There's been a lot a fightin' and stuff around home lately, an' me an Gramps volunteered to fight against the Empire with these rebels callin' themselves the Returners. Silly name, like somethin' outta an Esper-story.

Then again, there are Espers around too, so maybe it's not that silly.

Anyway, I'm gonna draw 'em in you, sketchbook, so when I'm old and wrinkly like Gramps I'll be able to remember all the fun we had. An' that I got to ride around on an airship, too!

Now, let's get to sketchin'!

Locke

A three quarter profile of the lanky adventurer leaning on the railing of the Blackjack, staring at a point of light streaking across the horizon; a shooting star. His eyes are sad, his mouth creased in the faintest frown. Beyond him, in the night sky, the stars stand out against the black like flakes of snow.

I'm pretty sure he didn't see me. Or maybe he did. He's funny like that - always trying to be polite and gentlemanly and that sort of stuff. Not like Loverboy does; it's like this guy actually means it. I don't get it. He's set on the Ice Queen, I think. I don't understand those two.

But when I saw him, it was like he was wishing for somethin' to change. Or maybe go back the way it used to be.

Cyan

The old soldier is seated, cross-legged, against a tree. He holds an ornately folded silk flower in his hands. Behind the tree two indistinct figures - one shorter than the other - stand side-by-side, looking at him.

Gramps told me to leave him alone. Said he was sad 'cause his wife and kid died. Well, I only got my gramps and that's it - no mom, no dad, no brothers or sisters, just the old coot and me, so I'm gonna bother him if I want.

What a guy, though. I don't get him either, but it's different than with Locke and the Ice Queen. He saw me and said hello and wanted to talk and acted like nothing was wrong, like everything was normal. How normal can things be when you're facin' death and fightin' an evil Empire and camping out with a freakin' moogle? I don't understand him. I want to yell at him but then I want to cry when I look at him sittin' there, crosslegged and foldin' pieces of silk into flowers for me an' Terra an' Celes.

Edgar

The young King is perched atop a chocobo, his cape and hair billowing behind him. Ahead, the open desert. His gaze is stern, yet the small smile on his lips softens the image. He is heading into the unknown, and could not be happier. Surrounding the sketch are several dark scrawls covering what may have once been hearts.

Loverboy was just chattin' with Terra while we were ridin' across the desert, like it wasn't any big deal. The freakin' desert! I never even seen one, but he just led us right through it without any wory, like he knew all about it. An' Locke an' Cyan an' everyone, they're all worried about water an' scorpions an' dragons, but not him. He's just leanin' back, all handsome and nonchalant - how's that for a fancy word? Picked it up from Locke! - just rides right on through. And he's a King! Like a real-life, bonafide King!

Only thing I don't get is what's he see in her? I mean...I got magic too! What else does she got that I don't? I mean, apart from, well, you know. Well, whatever; his brother's cuter.

And not a jerk.

Sabin

The monk is in a pool, beneath a waterfall, snow surrounding him. The water parts around him as he stands there serenely, his eyes closed, his face impassive. The only sign that he could be anything other than a natural feature is the puff of his breath in the cold mountain air.

So dreamy~~~~~~~~

I mean, if you like big, cuddly, muscley guys who are nice to everyone an' don't say anythin' mean to no-one, an' carry you across rivers an' deserts, an' scare off any monsters that're in your sleepin' bag before you go to sleep.

And he's not a jerk like his brother.

Stupid jerk.

Terra

The girl is sitting alone, in a grove, surrounded by ancient and hoary oaks. Around her, strange lights dance and cast their shadows. Her eyes are burning with an inner fire, her skin, too, glows faintly. There is a glint of gold at her throat, the hint of a pendant she never looks at.

I...I don't know what to think about her. I mean, I...I seen her as, you know, one a them. An Esper. She's pretty, when she's all glowy like that. Pretty when she's not glowy, too. Maybe that's why Loverboy won't keep his eyes off her. But she always looks like she's sad.

I kinda wanna hug her. All the time.

Celes

The former General stands on a stage, dressed in a young girl's idea of elegance and beauty. Her mouth is open in song, and, in the balcony, a faded blue bandanna can be seen. Behind her, two men - one armed and the other in motley - stare balefully at one another.

Loverboy told me 'bout the Ice Queen singin' an opera, back before me an' Gramps met up with 'em. Doesn't seem likely, so I went to ask her 'bout it an' she told me that it wasn't none of my business. Well, I think it is, so I'm gonna draw it.

Anyway, what's she gonna do if she sees it? Turn me into an snow-girl next time I bump into her? No, she doesn't have the guts! And Locke'd never forgive her besides.

She really needs to get over whatever she ain't gettin' over when it comes to him. He's too nice a guy to just string along like that.

These people, I swear!

Mog

The moogle is standing guard over a camp on the plains. His mis-matched armour and oversized spear would be comical, were it not for the seriousness of his gaze and beast laying dead at his feet.

This happened the other night. Didn't even hear the thing come up to camp, but I guess Mog did. After it was done, he just looked at me an' smiled an' said "Make sure you get my good side, kupo!" an' went back to watchin' out over us.

I hope I got his good side. I don't wanna get on his bad side.

Setzer

The gambler lays across a card table in the hold of the Blackjack, either asleep or - if the empty bottles are any indication - passed out. It is late, the shadows cast by the gaslights are long and the colours are muted. In his hands, he holds a ragged picture frame, but whatever is on the worn canvas is hidden from view.

I don't know why Setzer doesn't hang that dumb ol' picture up somewhere. He keeps it in his jacket an' always takes it out to look at it 'fore he goes to sleep. I guess he doesn't think we notice, and maybe no-one does. But I'm sneaky like that. Gramps always said I woulda been a great thief, if I coulda kept my mouth shut.

I kinda feel bad about it, but I looked at the picture when he was out cold from the booze. I wonder who the girl in the painting is. She's pretty. At least, I think she's pretty - he must keep on touchin' her face, 'cause the paint's all worn there.

He should tell her what he thinks 'bout her one a these days

Gau

The boy is on a precipice above a massive plain that teems with beasts. He is howling at the full moon, which hangs in the sky like a massive, milky eye.

I like Gau. Not like like, but like. He's funny, an' he's nice t'me. An' he likes to dance - an' not that silly waltzin' Loverboy an' Cyan try to teach me, but like crazy wild dancin'. An' he can make every sound a bird or animal can make, an' then some! He even made the sound that fishies make, or so he says. I ain't ever heard a fish make a sound, though, so I don't know if he's lyin' or not.

I don't think he is, though. After all, I got a good feelin' about the kid. I like him.

But not like like. Just like.

Strago

The old man is half-buried beneath a pile of books, his brow furrowed in concentration. Scrolls lay in haphazard piles around him, and a half-completed mystic chart is held on a table by glowing shards of magicite.

Oh, Gramps. Always lookin' in his books. Makin' his notes, and hummin' an' hawin' an' gruntin' and groanin'. One a these days, the old coot's gonna read himself into the ground, an' then what's Gungho gonna do?

Those two, always fightin', like kids. Sometimes I wonder who's the grown up!

(It's me, in case you were wonderin', sketchbook.)

Shadow

The assassin is in one of his rare moments of relaxation, leaning against the wall of the dining hall in Figaro Castle. Interceptor is curled at his feet, asleep. On the assassin's left hand is a small silver ring.

I dunno what to think of this guy. I mean...he's frightenin' to everyone, but not me. Him an' Interceptor, they seem like they're mean an' like they'll eat your face off if you cross 'em, but they're not that bad, really.

The only thing that confuses me is the ring he's always got on. It looks almost kinda like the one Gramps said mamma left me, but the guy won't ever let me see it. Every time I ask, it's "Go away, child, the dog eats people," or "Curiosity will get you killed, girl, best kill it first," or somethin' elese all dark and mysterious-like.

Maybe I'll ask him once we finish off this Kefka guy.