The Silent Firework (9) : Fireworks are aplenty this time of year, and there’s always something going off somewhere in the city. Little pops and noises are common, but something about this firework is completely abnormal–it makes absolutely no sound. Instead, light and color splashes across the night sky and leaves a lingering glow behind. No one knows where it came from, but it lit up the sky like a midnight sun, and was gone after about a moment. Anyone who managed to see it in person may find that when they blink, there is a residual glow before them. Strangely, it even seems like there’s a trail of faded, glowing light guiding them somewhere. Maybe you’re led to some special place, or some special person, or–maybe the trail ends before you ever find out where you were supposed to go.
It was a quiet night. Caelyna had been, until now, chasing some rumors of odd rifts in the city; she wanted to get a look at them and figure out if they might be dangerous or, on the opposite end, beneficial to the Vanguard. But she'd had little luck with that, and so she paused for a moment to stare down at the streets below.
Earth was so beautiful. So lively. She liked to watch these festivals, bot the ones that seemed to celebrate all sorts of ways of being and the ones that just celebrated humanity and human kindness.
She smiled to herself, as she watched--but her attention was drawn by a burst of color next to her.
She was used to these human "fireworks," now, although the first few times she had heard one go off, it startled her quite badly. They were lovely and colorful, and so was the one she turned to watch, but...
There was no sound. None of the big crack-boom! that she had come to expect from these odd devices. And that made her nervous, especially when the colors faded away and there was a trail fo sparkles left behind. She could still hear all the noise of the street below, which meant it wasn't her hearing that was the problem.
Caelyna thought, for a moment, and then followed the trail. It led her on a winding path, across rooftops and through back streets, until, finally, it stopped--
And her eyes went wide.
She knew every member of their mission to Earth. There had been so few, and even if they hadn't spoken, necessarily, they'd all lived in close proximity. That also meant she knew which ones hadn't been in Negaspace, that night. Which ones had chosen a different path.
"Vaylin!" She gasped, delighted, and she ran forward. "There you are! I'm so glad you're well!"
Aurelius0815
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 3:02 pm
Vaylin had decided to spend this quiet summer night training so she had found a fairly deserted part of the city. While she was practicing with her knife she heard an explosion somewhere behind her. Turning to look she saw colorful explosions in the sky, fireworks were what the human's called them. She had to admit it was hard to get used to them, it always made her think a battle was happening.
She had turned back to continue her workout when she heard a familiar voice call out her name. She turned in time to see Caelyna as the other young Velencian raced at her. She caught the woman in friendly hug.
"Caelyna I'm so glad to see you too!" She exclaimed, she had always liked the other. Having had an opportunity to work with her during the initial phase of their mission on Earth, had definitely been a pleasure. The girl's older sister had been a bit of role model for her when she was trying to join the Vanguard along with the Commodore. She thought about Commander Velyria , her tragic death in the battle. She was glad to see that despite that Caelyna seemed to be doing well, at the very least she seemed happy to see the Cadet. She knew the two of them had chosen deferent paths but she liked to think maybe they could still have a good working relationship, maybe even a friendship of sorts. "What are you doing her?" She inquired.
It helped, to feel Vaylin solid in her arms. She squeezed, gladly--this world really did bring out the feeling in all of them, she thought. Back home, she never would have done something so expressive. So undignified. But here, it felt like the only way to greet a comrade she hadn't seen in so long.
"It's the strangest thing," she said, when she was questioned about her arrival. "I saw one of those...fireworks? The human things, that explode, with all the noise and color?" She made a gesture with her hands to accompany her explanation. "They really do seem terribly dangerous, but anyway--this one didn't make a sound, and it left behind a trail of sparkles, which I followed--and it led me straight to you!"
Something in the universe had clearly wanted her to find Vaylin again. That was how she chose to interpret this whole occasion. It didn't exactly not make sense, anyway--there was much weirder out there in the world.
"How have you been?" She asked, and she couldn't help but grin. "You look well. Still training, I see." That was good. She hoped it meant that Vaylin would still want to help, on the greater mission, however she felt about the Commodore's choices.
Aurelius0815
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2022 1:05 pm
"I know I can't believe the human's are used to such a raucous celebration. But at least they are beautiful. It left a trail? How fascinating." Perhaps a bit of magic, but to her understanding humans did not use magic in their technology although perhaps this firework came from a knight or senshi definitely interesting whatever the case. She was glad for whatever this firework was because it meant getting to see a comrade again.
She grinned. "I've been well I managed get into a human place of learning." She had had to form some documents but really that hadn't been hard and the access to human knowledge was worth it for her research. "I also got a job working with human children, they are a surprisingly good source of energy before their 'nap time'" She said placing air quotes on the last phrase. Her co-works had all marveled at her ability to get the children to all go sleep when it was that time, and she got a decent amount of energy to power her own purposes.
"I've got to stay fit." She laughed rubbing the back of her head. "I see you've been promoted, congratulations Caelyna you deserve it!" She said happy for her friend truly.
Raucous, but beautiful, Caelyna was finding, seemed to be an excellent summary of humans in general. Such vibrancy, such life, all lived at such a high volume. But she found that she sort of liked it, the bustle and the brightness and the beauty of all of it.
This planet was something special, and she considered herself lucky to be here.
"It sounds like you're doing very well!" Caelyna said. She giggle,d a little. "Human children do seem to be quite full of energy, don't they? I imagine helping them sleep is a great benefit. I...have been trying to find a place for myself in human society, but I clearly have not been as successful as you." Perhaps she ought to look for employment with a bakery, or something similar. It might not provide as much access to energy, but it would be quite fulfilling.
"Ah, yes--the Commodore felt that I would serve Velencya well by achieving a higher rank." She smiled, warmly and with an edge of excitement. But her expression become serious, and soft. "Vaylin....have you considered coming home? I know...I know that things went...badly, on that hill, but. We can all still work together for Velencya, can't we?"
Aurelius0815
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2022 2:35 pm
Vaylin offered a sympathic smile, to some infiltration came easier to others it was battle, and so on and so everyone had a different set a of skills they excelled at. "I'm sure you'll find a place soon enough, I could help you out some time if you would like." She offered.
Then came the serious question, one she figured would likel;y come up the next time she meet a fellow member of the Vanguard. She took a seat in the grass as she sighed. "Yes. No. Maybe? It's hard, I want to come back home really I do. I don't bear the others any ill will I know we all care for Velencya even if we disagree on how best to protect it. I was hoping maybe I could find another way, I could find a way to save Velencya that didn't required the death of King Caedus and I could bring it the Commodore and make everything right again. I've been studying the Senshi and the Knights, I think the Commodore gave up on them too quickly. They hold the key to our survival I'm sure of it. I've seen their own worlds threatened yet they have been able to save them through their powers." She briefly relayed the story of the Knight who's wonder had been threatened by chaos yet had been saved the group of order fighters.
"I'd like to come home I just want to learn something that can help first something I can give to the Commodore to make up for being unable to follow him that day." She said solemnly. Then she stood up. "But that doesn't mean I'm closed off from you all, you all are still my precious comrades. We can still work together!" She promised. "Come on let 'walk and talk' as the humans say. We can 'catch up'"
Caelyna thought about what Vaylin said. It was true, she thought, that another solution would be to everyone's benefit.
She remembered sitting outside their camp, on the hill, talking to Caedus aobut changing seasons and about futures and about families. Someday, Caelyna wanted to have children, and she wanted them to grow to know their kind, gentle King, and for both of those things to happen, they had to save Velencya and Velenia without sacrificing Caedus.
She exhaled.
"Walking and talking sounds great," she said. "Tell me more about what you've seen from Senshi and Knights. Their worlds seem so...intriguing."
There was much opportunity to learn, here. Caelyna would not waste it.
