[ It's rare for Zack to get an actual voice call on his Watch, so that's already enough to catch his interest. The fact that it's not someone like Aerith or Cloud, but Karin of all people, has him even more thrown-off. Could it be an emergency? He answers immediately, greeted by Karin's careful tone, and can't help but smile to himself when it becomes clear she was just calling out of concern.
She's just a little old-fashioned, huh? Well, that's fine. Zack doesn't have an aversion to talking like this. He'd done it often enough back home with his PHS. ]
Karin! It's good to hear from you. I'm doing a lot better, finally feeling completely like myself again which is a nice change. How about you?
[Just a little old-fashioned. A very modern and independent woman by her time's standards, but she still thinks a call is better for this sort of thing than a short message, and she doesn't know Zack quite well enough to drop by unannounced yet.]
I'm glad to hear that.
[She exhales, and her sense of relief is audible within it. He had been in such a sorry state thanks to the infection, it's good to hear him sound more like himself, too.]
The same— better, I mean, and more like myself. I had some extra mending to do thanks to the broken wing, but I'm good as new all over now. I'm glad to hear it isn't lingering... I know recovery has been slower for some than others.
[ A broken wing sounds like it would be a messy business, and Zack can't imagine how much that would have hurt on top of it all. Of course, Karin acts like it was no big deal. ]
I did have that cough stick around for a while, but I think it's finally gone. [ His ribs have recovered too, after being sore and tender for a time. He can't complain. For as terrible as that situation had been, he could have come out of it much worse. ]
What did you do about your wing? Did a Witch help you heal it up?
[It had, of course, been miserable, but compared to everything going on, it seemed like such a small thing to her in the long run. Inconvenient, and certainly made looking after her more taxing for Alice than she felt it needed to be, but she truly believes there were many who had been through much worse than her.
Really, the best thing any of them can do is leave it all behind.]
Mm— there were plenty of Witches willing to offer healing services to the injured, and my bondmate is adept with healing, as well. She's gone to great lengths to make sure I'm well taken care of.
[Enough so that Karin is worried about her well-being, but Alice has insisted otherwise.]
It's good to hear that you've recovered well. And... that you're still here.
[Her voice drops, just a little. She's lost so many friends in recent months. She's especially grateful for those who remain.]
[ Her bondmate? Zack's not sure who she means. He would have figured it was Lightning, except that Lightning's not here anymore. As Karin manages to say without saying — though there's a chance she's not the only person she's lost.
It does feel like they need to band together even more in light of that, and Zack lets out a small sigh. How long before he or Karin have left too? It's probably best not to dwell on that. ]
Same to you. I mean, assuming you're not spoiling to get home, anyway. But... I heard about Lightning. I'm guessing you didn't get to say your farewells to her, either.
[ No, they were never given that chance for some reason. ]
[And while this place is far from a picnic, Karin isn't in any hurry to leave herself. She's lost more than just Lightning in recent months, but her loss is certainly among those that stings the worst, having become fast friends and bondmates so early on after their arrival.]
The house feels... a little empty without her, even though Rikku is still here, and my bondmate Alice has been spending more time here lately. It just doesn't feel right.
[They'd sought that house out together, after all.]
She's been missed. Yuri vanished some time ago, too, and just recently, Styx... people are disappearing faster than I care to think about.
[ While Zack hasn't seen Rikku in some time, he can imagine she'd add a lot of energy to a house, but he still understands what Karin is saying. Lightning had been a part of their dynamic, and her absence was going to be keenly felt.
He can't help but think about how he never got to make good on all those drinks he owed her, either.
The next two names she mentions are both familiar to him too. Yuri he only ran into the once, but Styx... ]
It really does seem like we're losing people way faster than we're getting them. Which, again, probably a good thing? But I wish we had some answer for why it was happening.
[ Did it have something to do with the magic sustaining this world? It'd probably make a lot more sense if they knew why they'd ended up here in the first place. ]
Not everyone has something to go back to, but overall, it probably is a good thing...
[But for people like her, people like Alice, people who have made themselves comfortable here because they have little else in the long run— it stings. Yuri, in particular, had been devastating to lose all over again, though that grief had brought the two women closer together as a result. Silver linings, she supposes.]
I wish there was some way to know. Even just to get the chance to say goodbye, or set affairs in order. Styx left animals behind— I'm taking care of them now.
[Neither Yasha nor Charon understood why their owner had just up and left them, but she's doing her best to look after them in the meantime. Assuming he comes back at all.]
[ Zack is one of those people, but he's not sure he's ready to admit that to Karin now. Not when they're talking over the phone and she's already got so much else on her mind. If he does leave this place, and does so before she does, that would be extra weight on her shoulders. ]
Yeah. Being able to say goodbye, to know it was their choice rather than just this world doing whatever it felt like... that'd help a lot.
[ It doesn't come as much surprise that Styx had pets here. At least Karin has something to remember him by, but Zack knows it wouldn't be the same. ]
Didn't realize you two were so close. What kind of animals?
[She hesitates as she considers exactly what to call him. She remembers that Styx had balked when she'd referred to him as her boyfriend— not because he didn't want to be, but because he was convinced he couldn't give her what he thought she needed. It still stings, thinking back that conversation; he only ever meant well, but it turned out that being told you were too good for someone was just as lonely as not being good enough.
She exhales.]
We were very good friends. I thought it might be better for his animals if they didn't have to move elsewhere after losing him, so I've been taking care of his house, as well. There's a kitten, Yasha, and a fish, Charon. Probably the most spoiled goldfish I've ever met.
[There's definitely an audible smile in her voice as she makes that particular addendum.]
[ Zack can't help but notice that hesitation, the way Karin catches herself and pivots. Very good friends, or something more? Not that it's any of his business, and if she doesn't want to delve deeper, he gets it.
(Is this how Aerith talked about him, when he was gone?)
Thankfully, a smile enters his voice when Karin makes the remark about Styx's goldfish. ]
You know, he does seem like the type who would spoil his animals. Not that that's a bad thing. Well, I've never had a pet before. I could get one here, I guess, but...
[ He pauses, and then realizes he has to make this joke. ]
Have you seen those furry ears and tail? He definitely counts.
[ Zack could go into detail about how much Cloud behaves like an excitable dog when the full moon hits and he transforms, but he's more or less promised Cloud that he wouldn't spread that information around, so as to not embarrass him.
It's tempting all the same, but Zack does know when his teasing would go a step too far. ]
Anyway, it's been really good to hear from you, Karin. I'm glad you called.
[ Zack's both good at bouncing back and at not letting on to what might still be bothering him. He's never enjoyed burdening other people, especially since Karin went through the same thing herself. ]
I won't be! You just have to make me the same promise, all right?
[ For better or worse, they now have this shared experience, which is bound to link them together. ]
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She's just a little old-fashioned, huh? Well, that's fine. Zack doesn't have an aversion to talking like this. He'd done it often enough back home with his PHS. ]
Karin! It's good to hear from you. I'm doing a lot better, finally feeling completely like myself again which is a nice change. How about you?
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I'm glad to hear that.
[She exhales, and her sense of relief is audible within it. He had been in such a sorry state thanks to the infection, it's good to hear him sound more like himself, too.]
The same— better, I mean, and more like myself. I had some extra mending to do thanks to the broken wing, but I'm good as new all over now. I'm glad to hear it isn't lingering... I know recovery has been slower for some than others.
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I did have that cough stick around for a while, but I think it's finally gone. [ His ribs have recovered too, after being sore and tender for a time. He can't complain. For as terrible as that situation had been, he could have come out of it much worse. ]
What did you do about your wing? Did a Witch help you heal it up?
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Really, the best thing any of them can do is leave it all behind.]
Mm— there were plenty of Witches willing to offer healing services to the injured, and my bondmate is adept with healing, as well. She's gone to great lengths to make sure I'm well taken care of.
[Enough so that Karin is worried about her well-being, but Alice has insisted otherwise.]
It's good to hear that you've recovered well. And... that you're still here.
[Her voice drops, just a little. She's lost so many friends in recent months. She's especially grateful for those who remain.]
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It does feel like they need to band together even more in light of that, and Zack lets out a small sigh. How long before he or Karin have left too? It's probably best not to dwell on that. ]
Same to you. I mean, assuming you're not spoiling to get home, anyway. But... I heard about Lightning. I'm guessing you didn't get to say your farewells to her, either.
[ No, they were never given that chance for some reason. ]
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[And while this place is far from a picnic, Karin isn't in any hurry to leave herself. She's lost more than just Lightning in recent months, but her loss is certainly among those that stings the worst, having become fast friends and bondmates so early on after their arrival.]
The house feels... a little empty without her, even though Rikku is still here, and my bondmate Alice has been spending more time here lately. It just doesn't feel right.
[They'd sought that house out together, after all.]
She's been missed. Yuri vanished some time ago, too, and just recently, Styx... people are disappearing faster than I care to think about.
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He can't help but think about how he never got to make good on all those drinks he owed her, either.
The next two names she mentions are both familiar to him too. Yuri he only ran into the once, but Styx... ]
It really does seem like we're losing people way faster than we're getting them. Which, again, probably a good thing? But I wish we had some answer for why it was happening.
[ Did it have something to do with the magic sustaining this world? It'd probably make a lot more sense if they knew why they'd ended up here in the first place. ]
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[But for people like her, people like Alice, people who have made themselves comfortable here because they have little else in the long run— it stings. Yuri, in particular, had been devastating to lose all over again, though that grief had brought the two women closer together as a result. Silver linings, she supposes.]
I wish there was some way to know. Even just to get the chance to say goodbye, or set affairs in order. Styx left animals behind— I'm taking care of them now.
[Neither Yasha nor Charon understood why their owner had just up and left them, but she's doing her best to look after them in the meantime. Assuming he comes back at all.]
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Yeah. Being able to say goodbye, to know it was their choice rather than just this world doing whatever it felt like... that'd help a lot.
[ It doesn't come as much surprise that Styx had pets here. At least Karin has something to remember him by, but Zack knows it wouldn't be the same. ]
Didn't realize you two were so close. What kind of animals?
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[She hesitates as she considers exactly what to call him. She remembers that Styx had balked when she'd referred to him as her boyfriend— not because he didn't want to be, but because he was convinced he couldn't give her what he thought she needed. It still stings, thinking back that conversation; he only ever meant well, but it turned out that being told you were too good for someone was just as lonely as not being good enough.
She exhales.]
We were very good friends. I thought it might be better for his animals if they didn't have to move elsewhere after losing him, so I've been taking care of his house, as well. There's a kitten, Yasha, and a fish, Charon. Probably the most spoiled goldfish I've ever met.
[There's definitely an audible smile in her voice as she makes that particular addendum.]
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(Is this how Aerith talked about him, when he was gone?)
Thankfully, a smile enters his voice when Karin makes the remark about Styx's goldfish. ]
You know, he does seem like the type who would spoil his animals. Not that that's a bad thing. Well, I've never had a pet before. I could get one here, I guess, but...
[ He pauses, and then realizes he has to make this joke. ]
I already have Cloud, so I think I'm good.
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Does Cloud count? I won't tell him you said so, either way.
[The mental image is funny, however.]
I can see how you might have your hands full.
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[ Zack could go into detail about how much Cloud behaves like an excitable dog when the full moon hits and he transforms, but he's more or less promised Cloud that he wouldn't spread that information around, so as to not embarrass him.
It's tempting all the same, but Zack does know when his teasing would go a step too far. ]
Anyway, it's been really good to hear from you, Karin. I'm glad you called.
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[Much better than she expected, which is certainly something.]
I won't keep you for too long, but I hope you won't be a stranger?
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I won't be! You just have to make me the same promise, all right?
[ For better or worse, they now have this shared experience, which is bound to link them together. ]
And... take care of yourself, Karin.