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She had called upon him while in the midst of working on some of the defenses around Fisherman's Horizon, his eyes and face covered with slight wear as he approached the transmission tower that Nona herself had told him to appear at. Why, he really did not know. But it was Nona, and there was just some odd urge to see what she asked him specifically to appear for with her. But the sight of the transmission tower had also reminded him of another duty that would surely regret..he would have to fix those as well. But that was not of the greatest importance right now, even as his brushed back some of the blonde locks out of his face. The mere thought of Nona brought a pang to his chest, something that work in general had forced him to push and brush aside in order to allow the resistance to be created in a more timely fashion. But the thought of him and Nona actually being together one on one was something that he hadn't really considered happening in this fashion. Of course they had worked together, but the manner to which she requested his presence seemed to be a bit more different than the general business or mission meeting that he and Nona had, Lloyd being there as well.

Without a second thought, he began to climb the tower with the wind lashing gently against the soft skin of his face. His eyes looked upward, looking for signs of Nona as he continued his ascent towards the loft that all of the transmission towers seemed to have. Even as he continued climbing, his curiosity about the circumstance of this meeting more than occupied his mind. When he had finally reached the top though, his feet gently touching against hte metal of the floor, he came to see Nona, who placed a small bag next to her frame. His eyes did not looked towards that, but rather her hair that gently moved with the breeze and covered the scars that he had known so well...the scars that he had forced her to allow him to work with to make sure they weren't infected or anything of the sort.

It was odd though, he thought nothing of them. The scars never really seemed to trouble him nor affect his opinion of her. So even as he strode forth, quietly picking up the small pouch, his eyes remained relaxed. He didn't open it. His eyes only looked at the small pouch once before realizing what was inside...the bag still ingrained within the etchings of his mind. His Ocarina that he had tossed off an airship so many years ago. Riyel didn't ask how she had come across it. Simply, he sat down next to her, his hand by hers as he looked out towards the sun in the distance, absorbing the beauty. All was quiet, except for Nona's noodling over the guitar before he finally decided to speak up. "Why? " A word that could have numerous different meanings but was more than enough for Nona...to talk back to him.

"You'd be surprised how time makes some things less important than others...and how some things still remain so vital." The last bit had died out into an odd sort of whisper that Nona was close enough to hear. There seemed to be a deeper meaning towards that phrase but for the moment, Riyel did not elaborate on it any further than what he had said. His hands held against the small pouch, as if exploring a place that they had been once upon a time. The leather itself was rougher than what it had initially been, which was rather soft but time took its toll on everything it seemed. The trees, Nona...and himself. If one looked at Riyel, they would not see the quiet and meek hothead that played janitor in Winhill Garden. His hair was longer, his eyes sharper, and an odd sense of maturity could be distinguished just from a simple glance in his direction. The last year had truly forced Riyel to grow into what he was intended to be, no matter whether he desired for the change to occur or not. Others had required a leader out of him and the evolution itself worked quickly to change what was weak.

But even as his hands continued to fondle with the pouch, his eyes traversed towards Nona as she continued playing. The scars were visible even as she played, and thoughts of the first time she had entered the house of his father and stepmother were still engrained deep within the construct of his mind, the images of the girl that he felt so deep for in so much pain, her eyes squinting at even the slightest movement. He knew how deep those scars went both physically and emotionally. Riyel had been the one that had taken care of her as soon as he had seen her. Social and physical barriers be damned, he had checked the entirety of the damage that whatever had hurt Nona had done. Others might have found it awkward, but the importance and concern that he had overrode any sort of unspoken code that others would have put against his actions that day. He still did not regret them...no matter how often it had forced him to toss and turn in his dreams. Nona had not even gave the slightest hint as to what had done it to her, and that was enough for Riyel's imagination to run wild in the dead of the night as he slept on the cot by the pier or in the workshop.

Even as he looked at her, he couldn't help but speak. "What is important to you?" It was funny. The more that Riyel thought about it, even back in the Academy, no one had spoken to Nona on a person to person, face to face basis that he had done. No one spoke to her in a friendly demeanor. Everyone had either disliked her or been intimidated by her attitude and passion. It was ironic that the one who had been quietest was the one to truly attempt to...reach out towards the isolated girl that had ranked the top of the class. Initially it had surprised him, but now he thought nothing of it until this realization. Of course, the way that he acted and felt towards her could easily be the opposite of her views and opinions concerning him...but he wouldn't pry into that...not just yet. It seemed to not even be his place. Thus, he simply waited for her own response.

"You like explosives way too much." he chuckled, his eyes casting over the sunset before them. Words seemed to blossom so casually from the depth so his throat, himself pulling out a small bottle he kept at his side and took a small swig. There was no ignorance in what was in that bottle. Everyone knew Riyel's changing habits and certain ways of relaxing. But even as he screwed the cap back on he thought about what he liked. It was such a hard concept to think about. There was never much room for liking anything really, nowadays and being asked such a question really brought reality into perspective. "Music...my...family." That was such a new thing to say. "The sunset, surprisingly Ifrit and Elliot, no matter how annoying they are...and what few friends I have left." He stopped for one more instant. "And moments like these." People were still up and about below them but the sunset was what captivated everything in this scene. It had an integral beauty that not too many understood or even held the chance like they did to actually see at times of such conflict...it almost made everything innocent.

"What the hell?!" The fury in his voice was easily portrayed at the dumping of that precious liquid that billowed forth while Nona dumped it almost nonchalantly. Riyel had thought she was going to drink the liquid but was easily stunned to see her dump it. It didn't sadden him of course. But now he had to go and pay for more, or rob his father of a little for his own needs before he went back to work. What was more easily seen was how...eerily frightening he could get when as mad as he was currently. Over the two years he had packed on a great deal of muscle mass and it showed as he seemed to swell up. Of course, Nona might not have been concerned...but it was a tactic that worked with an Unbroken trainee or soldier. However, gaining control of himself with slow deep breaths, his glaring eyes looked over towards Nona as he sat back down, catching his flask as she threw it. He continued to maintain his composure as he he continued to fume within, his eyes and face erased of said emotions though. "Why on earth would you do that."

Riyel halted in his outburst, his eyes looking over towards Nona's for a moment as he examined her. Her words seemed to strike a chord within him and he seemed to settle down. Her cool words had cut through his outrage like a hot knife through butter. Have I really gone that far over the line? His breathing regulated once more as he dangled his legs over the edge, adjusting his eyes to look towards the guitar that his father had given Nona. She had taken care of it quite well, considering the age that it had endured but she still did not play it. Though for some odd reason, he really wished that she would continue. His face however, left no immediate reaction at her response. At first. In the beginning his face had been tense due to his outrage but as the wind continued to touch his face and they both seemed to look for each other's reactions, he simply let loose the deep breath that he had held within. His eyes had returned to her own face. "Is it really getting that out of hand?" The question itself seemed rhetorical, though it was easily open to Nona's own opinion. As he looked down at the town below, his thoughts went toward how much he performed such acts. There was drinking when he was working...and the smoke breaks...but he didn't think it was that crazy. There had only been one or two times when he had been in a bit...drunk, and needless to say he wasn't the most peaceful drunk. He remembered after one particularly long night of working on the base as well as screaming himself hoarse at a couple of scrubs that had messed up a boat...which was slightly induced by his own brand of medicine but there had never been a time he had yelled at Nona...that he remembered.

Now Lloyd on the other hand...yes. Once or twice even, he and Lien had tried to talk to Riyel about how much work he was doing, taking on too much they said. But he had gotten angry at them and even more annoyed, simply retorting he was fine, even as he continued to work and seemingly spiral in the insanity of all the work he was performing. Not that any of them had it easy. But Riyel was always working while others seemed to get some kind of sleep. Even on nights he was told to take a day off, he could not pass into the void of dreams. He would stay up constantly, thinking about all that he had to do for the base, for training...it was surprising that he was still going. Not that he ever complained. It was one of his few admirable traits. He continued working without ever bitching to any other, unless they promptly screwed up and deserved a verbal thrashing. But now, his eyes looking wearily for a moment towards the sea, he looked back towards Nona for her own response, simply wanting the conversation to continue.

"The only alternative I see is venting on trainees in a sparring match." He offered, half jokingly. He certainly didn't say it with as much confidence as prior, his voice sounding more tired if anything else. "I just don't know what to turn to..." It was more like he was talking to himself as he looked out into the sunset before looking down towards the Ocarina in his hands. He almost brought it to his lips, hesitating for a moment before putting it down. It had been two years since he had last played and he dared not attempt...at least not yet. If it cam out bad he certainly did not desire to do it in front of Nona. So he paused and listened to her speak a little more, his eyes catching hers. "You've counted on my before...haven't you?" it was almost rhetorical. "You...shouldn't have to worry about that..."

He faded into silence while still examining the girl beside him, his eyes narrowing in some sort of suspicion. "Nona...what's wrong?" It was a question...but the tone he placed it in was one that would not take silence or a lie. Something was bothering her.

"Family...." It was so odd for him to have one...and he realized that Nona had been missing hers for quite some time...even when she had them. "In a way, I can sympathize with him for everything he had gone through...but a part of me dislikes him for putting you through that...not to make judgments..." His eyes looked towards her face. "You...you won't ever have to put up with it from me..." Oh such a promise that was easier said than done. He sat there quieter as she continued. "even though he was...smashed...Nona, he was proud of you. You were probably the best daughter that he could have ever asked for. He brought you a guitar...he was happy you learned a song...Nona, he was as proud that you came along as you did just as I am proud of you for...becoming..." He didn't finish his sentence..he couldn't, or rather...he didn't want to. Too much at a time...but her hand tightening caught his attention. She was angry and he could understand....no...not angry. Frustrated. Yes, that was a better word. Gently his hand reached towards the back of her fist and gripped it, trying to show without words that she needed to relax. "The past...is the past. No matter how shitty it was...we just have to make the future better."