004 // Video - Action // In which Sora makes a friend

[lockandkeyblade]

[Hey there, Vatheon! Time for a homely little broadcast of a cozy looking ...  stable? Since when did Vatheon have horses? Must be new. The screen pans slowly, revealing a vast open field, bordered by a rickety white fence. Sora's voice speaks off screen:]

Hey guys- check out what showed up at Nostalgia Nook!

[And then woa! Fluffy yellow feathers invade the screen. The SFC shakes as the person holding it begins to laugh. Sora swivels the SFC on himself. His hood is caught in the beak of a rather large bird. Behind him are several more, nearly twice Sora's height and scattered throughout the field.]

They're called Chocobos. Some are pretty friendly. The guy at the stable? He says I can have one if I take good care of it! [Another Chocobo head bobs into the screen, nibbling at the end of a spike of Sora's hair. He doesn't seem to mind.] You can even ride them, but you gotta train em' first.

Oh. And when you sing, sometimes they'll dance. Watch!

[The screen swivels around, squaring on an unassuming Chocobo several yards ahead. Sora clears his throat, and begins to whistle a tune. The bird in question quirks its head at the SFC and surprise, surprise, it actually begins to dance! It bobs, sways, rolls its head, warking rather excitedly, drawing attention of other ones nearby who more or less begin to do the same.]

[Just when things start getting interesting, that's when it all stops: there's a loud, irritated wark right behind the SFC. Sora has halted his musical performance and the screen has wandered away from the dancing chocobo as if Sora has become distracted offscreen. Could be trouble...]

Uhh.... hey there... You want some greens, is that it?

I'm sure I've got some around here. Hang on a sec....H-hey!

Wait, what're you - Oh no!!

[The screen finally jerks around, catching a flash Sora being tugged backwards, his hood caught in the beak of a rather irate looking bird. The broadcast stops.]

Comments

[grandsummon.livejournal.com]

[That brings the smile back to her face]

It sounds like the same Rikku I know! Though, my Rikku might be a little taller.

Do you know where she could be?

[lockandkeyblade.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen her around here, but I can check on the SFC list for you.

[And Sora fiddles with his SFC for a few moments as he scrolls through a list. Then he shakes his head.]

No... she's not here in Vatheon. If she was, she'd be on the registry. Sorry, Yuna.

[grandsummon.livejournal.com]

Oh... It's okay.

[But is it really? Yuna turns her face away from the screen. The last thing she wants her new friend to see is how much she'd gotten her hopes up.]

I'm sure I'll see her again, someday.

[lockandkeyblade.livejournal.com]

[Oh, no Yuna. He sees it! And that's why he switches straight into cheer-up mode. No sad faces on this SFC.] Of course you will. Who knows, maybe she'll even show up later on. That's what happened with my friend Riku. He showed up here first, and then I showed up a couple weeks later.

[grandsummon.livejournal.com]

[You're going to remind her to keep smiling, aren't you Sora? She truly appreciates it. And she can wait a few weeks, even more, if that's how long it takes.] I hope so. I really miss her and the others, you know? But I'm glad your friend is here with you.

[She even managed a little laugh as well]

And the chocobos! I didn't think Vatheon would have had them here as well.

[lockandkeyblade.livejournal.com]

I hope so too.

Why don't you come down and take a look for yourself? If you're this good over the SFC, I bet they'll take a real shine to you in person.

[Plus it might cheer you up some, Yuna.]

[grandsummon.livejournal.com]

[well, why not? She nods, the smile not fading from her face.]

Okay, I'll go! But I'm still new here. I'm not sure how to get to the, um... Nostalgia Nook?

[lockandkeyblade.livejournal.com]

This place can get pretty confusing sometimes if you're new.

Tell you what. If I can get away from this guy, I meet you somewhere and take you down to the ranch?

[grandsummon.livejournal.com]

[She softly laughs] It is! It's so big and there are so many levels. The cities where I come from aren't usually this big...

Is the plaza okay? It's the one place I know best.

[lockandkeyblade.livejournal.com]

Yeah me too. I lived in a little place called Destiny Islands. Everybody knew everybody, it was so small.

And the plaza's fine. I'll be there in a few.

[Video] ---> [Action]

[grandsummon.livejournal.com]

Mmm... I know the feeling. It's like you're never alone.

I'll be waiting, Sora!

[Offering a small smile, she turns the SFC off and heads toward the plaza. But not without getting a little sidetracked in the market. Does Sora want anything? Should she have brought something?] Managing the chocobos might have made him hungry...

[Action]

[lockandkeyblade.livejournal.com]

[Sora wastes little time in getting there. When he arrives at the plaza, he doesn't immediately spot her. So for a few moments, he stands by the coral and calls her name once or twice.]

[Action]

[grandsummon.livejournal.com]

[Sorry, Sora. Yuna can't hear him at first. She's busy doing the distracted dance through the market. Fruit would be good, right? All growing boys should eat fruit. And maybe some water as well. He was probably thirsty.

It's only when she remembers yes, she supposed to be meeting him that she wanders toward the plaza and starts to call his name back.]

Sora? Are you there?

[Action] gfhgfgf so cute

[lockandkeyblade.livejournal.com]

[And Sora waits. Truth be told, he doesn't mind. She's still finding her way around and it's not like they're pressed for time. Hopefully she remembers how to get to the plaza. The longer he waits though, the more he really starts to think Yuna's lost. Uh oh...]

[He's just about worried enough to go searching for her when she calls to him. Sora turns and smiles, relieved.]

Yuna! There you are.

[Action] And I just realized these two are only two years apart!

[grandsummon.livejournal.com]

[Seeing Sora, Yuna jumps and runs over to him (as best as she can in that kimono-skirt she's wearing). And when she reaches him, she bows apologetically.]

I'm sorry for making you wait!

[Still feeling a little embarrassed at her late arrival, she holds out the small bag of items she collected]

I... I didn't know if you'd be hungry. So I brought a snack. These are for you.

[Action] what, really? D8 woa.

[lockandkeyblade.livejournal.com]

[He just stares for a moment. Wow. He knew Yuna was a lot bigger than she was before, but seeing her in person just cements it. Woa. He shakes his head.]

Don't sweat it. I wasn't waiting long.

For me? Thanks! [He accepts it with a grateful smile.] Sorry I didn't bring you anything.

[Action] Yep! Yuna's only 17 here ^^

[grandsummon.livejournal.com]

[She catches the staring, which surprises her a little. But she waves off his apology with a smile]

It's okay! I know that being with chocobos can be a real work-out. [Poor, poor Clasko. She suppresses a giggle. But the idea of seeing the familiar yellow birds excites her once more.]

Shall we go, Sora?

[Action]

[lockandkeyblade.livejournal.com]

Sure can. I'll probably let you take the lead when it comes to dealing with these guys. You know a lot more about them than I do.

[He opens the bag and looks inside for a moment, and his expression perks up. He is a little hungry, actually! Little or big, you're always helping him out, Yuna.]

Right. Follow me.

[And he takes her through the plaza and down to Nostalgia Nook. They make their way around the shop, to the small curving path leading down to the Ranch. Yuna cam probably see the Chocobos from there, roaming freely around the corral.]

[Action]

[grandsummon.livejournal.com]

There they are!

[Oh, there's a twinkle in her eye at the sight of them. She's not running... yet. But there's a definite skip in her step and a lightness in her heart as she approaches the edge of the corral. After a moment's hesitation, she brings her fingers to her lips and lightly whistles. The effect is a good one. One of the nearby chocobos tweets back happily and does a cheerful hop-step before trotting over to the railing. Tenderly, Yuna scratches the feathers around its neck.]

Hello, you.

[She looks to Sora, an innocent grin on her face not unlike a normal teenager (one that doesn't have the weight of the world on her shoulders).]

Can we go inside?

[Action]

[lockandkeyblade.livejournal.com]

[Wow! Won over a Chocobo right away! And the whistle? A very neat trick.]

[Yuna's good at this...]

Yeah sure. Keeper let me in earlier. I usually just hop over the fence, but there's a gate we can just walk through a little further down.

[Action]

[grandsummon.livejournal.com]

No, it's okay. We can hop the fence.

[...sort of. The long skirt might be a bit of a problem though. But a determined Yuna is a force to be reckoned with. This fence will be hopped!

She steps on the bottom rung of the corral and sits on the railing, suddenly realizing that it might be a little difficult to do this gracefully by herself.]

Um... If you could help me over?

[Action]

[lockandkeyblade.livejournal.com]

Sure I can. [And Sora does. ever. so. carefully. Half the time he guides her over, he spends figuring out where to touch her without being indecent. After a lot of careful maneuvering, Sora manages to assist Yuna onto the other side.]

There we go.

[Action]

[grandsummon.livejournal.com]

Thank you! [Such a gentleman. Yuna's flattered. Not that she'd expect him to do anything indecent. He's far too nice (and she's far too innocent to think he would do anything but help).

Once over, Yuna starts to pet the chocobo again affectionately until it happily kwehs. But oh, what's this? Is that a chocobo feather in Yuna's hand?

She thinks for a second before offering it to Sora.]

Here you go. For helping me over the fence. Just... be careful how you use it, okay?

Re: [Action]

[lockandkeyblade.livejournal.com]

[Nope! Disney born and bred. Not an indecent bone in his body.]

[He hops over. And when Yuna hands him the feather, he tilts his head questioningly as he takes it.]

Hm? What's this?

[Action]

[grandsummon.livejournal.com]

[Ah, right! She really had to stop doing that; assuming that people knew about Spira when they didn't. Then again, it's not like she isn't accustomed to explaining Spira to someone affected by 'Sin's toxin'. Clasping her hands behind her back, she explains.]

It's a Chocobo feather. They're very special, but tricky. And kind of rare, too.

Sometimes, when a Chocobo is nearby, it'll return to it's feather and offer the person who found it a free ride or show him or her something special.

And sometimes... it can be a good luck charm when you're in trouble. Some say it even makes you faster. But only for a little while. And only once.

So be careful, okay?