Welcome to Gaia! ::

Good, Caedus was smiling. His reassurance was at least enough for that; made Encke's shoulders relax a little bit even where he hadn't realized they had needed to relax.

While he waited for Caedus to finish talking, he couldn't help the laugh and nod of agreement that escaped when Caedus said he was certainly happier to be on Velencya than in the Rift. Encke certainly would have hoped so. If the Rift was in a position where it was somehow preferable to being with Caedus' people, then there was definitely something deeper to be uncovered there. Encke knew youma. The idea of being around youma for an extended period of time was not necessarily one he wanted to entertain. As it was, it sounded like a time where they were struggling over adjusting to each other.

"Not wrong of you at all," Encke responded, with a laugh. "It's always nice to know that someone is experiencing the same thing as you are. Makes it easier. What is that, sharing the pain halves it? Not that adjusting is always pain, necessarily, but it always feels," Encke bounced as he thought of the right word, "uneasy, at least."

Which was similar enough.

"I hope when this is all over, you're able to visit everywhere too. Would love to take you back to my comet at some point, even," he grinned. "And I think you've made a good impression on us on Earth. I don't see why you wouldn't be able to make a good impression on them, even if it takes a bit of time to adjust." He snickered. "Commodore Lyndin's high bar or not."

Perhaps the Commodore was overly hard on himself, too.

He would have understood if Caedus wanted to argue it, honestly, but found himself relieved that his words were working to calm him. Encke flushed at the compliment, and he rubbed his neck, offering in turn, "Well, I feel like it is, at least."

He put his heart into that place.

Encke followed Caedus' gaze out to the sky, taking a deep and letting it out as he relaxed.

He kept his eyes there for a few more moments.

Honestly, he couldn't even imagine what Caedus must have endured for a thousand years in the Rift. Being a youma for basically the blink of an eye in the interim was hardly anything in comparison. But the fact that he was helping Caedus focus on other things, the fact that he was giving him memories to replace the bad ones-- "I'm glad I can do that for you. Happy to. No need to thank me." Encke looked back to Caedus. It felt like his face was going to crack with all the grinning he was doing-- "Still wish you would have never gone through that, but I'm so glad we met. And I look forward to getting to talk and interact and visit space without the pressure of the Negaverse and Chaos on our backs.

"Look forward to replacing more of those bad memories with good ones."

It was probably getting late, and Encke probably should acknowledge that as much as he was fine continuing to talk to Caedus. He wasn't just a lone prisoner of The Rift attempting to get back home while staying in the forested outskirts anymore. His people were here. The best friend from his youth was here.

Encke offered him a hopeful smile nevertheless.

"I hope you never get bored with me," Encke replied, with a jolly, self-deprecating laugh. "Can't imagine how much you've seen in your life compared to the Earth and tiny bits of space I know."

He spread his arms to offer something of a hug if Caedus wanted it.

"We'll see each other again soon. Promise."

That was a promise he'd make again and again.