Koyuki had been taken immediately upon her revival, not wanting to risk another potential destructive outbreak from her after a scan had shown that she still retained her monstrous power. The Trabian squad that escorted her desired to know why she had turned into it. Between the group, many were suspicious of Galbadia being the result of this issue, though the had no proof, and even after Koyuki was unthawed and placed into a holding cell meant to contain monsters, she didn't give much of an explanation as to how it happened. She refused to speak to anyone other than Riyel for an entire day, and even then it was mostly spent with her silent with him, resting with him. Getting her to open up to anyone would require a lot more than just pleas.
But, there was one person who was eager to see her, to speak with her. The woman did not understand why, but she heard from the guards that Nyale wanted to speak with her. She recalled that girl, she had shown up once when she was having her meltdown on top of the construction site, and apparently she was there to save her and bring her back to life. What exactly could she possibly want to say to her? At first her instinctual gut reaction was to tell the guards to shove it and tell anyone to leave her alone, but the gentleness of Riyel soothed her agitated nature and she felt herself willing to be in the headspace to hear the girl out.
She was escorted to a conference room, guided by both Tsitsho, and Tori with Varitas leading Nyale to the room on the opposite side. Koyuki took a seat down, patiently sitting at the table as she waited for the girl. What was it she was expecting from this conversation? She had no idea. Maybe it would be an insightful conversation into the girl who brought her back to life.
Stock: Fire (x3), Cure (x3), Esuna (x3), Scan (x3)
Status: Recovering
The hospitals were full.
Nearby buildings were commandeered to find room for the wounded. Triage tents spilled out into the streets. No matter where she went, she could always hear someone weeping.
Rem made her way through the lines of tents and cots, offering gentle words and touches to those she passed, whether patient or caretaker. Beyond doctors and nurses, civilians had volunteered in droves to help. Half the population of Unita was cleaning wounds while the other half was cleaning rubble. She’d be back at it herself, soon enough, coordinating work crews and the movement of equipment to try and get some sense of order back to Eden City.
But right now, she was here for just one person.
—
Kalen had the very same room Rem had occupied a few days before. May as well call it a presidential suite. Well, one might have if not for the crates of medical supplies piled high. Every inch of space was needed for either patients or equipment. Even though he heard the door come open, he couldn’t see his visitor until they rounded the boxes full of spare linens for bedding and gauze.
Rem was tired. Anyone could see it. Bags like bruises under the eyes, deliberate slow movements, and she hadn’t even cleaned all the dust off her overalls. But beneath the bags and the worry lines, she found a smile for her brother.
”How are you doing, today?” she asked, coming to join him at the chair drawn up next to his bed. She squeezed Kalen in a hug before sitting. ”Dr. Ichimaru said they were looking to discharge you tomorrow.”
Lost in skies of powdered gold xxxxxxxCaught in clouds of silver ropes xxxxxxxxxxxxShowered by the empty hopes xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxAs I tumble down,falling fast to the ground
I know I'll wither, so peel away the bark xxxxxxxxx'cause nothing grows when it is dark xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxIn spite of all my fears, I can see it all so clear
xxxxN y a l exxxxL a y t o s
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The waiting room at the research center was cold, clinical, and completely silent as Ny sat there, while Varitas stood guard by the door. She was perched on a metal bench, her hands twisting in her lap and her gaze fixed on a crack on the floor. The girl was deep in thought, debating if she had made a mistake coming here. Truthfully she had been surprised they allowed the visit at all. After the destruction Koyuki caused in her monster form, and with her being frozen by Lis and then safely locked away, Ny didn't think anyone would be allowed to see the woman. She was public enemy number 1. Highly dangerous and unpredictable, and responsible for great suffering. And yet, unusually, Ny had been granted permission to speak to her one to one. Even Koyuki herself had allowed it, which was an even bigger surprise.
If I don't do this now, I may never get another chance... She thought, trying to convince herself to go through with it. Because who knew where Koyuki would be taken to soon. Ny was a bundle of nerves. Her heart was pounding so loud she thought even Varitas might hear it, so she took some slow, deep breaths to steady herself.
Finally Varitas gave the word that Koyuki was ready in the conference room and Ny hesitantly got to her feet. Varitas kindly asked if she was sure, giving her the option to back out at the last moment, but Ny only gave a small nod and murmured a thank you. The young Sorceress headed through the door and into the room. Watching Koyuki with a wary expression, she walked over to the table and took a seat opposite the woman, and after a moment she cleared her throat in the silence.
"Ms Rieko. Thank you for seeing me." She started off politely, her amber eyes meeting Koyuki's. No doubt Koyuki would see the trepidation there, but also something defiant, or perhaps determined, in her gaze. "You're looking...um...better" Well, better than the last time Ny saw her, battered and bloodied and...dead. The memory of Koyuki's lifeless form was haunting, and she repressed a shudder. Ny herself merely looked slightly more weary and pale than she usually was, the chaos of the last few days taking its toll. She was dressed smartly in her Winhill SeeD uniform, her long white hair pinned up neatly and giving the impression of someone who had it together. But tell-tale shadows lined the undersides of her eyes. Not that Koyuki would probably notice any difference.
"I wanted to speak with you about what happened the other day...and you don't have to talk to me if you don't want to, but I'd like you to hear what I have to say..." Ny shifted uncomfortably in her chair. She really had no idea how she was supposed to talk to this woman. Koyuki was a fiend. Massively powerful. Obviously terrifying. But she was also Kalen and Yuki's mother and she had been the headmistress of Trabia garden. She couldn't be all bad. Ny had no relationship with her whatsoever, and had never so much as spoken to her before. And yet now, they shared an unexpected, unintended link.
How do I begin? She thought, biting her lip.
"You know that I'm a Sorceress. What I did that day to you, I've never done before in my life..."
She paused and waited a moment, to see if Koyuki would have anything to reply thus far.
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T h exxL i g h t w e a v e r
Let your colours bleed and blendwith mine...xxxxxxxxxx
Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2024 3:43 pm
Koyuki Vicaria Status: Alive, Awake, Curious
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When her eyes laid upon Nyale as she entered the room, the first thing she thought of when she looked upon her was a single word. Delicate. Nyale could tell from her aura sensing, that Koyuki hadn't changed back. Her magical presence was still incredibly powerful despite the loss of Ixion. This unnerving presence was most unmistakably due to her monstrous alteration and transformation. She still had the power in her, that much was obvious and apparent. Despite that sensation, Koyuki remained relatively quiet and as normal as any human could be, if not a bit quieter than most.
She listened to Nyale speak, and her introductions to her were formal. She spoke to her as if she was a headmaster still, and that felt unnecessary to her now. Even then, she knew that Nyale had something more to ask of her, and her statement appeared to be leading up to a question of some kind, so she decided to speak, to at least alleviate some of the tension from Nyale. "You don't need to be afraid to talk to me more casually. I am not a headmaster." She replied, giving Nyale freedom to refer to her as she wished.
There is no pain, you are receding A distant ship smoke on the horizon You are only coming through in waves Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying
{{Ooc:// C: }} {Current Theme Song: Red Swan } Spells:
"Yeah, no reason to be so formal. She's just stubborn nowadays." A voice rang out, a door opening to the conference room as he strode in with coffees in hand for everyone. "We're all equal here." He was dressed only slightly differently than the battle a few days prior, a new vest and leather jacket worn around his body in the AC controlled climate. One cup of hot coffee, large, was sat in front of Nyale as he gave another to Koyuki, a hand touching her shoulder gently and kissing the top of her head. It might have been twenty one years since they had been seen together, Riyel dead and lost to the fabric of time, but nothing had changed in how they interacted with one another. The blonde haired man was as delicate with her as one would be a flower, pulling open a seat next to his wife and reclining in it like he owned the place. It had been good to see Varitas again, it had felt likes YEARS.
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Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2024 4:38 pm
Lost in skies of powdered gold xxxxxxxCaught in clouds of silver ropes xxxxxxxxxxxxShowered by the empty hopes xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxAs I tumble down,falling fast to the ground
I know I'll wither, so peel away the bark xxxxxxxxx'cause nothing grows when it is dark xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxIn spite of all my fears, I can see it all so clear
xxxxN y a l exxxxL a y t o s
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That Koyuki was fairly quiet did not come as a surprise to Ny, but her calmness did. After everything she'd been through, and was still going through, Ny had expected her to be more unstable, perhaps. Maybe even hostile. Indeed she could tell from her oppressively strong aura that whatever was plaguing the ex-headmistress, it wasn't over. And yet, Koyuki spoke reasonably and normally, letting her know that she could be more informal.
Nyale nodded. She couldn't quite bring herself to try and smile. Most of her thoughts were going into trying to avoid setting Koyuki off in any way. "Alright" She replied evenly. "In that case, call me Ny, if you want" The girl defaulted to speaking formally with Koyuki not because she was, or had been, a headmistress. It was more to be respectful, as she had simply been raised that way. A loud voice suddenly spoke from the door, causing Ny to jump.
"Mr Vicaria...oh! Um...Riyel, then, I suppose" She conceded, flustered, yet watching in mild wonderment as Kalen's long-lost father entered and placed a coffee on the table in front of her. "Thank you, sir, that is kind of you" Nyale quietly observed the tender way in which Riyel treated his love, and her expression softened. She wished Kalen could see this moment between them. It reminded her of how her own father and mother had been, before their marriage began to crack.
Ny waited until Riyel was settled, then took a sip of the hot coffee and continued.
"Ms Koyuki..." The woman's red eyes were so vivid Ny looked away for a moment, thinking and choosing her next words carefully.
"You know, as a SeeD I guess it's common to think about how it feels to take a life. You never know when you might have to, but it's sometimes necessary, right? You don't...you don't ever think about the ramifications of doing the opposite though" She began to explain.
"When I brought you back, I was doing it for your son and your daughter. I didn't do it for you" Perhaps it sounded harsh, but it was the truth. Ny had a point though, and she continued speaking.
"They are...important to me. I knew Kalen would have blamed himself to the end of his days, if you had died that day. I couldn't let that happen. But..." She tailed off, looking back up at Koyuki. Her eyes were apprehensive. "...when I reached into the darkness and pulled you back from there, I felt your hesitation and your reluctance. I really did. And afterwards I thought to myself, maybe I did the wrong thing? Maybe I brought back someone who would...rather be at peace"
Most likely Koyuki and Riyel would realise where she was going with this now. Although she had returned her life, Ny was grappling with the moral implications of forcing Koyuki back into the world. It was especially awkward seeing the woman now imprisoned, and understanding that she may not ever be free again unless whatever demons were haunting her could be removed.
Did I bring her back, just for her to suffer more? Ny thought, guilt etched in the lines of her face.
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T h exxL i g h t w e a v e r
Let your colours bleed and blendwith mine...xxxxxxxxxx
Yeah, yeah, yeah, they were a vital part of keeping many people alive, be they young or old, but there was always something austere and sinister that he found about them. It was probably the strange chemical and overtly clean smell that one would inhale every time they entered the building. There was always a strange fantasy that he found, and enjoyed in his horror flicks that he would watch with Rem late at night when they were kids, how regular hospitals would be secret lairs for evil to be afoot. Not that he didn't need to be here, of course. The night of the big battle, he had been nothing short of delirious and the embodiment over over-exertion. The last things he remembered were his mother catching him as he fell and Rem hugging him, a hulking warrior saying...something in his face before it all became nothing.
The next day had passed without him knowing, lying in this same bed as he recovered in full from the trauma and stress that not only limit breaking had caused, but the electrocution at the hands of his birth mother had caused. Feeling in his limbs slowly was returning but even now, he couldn't stand fully. That was an almost insulting feeling, the pins and needles that lived up and down his leg were the most irritating thing that he could feel at the moment. The nurses came in, doctors came in, replacing his bandages of the lightning esque scars that now wound up and down his torso, arms, and legs. They weren't garish, but they were obviously not something that he was born with. Another fitting gift from Koyuki Rieko...er, Vicaria now. He had been awake all morning, stirring to the delight of others. The nurses and doctors had reached out to his mother and sister, who in turn probably had told Nyale and whoever else, so Kalen was expecting visitors eventually.
Large boxes had been placed all over, and his head turned at the sound of someone entering the room. Craning his neck, he knocked over a plethora of cards and sweets that a few of his regular fan club had sent in knowing that he had become bed ridden...sweet, yet creepy in its own way. The news was playing on the one television in the room, the soundbites on repeat as they went over the events. Random helicopter and news van footage filled the public in on the details on what had transpired, Kalen himself taking it upon himself to become a bit more informed on the issues at hand. Clips of the final battle were being shown, and he furrowed his brow at the images of his father, an apparent gift from the universe from them, having appeared. And himself...the gold wolf destroying and causing more chaos than he could ever imagine actually creating. It gave him the creeps again, not knowing exactly what was going on and acting on pure instinct in that moment. Theres just no way...
Rem sat next to him, shaking him out of his daze. He had completely forgotten that someone had entered the room. Between his waking, all the fluster and buster that some people were giving, and a new damn voice in his head screaming loudly about he should be thankful to be awake and the power of legend lived in him. It was honestly exhausting. The sight of his sister at least put him at ease with a sense of familiarity, as he adjusted himself fully and lay against the reclined hospital bed. "Remmy." His voice was still a little hoarse, but it was supplemented by the usual Kalen half smile that normally lived on his face, "I'm awake at least....the doctors have been stabbing me with vaccines and medicine all morning so that sucks...Ichimaru DID say tomorrow looked like the best time. They need to make more room and I should have feeling back in my legs in the next few days. The worst part is this guy constantly talking to me in my head about LEGACY and ACHIEVING MY POTENTIAL!" He voice faltered, clearing his throat and drinking a glass of water that rested near his bedside. His arms were still bandaged from the damage.
The young man looked his sister over, eyes softening at her appearance. She would always overexert herself, and it looked like that wasn't going to be able to stop any time soon. "You look terrible..." A hand placed on her shoulder as he winced at the slight pain from under the bandage, "Have you slept at all?! You're useless if you don't sleep you know, coffee isn't the end all be all cure for it." Still, he put in a call for coffee with his pager so that Rem would not fall over asleep in the seat. The past few days had been awful for everyone, and he knew that it was no exception for her. All he could think about was what happened, the amount of his birth mother's blood that he saw...that he helped create. The anger he felt had been palpable and powerful, and that was all he could truly recall.
"I still can't believe anything that's happened." His voice was soft, watching the tv as they showed more footage. The electrical wire around Koyuki's throat and thrashing her into a building. I did that to her..."I can't believe I did any of that...I just wanted to get those monsters away from the shelters..." Which he had done. The normally optimistic young man was riddled with various concerns it was apparent, unsure about everything that had and was happening. It was better to ignore it. "How's everyone? Ma? Pa? The siblings? Nyale?" He looked around, confused, before raising his eyebrow at Rem, "The boyfriend not tailing your every movement? Off building you a monument in your name?" He shot a small imitation of what would normally be a brimming smile, but just like everything in the moment...it felt forced.
Guardian Force: G...Gilgamesh? Status: O'HO, I HAVE SOMETHING Spells 0
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Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2024 5:18 pm
Matthias Keller
Status: On Duty. Location: In the Dark, Watching Koyuki. ____________________________________________________ Surveillance was at times one of the worst duties for a B.I.E. agent to perform, and it was only doubly bad for Director Keller. Inside the research center he wasn't allowed to smoke, which only meant now everything was extraordinarily annoying, and that he needed to stress his patience now more than ever.
Still he had a job to do. And watching both Koyuki Vicaria and Riyel Vicaria were of high priority. The addition of a young Nyale was only a bonus, as the ability to bring someone back to life was... extraordinary. Yes, indeed, her career was one to watch with interest, and even more so she would make a excellent test subject. But for now she was in the Everett case file, which meant she was off limits.
In the dark he would remain, dimly lit standing against the wall behind Koyuki. For now he would wait until she showed signs of needing another dose of the Galbadian cocktail that had let her remember Riyel. She would need it to keep the several variants straight in her head.
Plus his presence was a gentle reminder. No talking about Galbadia. _____________________________________________________
Stock: Fire (x3), Cure (x3), Esuna (x3), Scan (x3)
Status: Recovering
Rem’s face twisted with empathetic pain. Vaccines, blood tests, stitches, setting bones…Kalen had been through a lot. Her brother might notice her eyeing the bandages on his arms. She’d been in the room when Dr. Ichimaru told mom they’d likely leave permanent dendritic scars. She managed a little laugh at the mention of the strange presence which had deemed Kalen worthy of its loyalty. Was it forced? Yes. Didn’t stop her.
”Congratulations. You’re the first of us to earn your own GF.” While the smile might be forced, the words were not. She was proud of her brother. Of course, he was quick to turn it back onto her. The smile faded.
”You know I can’t sleep when things are bad,” she reminded. Kalen knew this well from experience. Hard to say if Rem’s persistence came from dedication or obsession. The girl couldn’t let troubles rest, because she couldn’t rest. Their father worked with Rem time and again to try and ease her out of these patterns. It helped…but whenever Nona was in high gear, Rem followed suit. He could hear her some nights, pacing in her room, trying to solve problems someone her age shouldn’t be burdened with.
Talk drifted away for a time as the two of them watched the news. The footage repeated again and again, broken only by updates and instructions from the relief workers to get information out. The Prince and Princess looked on the destruction of their homeland. Unita was not dead, but it was crippled. Vulnerable. If they survived the world stage, it would be years before the country returned to its previous stability.
And they watched Kalen strangling his own mother.
”You know mom,” Rem said, letting the matter of the war wolf slip by. ”World on her shoulders. She promised to come by tonight. You were still out of it last time she was here. I think…I think it tears her up.” Speaking of tearing Nona up- ”Still no word from dad,” Rem continued in a quieter voice. Lloyd had last been in contact just before crossing the border into Esthar. ”The twins are okay. Mae’s down in the triage tents; she wants to come by, too. Jae’s helping the cleanup crews. Sou-hi went out with the hunting parties.” A number of groups had been dispatched to track down stray monsters from the attack, lest they linger at the edges of Unita or come back for a second helping. Nothing as dreadful as a Great Malboro or a Hexadragon, blessedly. ”I haven’t gotten to see Nyale since yesterday. She’s…got a lot on her mind, I think.” Who didn’t? But she could remember the stormclouds hanging over the girl who was usually all bright smiles and spunk.
The ‘boyfriend’ remark got a flat glower. It felt forced, too.
”Master Kyng is a skilled engineer and has been assisting me with surveying the damage,” she answered with a hint of that familiar, prickly pride Kalen so loved to prod. ”We’re fortunate he’s with us. Ixion might have killed me or one of the girls if not for him.” She could still remember the jolt of electricity leaping to her skin when the beast’s golden horn nearly skewered her.
The silence in the room was thick, laced with traces of forced optimism from both sides of the aisle. Kalen knew something was wrong with him, trying to decipher whatever the hell was running through his brain at the diluge of information that was being forced upon himself once he had awoken. It was again, only made worse, by feeling the weapon master and collector in the background of his mind. Too much was going on, and he felt a pressure in his chest trying to rationalize everything that was occurring. Rem's words he decided to focus on, closing his eyes and breathing slowly, in and out, to try and alleviate the sudden anxiety that was trying to overtake him. The doctors had said that it was a probable symptom of being struck with such high voltage. Anxiety, insomnia, and a list of other possible reactions that would be in his immediate future were listed on his mental checklist like he was about to go to the grocery store of mental illness. It was only made worse by Rem's words, whether she knew it or not, her brother could her the forced nature of it. Sometimes, they both spoke and acted too similarly, more so than the twins even did.
"I got a Guardian Force, and yet, I don't even remember it..."
The thought was spoken, quietly, almost like an observation to himself more so than a response to his sister. The things his sister said continued to draw him out of his own thoughts, which was preferable. The only place to go inside of himself was down a dark road of introspection that he did not have the capacity to handle. So on the present he would focus. "You can only do so much." Again, it was quiet, but his hand reached out and grasped his sister's hand, giving it a squeeze. The footage on the tv drew their attention once more, this time with a brand new shot of Kalen throttling Koyuki with the electrical cord before Riyel's fiery finale struck. Again, there was no recollection other than the visceral anger that rushed over him. "I'm sorry..." His voice didn't raise in volume, just sounding more tired than before. The sleep he had gotten had not been as restful as anyone might have thought. Still, he felt like he had been thrown into a blender and spat back out. "I didn't mean to make you guys worry. I wanted to help...to be a hero, I guess. I didn't want to let anyone get hurt...I thought about you, Nyale, ma, pa, Yukiko..." The thought of Lloyd came across his mind as well. Nothing to be heard from Esthar. Nothing at all.
"I don't like making Ma cry."
It was another quiet mumble, but out of everything that he said, he sounded vulnerable. Rem knew that her brother was safe guarding his private thoughts and feelings more often than not, but right now, he was overwhelmed. It was not shocking that anxiety was rushing through his thought processes. "I hope...I didn't hurt anyone other than...Mo.." he couldn't finish his sentence, faltering again as his looked down at his right hand on his lap. "I really don't know what I did...they make it look like I was hero but I felt...just...anger. Like it would have attacked anyone that it felt was a threat... I just felt such more anger..." He knew Rem was trying to get him to relax but he couldn't. Just like her with sleep, it was eating him up inside and while he normally he could contain it, there was too much going on. His birth father's appearance somehow seemed the least crazy thing out of all the events that transpired.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah....he's skillful. Doesn't stop you from blushing whenever he asks you something, does it? Mae told me over text how you two have been hand in hand with eachother the last few days."
He didn't want to talk about it anymore, if Rem pushed it he would, but he felt exposed. It was much easier to tease her about the pink haired idiot that followed...but even still, it felt forced from him too. At least he shared something with her, though he had not fully spoken his mind. It was something. Perhaps it was time to...
"What's on your mind. Don't lie to me and say nothing, I can hear it in your tone. Something's up your a**, and its not the regular stick we're used to." His voice sounded weary.
Guardian Force: G...Gilgamesh? Status: O'HO, I HAVE SOMETHING Spells 0
Poison, Dark (x?), Slow, Haste, (x1), Confuse, Sleep
____________________________________________________ Raeka had come up to visit Kalen on his own. He knew the guy had been sleeping outside of his room and was there when he had been shot just a few days ago, although by now that felt like a lifetime ago. Perhaps even more unfair, Raeka had somehow made a complete recovery over one night. The very least he owed it to the Nipal family was to visit the guy while he was in the hospital, but it seemed he had arrived just when Rem was there.
Oh man, that only kinda made things awkward. So much of his anger seemed just kinda petty after being shot and all these other things that had happened in Unita the last few days. Perhaps these wild formation of these last events had put things into perspective, or perhaps having gotten it out earlier only emphasized what he already felt.
Well, whatever. Raeka didn't have time to dance around on awkwardness or such things. Once again the events had spurred him to act when perhaps he usually would not have.
"Hey pup. Finally get tired of being the only one without a gift, so you had to turn into a wolf man huh?" He joked, or at least tried to when he entered the room. "Looks like this place is becoming the popular place, of course I started the trend, but now you guys are here all the time as well. At any rate, Cuz, I'm glad to see you're doing alright. Maybe better than alright, dude, I saw you throw a car. You gonna run for world's strongest man this year, or just bulking up to stand up to Robin for once?"
He avoided looking at Rem, for now. ____________________________________________________
Stock: Fire (x3), Cure (x3), Esuna (x3), Scan (x3)
Status: Recovering
Rem’s face scrunched up at the teasing over the Estharan boy. Kalen saw her arm come up, ready to punch him in the shoulder, only to stop when she saw the bandages again. It dropped.
Even the forced optimism withered. The two siblings sat in a prison with their own feelings. There was an honesty in that. There, in the hospital room stuffed with crates of linens and towels and antiseptic, the Prince and Princess set aside their masks.
”I…wanted to apologize,” Rem managed. She squeezed Kalen’s hand in turn. He couldn’t remember ever seeing her more tired. ”I know I can only speak for myself, but…but I know mom, and dad, and…just about everyone treats you like you’re made of glass.” Her voice was weighty with guilt and resolve at once.
”You’ve always…You…” she tried, fumbling and reconsidering her words. She scrunched up her brow and shook her head. ”I understand you wanting to help,” she settled on instead. Kalen waited for the ‘but’ to come, followed by the reprimand. It never came. ”That’s who you are. But mama, and papa, and me, and others- we keep telling you to stay back.”
”I’ve been thinking. Wondering if…if that’s part of why you left.” Rem had never forgiven him for leaving. ”We wouldn’t let you figure yourself out, so you left to do it on your own. That interrupts your training, and then when you’re back, everyone tells you to go to the back lines because you didn’t become a SeeD, and then…” Her gaze strayed back to the screen where there lingered a still of the golden war wolf, holy lightning streaming off him.
Her hand was shaking in his.
”I’m…sorry, Kalen,” she said at last. ”I should’ve let you make your own choices. You deserve that.”
Just in time for the door to come open. Rem grimaced and looked from Kalen toward the door, only for a silver-haired rogue to come strolling around the linen crates.
Raeka.
Rem's hand slipped out of Kalen's grasp. Her gaze turned firmly away from the young man. She occupied herself with staring at the bundle of flowers on the far side of Kalen's bed, her expression tight with discomfort.
Status: Shockma'd Location: Mouth of Hell Company: Raeka, Rem, Thoughts: Get me out of this bed Weapons: Hrunting ll Thunder Rose Magic:Crystal Stock: Earth (x10)
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Kiss me good-bye, love's memory Follow your heart and find your destiny Won't shed a tear, for love's mortality For you put the dream in my reality
His face softened. An apology? What on earth did she have to apologize fo- Ah... It was true. Ever since the incident when they were younger, the newborn marlboro having knocked him unconscious, his adopted parents treated Kalen like a precious figurine, afraid he would get hurt by pursuing a more dangerous course of life. How many times had he tried helping out or asking to assist when monsters would attack years ago? How many times had he been told no, or that seeking advanced sparring wasn't necessary for someone like him. That he should focus on his studies, become a politican, or some other avenue that did not involve him being physically harmed? While Kalen did not rebel in the traditional sense, he resisted the callings that his parents, grandparents, and siblings tried to ensnare him into. Though maybe they weren't wrong? "I'm not made of glass, but I still wound up here, didn't I?" he chuckled darkly, his fingers grazing the wrappings that covered the lengths of his limbs.
Rem's point still stood though. The only one who hadn't treated him that way was Koyuki...she punched him hard enough to knock him out. It was almost comical...almost. "Maybe I should have stayed back...it would have stopped this." The news played over him trying to hang his mother again. "I left..." He sighed, thinking about it. It felt so long ago. Memories if his announcement that he had enrolled at Winhill to attend the SeeD academy, away from reaches of his mother and father and siblings. Away from his Grandparents...but even then...he still didn't finish. There was still that closeness and the worrying and constant inquiring of Nona, Lloyd, and the others whether it was wise.
"It was partially that." He relented, "But part of it was...I didn't want to stick my life to something. Maybe I was just a coward, but there was a whole world out there. One that I...and my father...one that he never had the chance to live and explore. I wanted to get a taste of the real world, away from the politicians, the glitz, the glamour, and just do whatever I wanted to do. I wanted to find my purpose in life, all the philosophy books I ever read the authors found their way through LIVING...in UNITA, I started to feel smothered."
His hand squeezed her shaking hand, comforting her. "Don't apologize. You're my sister and I'm glad you care at all. What's done is done. I made my choices. What matters, is that I'm here." His voice ended, the strongest it had ever been and a new strength seemed to come over him. "I'm gonna get stronger. I'm going to protect you, Nya-" It was cut short as Raeka made his appearance known. "Well, you seem to be doing better, Raeka. You got shot and were crippled, suddenly you're walking again. I think I'd rather be shot at this point." His joke was much stronger, patting Rem's hand to try and get her to relax, "I....Raeka...I don't really remember it. It's all jus-" He looked at Rem in confusion then at Raeka, "....I threw a car?!" There had been no footage of that on the television, and noone had seemed it notable to tell him. "No way...I did that? I threw a CAR and I can't remember it?!" An errant frustrated sigh crossed him. "...has anyone heard from Robin? Or anyone from Esthar?"
Guardian Force: G...Gilgamesh? Status: O'HO, I HAVE SOMETHING Spells 0
Poison, Dark (x?), Slow, Regen (x1), Confuse, Sleep
____________________________________________________ "Yeah, you also manhandled that Guardian Force and suplexed it. I guess you don't really remember it all, but you rocked as that war wolf thing." Might as well put a positive spin on all that had happened, but there was a truth to it. Kalen could finally stand on his own in some way, but the tone told Raeka the truth. It was all still kinda shitty. "Yeah, as for me, I uh, I feel better than I did before I got shot. Like my whole physique got more defined over night, but I think i'm in the same boat as you. Last thing I remember was jumping out the window on Cerberus and I woke up hugging Mai, and it's been quiet since."
"Esthar has been pretty quiet, so has Robin. What reports I'm privy too suggest they've gone dark besides military channels. I think they're fortifying the country for whatever broke out of their Garden." Finally Raeka looked over at Rem. "I expect SeeD will be sent there soon, considering everything. That pink boy and your dad should know more." Which was true, Lloyd had been sent out there some time ago now, Nona had probably heard from him and likely had more information.
"Also, uh, Rem. My memory of the last week is pretty hazy, a lot of trauma, from what I understand I put you in a bad spot and..." Half-truths. He remembered more than he was letting on. He paused for a moment, and shrugged. "Just wanna say, I'm sorry, y'know. My bad." ____________________________________________________
She remained quiet as Riyel entered the room, not reacting to his head kiss and hand on her shoulder, but she didn't move away from his touch either, which meant she was perfectly fine with the affection. With his presence added, Koyuki listened to Nyale's concern and question. Her hands folded up together, resting her elbows on the table as she did, leaning forward and resting her chin on them. Her expression didn't change but her tone did, sounding much gentler by comparison to her usual militaristic attitude. "It is true that I felt those things you describe. Likewise, I felt you and your emotions when your light pulled me back from the darkness." She replied, pausing for a moment to think about how she wished to continue.
"It doesn't matter how I feel, and you should never let how a person feels make you feel guilty for doing what you think was the right thing. Your power is a gift, and you used what you have talent in. There is no need to feel like you've done me wrong. Nor should you ever let another person's feelings sway you from your desire to do good." She stated. Despite her monstrous nature below the surface, Koyuki managed to retain her sanity, and a semblance of her human reasoning. The question, while personal, wasn't one that would set her off in any situation, and she could see Nyale was concerned for her, much like how she imagined Selphie would be in a similar situation.
She then glanced over to her husband, just staring up at him for a moment before speaking to Nyale again. "It also isn't your responsibility to soothe the pain of someone who has only caused harm. What sorrows, woes, and misery I hold in my heart is simply from the weight and result of twenty years of a war that never ended for me. Yes, I am tired of living in this world, but it would be wrong of me to say that there is no value in remaining alive. Even as I am now, there is merit. So, rest easy knowing that I am not suffering as much as you may think." As she finished, she lowered her hands down to the table, sitting up and resting her head against Riyel.
