six [action/voice]

[imatreenow]

[A peaceful melody played on a panpipe can be heard through the journal, or by anyone who happens to be passing by House 52 this afternoon. Veteran residents may recognize this particular tune as one that Martel played on occassion during her stay in Luceti, but to Mithos it is simply the song his sister would play to comfort him all those many, many years ago. Even now, it remains a source of comfort, one of the ways in which he can remember Martel. He can feel her presence beside him as he sits beneath a tree at the edge of the woods behind the house. Outside, despite the chill. Martel's music was never meant to be contained by walls, just as her soul and his memories of her were never meant to be contained by death.

Recieving his sister's panpipe (yes, the very same one, even though it had been broken when last seen) has been the first good thing to happen in quite some time. It is like a reminder not to give up -- Martel still needs him.

Mithos is entirely unaware that the journal is recording him, thus replies to any voice responses (or written responses) will occur last chronologically. Just for clarification.]

Comments

[Voice. Kinda sorta.]

[memoryboxes]

[The last time went so well, it should be peachy now, right?

She won't say much of anything—she'll just be listening to it while she cooks at her home. The only notable sound emitting is that of, perhaps, the occasional soft, careful clinging of a pan or utensil.

It was strange, that such a violent boy was capable of making such delicate music. In fact, when she looked at who was actually accidently recording this, she was surprised—shocked, even.

But she was happy for that.]

[Voice] bawww Sayo

[imatreenow.livejournal.com]

[As he looks through his journal later, he notices the audio reply. But...there is no one speaking. Being the mistrustful, somewhat paranoid boy that he is, Mithos prefers to know who exactly is listening in on him. These cursed journals and their fondness for tuning into everything that does not need to be shared with the general populace...]

Who is there? [Sounding very imperial for someone so seemingly young.]

Re: [Voice] persistency at it's finest *slips on shades*

[memoryboxes]

[She sighs inaudibly to herself—there goes the softness he'd been building up so well the last few minutes. There's a moment where she thinks about her fear, back then, and the ache that followed the next day.

Even so...

"Losing her... was something he could not accept."

She sets her work aside and replies in a cautiously soft voice:]

You're very good at playing that.

[Voice] /cheers Sayo on

[imatreenow.livejournal.com]

[He tenses when he hears her voice. That human woman, the one who apparently still hasn't learned that he wants nothing to do with her, or anyone else in this world for that matter. Her persistence is grating, like an itch beneath his skin that can't be reached. Her voice may be warm and gentle, but his is nothing but cold.]

Why are you talking to me? Don't you understand that I can't stand you?

Re: [Voice] ♪ Don't stop! Believin'! ♪

[memoryboxes]

[Ineffective! Mainly because she understands very well that you can't stand her. The whole 'hitting in the face' thing sort of cleared any doubt up.]

Oh, you made that very clear when we last met, I suppose.

Did you write that yourself? The music, I mean.

[Voice] ♪ HOLD ONTO THAT FEEEEEEELING ♪

[imatreenow.livejournal.com]

Are you completely stupid, then?

[As for her question, he quickly snaps back--]

My sister made it for me. She never intended for it to be heard by someone like you. [Everything of Martel's is his and nobody else's. Nobody else deserves to share in memories of Martel.]

Re: [Voice]

[memoryboxes]

[She's quite capable of ignoring that first question without allowing it to bog her down.]

...She made it for you? She has a lot of talent.

[imatreenow.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't understand her at all. Mithos wants nothing but to hate her and be angry with her, but here she is speaking good things about Martel. How can he be angry about that? What can he even say? Another reason she is so deeply irritating.]

...She used to play it for me all the time. [He almost goes on to say that it is, and always has been, his favorite, but he stops himself.]

Why do you pretend to care?

[memoryboxes]

[She smiles, shifting one pot to the stove.]

I like hearing about amazing people. And if you love her as much as you do, she had to have been that very thing; you can't blame me for wanting to know more about someone like that, can you?

[And it was true. Sayo loved hearing about extraordinary people—of course, her definition of extraordinary is beyond broad, but even so... it makes her curious.

And besides, she knows it's something he loves dearly, therefore something he would fondly speak of. Sayo was just relieved to know Mithos was capable of fondness.]

[imatreenow.livejournal.com]

[Actually, yes he can blame you, Sayo.]

You don't deserve to know anything about Martel. [Why should he share his precious sister with anyone in this filthy world? The happiness she brings is reserved for him alone.]

[memoryboxes]

[Whelp, it was more of a saying than anything, s-so at least there's that. '3']

Perhaps you're right.

...But if you're the only one who knows about her, then how will everyone else see what a good, strong person she was...?

[imatreenow.livejournal.com]

Why should they even get the chance? They already took Martel away from me twice... [Hundreds of times, thousands of times...every single time he failed to revive her soul. His voice nearly breaks beneath the weight of the sorrow it carries. He pauses, then speaks again, angrier this time.] I'm not sharing my sister with anyone.

[memoryboxes]

...Then why not share yourself, Mithos-san?

Why do you push away everything and everyone?

[imatreenow.livejournal.com]

...Who told you my name? [Even if she got it half wrong..."Mithossan"?] Don't call me by that name. You're not allowed to call me by that name. [Even his former companions aren't allowed to use that name anymore, having completely destroyed the crumbled remains of any trust he held in them. It is now reserved entirely for his sister.]

[memoryboxes]

[Not answering that, for protection of speaker.]

Why is that? Why do you want to be alone?

Are you... scared of letting anyone near you?

1/2

[imatreenow.livejournal.com]

[Scared? He's not scared, he simply knows better.

At least...that's what he thinks. Beneath the surface, though...he's terrified. Everyone he's ever known has betrayed him, turned their back on him, hurt him. Him and Martel. How can trusting people, allowing them to be close to him, bring anything but pain? No, he gave up on people a long, long time ago.]

[imatreenow.livejournal.com]

Trusting people...brings you absolutely nowhere. You can't trust in anyone but yourself.

[memoryboxes]

[There's a lengthy pause, while she tries to find the words to say. This boy was a real mystery, but she can at least tell that he's been hurt and betrayed—and that he pushes people away for reasons like these.

Her voice is still soft.]

Sometimes it does. Sometimes, it brings you unhappiness, when you trust and it ends up betraying you. But other times... it brings you contentment, happiness.

And right now, Mithos, all you'll find is misery, using your hands for hurting and shoving away.

[imatreenow.livejournal.com]

[He hates how she pries into his heart, even when he does his best to keep it curled tightly shut, protected from the world and its cruelty. Why does she do that? How does she do that?]

I already told you...the only person who can make me happy is Martel. Why should I need anyone else?

[memoryboxes]

[Because she understands matters of the heart, even if they're foreign to her herself—]

You've only told yourself that you so have a reason to walk away from everyone else...!

[imatreenow.livejournal.com]

[A reason...like he needs to invent his own reasons to shut out everyone in the world. They've given him enough reasons on their own.]

Stop acting like you know me. You don't know my thoughts, you don't know my feelings - you don't know anything. Just....stop it.

[memoryboxes]

I don't know you. I barely know a thing. But I'd like to. I'd like to know more about you, even if it's about things that make you bitter, or upset.

Is the idea of having a friend really so much?

[imatreenow.livejournal.com]

["Friend" - that's what he once called Yuan and Kratos, many years ago, until the turned their backs on him and betrayed Martel's wishes. "Friend". It's also what he called Genis not too long ago. But that was nothing but an illusion...in the end Genis had sided with Lloyd. To protect a world that had never been kind to half-elves like themselves. He can't understand that. He wants to pretend that he never cared about Genis, never trusted him, but really...he is just running away from the hurt and frustration.]

....I don't...need friends. I don't want any friends. Especially not you.

[memoryboxes]

[Calmly:] ...Think about it for a while, Mithos.

Thank you, for the wonderful music.

[She quietly closes her journal, frowning down at it.

Progress or not, she sees there's a lot of darkness in his heart. It's awful, really.]

[imatreenow.livejournal.com]

[Mithos quickly slams his own journal shut and pushes it away from him. What is wrong with that woman? Does she really believe he'll change is mind? Of course he won't...

He reaches into his pocket to brush his fingers against Martel's panpipe. She is all he needs. As long as Martel returns to his side...]