiled up at Raven and took the ice cream from him, giving him a little nod.

"Thank you," She said quietly, returning her gaze to the ground and absentmindedly licking her ice cream. She seemed to be in deep thought over something. So deep in thought, in fact, that she'd gone right back to thinking after accepting the ice cream from her traveling companion.

[fatal-old-man.livejournal.com]

Well, she seemed deep in thought. "Relieved that we avenged your parents?" Raven asked, sighing, taking another lick of his popsicle. "But it's never that simple, is it? Sure, you feel some relief, but what comes after that is even tougher... living life is harder than dying, truly enough." Not that he'd say that he had personal experience in that realm, but he almost felt bad for Rhea.

[broomriding.livejournal.com]

Rhea looked up, casting a sidelong glance at Raven whilst still licking at her ice cream. She sat back and sighed a little.

"Mn. I'm relieved, yes. But ..."

She looked down again. "You've never believed I was telling the entire truth, have you, Raven?"

[fatal-old-man.livejournal.com]

"Heh, not like I made an effort to hide it." Raven chuckled. "And everybody has a few secrets. Nothin' wrong with that. But what matters is if those secrets hurt those around you or not." Yeah, like he could talk. "And we nearly got killed with that last piece of action you scored us. So because of that, don't ya think it's time you gave us something else for that?"

[broomriding.livejournal.com]

Rhea smiled a little.

"I was about to get to that," She responded in kind, taking another lick of her melting ice cream before exhaling and leaning back into her seat on the bench.

"What I've said to you and Estelle is the truth. Not the whole truth, but the truth nonetheless. However, there are things I couldn't tell you. I wasn't sure if you'd believe me if did, but ..." She laughed a little.

"I suppose stranger things have happened, right?"

She looked to Raven.

"First things first, then. While I am Rhea Scarlet, this body belongs to a girl named Arche Klein. She's my best friend. Or, she was, before my death."

Now, Raven. What's 2 + 2?

[fatal-old-man.livejournal.com]

The guy never was good at math, but while he talked slow he ain't dumb.

"So... you're dead. Possessing your friend's body."

...

"Uh... wow." Raven scratched the back of his head, not sure whether to take it at face value. "On one hand, it's an outrageous story. On the other hand, you ain't stupid. So... either you're telling the truth, in which case it's an outrageous story, or you're lyin', which you shouldn't do, because it's an outrageous story. I may as well flip a coin on this one." Raven sighed.

"This old man's not good with this sort of thing... I'm supposed t' be telling these old stories, not livin' them!" He took a bite out of his popsicle, ruminating. "You oughtta show respect for yer elders, missy."

[broomriding.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, she'll teach you the maths.

Rhea giggled at Raven's comment, taking another bite of her own popcicle.

"My apologies. You're correct, though. My spirit was left here so I could have an opportunity to exact vengeance on the thing that killed my parents and I. I knew Arche would do anything to help me, so ... I suppose she's helping me, one last time." Rhea sighed, looking to her lap.

"By all means, my spirit should have ejected from her body when we defeated the sword dancer. However, that's obviously not the case, is it? I think .. it's because there's still something I feel I need to do. And .."

Another lick of ice cream.

"A ... friend of Arche's. Chester. I hardly knew him, but .." She flushed at the thought, a small smile crossing her lips.

"I had such a crush on him. But everyone except for the two in question could see that Arche and Chester were more fond of each other than they knew. I may not have a chance, not then, and not now, but I want to tell him to take good care of Arche. Such a good friend deserves only the best, right?"

[fatal-old-man.livejournal.com]

"A Cupid from beyond the grave, huh?" Raven rubbed his chin. "Finding this Chester kid ain't gonna be easy, you know. Unless you know exactly where to find him. I may be good with hearsay, but tracking down somebody I've never heard of before ain't an easy task, darlin'." He explained. But still, thsi Arche girl must've been something special if she could channel a spirit. Not that Raven knew anything about that... but in any case, at least he was finally getting the truth.

"This Arch must sure be an angel to do this for you."

[broomriding.livejournal.com]

"I'm .. aware that it won't be easy, and I wouldn't blame you if you decided not to help. I'm grateful for the help you and Estelle have given me so far, and I admittedly feel a little guilty for asking you for yet another favor." Rhea finished off her ice cream and sighed.

"As for Arche .." She giggled at the thought. "She's actually quite the tomboy. A bit of a troublemaker; Always finding some way to get herself into the most dangerous things. Only her father and her close friends knew, but she's a fonist, and a talented one at that.

"As a friend, though ... she really is one of the best." It was obvious Rhea held her best friend in very high regard, even when other's ... well. Didn't.

[fatal-old-man.livejournal.com]

"Getting an old man's hopes up and crushing them is bad for his heart!" Raven sighed, jokingly. "But yeah, a fonist would be a good choice to possess considerin' their fonslots and everything... I wouldn't know the details myself, but it would make sense. And don't worry; I'd never hear the end of it from Estelle if we just up and left you. After I'm done here in Daath, we'll go and hook you up with your... or her... or whatever, the boyfriend, all right?"

[broomriding.livejournal.com]

"Chester," Rhea clarified with a nod, a small flush rising to her cheeks at the mention of him being 'her' boyfriend. Her expression then grew a little more serious.

"Though I have to wonder what Arche was doing away from him in the first place? Those two often had their differences, but even so, the two were pretty inseparable ..." She put a finger to her chin in thought. "When I found her, she was without him."

[fatal-old-man.livejournal.com]

"People have all sorts of reasons for not spending every waking moment together." Raven finished off his ice cream and threw the stick away into the trash bin. "If they fight as often as you said, they were bound to get mad enough to not want to be right next to each other for a while." Raven sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "But if you wanna see him and give him some final message, be my guest. I could use the distraction, and it's not like Estelle's got any place to be."

[broomriding.livejournal.com]

She nodded, smiling again.

"I suppose you're right. And I do. I think ... I might be able to finally be at peace if I know for sure that Chester will take care of my best friend."

[fatal-old-man.livejournal.com]

"Hey, if an angel like you liked him, I'm sure he's a good guy." Raven grinned, doing his best to reassure Rhea. Standing up and stretching, Raven let out a yawn. "I'm headin' back to the hotel room. You can come back whenever... who knows? He just might be in this city, if you wish it hard enough."

[broomriding.livejournal.com]

To that, Rhea nodded.

"Right. Have a good rest, Raven. And thank you, again." She smiled at him, getting up.

If she wished it hard enough, huh? Well ... Rhea knew what she was doing until bed time, then.