14th sketch - [video/action, backdated slightly to this morning]

[sketchingideals]

[Morning comes.

Jeb gets himself out of bed, plans out in his head what he's going to make for him and Silver for breakfast, gets dressed... and as he's fiddling with the clasp of his bracelet, it dawns on him.

He's been wearing this thing consistently for almost a year. It'll have been a year in a couple of weeks, and he's still wearing a bracelet given to him by someone he was never in love with in the first place. All for the sake of reminding himself of a promise he made.

He still believes in that promise.

Maybe he's foolish for that, too. Or maybe he didn't want to leave Mithos alone because that's his own fear. Being abandoned and left behind for people more impressive, people more good than him.

It scares him. He'd never do it to anyone else--even if they wanted him to.

He has the chance to start over now, doesn't he? ...but if he takes it, does it make him manipulative? Maybe he should get advice on that. After making himself a little more presentable, he makes a video post.]

[Video]

Good morning, everyone! I hope you're all doing well today. I have a question for you all, and it's probably going to sound a little weird. But I hope it doesn't sound too weird, because maybe it's something a lot of people want deep down. Who knows?

Anyway, if you got the chance to start over with someone you know or knew, would you? Or does that seem wrong to you?

Thanks to anyone who answers!

[Action]

[A little later on, Jeb's making a quick run to the flower shop. It may be winter, but ever since his elemental powers awakened, he's felt more at peace around plant life. Feel free to catch him while he looks around!]

Comments

[justicereigns]

Depends on the person and what we had before. But sometimes, yeah, that's the right way to do it.

[sketchingideals]

If it's okay to ask, have you ever had a chance like that?

[justicereigns]

I have. Here in Luceti, more than once. I didn't always start over, but I tried to keep a more open mind at least.

[sketchingideals]

Well, that's a good thing isn't it? To keep an open mind. When everyone can come back remembering nothing about their previous visit...

video;

[funnygirl]

Good morning Jeb! To answer your question...yes I think there are at least a few people who I met in the most strange instances. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it can color future interactions with them.

First impressions are important after all.

video;

[sketchingideals]

Good morning, Belle!

They are, aren't they? I know there are some first meetings I wish had gone over better. [When he first met Mithos in person, he had physically lashed out on Jeb...]

video;

[funnygirl]

I believe everyone does. But it's not usually possible. The best thing we can do is try to make the best of future interactions.

video;

[sketchingideals]

That's true!

[...]

But... what if there's someone you haven't been able to reach and you're able to now, but they might go back to how they were before and end up being angrier with you?

video.

[halflived]

[Ouch. This hits a little too close to home for him.]

... I guess that depends on how much you really want it, more than anything.

video.

[sketchingideals]

...you could say that I'd want it a lot.

[He wasn't going to say that this personally applied to him, but there's something with the way Aleos worded his response that changes his mind.]

But is it wrong?

video.

[halflived]

It's only wrong if other people get caught in the crossfire. But even then, what matters more is now, isn't it? It's not like you can change anything that has happened in the past.

[Even if it would mean being betrayed again, and again.]

video.

[sketchingideals]

You're right. I should still try, shouldn't I? I would never let anyone get caught in any sort of crossfire over this, not intentionally. [He remembers how desperately he kept Silver from attacking Mithos on his behalf a few months ago...]

[herotypical]

...Could it ever really be a fresh start? Really? I mean, unless we're talking more amnesiac-shenanigans...

[sketchingideals]

In this case... it's sort of like amnesia, I guess. [Does de-aging and not remembering events even count as that?] Maybe it wouldn't be a fresh start at all, but...

[herotypical]

I dunno. I think I'd much much much rather not be duped. Even by my own memory.

[sketchingideals]

...so I guess you wouldn't do it. [Laughs nervously.]

voice

[imatreenow]

What's wrong with giving someone a second chance? Or taking a second chance someone has given you? I know there are a lot of different circumstances, but...if both sides are willing to try, then why not?

voice

[sketchingideals]

[Jeb's heart nearly stops. He suddenly wishes, very much, that he had done this anonymously. But still responds to Mithos, and he responds as if nothing's wrong.]

What if they decide, later on, to change their mind?

voice

[imatreenow]

[He contemplates for a moment.] Then...you at least tried, right?

[voice]

[folklorist]

[ Well this question hits home like you would not believe. Helios is pretty sure that he's thought about this type of scenario way too many times in the past, and he's never actually vocalized it. ] I don't think it's wrong in the slightest. There's always people you've known or met who-who change you in ways that you couldn't fully express the first time in knowing them. Getting a second chance...to show them how you feel, well, I don't know anyone who wouldn't want something akin to that.

[voice]

[sketchingideals]

...so you don't think it's... something someone shouldn't do? [He's still anxious about everything surrounding this topic.]

[voice]

[folklorist]

I-I don't think it's something someone shouldn't consider no. It's easy to want to make things better or-or say things you never got the chance to say. [ He smiles sadly on his end, he own tone of voice carrying an ever present tinge of sadness. ]

I don't think that makes you a bad person to consider it. I-I'd be a hypocrite if I said otherwise. I've thought about it many times myself.

[Voice]

[knightofratatosk]

Do you mean starting over with someone who's come back but doesn't remember you?

[Voice]

[sketchingideals]

Well, yes. Something like that.

[Voice]

[knightofratatosk]

Then... I'd want to start over. If we were friends once, there's no reason we couldn't be friends again, right?