Sugar and Rainbows (Ebony/Closed)

[Ebony Blackwell]

Black Researcher

Let's get this over with so that I can get back to work.

Ebony watched silently as Repa opened the door, and immediately walked over to the couch that stood in the room. She closed the door, and leaned against it, staring at Repa.

She must be deep in thought, or at least zoned out...

“Ebony…have you ever felt so bad for something…that the guilt just ate away at you from the inside out…?”

The question surprised the researcher. She lowered her head, and thought back quickly on some of her more...complicated situations, and realized that even though she had felt extremely guilty about her actions, she had always been able to get over them...

“There’s something else you should know about me…”

Ebony raised her head again, to look at the princess.

“When I said someone died before…back on my home world…it was my fault. Just know it’s just something I cant seem to get over…and its moments like this where I just want someone to listen.”

She listened quietly as Repa raised her head, and looked at her, with tears in her eyes. Ebony looked back at her, no emotions returning the look. Her own face was like a mask, shielding her thoughts.

After a few seconds, she took a few steps forward and sat down next to Repa, before pulling her forward and hugging her.

"It's alright. I know I only arrived just today, but understand that I will listen. We all make our own mistakes, some worse than others. I can handle it."

And to think, if Repa had met Ebony before she had met Josh, and tried to confide in her, she would have just turned her back, and not even said a word. Funny how things change...

[Repa Raines]

Princess at Heart
Yeah I'm a Princess...but I'm no Damsel in Distress...Far from it.

If anything…Repa just wanted her other brother with her right about now, lucky to have one around rather than none. It was heartbreaking to bring back memories like this, not that it happened a lot, in fact, rarely did she ever think back on the past, at least these type of subjects. Normally Repa was really good at blocking things out of her mind, and keeping it that way, but something today just…let her mental guard down and this slipped in, causing her more stress and pain that she just didn’t seem to handle well.

Ebony’s silence meant nothing to Repa at the moment, she just waited, knowing if nothing was said then silence would just fill the room, she certainly wasn’t going to break the ice here. She didn’t have the patience to do so. So Repa simply waited, letting more of this sink in and trying to calm down her haywire emotions, but Ebony came over, which got her attention, and sat next to her before pulling her into a hug. Wow, weird, but comforting at the same time. It was like…having someone understand what you’ve gone through to get this far…finally…someone understood.

Repa let herself be hugged and listened to Ebony speak, wondering what to say to this. Thank you? Or go onto a babble or two? Get it all out? Perhaps both seemed fair. “Thank you Ebony…” She said quietly with a sniffle before she pulled herself back and wiped her eyes with a small smile. “I haven’t had the chance to express my emotions like this for a long time…it…feels good, though the pain of the memories is real…it still…is a relief.” She said with another sniffle and another wipe of her eyes, a small chuckle escaped her lips. “I’ve got to be the most dramatic, unlucky, and downright lost person there ever was…”

[Ebony Blackwell]

Black Researcher

Let's get this over with so that I can get back to work.

“Thank you Ebony…”

Ebony smiled, and gave Repa a couple pats on the back, before she pulled away.

“I haven’t had the chance to express my emotions like this for a long time…it…feels good, though the pain of the memories is real…it still…is a relief.”

"Well, that's good. I've never really expressed my feelings, but I'm just happy to be there and comfort anyone who need it."

Ebony, had in fact, never really expressed her feelings to anyone. As an orphan, you couldn't show anything, for fear of getting hurt, or worse, killed. And now, as a Black Mage, expressing your feelings could even result in death. Both of yourself, and of others. And she would not aloow to that to happen...ever.

“I’ve got to be the most dramatic, unlucky, and downright lost person there ever was…”

Ebony chuckled at the comment.

"Oh no. I've seen much worse."

Escort notice for a noble. The poor girl didn't have the attention span to even remember two plus two equals four. And then she cried at every little thing that upset her. That was a bad day for Ebony. A really bad day. Especially when the girl thought Ebony was a boy and started to try and seduce the mage.

She cringed at the memory before leaning back into the couch.

"So, you gonna show me around, or do I have to figure out where everything is by myself?"

[Repa Raines]

Princess at Heart
Yeah I'm a Princess...but I'm no Damsel in Distress...Far from it.

If Ebony was always this nice and caring…willing to listen to others griping and what not, then she was in the right place. Repa wasn’t one to complain or go on an emotional rampage, but that rare time she ever did, it didn’t seem like it could stop! So Repa smiled and nodded at Ebony a bit. “Haha, be prepared then…there may come a time you wish you hadn’t said that.” She said jokingly trying to poke a little fun at herself, trying to lighten her own mood away from the emotional side.

“Worse? I didn’t know there was such a thing as worse than me…” Repa shrugged a bit looking around the room feeling a little better than she had a few moments ago. If she would’ve been alone, you betcha some real tears would’ve fallen or worse. “I guess some can get worse…I suppose I’ve known a few myself…” She said wrinkling her nose a bit before the question of a tour came around. “OH!” She said jumping up from her seat and looking around wondering where to begin. “I forgot, sorry. Um. Lets start out with the basics.” She said opening her arms wide gesturing to the room they were in. “This is the living room…and that-“ Repa said pointing off towards an area that was practically connected to the living room “-Is the kitchen…ready to see your room? It’s not exactly…a palace or anything, but fit enough for just about anyone who needs a place to stay…”

[Ebony Blackwell]

Black Researcher

Let's get this over with so that I can get back to work.

“Haha, be prepared then…there may come a time you wish you hadn’t said that.”

Ebony grinned and nodded, happy to see that Repa was over her sad episode.

"I'll make sure my shoulder is nice and dry for you when that time comes back around then."

“Worse? I didn’t know there was such a thing as worse than me… I guess some can get worse…I suppose I’ve known a few myself…”

She nodded, as Repa suddenly jumped up and looking around at the room. Most likely having a very small panic attack at Ebony's comment about the "tour."

“OH! I forgot, sorry. Um. Lets start out with the basics.”

Ebony stood up, and crossed her arms watching as Repa spread out her arms. She just shook her head.

“This is the living room…and that-“

Repa pointed in some direction, and Ebony followed where she motioned. She saw a simple, but nice kitchen tucked into the corner, adjacent to the living room.

“-Is the kitchen…ready to see your room? It’s not exactly…a palace or anything, but fit enough for just about anyone who needs a place to stay…”

She shrugged her shoulders.

"Trust me, I can live with just a simple room. So what room will I be staying in?"

[Repa Raines]

Princess at Heart
Yeah I'm a Princess...but I'm no Damsel in Distress...Far from it.

Repa felt a whole lot better after expressing even the tiniest bit of emotion towards well anything, it was good to let something out. She knew sooner or later she’d have to just go on an emotional rampage otherwise all those feelings bottled up inside her would EXPLODE! Then things would really get bad if she let things go that far…like depression, she’d been there once before and there was no turning back. Only positive things to think of for now, it would keep her mind distracted and hopefully ease her emotions down until they were only a simmer, that is until she had to burst again. “Thanks Ebony…I appreciate it…I really do.” Repa smiled back at the girl whom she had befriended now, it was a good idea after all, to offer her a home and friendship. In fact, it was a great idea.

Looking around the current room, Repa made a B-line to the only hall way which led to a series of doors, one being a closet 2 being a room, and 1 being a laundry room. Repa looked down the hall and stopped at the first door on the left. “We’ll get to your room shortly.” She said opening the door to reveal a pantry/storage closet. “here’s a place for storage if you need to put anything away….I haven’t really used it so I have no idea what else to use it for.” Repa shrugged shutting the door and then stopping at the second door on the left, at the very end of the hall. “This is your room…you have your own bathroom connected inside, as do I, and a walk in closet. It’s not huge since…uh…I did take the biggest room, but I hope its okay…” Repa then opened the door and walked into a bare room with pale walls and a window. Back in the corner was a door that led to a bathroom and a closet.

“Is this okay? I’m sure we can spice it up a bit in here….get some curtains and a nice coat of paint or something.” Repa said examining the room which was furnished lightly, a queen sized bed was against a wall and a single dresser, that was it. But Repa wouldn’t let this room be empty for long. “Maybe sometime this week we can go shopping then spend some time giving this room some life…”

[Ebony Blackwell]

Black Researcher

Let's get this over with so that I can get back to work.

“Thanks Ebony…I appreciate it…I really do.”

Ebony closed her eyes and nodded, a small smile on her lips.

“We’ll get to your room shortly. Here’s a place for storage if you need to put anything away….I haven’t really used it so I have no idea what else to use it for. This is your room…you have your own bathroom connected inside, as do I, and a walk in closet. It’s not huge since…uh…I did take the biggest room, but I hope its okay…”

She followed Repa down the hallway, crossing her arms across her chest, and taking in everything around her. The walls were a simple color, nothing that Ebony would want to puke her guts out at, or have her eyes burn at the brightness. Just a nice color. She put down a mental note to remember where the storage area was, where Repa had just told her, and followed the same girl down the hallway once again.

Repa opened the door, and Ebony followed, taking a few steps forward so she was only a few feet in front of the entrance. It was a nice, little simple room, much like the one she had back at the inn in Cocoon, so it would be easy to adjust. The walls were the usual off-white color as they usually were, and a door was located off in the back, most likely locating to the bathroom. The only furnishings at the moment was a queen bed, which looked quite nice to Ebony, and a simple dresser set off to the side.

"Not bad..."

“Is this okay? I’m sure we can spice it up a bit in here….get some curtains and a nice coat of paint or something. Maybe sometime this week we can go shopping then spend some time giving this room some life…”

Ebony glanced over at Repa, and then back at staring at the room. She only figured she would be here for a short amount of time, maybe a week, at most. She had other priorities back in Cocoon, so she couldn't just pack up and leave like that. She was pushing it even now, seeing as how a call could come in at any moment with a family needing her for another escort. Of course, the big problem was breaking it all to Repa, who seemed to ahve made this her new obsession...

"Repa...You do know I can't stay forever...right?"

[Repa Raines]

Princess at Heart
Yeah I'm a Princess...but I'm no Damsel in Distress...Far from it.

Hopefully the place was up to Ebony’s standards, hey if it was up to Repa’s then it should be good enough for Ebony right? Although Repa knew she was being a bit…excited to have someone around, though she knew it wouldn’t last very long, maybe a week or two, if even that. But she didn’t want Ebony to feel unwelcome or anything, that would be rude, so offering up anything was all Repa could do. Repa just stared around at the blank walls, painting it would be nice either way, maybe as a guest room for if Josh visited or something. Who knew? “It’s a nice place I’ll give it that...” she said with a shrug before walking deeper into the room and turning around back at Ebony. “Well it’s all yours!” She said cheerfully before Ebony asked her question.

Yeah, Repa knew it wouldn’t be forever. So after Ebony spoke Repa just turned around and placed her hands on her hands on her hips as if she were looking at something. “Yeah…I know.” She said hesitantly. “These walls need some color.” She said turning back and walking past Ebony back into the hallway and soon back into the living room of the condo before plopping on the couch with a color book, one she had stashed away when picking a color for her own temporary room. “Perhaps a blue color? Or peach…” She said acting as if she were concentrating on the colors when her mind was really someplace else. Just running through all the things that had happened since arriving in Gaia, perhaps it was time to pack up and run off again…

[Ebony Blackwell]

Black Researcher

Let's get this over with so that I can get back to work.

“It’s a nice place I’ll give it that...Well it’s all yours!”

Ebony didn't look over at Repa as she went quiet and turned her attention to a random spot on the wall. She wondered how bad, the outcome would become, but it wasn't as bad as she thought it could have been.

“Yeah…I know...These walls need some color.”

She smiled slightly at the obvious change of the subject, and just let the matter of leaving...well, leave the room altogether. Repa understood that she couldn't stay for too long, and that was enough for the Black Mage. Of course, Repa just went on with her color wonders. Though, Ebony didn't know what she was really thinking about.

“Perhaps a blue color? Or peach…”

She wlaked over to Repa, and slung an arm over her shoulders, just joining into the color conversation.

"How about a nice brown? Neutral in ways of gender, and nice and inviting. Though, I'm not very good at home-decorating..."

[Repa Raines]

Princess at Heart
Yeah I'm a Princess...but I'm no Damsel in Distress...Far from it.

Repa was sort of multitasking her thoughts at the moment. One train of thought was on serious colors for this room, the other was on her own self staying here. How long did she herself plan on staying? Surely she wouldn’t permanently call this place, Gaia, home. There was no way she could keep herself stuck in a place like this, it was too dark and gloomy, besides it about ripped her heart to pieces to be away from her family like this, especially after all they’ve gone through together, with the death of her oldest brother and mother, they were a small close family and it was one of the hardest choices she’d ever made, to leave home.

It was then and there that Repa decided that once Cloud had fulfilled his focus, or whatever he wanted to do, she would leave. She had so much going on here, too many people to focus on that she didn’t want all these worries anymore. A life of luxury was in order, no more drama. Leaving behind some of the greatest people she’d ever met would be hard, like Cloud and Tifa…leaving behind Yazoo would be hard as well. But sometimes…you just gotta let go of some things that you hold dear to your heart. Trying to get her mind on a less crappy subject Repa headed out of the room. “A neutral brownish color would be nice. Though going all out would be a waste…I guess I don’t plan on staying here long either.” Repa then bit her lip and looked back at Ebony. “Did Josh happen to mention what he was doing now? Last I heard he headed back home to help but…he didn’t say what he was doing after did he?” She asked curiously.

(might bring josh into this thread)

[Ebony Blackwell]

Black Researcher

Let's get this over with so that I can get back to work.

“A neutral brownish color would be nice. Though going all out would be a waste…I guess I don’t plan on staying here long either.”

So Repa had other places to be...She probabaly wanted to go to other worlds, do more sightseeing...or...maybe she just wanted to go home. However, Ebony couldn't make an absolute answer to her thoughts. She couldn't exactly read minds...

“Did Josh happen to mention what he was doing now? Last I heard he headed back home to help but…he didn’t say what he was doing after did he?”

Ebony turned towards Repa, and looked up in thought, trying to remember the last time that Josh was in Cocoon. Most of the time he just told her he had to go back home and fight back in Delatorr, but that was pretty much it. He never really went into details much when he was leaving.

She shook her head, and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Not that I can recall at the moment. Sorry. Any reason as to why you're asking?"

((Sounds good to me))

[Repa Raines]

Princess at Heart
Yeah I'm a Princess...but I'm no Damsel in Distress...Far from it.

Repa paused for a few moments before responding to Ebony. She didn’t know where he was, well that was a disappointment. Last thing Repa had heard from him was that he was at home, preparing to travel again or something like that. She was listening only briefly due to the amount already on her mind. She should’ve listened better. As much as she hated to show it she always worried about her brother getting hurt being in the army and what not. It was a dangerous job, in fact that was how her other brother died, though she had a part to play in that but it’s a story for another time. Now finally able to think of something to say Repa rubbed the back of her head slightly.

“Ah, I was just wondering. I kind of forgot what he said to me last time…besides if he is on his way to Cocoon or something, well he won’t find you there, just PSICOM.” Repa shrugged a bit before she sighed some. A smile crept to her face. “So it’s not too late. Want to gain some blackmail against Josh?” She grinned widely thinking this was a good time to forget all the stress of today and try to let loose, relax for a bit. Yeah, it was a good idea. “I’ve got a lot of stories you could use…I mean, if you’re up for it.” Hopefully Ebony wasn’t tired or anything, talking would keep Repa’s mind busy and maybe something would spark her memory to remember anything Josh had said about his recent schedule.

Little did Repa know Josh was on his way to another world, but it wasn’t Cocoon. The two girls would get a visit from Josh soon enough.

(Ill add him after my next post)

[Ebony Blackwell]

Black Researcher

Let's get this over with so that I can get back to work.

Ebony saw out of the corner of her eye that Repa seemed to be contemplating something. It was most likley about Josh, seeing as how neither of the two knew his exact location at that very moment. After all, he was a soldier in the army, and just that simple yet proudful position put whole families into a war of their own with emotions. You had no idea of knowing whether they would come back...or not...Whether they were alive....or...dead...

She quickly shook the thoughts from her mind, and set her mind on something other than death and sorrow. She had had enough of that already. She didn't need anymore...not now...

“Ah, I was just wondering. I kind of forgot what he said to me last time…besides if he is on his way to Cocoon or something, well he won’t find you there, just PSICOM.”

"Yes, obviously."

Ebony couldn't help but grin a little. Cocoon was practically overrun by PSICOM. They were like little annoying ants. You step on one, and there will be five more waiting in the cracks.

“So it’s not too late. Want to gain some blackmail against Josh?”

Woah, hold up. Ebony turned quickly towards Repa, shock evident in her face. Did she just say...? A smirk spread across her face. She did.

“I’ve got a lot of stories you could use…I mean, if you’re up for it.”

Ebony couldn't help but chuckle.

"Of course! Why wouldn't I be?"

[Repa Raines]

Princess at Heart
Yeah I'm a Princess...but I'm no Damsel in Distress...Far from it.

It was sort of bad that Repa didn’t know where her brother was, but on the other hand, she knew he could take care of himself. He was a soldier after all, a high ranked one. It was ncie to know if anything happened, he could lay the smack down better than anyone she knew. “Hopefully he can just stay out of trouble for now. I’d hate to come home and find him broken…again.” She said with a smile and a slight laugh. After her small laugh and attempt at self humor, Repa sat down on her living room couch curling her legs up close to her body and folding her hands together with a wide grin. The stories running through her mind like a slide show, every detail still clear in her mind. There are some things in life you just never forget.

“Alright! Let the stories begin!” Repa said a bit darkly as this would be her ultimate attack against Josh. In a friendly way though, it was your typical sibling love hate relationship. “Well when Josh was a senior in high school, I remember one time he asked a girl to the winter dance which would of course be at home. Well the two just figured they would meet there.” She said trying to briefly tell her story so she could get to the funny part quicker. “Well that day Josh had worked out, done training and what not for the army, and fell asleep. He woke up, wandered downstairs into the middle of the dance, hair messed up, no senses what so ever…and got bumped and fell into the food cart. Basically creating a domino effect on every girl there.” Repa’s smile widened on the memory, her brother being a klutz was always something funny to see. “I got pictures.” Repa grinned before hearing a knock on her apartment door….

(ill post josh soon I promise! He’s next though…)

[Joshua Raines]

Super Soldier
I am a Soldier, I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight

Josh wandered around Gaia…once again. It was déjà vu all over again. He had been here once, walked around and wandered until he came across his sister, this time it was the exact same thing. But this time, once he found Repa he would be surprised to know that her new roommate was his own girlfriend. That would be both a shock and a scare. Repa liked to babble a bit, they both had their moments poking fun at one another, trying to make the other sound like a total idiot. It was true, right about now Repa was explaining her story and Josh was trying to figure out where this ‘condo a few blocks from seventh heaven’ was. That was the only description Repa had given him when he interrogated her about her lifestyle here. But the thing was…there wasn’t that many living places in this area of Midgar. So he chose the only building for condos and went straight to the desk requesting a room number for a miss Repa Raines.

After a few moments of standing in an elevator Josh walked out and looked at each door number, these were larger places so the doors were spread. He came across the one he was looking for and heard talking from the inside. Oh yes that was Repa alright, But why was she telling a story about Josh? To whom exactly was she speaking to? Oh. Was it that Yazoo guy or something? Josh didn’t really like him and if it was him in there, well Josh would either A) throw him out or B) leave himself. It didn’t hurt to check things out at least. He knocked on the door and waited for someone to open it.

(using Repa a bit in this post…)

The door opened, Repa answered it, but Josh didn’t look at her, his eyes flew straight back past his sister and locked on Ebony. What. The. Hell. Was the only thing that came to mind. “Ebony? What….what are you doing here? How did you…ahh….anyone wanna explain this? I’m a bit…ehh flustered here.” He said trying to grasp the right words to describe his utter confusion….