Silverah
Valentines Day, and Babylon had not learned to dance. He'd never mention it to Kallichore, but her disdain had put a serious damper on his efforts. Instead, he'd gone out and bought flowers and felt immediately silly about that because getting your boyfriend roses was about the most unmanly thing you could do. So he'd also dropped by the toy store and used his employee discount to buy an Ironman action figure - not because he had any evidence that Vin actually liked action figures, but because he wanted to stack his odds. Truth was, he'd never done this Valentines Day thing before and was utterly terrified of screwing the whole thing up.
Vin wouldn't break up with him over a Valentine's Day gift, right? (Because, if he did, that would suck.)
Pacing around the gazebo as he awaited Vin's arrival, Babylon was at a loss for what to do with the bouquet and the gift bag in his hands. He felt distinctly silly standing here, a superhero holding half a dozen roses. At least he'd gone with a holiday-neutral gift bag - if only because he couldn't hand over a deluxe edition Tony Stark figurine in a pink bag covered with hearts. Even for someone head over heels, he had to draw a line somewhere. They were still dudes. If Babylon ever handed over anything pink and frilly to Vindemiatrix, he intended to do so ironically.
As far as tonight's agenda, Babylon had been left in the dark. (Despite glowing like a lightbulb, with the lantern and all.) Vindemiatrix had promised some kind of plan, but the squire was doing his best to not get ahead of himself. Better to not make blind guesses - those, he knew, had a tendency to leave you nervous before and disappointed afterwards.
Sensing an approaching senshi, the squire ceased his pacing and looked up across the lawn. Spotting the familiar silhouette, a grin crossed his face. "Hi," he called, gesturing sheepishly with the roses. "I, uh, got you something."
Vin wouldn't break up with him over a Valentine's Day gift, right? (Because, if he did, that would suck.)
Pacing around the gazebo as he awaited Vin's arrival, Babylon was at a loss for what to do with the bouquet and the gift bag in his hands. He felt distinctly silly standing here, a superhero holding half a dozen roses. At least he'd gone with a holiday-neutral gift bag - if only because he couldn't hand over a deluxe edition Tony Stark figurine in a pink bag covered with hearts. Even for someone head over heels, he had to draw a line somewhere. They were still dudes. If Babylon ever handed over anything pink and frilly to Vindemiatrix, he intended to do so ironically.
As far as tonight's agenda, Babylon had been left in the dark. (Despite glowing like a lightbulb, with the lantern and all.) Vindemiatrix had promised some kind of plan, but the squire was doing his best to not get ahead of himself. Better to not make blind guesses - those, he knew, had a tendency to leave you nervous before and disappointed afterwards.
Sensing an approaching senshi, the squire ceased his pacing and looked up across the lawn. Spotting the familiar silhouette, a grin crossed his face. "Hi," he called, gesturing sheepishly with the roses. "I, uh, got you something."
Asahi Kumoru
Vindemiatrix did not keep his date waiting long, though he had been through similarly uncertain preparations. He had had a date once before on Valentine's Day, but that had been back in middle school
where a show of true love consisted of awarding the Han Solo and Princess Leia valentine from the Star Wars box, and you could not give someone two pink starbursts taped to the printed card without risking giving the wrong impression. Most girls at the time had still firmly believed that he had cooties, and many of his friends teased him about cooties in return for holding a girl's hand in the hallway.
How times had changed.
The Senshi of Wine laughed to himself as he considered that, if he was gay, then that meant that he was fully safe from cooties, since he would only be swapping them with other boys. However the juvenile belief worked, dating another boy seemed to be an adequate way around it.
He had really wanted to share some of the wine from his uncle's vineyard, but being underage hampered that arrangement with his parents. They would give him glasses without a second thought over dinner, but not a whole bottle. Fortunately, the boy had anticipated this, and had asked his cousin to send him some Italian candies, in
exchange for two movies that would not be coming out in Italy for another several months. And, as gift bag shopping had been with his brother, Andrea had gone all-out and bought a red bag with intricate white hearts printed on it, and then finished it off with a bow made of a length of white fabric ribbon left over from production of a past
dance costume.
There were bigger plans for tonight than just the candies, though, and Vin could not stop grinning in anticipation as he met up with his date. Ordinarily, Andrea might have also been shy about giving a heart-covered bag to another dude, but Vindemiatrix was a superhero boy in a skirt and tights, and he felt that this far outstripped in gayness nearly anything that he could possibly do or give. Why not embrace it?
"I got you something, too," he replied, immediately feeling his cheeks heat up. Were his hands shaking? The Senshi of Wine offered the bag, and wondered awkwardly how he was supposed to react to seeing the unwrapped roses.
where a show of true love consisted of awarding the Han Solo and Princess Leia valentine from the Star Wars box, and you could not give someone two pink starbursts taped to the printed card without risking giving the wrong impression. Most girls at the time had still firmly believed that he had cooties, and many of his friends teased him about cooties in return for holding a girl's hand in the hallway.
How times had changed.
The Senshi of Wine laughed to himself as he considered that, if he was gay, then that meant that he was fully safe from cooties, since he would only be swapping them with other boys. However the juvenile belief worked, dating another boy seemed to be an adequate way around it.
He had really wanted to share some of the wine from his uncle's vineyard, but being underage hampered that arrangement with his parents. They would give him glasses without a second thought over dinner, but not a whole bottle. Fortunately, the boy had anticipated this, and had asked his cousin to send him some Italian candies, in
exchange for two movies that would not be coming out in Italy for another several months. And, as gift bag shopping had been with his brother, Andrea had gone all-out and bought a red bag with intricate white hearts printed on it, and then finished it off with a bow made of a length of white fabric ribbon left over from production of a past
dance costume.
There were bigger plans for tonight than just the candies, though, and Vin could not stop grinning in anticipation as he met up with his date. Ordinarily, Andrea might have also been shy about giving a heart-covered bag to another dude, but Vindemiatrix was a superhero boy in a skirt and tights, and he felt that this far outstripped in gayness nearly anything that he could possibly do or give. Why not embrace it?
"I got you something, too," he replied, immediately feeling his cheeks heat up. Were his hands shaking? The Senshi of Wine offered the bag, and wondered awkwardly how he was supposed to react to seeing the unwrapped roses.
Silverah
Yes, they were certainly safe from cooties. Babylon laughed bemusedly as he caught sight of the absolutely ridiculous gift bag that Vin had brought with him. At least one of them had the guts to fully embrace this holiday, even as Babylon was worried about messing it up completely. He presented the roses to the other boy. (There was no good way to wrap roses.)
"Pour toi, mon cher," he announced, thus exhausting his entire mastery of the French language. He then held out the decidedly not-frilly gift bag. "There's also this." He was never sure if Valentines was supposed to be celebrated sincerely or ironically, so he'd kind of tried to walk the fine line in the middle.
Babylon reached for the bag offered, thus completing the exchange. "I hope you like it," he explained as he carefully untied the ribbon. "I wasn't sure, so it was kind of a wild guess." (He, personally, would have been happy to receive an action figure for any reason at all.) He unwound the ribbon and wrapped it around his wrist, beaming enthusiastically at Vin as he poked through the tissue paper. "Only a truly confident man could possibly give me a bag this frilly," he joked, sliding the contents of the bag out.
Although he couldn't read the label, the squire surmised as much as that it was some sort of candy. "Oh, sweet!" he enthused. It was at least partially true that a good way to Babylon's heart was through his stomach, although Vindemiatrix didn't need to take any such shortcuts - he'd found his way there months ago. "You are fantastic," he declared, leaning in to plant a kiss on Vin's cheek. "So," he said, rocking eagerly on his heels, "the night's still young. What's on the agenda?"
"Pour toi, mon cher," he announced, thus exhausting his entire mastery of the French language. He then held out the decidedly not-frilly gift bag. "There's also this." He was never sure if Valentines was supposed to be celebrated sincerely or ironically, so he'd kind of tried to walk the fine line in the middle.
Babylon reached for the bag offered, thus completing the exchange. "I hope you like it," he explained as he carefully untied the ribbon. "I wasn't sure, so it was kind of a wild guess." (He, personally, would have been happy to receive an action figure for any reason at all.) He unwound the ribbon and wrapped it around his wrist, beaming enthusiastically at Vin as he poked through the tissue paper. "Only a truly confident man could possibly give me a bag this frilly," he joked, sliding the contents of the bag out.
Although he couldn't read the label, the squire surmised as much as that it was some sort of candy. "Oh, sweet!" he enthused. It was at least partially true that a good way to Babylon's heart was through his stomach, although Vindemiatrix didn't need to take any such shortcuts - he'd found his way there months ago. "You are fantastic," he declared, leaning in to plant a kiss on Vin's cheek. "So," he said, rocking eagerly on his heels, "the night's still young. What's on the agenda?"
Asahi Kumoru
Vin felt a little thrill in his stomach when Babylon gave him the roses, even though it was fairly obvious from the start that they were for him anyway. He had gotten roses before, generally from his mother after dance shows, but this was entirely different.
"Thank you," he blurted excitedly, hugging them to his chest ... and then working to hold them as gently as possible while still leaving both of his hands free to open up the gift bag. The wrapper around the flowers crinkled noisily next to his head, drowning out his small gasp as he discovered Iron Man in the bag.
"Oh my god, that's awesome," Vin laughed, and looked back up at Babylon. "Love Iron Man. But um, not as much as I love you." His cheeks made a further attempt to match the roses he had been given, and he kissed Babylon awkwardly back.
Then, looping the handles of the gift bag over one wrist, he pulled out his senshi phone and took a deep breath to calm himself down a little. "I thought I could show you my homeworld. Like, up in space." Truthfully, Vindemiatrix was not one hundred percent sure that there were not any rules against bringing anyone else there, but on the
other hand, it was his planet. He could not think of anyone else he would have wanted to bring along more than Babylon.
The senshi chewed his lip a little, and fidgeted the roses again with a plasticine crinkle. "You up for it?"
"Thank you," he blurted excitedly, hugging them to his chest ... and then working to hold them as gently as possible while still leaving both of his hands free to open up the gift bag. The wrapper around the flowers crinkled noisily next to his head, drowning out his small gasp as he discovered Iron Man in the bag.
"Oh my god, that's awesome," Vin laughed, and looked back up at Babylon. "Love Iron Man. But um, not as much as I love you." His cheeks made a further attempt to match the roses he had been given, and he kissed Babylon awkwardly back.
Then, looping the handles of the gift bag over one wrist, he pulled out his senshi phone and took a deep breath to calm himself down a little. "I thought I could show you my homeworld. Like, up in space." Truthfully, Vindemiatrix was not one hundred percent sure that there were not any rules against bringing anyone else there, but on the
other hand, it was his planet. He could not think of anyone else he would have wanted to bring along more than Babylon.
The senshi chewed his lip a little, and fidgeted the roses again with a plasticine crinkle. "You up for it?"
Silverah
Babylon would have felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment for giving a well-received gift, except his brain was currently hung up on the words 'I love you.' He knew what he'd heard, he was certain he'd heard it - and that made the squire's stomach do rolling flips of joy and trepidation. On one hand, it made him feel a lot more secure - but, on the other, it also opened up a whole new world of things to fret about. For example, he was pretty sure he was now obligated to say it back. Which wasn't a problem from a feelings point of view because Babylon was pretty sure that the warmth he felt whenever Vindemiatrix was near was love, and you couldn't spend night after night fighting for your life alongside someone without coming to love them - but timing?
He wasn't quite sure how the timing was supposed to work. Did he have to say it now? Wait for a better moment? Would Vin feel snubbed if he didn't say so immediately? Babylon's lips parted slightly, words forming on his tongue, but the appearance of the senshi phone made him shut his mouth again. Clearly, Vin wasn't expecting him to reply to the statement just now.
"Yeah, yeah," nodded Babylon, grinning sheepishly at Vindemiatrix as his momentary turmoil fled. Maybe he'd get his moment on the planet? Although that made him wonder if he would be expected to bring Vindemiatrix back to his city at some point, which made him fret about what Menachem would say. Nothing polite, surely. "That sounds like a really great idea."
It would certainly make for a creative date - wouldn't it? "I've never traveled by senshi phone before," he admitted, although he'd heard tell of how the other orderly faction traversed the universe. "What do I do? I have to hold onto you?" That was how it had worked when they'd gone with Virgo to the surrounding, but she hadn't used a phone. He looped the gift-bag over his beribboned wrist and placed a gloved hand on Vindemiatrix's forearm. "Yeah," he repeated. "I"m up for it."
He wasn't quite sure how the timing was supposed to work. Did he have to say it now? Wait for a better moment? Would Vin feel snubbed if he didn't say so immediately? Babylon's lips parted slightly, words forming on his tongue, but the appearance of the senshi phone made him shut his mouth again. Clearly, Vin wasn't expecting him to reply to the statement just now.
"Yeah, yeah," nodded Babylon, grinning sheepishly at Vindemiatrix as his momentary turmoil fled. Maybe he'd get his moment on the planet? Although that made him wonder if he would be expected to bring Vindemiatrix back to his city at some point, which made him fret about what Menachem would say. Nothing polite, surely. "That sounds like a really great idea."
It would certainly make for a creative date - wouldn't it? "I've never traveled by senshi phone before," he admitted, although he'd heard tell of how the other orderly faction traversed the universe. "What do I do? I have to hold onto you?" That was how it had worked when they'd gone with Virgo to the surrounding, but she hadn't used a phone. He looped the gift-bag over his beribboned wrist and placed a gloved hand on Vindemiatrix's forearm. "Yeah," he repeated. "I"m up for it."
Asahi Kumoru
Maybe an adult would have thought it over more, what "love" really meant and all that, but truthfully, Vindemiatrix was head over heels for Babylon, and no one would have been able to reason with him that it might not actually be "love". Whatever the word really meant. The boy knew that he had never felt quite this way about anyone else, and that was more than enough for him. And, in Vin's mind, it had to count for something more that he had fought side by side with Babylon, too - he trusted him.
Vin had no expectations about getting something in return for taking Babylon to the planet Vindemiatrix. It just didn't work like that. He wanted to show a dear friend a wonderful place, and he also just did not want to wander the walkways over the canals alone.
"I've never taken someone else, to be honest, but ... yeah, I think you just hold on and I can bring us both." It was one of those things he felt with inner certainty, like the name of his attack had come to him after he had been awakened.
Awkwardly clutching his gifts, he dialed in the requisite numbers like a password into his senshi phone, then rested his forehead against Babylon's before pressing the "send" button.
And a dizzying moment later, the two boys were standing ankle-deep in a fountain in the middle of a white stone plaza. Overhead, a sun larger than Earth's loomed golden in the sky (though perhaps it would not have looked nearly as strange to someone who had been to Mercury), filling the air with a beach-like warmth. There was a constant but light breeze that smelled of salt and fresh air.
The plaza was ringed with buildings of white stone, unpainted but decorated with carved columns and pediments. Cracks laced a few of the walls, but the majority of the windows held dirty but unbroken glass. The edge of the fountain itself bore a crack along the bottom, beside the senshi and squire, that ran all the way to the edge; a few floating plants that looked like large clovers hovered over a thicker vine that held fast to the crack in the stone and bore spade-shaped leaves where it poked out of the water.
Vin had no expectations about getting something in return for taking Babylon to the planet Vindemiatrix. It just didn't work like that. He wanted to show a dear friend a wonderful place, and he also just did not want to wander the walkways over the canals alone.
"I've never taken someone else, to be honest, but ... yeah, I think you just hold on and I can bring us both." It was one of those things he felt with inner certainty, like the name of his attack had come to him after he had been awakened.
Awkwardly clutching his gifts, he dialed in the requisite numbers like a password into his senshi phone, then rested his forehead against Babylon's before pressing the "send" button.
And a dizzying moment later, the two boys were standing ankle-deep in a fountain in the middle of a white stone plaza. Overhead, a sun larger than Earth's loomed golden in the sky (though perhaps it would not have looked nearly as strange to someone who had been to Mercury), filling the air with a beach-like warmth. There was a constant but light breeze that smelled of salt and fresh air.
The plaza was ringed with buildings of white stone, unpainted but decorated with carved columns and pediments. Cracks laced a few of the walls, but the majority of the windows held dirty but unbroken glass. The edge of the fountain itself bore a crack along the bottom, beside the senshi and squire, that ran all the way to the edge; a few floating plants that looked like large clovers hovered over a thicker vine that held fast to the crack in the stone and bore spade-shaped leaves where it poked out of the water.
Silverah
For their mere seconds of transit, Babylon was tried to evaluate whether the senshi way of travel felt more or less disconcerting than the knight method. He couldn't pinpoint it, though - like the taste of Vindemiatrix's lips, it was one of those things that might require further and repeated study. He certainly didn't find space travel unpleasant - one would probably be out of luck as a knight or senshi if they didn't like travel.
Landing, though, was another issue. Warm and insulated as Babylon''s boots were, they still began to fill with water as soon as the pair of boys splashed down. He doubted that Vin in his ballet slippers was doing much better. Babylon grabbed hold of the other boy's wrist and pulled him out of the fountain.
Now that they were dripping on the flagstones, Babylon couldn't help but find their wet landing kind of funny. The change from night to day made him feel lighthearted. He let out a laugh and did a quick spin, taking in their surroundings. "This is amazing!" he exclaimed, enchanted by the architecture. After the dark streets and steep alleys of Babylon, this was a tropical paradise. Sun and salt air was a welcome change from both earthen and alien winters.
"Do you think it's safe to go barefoot?" he added, taking a few squelching steps before turning and giving his boyfriend a sheepish shrug. Shearling lining wasn't really his friend right now. "Seriously, though," he added, "We're going to go look around, right? I'd love the grand tour if you're offering."
Landing, though, was another issue. Warm and insulated as Babylon''s boots were, they still began to fill with water as soon as the pair of boys splashed down. He doubted that Vin in his ballet slippers was doing much better. Babylon grabbed hold of the other boy's wrist and pulled him out of the fountain.
Now that they were dripping on the flagstones, Babylon couldn't help but find their wet landing kind of funny. The change from night to day made him feel lighthearted. He let out a laugh and did a quick spin, taking in their surroundings. "This is amazing!" he exclaimed, enchanted by the architecture. After the dark streets and steep alleys of Babylon, this was a tropical paradise. Sun and salt air was a welcome change from both earthen and alien winters.
"Do you think it's safe to go barefoot?" he added, taking a few squelching steps before turning and giving his boyfriend a sheepish shrug. Shearling lining wasn't really his friend right now. "Seriously, though," he added, "We're going to go look around, right? I'd love the grand tour if you're offering."
Asahi Kumoru
Vindemiatrix had made the trip once before. He had not needed to provide transportation for Kurma, and so had no idea that it would require so much extra energy to bring an extra person. The brilliant Vindemiatran sun filled his eyes, reflecting off of all of the white stonework, and the senshi's vision immediately swam. As Babylon stepped away, Vin stumbled momentarily, then sloshed through the water to the edge as the Knight led him out of the water.
"Wow, that ..." he breathed. "Sorry, I didn't realized it ... took so much energy to take two of us here...." The senshi of wine rested his hands on the edge of the fountain, aware that his feet were now soaking wet, but not caring, like someone who could hear his alarm but was not awake enough to do anything about it yet. Then, with a deep breath, he picked his feet up one at a time and climbed out of the water.
A smile slowly crossed his features and he nodded, feeling his cheeks warming again (in the light, right? Vindemiatrix was brighter than Earth's sun). "Thank you," Vin replied with a slight laugh, not sure of how else to respond. "I haven't found anything that looks too unsafe here yet," he went on, standing straight again as he felt the ache of tiredness start to fade form his muscles. "But sure, give me a minute, and I can show you around."
... Except Vin was fairly sure this was not the fountain he had arrived beside last time, he realized as he got a better look around. Well. Maybe he could admit that. Or he could fake it. This was his planet, right? How would anyone else know if he happened to be wrong?
"Wow, that ..." he breathed. "Sorry, I didn't realized it ... took so much energy to take two of us here...." The senshi of wine rested his hands on the edge of the fountain, aware that his feet were now soaking wet, but not caring, like someone who could hear his alarm but was not awake enough to do anything about it yet. Then, with a deep breath, he picked his feet up one at a time and climbed out of the water.
A smile slowly crossed his features and he nodded, feeling his cheeks warming again (in the light, right? Vindemiatrix was brighter than Earth's sun). "Thank you," Vin replied with a slight laugh, not sure of how else to respond. "I haven't found anything that looks too unsafe here yet," he went on, standing straight again as he felt the ache of tiredness start to fade form his muscles. "But sure, give me a minute, and I can show you around."
... Except Vin was fairly sure this was not the fountain he had arrived beside last time, he realized as he got a better look around. Well. Maybe he could admit that. Or he could fake it. This was his planet, right? How would anyone else know if he happened to be wrong?
Silverah
Not needing to be told twice, Babylon kicked off his sodden boots and picked them up by the laces. The cobblestones were warm against the soles of his feet, so he didn't see any harm in taking a bit of a venetian holiday. It wasn't like he was going to step on broken glass or a needle on an abandoned planet, right? Shoes in hand, he turned back to Vindemiatrix and noticed the senshi seemed suddenly tired. "Are you okay...?" asked Babylon, brow crinkling in concern. He'd never tried to transport two people at once either, so he wouldn't have known.
Well then. The more you knew. Maybe Vin would catch his breath if they just took it easy for a few moments. Smiling broadly, Babylon offered the other boy a supportive hand as he climbed out of the water. "Are we near the ocean?" the squire asked, smelling the air again. It was definitely salty. "The architecture looks sort of Italian..." But, then again, he was standing beside a senshi called 'Vindemiatrix.' The architecture made perfect sense to the degree that Babylon couldn't quite articulate what he'd expected it to look like if not Italian.
Leaning over, he pressed a kiss upon Vin's cheek. "Thank you for bringing me here," he murmured happily before turning his face towards the suns again. Coming here in February had definitely been a good idea, and Babylon would hardly mind going home with a few new freckles. He allowed Vin what he imagined were a few more moments to collect himself, then gave the boy's hand an enthusiastic squeeze.
Demonstrating to the city around them, Babylon asked, "Do you feel better?" he asked "Do you think we can go look around now?" Babylon didn't mean to be antsy, but it all just looked so interesting! He couldn't help but be eager to check things out! No, it wasn't good that Vin had tired himself out getting them here, but it was Valentine's Day, and he was out on a proper date with his boyfriend, so excuse him for being excited.
Well then. The more you knew. Maybe Vin would catch his breath if they just took it easy for a few moments. Smiling broadly, Babylon offered the other boy a supportive hand as he climbed out of the water. "Are we near the ocean?" the squire asked, smelling the air again. It was definitely salty. "The architecture looks sort of Italian..." But, then again, he was standing beside a senshi called 'Vindemiatrix.' The architecture made perfect sense to the degree that Babylon couldn't quite articulate what he'd expected it to look like if not Italian.
Leaning over, he pressed a kiss upon Vin's cheek. "Thank you for bringing me here," he murmured happily before turning his face towards the suns again. Coming here in February had definitely been a good idea, and Babylon would hardly mind going home with a few new freckles. He allowed Vin what he imagined were a few more moments to collect himself, then gave the boy's hand an enthusiastic squeeze.
Demonstrating to the city around them, Babylon asked, "Do you feel better?" he asked "Do you think we can go look around now?" Babylon didn't mean to be antsy, but it all just looked so interesting! He couldn't help but be eager to check things out! No, it wasn't good that Vin had tired himself out getting them here, but it was Valentine's Day, and he was out on a proper date with his boyfriend, so excuse him for being excited.
Asahi Kumoru
Vin stood straight again as he felt his strength returning gradually, though his muscles promised both a sound sleep and a hearty ache later on. And then the kiss made him forget all of it anyway.
"I'm pretty sure this city is built over ocean," he replied, squeezing Babylon's hand back, and using his opposite hand to shade his eyes momentarily from the glare of Vindemiatrix overhead. Then he gestured ahead, to where one of the roads out of the plaza arched upwards into a bridge. "It's almost like Venice, built over the water."
The Senshi of Wine headed towards the bridge, twisting away momentarily to cover his face with his arm as the brilliant light around them made him sneeze. "Remind me to bring sunglasses next time," he said with a slight laugh. "My star is brighter than Earth's Sun, and bigger, too. I guess our Sun would look bigger and brighter from Mercury, but I'm not actually sure how far away we are here from Vindemiatrix. It's just a yellow giant." Wikipedia had served him well on that front.
The bridge arched over lapping water, which smelled like at least one of the sources of the salt-water ocean scent. On the other side of the bridge out of the plaza, the road continued straight ahead. The white buildings lined both sides of it, rising two or three storeys. The facades were mostly flat, but decorated with Roman-style columns carved onto the stone on either side of the entryways. Most of the buildings still had wooden doors, though few of them were set firmly into the frames; the wood looked weathered and dry like driftwood.
Vin walked slowly, to take it all in himself.
"I'm pretty sure this city is built over ocean," he replied, squeezing Babylon's hand back, and using his opposite hand to shade his eyes momentarily from the glare of Vindemiatrix overhead. Then he gestured ahead, to where one of the roads out of the plaza arched upwards into a bridge. "It's almost like Venice, built over the water."
The Senshi of Wine headed towards the bridge, twisting away momentarily to cover his face with his arm as the brilliant light around them made him sneeze. "Remind me to bring sunglasses next time," he said with a slight laugh. "My star is brighter than Earth's Sun, and bigger, too. I guess our Sun would look bigger and brighter from Mercury, but I'm not actually sure how far away we are here from Vindemiatrix. It's just a yellow giant." Wikipedia had served him well on that front.
The bridge arched over lapping water, which smelled like at least one of the sources of the salt-water ocean scent. On the other side of the bridge out of the plaza, the road continued straight ahead. The white buildings lined both sides of it, rising two or three storeys. The facades were mostly flat, but decorated with Roman-style columns carved onto the stone on either side of the entryways. Most of the buildings still had wooden doors, though few of them were set firmly into the frames; the wood looked weathered and dry like driftwood.
Vin walked slowly, to take it all in himself.
Silverah
Babylon nodded, taking it all in. Even with his visor, he was definitely getting a lot more glare than he usually did - but then again, it was usually night, and he usually used it for snow. However, this did make him think - mostly about how awful his uniform was going to be in summer, and how illogical it was to wear heavy furs on the first planet for at least half the time. Vin made a good point about Mercury.
"I wouldn't really know, actually," said Babylon, pulling a face. "Mercury has nights longer than its orbit." He'd googled, after getting curious about why it was always night at Babylon. "I've never actually been there during the daytime. So it's always dark." Pitch dark, except for the lamps, in fact. Babylon hefted his lantern demonstratively. "This would be superfluous otherwise, wouldn't it be?"
Actually, it was superfluous now. Grinning sheepishly, he flicked it away into subspace and focused on the city they were passing through. "Over the ocean?" he asked curiously, craning his neck to look up at a building. "Like, on islands? Or is it floating?" The Venice thing he could understand, even if he'd never been there. Quite honestly, his first impression of Babylon had reminded him of Safed. It was strange, of course, how space cities seemed to echo earthen ones...
"So have you been here a lot?" he asked, fingers creeping back around Vindemiatrix's. "It seems like you know a lot about it-" If anything, Babylon was looking for validation that he wasn't just a glutton for punishment in that he went to his wonder basically as often as possible. Bitchy ancestor or not, space travel was cool! "And do you have, like, an ancestor or something?" He was curious how that worked for senshi.
"I wouldn't really know, actually," said Babylon, pulling a face. "Mercury has nights longer than its orbit." He'd googled, after getting curious about why it was always night at Babylon. "I've never actually been there during the daytime. So it's always dark." Pitch dark, except for the lamps, in fact. Babylon hefted his lantern demonstratively. "This would be superfluous otherwise, wouldn't it be?"
Actually, it was superfluous now. Grinning sheepishly, he flicked it away into subspace and focused on the city they were passing through. "Over the ocean?" he asked curiously, craning his neck to look up at a building. "Like, on islands? Or is it floating?" The Venice thing he could understand, even if he'd never been there. Quite honestly, his first impression of Babylon had reminded him of Safed. It was strange, of course, how space cities seemed to echo earthen ones...
"So have you been here a lot?" he asked, fingers creeping back around Vindemiatrix's. "It seems like you know a lot about it-" If anything, Babylon was looking for validation that he wasn't just a glutton for punishment in that he went to his wonder basically as often as possible. Bitchy ancestor or not, space travel was cool! "And do you have, like, an ancestor or something?" He was curious how that worked for senshi.
Asahi Kumoru
"Oh, you have been to Mercury?" Vin inquired with a curious glance to the other boy. He was not aware that Knights could travel as well; the only non-combat power of theirs he knew about was the ability to send piles of mail through subspace. "It's really cold on the night side, isn't it?" He thought he had read that somewhere.
... Rather suddenly, Babylon's furs made sense. The black-haired boy grinned a little and stroked the fur at Babylon's collar lightly.
Pausing at the crest of the bridge, Vin moved to one side and peered downwards, leading Babylon along with him. The plaza behind them and the street ahead appeared to be the default elevation of the city streets, all of which stuck up about four feet above the water. The graceful arch of the bridge gave them perhaps another two or so feet more above the water, which looked dark underneath the white reflections of the city above it. It was not possible to tell how deep the water was just by looking.
"Built up out of the water, it looks like. I don't know how, though," the senshi admitted. "I haven't really been in any of the buildings yet to see if any of them have basements or whatever."
Then he turned back to Babylon. "Ancestor?" he repeated, then glanced upwards as he tried to think. "I mean, I guess there was a Sailor Vindemiatrix before me, who built this city or whatever, but I haven't met him or anything." A pause. "Do you?"
... Rather suddenly, Babylon's furs made sense. The black-haired boy grinned a little and stroked the fur at Babylon's collar lightly.
Pausing at the crest of the bridge, Vin moved to one side and peered downwards, leading Babylon along with him. The plaza behind them and the street ahead appeared to be the default elevation of the city streets, all of which stuck up about four feet above the water. The graceful arch of the bridge gave them perhaps another two or so feet more above the water, which looked dark underneath the white reflections of the city above it. It was not possible to tell how deep the water was just by looking.
"Built up out of the water, it looks like. I don't know how, though," the senshi admitted. "I haven't really been in any of the buildings yet to see if any of them have basements or whatever."
Then he turned back to Babylon. "Ancestor?" he repeated, then glanced upwards as he tried to think. "I mean, I guess there was a Sailor Vindemiatrix before me, who built this city or whatever, but I haven't met him or anything." A pause. "Do you?"
Silverah
"Yeah, I've gone lots of times," replied Babylon, for whom it had never really been a question of whether or not he should visit his wonder. Lina had told him to go and he'd gone, and then he'd kept going back because... honestly, he feared the repercussions for taking too much time away. Menachem was frequently grumpy with him to begin with - the squire hardly thought his mentor would appreciate tardiness. "The night side's freezing!"
He'd never forget the shock he'd gotten on his first trip, expecting heat and being hit with icy wind. After that, the trips got somewhat easier, but he was sure he'd be left surprised when morning came to the world. And also, maybe, he'd die of heat stroke. Vin and Menachem would probably both be mad at him for that, though, so Babylon bit his lip and instead focused on his surroundings.
"This place is gorgeous, though," he exclaimed, following Vindemiatrix across the bridge. He paused at the top to stare down into the water and inhale deeply. Salty. "Talk about a vacation! You know, I bet we could go looking in one of the buildings if you wanted to, see if we can find out anything about how it works - it's not like you can trespass if this is your planet, is it?" Actually, he wasn't quite sure, but if they were the only sentient beings for light years he was pretty sure that it defaulted that way.
Following his boyfriend down the other side of the bridge, Babylon nodded. "Yeah, that's pretty much exactly what I mean," he said. "The last knight of Babylon. It turns out he's a distant relative of mine...? He's sort of... haunting my wonder, I guess. He gives me advice and guidance, but it's pretty cryptic. Think Dumbledore but bitchier." So, a pleasant sort of fellow, then. Babylon waved his hand in front of him, gesturing the depressing discourse away. "But on to nicer subjects."
"For example," he continued, grinning from ear to ear, "This place is awesome, you are the best ever, and there is absolutely nowhere in the entire universe that I would rather be right now instead of right here, with you, enjoying this glorious weather and abusing adjectives like there's no tomorrow. Because who knows. Maybe there isn't."
"But assuming there is, and I hope there is - I hope I get to spend that with you, too." Rousing speech thus concluded, Babylon leaned in and pressed a lingering kiss to Vindemiatrix's lips. "Seriously," he added, followed by a second kiss. In case he hadn't been clear enough.
He'd never forget the shock he'd gotten on his first trip, expecting heat and being hit with icy wind. After that, the trips got somewhat easier, but he was sure he'd be left surprised when morning came to the world. And also, maybe, he'd die of heat stroke. Vin and Menachem would probably both be mad at him for that, though, so Babylon bit his lip and instead focused on his surroundings.
"This place is gorgeous, though," he exclaimed, following Vindemiatrix across the bridge. He paused at the top to stare down into the water and inhale deeply. Salty. "Talk about a vacation! You know, I bet we could go looking in one of the buildings if you wanted to, see if we can find out anything about how it works - it's not like you can trespass if this is your planet, is it?" Actually, he wasn't quite sure, but if they were the only sentient beings for light years he was pretty sure that it defaulted that way.
Following his boyfriend down the other side of the bridge, Babylon nodded. "Yeah, that's pretty much exactly what I mean," he said. "The last knight of Babylon. It turns out he's a distant relative of mine...? He's sort of... haunting my wonder, I guess. He gives me advice and guidance, but it's pretty cryptic. Think Dumbledore but bitchier." So, a pleasant sort of fellow, then. Babylon waved his hand in front of him, gesturing the depressing discourse away. "But on to nicer subjects."
"For example," he continued, grinning from ear to ear, "This place is awesome, you are the best ever, and there is absolutely nowhere in the entire universe that I would rather be right now instead of right here, with you, enjoying this glorious weather and abusing adjectives like there's no tomorrow. Because who knows. Maybe there isn't."
"But assuming there is, and I hope there is - I hope I get to spend that with you, too." Rousing speech thus concluded, Babylon leaned in and pressed a lingering kiss to Vindemiatrix's lips. "Seriously," he added, followed by a second kiss. In case he hadn't been clear enough.
Asahi Kumoru
Vin laughed lightly and nodded, picturing an angry Dumbledore wrapped in a fur-trimmed parka to match Babylon's. He wondered what sort of person had preceded him as Sailor Vindemiatrix, whether he had been a dancer, too, or something else, and whether he had had a boyfriend or a girlfriend. Mercury was much closer to Earth than where they now stood, as well; would he find that past senshi if he could trace his family back far enough? Or were the people here not even human? The statues he had seen looked human enough, but what if the people who lived here had blue skin or something, which might not be reflected in the smooth stone?
All of his thoughts stopped rather abruptly when Babylon kissed him. The younger boy reciprocated, closing his eyes, and squirming the flowers wrapped in crinkly plastic out from between them.
When thinking resumed, Vin considered agreement with the suggestion that they could look through the houses because they could not trespass in a city with no citizens on a planet far from home. For the openness of the air, especially standing at the crest of the bridge over the canal, it did feel like they were the only two people here. The Senshi of Wine had seen no one else on either visit who was not a companion for the trip, or carved in stone.
And then he suddenly heard voices behind him.
"This feels very strange," came the voice of a woman, followed by a light laugh. "Giving flowers to myself?"
Vin's eyes opened, and his heart raced as he looked from Babylon (who was still quite intimately close) to strain to the side to catch sight of the person who sounded like she was approaching them. Then back to Babylon; wait, did he hear anything?
An older man replied to the woman, "It is ritual, and we all know how important it is to everyone else to see you do this." The pair of them were walking together, it sounded like, and one of them had clothing that jingled faintly. The man continued: "The ancient heroes belonged to everyone, and you are still quite clearly one of the people, even if you are now something more."
The woman laughed again. "That is true, but it will still not change that it feels strange to me."
Vin pulled away from Babylon just far enough to ask in a whisper, "S-Should we move? Inside or something?"
All of his thoughts stopped rather abruptly when Babylon kissed him. The younger boy reciprocated, closing his eyes, and squirming the flowers wrapped in crinkly plastic out from between them.
When thinking resumed, Vin considered agreement with the suggestion that they could look through the houses because they could not trespass in a city with no citizens on a planet far from home. For the openness of the air, especially standing at the crest of the bridge over the canal, it did feel like they were the only two people here. The Senshi of Wine had seen no one else on either visit who was not a companion for the trip, or carved in stone.
And then he suddenly heard voices behind him.
"This feels very strange," came the voice of a woman, followed by a light laugh. "Giving flowers to myself?"
Vin's eyes opened, and his heart raced as he looked from Babylon (who was still quite intimately close) to strain to the side to catch sight of the person who sounded like she was approaching them. Then back to Babylon; wait, did he hear anything?
An older man replied to the woman, "It is ritual, and we all know how important it is to everyone else to see you do this." The pair of them were walking together, it sounded like, and one of them had clothing that jingled faintly. The man continued: "The ancient heroes belonged to everyone, and you are still quite clearly one of the people, even if you are now something more."
The woman laughed again. "That is true, but it will still not change that it feels strange to me."
Vin pulled away from Babylon just far enough to ask in a whisper, "S-Should we move? Inside or something?"
Silverah
It wasn't as if going someplace more private hadn't crossed Babylon's mind, but he was hardly bold enough to bring it up and hadn't expected Vindemiatrix to, either. In fact, the senshi's suggestion caught him off-guard. It seemed so sudden, and of course it sent his mind skittering off into the gutter.
"Um, if you want," said the squire, blushing furiously. He hadn't expected Vin to make a suggestion like that - in fact, it seemed sort of odd. He paused, studying the other boy's expression quizzically. True, they were young and in love and all alone on a foreign planet, but Vindemiatrix's suggestion that they move somewhere else demanded a second thought, considering that it had come out of absolutely-friggin-nowhere.
"What's going on?" the squire asked quietly, looking up and down the deserted pathway. He was reminded of when he was on Mercury with Kurma, and Kurma could not see Menachem and vice versa. Perhaps it worked similarly for senshi. "Vin?" he asked, tilting his head curiously towards the younger boy. "Do you see something?"
Maybe it was just his imagination and he was spooking himself out, but Babylon suddenly thought he felt chill. Psychosomatic as the cold may have been, the squire was now determined that Vindemiatrix's suggestion had been anything but sexual. The tone was all wrong, and he hadn't thought they were at that point in their relationship (several months of furtive flirting and hasty, sloppy kisses aside).
"Because, uh," he added, frowning at the empty, sunny expanse before them. "I don't see anything."
"Um, if you want," said the squire, blushing furiously. He hadn't expected Vin to make a suggestion like that - in fact, it seemed sort of odd. He paused, studying the other boy's expression quizzically. True, they were young and in love and all alone on a foreign planet, but Vindemiatrix's suggestion that they move somewhere else demanded a second thought, considering that it had come out of absolutely-friggin-nowhere.
"What's going on?" the squire asked quietly, looking up and down the deserted pathway. He was reminded of when he was on Mercury with Kurma, and Kurma could not see Menachem and vice versa. Perhaps it worked similarly for senshi. "Vin?" he asked, tilting his head curiously towards the younger boy. "Do you see something?"
Maybe it was just his imagination and he was spooking himself out, but Babylon suddenly thought he felt chill. Psychosomatic as the cold may have been, the squire was now determined that Vindemiatrix's suggestion had been anything but sexual. The tone was all wrong, and he hadn't thought they were at that point in their relationship (several months of furtive flirting and hasty, sloppy kisses aside).
"Because, uh," he added, frowning at the empty, sunny expanse before them. "I don't see anything."
Asahi Kumoru
Vindemiatrix turned his head to get a look at the pair for the first time, remaining close to Babylon and stock still as he studied them.
The woman was dressed in flowing skirts in claret and green, shorter in the front so that her legs, bare save for bangles and a few designs drawn in something dark like henna, were visible as she walked. A top left her midriff and shoulders bare, though sheer trails of fabric hung between the outfit and the bracelets at her wrists. Her hair, jet black, was impossibly long, twisted with gold and braided into a bun at the back of he head before trailing down again to her shoulders.
The one thing Vin could not see was her face, which was covered by a white mask, exquisitely decorated with gold and more burgundy and green.
The man beside her was also masked, though his colors were shades of green with hints of silver in places. His clothing also appeared more functional, with a knee-length robe and leggings, a silvery cord around his waist, and a loose drape falling from where it was fastened at his right shoulder to cross his chest and cover the left side of his body.
The senshi of the present day, completely transfixed by the vision of the pair (who continued to approach them at a relaxed walking pace), heard but did not listen to Babylon's words; he nodded in response to whatever it was the boy had said. Maybe it even became harder to hear his boyfriend of the present day, as the apparitions came closer.
"So you mean to say I belong to everyone now as well?" the woman's tone was coy and teasing, and she laughed, grasping the man's wrist with her free hand. She held him for a moment, then allowed her fingers to trail away. When she spoke again, her tone was more serious. "No, I suppose I do. I am reincarnated so that we have a protector here, so you all are safe to live and die."
The man's posture when she touched him betrayed that he was at least a little flustered, but of course the mask hid his facial features. He said nothing at first, then shook his head, and reached for her hand again, to twine her fingers with his own. "You are here to bring us hope now, too, not just to fight. You are special, Romengarda, but you are still one of us...."
She paused momentarily, just where the bridge started to curve over the canal, not more than five yards or so from where the two boys stood in the present day, and looked up at the man. Then she raised her hand to bring his holding it to the red-painted lips of her mask for a moment, and the two of them started walking again.
Vindemiatrix tensed and shut his eyes, then pushed Babylon gently to take one step to the side, to get out of their way. He fully expected to feel some sort of icy death chill as the ghosts passed, but there was no change in temperature, only the faintest whiff of some ancient perfume made of flowers from another world.
Venturing to open his eyes again, he looked after the pair as they made their way forwards, down the street. Then he turned his wide green gaze back to Babylon. "You don't see them at all? Or hear them? There's two people, a woman and a man...."
The woman was dressed in flowing skirts in claret and green, shorter in the front so that her legs, bare save for bangles and a few designs drawn in something dark like henna, were visible as she walked. A top left her midriff and shoulders bare, though sheer trails of fabric hung between the outfit and the bracelets at her wrists. Her hair, jet black, was impossibly long, twisted with gold and braided into a bun at the back of he head before trailing down again to her shoulders.
The one thing Vin could not see was her face, which was covered by a white mask, exquisitely decorated with gold and more burgundy and green.
The man beside her was also masked, though his colors were shades of green with hints of silver in places. His clothing also appeared more functional, with a knee-length robe and leggings, a silvery cord around his waist, and a loose drape falling from where it was fastened at his right shoulder to cross his chest and cover the left side of his body.
The senshi of the present day, completely transfixed by the vision of the pair (who continued to approach them at a relaxed walking pace), heard but did not listen to Babylon's words; he nodded in response to whatever it was the boy had said. Maybe it even became harder to hear his boyfriend of the present day, as the apparitions came closer.
"So you mean to say I belong to everyone now as well?" the woman's tone was coy and teasing, and she laughed, grasping the man's wrist with her free hand. She held him for a moment, then allowed her fingers to trail away. When she spoke again, her tone was more serious. "No, I suppose I do. I am reincarnated so that we have a protector here, so you all are safe to live and die."
The man's posture when she touched him betrayed that he was at least a little flustered, but of course the mask hid his facial features. He said nothing at first, then shook his head, and reached for her hand again, to twine her fingers with his own. "You are here to bring us hope now, too, not just to fight. You are special, Romengarda, but you are still one of us...."
She paused momentarily, just where the bridge started to curve over the canal, not more than five yards or so from where the two boys stood in the present day, and looked up at the man. Then she raised her hand to bring his holding it to the red-painted lips of her mask for a moment, and the two of them started walking again.
Vindemiatrix tensed and shut his eyes, then pushed Babylon gently to take one step to the side, to get out of their way. He fully expected to feel some sort of icy death chill as the ghosts passed, but there was no change in temperature, only the faintest whiff of some ancient perfume made of flowers from another world.
Venturing to open his eyes again, he looked after the pair as they made their way forwards, down the street. Then he turned his wide green gaze back to Babylon. "You don't see them at all? Or hear them? There's two people, a woman and a man...."
Silverah
Vindemiatrix may have seen a detailed vision, but Babylon saw only empty air. Although he obliged moving when the senshi nudged him, he did not see nor smell what he could only assume was a passing ghost. He shook his head. "No, I don't see them," the squire confessed earnestly. He studied Vindemiatrix's expression, resolving that staring at the empty bridge was not going to make the senshi's visions materialize for him.
"I don't doubt that you see them," he assured his boyfriend, reaching out to give Vindemiatrix's hand a reassuring squeeze. All these past lives and ancestors and visions, it was enough to make his head spin, but who was he to doubt that any of it was real when his great-to-the-nth-degree grandfather scolded him on a regular basis? "But this isn't my world, and I can't."
He glanced again down the walkway, presumably in the direction that the man and woman had gone off in. "If you want to follow them, though," he offered, "I would be game for that." There wasn't anything Babylon stood to lose, and Vindemiatrix had everything to gain, the way he saw it. This was Vin's planet, and they should see whatever it had to offer.
Babylon took a few tentative steps. "They went this way, didn't they?" he asked. "Why don't you show me?"
"I don't doubt that you see them," he assured his boyfriend, reaching out to give Vindemiatrix's hand a reassuring squeeze. All these past lives and ancestors and visions, it was enough to make his head spin, but who was he to doubt that any of it was real when his great-to-the-nth-degree grandfather scolded him on a regular basis? "But this isn't my world, and I can't."
He glanced again down the walkway, presumably in the direction that the man and woman had gone off in. "If you want to follow them, though," he offered, "I would be game for that." There wasn't anything Babylon stood to lose, and Vindemiatrix had everything to gain, the way he saw it. This was Vin's planet, and they should see whatever it had to offer.
Babylon took a few tentative steps. "They went this way, didn't they?" he asked. "Why don't you show me?"
Asahi Kumoru
At the reassurance from Babylon, Vin let out the breath he had not realized he had been holding. Then, seeming to lapse back into the present moment, he smiled faintly and nodded. The pair of people drew his attention back, though, but this time, the senshi looked more at ease as he watched them.
"Yeah, they're walking this way," he replied softly, letting them get several strides ahead before moving to follow. He was quick to admit, "I don't really know where they're going, though. They'll have to show us."
They continued down the white paved road, between the comforting walls of buildings on either side. Maybe the facades of the houses were arching forward to get a better look at the ghosts, or at the strangers from their future, or maybe Vindemiatrix was imagining that part.
Vin was about to say something else when the ethereal pair started to speak to each other again:
"You're making an offering, too, yes, Garavellus?" the woman, Romengarda asked suddenly of her companion. She looked up at him, and her voice brightened, likely mirroring her expression behind the mask. "So this will be just like before, at the Hall of Word and Song."
"Of course," the man replied, angling his chin proudly upwards a few degrees. One hand fumbled in a pocket hidden under his drape, and a moment later, withdrew a small object. He held it out a moment, more for the woman to see than the people following, though Vin caught a glimpse long enough to identify it as a smooth, flat, dark stone; there was nothing about it that he could see in the quick glance to signify its importance, but the woman seemed pleased by it.
They were quiet as they continued walking, reaching a place where the road angled slightly to the right, and another, slightly narrower street headed more towards the left. They continued on the wide avenue, and, as they turned the slight corner, a large statue came into view to both Vindemiatrix and Babylon at the end of the thoroughfare. By the light on it, it looked to be in the middle of another large plaza, a theory which proved true when they reached it.
To Babylon's eyes, the statue was in the middle of a dry fountain, and held two figures: a male faced them as they entered the plaza, dressed in studded leather armor; and a woman who stood behind him, back to back, in flowing skirts with her arms arched gracefully over her head. The man held a sword in his right hand, point down by his feet, and it looked as though his left arm may have been raised in a gesture of command at some point, but it was broken off. The white stone arm stretched across the bed of the fountain, which was cracked in places, and held small pools of water, but was mostly dry. The woman behind him was unbroken, but the white stone of both of them was whethered by time. Both figures wore masks.
Vin instead saw only a male figure in stone, crouched with his sword point-down before him, hands resting on the hilt. Water filled the fountain in the mind of the Senshi of Wine, and was pinkish with wine; he could see faint ghosts of people coming to the edge to recite words over cups before emptying the wine to mingle with the water. A few others waded into the knee-deep pool to kneel before the man, and a pile of flowers around him indicated another way to make offerings.
As Romengarda and Garavellus approached, the fainter phantasms of the citizens looked up, paused, finished their prayers, and all moved away, leaving the two of them alone by the fountain.
Vindemiatrix paused behind them with Babylon, taking all of this in as much as waiting his turn.
"Yeah, they're walking this way," he replied softly, letting them get several strides ahead before moving to follow. He was quick to admit, "I don't really know where they're going, though. They'll have to show us."
They continued down the white paved road, between the comforting walls of buildings on either side. Maybe the facades of the houses were arching forward to get a better look at the ghosts, or at the strangers from their future, or maybe Vindemiatrix was imagining that part.
Vin was about to say something else when the ethereal pair started to speak to each other again:
"You're making an offering, too, yes, Garavellus?" the woman, Romengarda asked suddenly of her companion. She looked up at him, and her voice brightened, likely mirroring her expression behind the mask. "So this will be just like before, at the Hall of Word and Song."
"Of course," the man replied, angling his chin proudly upwards a few degrees. One hand fumbled in a pocket hidden under his drape, and a moment later, withdrew a small object. He held it out a moment, more for the woman to see than the people following, though Vin caught a glimpse long enough to identify it as a smooth, flat, dark stone; there was nothing about it that he could see in the quick glance to signify its importance, but the woman seemed pleased by it.
They were quiet as they continued walking, reaching a place where the road angled slightly to the right, and another, slightly narrower street headed more towards the left. They continued on the wide avenue, and, as they turned the slight corner, a large statue came into view to both Vindemiatrix and Babylon at the end of the thoroughfare. By the light on it, it looked to be in the middle of another large plaza, a theory which proved true when they reached it.
To Babylon's eyes, the statue was in the middle of a dry fountain, and held two figures: a male faced them as they entered the plaza, dressed in studded leather armor; and a woman who stood behind him, back to back, in flowing skirts with her arms arched gracefully over her head. The man held a sword in his right hand, point down by his feet, and it looked as though his left arm may have been raised in a gesture of command at some point, but it was broken off. The white stone arm stretched across the bed of the fountain, which was cracked in places, and held small pools of water, but was mostly dry. The woman behind him was unbroken, but the white stone of both of them was whethered by time. Both figures wore masks.
Vin instead saw only a male figure in stone, crouched with his sword point-down before him, hands resting on the hilt. Water filled the fountain in the mind of the Senshi of Wine, and was pinkish with wine; he could see faint ghosts of people coming to the edge to recite words over cups before emptying the wine to mingle with the water. A few others waded into the knee-deep pool to kneel before the man, and a pile of flowers around him indicated another way to make offerings.
As Romengarda and Garavellus approached, the fainter phantasms of the citizens looked up, paused, finished their prayers, and all moved away, leaving the two of them alone by the fountain.
Vindemiatrix paused behind them with Babylon, taking all of this in as much as waiting his turn.
Silverah
Babylon bit his tongue as they walked, eyes flicking back and forth periodically between Vindemiatrix and the walkway in front of them. He still couldn't see anything and had resigned himself to that, but the expression on Vin's face made him wish that he could. His wonder had never yielded any visions to him, only his ancestor and the lights. The squire was a little bit jealous.
As they approached the fountain, Babylon grew increasingly curious about what it was they were following. This place looked important - ceremonial, even. Although he did not want to risk interrupting Vin's vision by interrupting, he was dying to know. What was happening here that he couldn't see?
He exhaled and inhaled once, steeling himself to ask and hoping that it didn't risk breaking the spell Vin was under. "What do you see?" he murmured quietly, eyes pinned on the crumbling statue. Who was it of, Babylon wondered. Maybe Vin knew. "Can you describe it to me?" His breath caught in his throat, hoping he hadn't managed to ruin everything by opening his mouth.
As they approached the fountain, Babylon grew increasingly curious about what it was they were following. This place looked important - ceremonial, even. Although he did not want to risk interrupting Vin's vision by interrupting, he was dying to know. What was happening here that he couldn't see?
He exhaled and inhaled once, steeling himself to ask and hoping that it didn't risk breaking the spell Vin was under. "What do you see?" he murmured quietly, eyes pinned on the crumbling statue. Who was it of, Babylon wondered. Maybe Vin knew. "Can you describe it to me?" His breath caught in his throat, hoping he hadn't managed to ruin everything by opening his mouth.
Asahi Kumoru
The pair of ghosts stepped to the edge of the fountain, and the man took out his stone again, speaking a few words before skipping the rock across the surface of the water, where it bounced lightly off the pedestal of the stone warrior and sank to rest at the bottom of the basin. A few other rocks like it were already there, Vin noticed now, but the flowers far outnumbered them.
"The man, Gara... Gara-something, she said his name was, offered the rock to the figure in the statue," the green-eyed boy whispered to Babylon. "I couldn't hear what he said, though. Earlier, the lady, Romengarda, said something about a Hall of Word and Song, so maybe he's like a priest from there or something." No visions had hinted at his being a priest; that was wild guessing on Vin's part. "He's wearing like a tunic and cape with leggings. I dunno if that's what priests wear here or not."
He squinted momentarily, then added, "I still can't see any of the other people around the fountain beyond like, vague shadows. No idea if what Romengarda and Gara are dressed up in is normal or not. But it seems to be a festival or something."
Romengarda took her turn to make an offering then, and more of the shadows crowded at the edges of the fountain, pressing in to make, to Vindemiatrix's eyes, a near-solid ring of shade around it. The woman climbed over the edge of the fountain and into the water, grasping her companion's hand for support, then let it go as she waded through the wine-stained water to lay her flowers at the feet of the crouching warrior.
Then she turned a few elaborate steps, twirling around with her skirts, the bottoms now sodden in the fountain, trailing slowly behind her movements. She danced for a few moments, Garavellus taking up the rhythm and clapping along; presumably the crowd did as well, but they made about as much noise as the shadows they appeared to be.
"She just offered her flowers to the warrior..." he trailed off momentarily, his eyes straying to what looked like a nameplate engraved in the stone edge of the fountain, but of course he could not read it from this distance, and the language would not be familiar to him anyway. "Romengarda is dancing, too, in the fountain. The water is pink with wine, because people have been offering that, too, and more flowers."
Like a film reaching its conclusion, the vision faded, and Vindemiatrix immediately seemed to snap fully back to reality. Smiling a little, he turned to Babylon and asked, "Is it okay if I offer one or two of my flowers now? It seems like the right thing to do."
"The man, Gara... Gara-something, she said his name was, offered the rock to the figure in the statue," the green-eyed boy whispered to Babylon. "I couldn't hear what he said, though. Earlier, the lady, Romengarda, said something about a Hall of Word and Song, so maybe he's like a priest from there or something." No visions had hinted at his being a priest; that was wild guessing on Vin's part. "He's wearing like a tunic and cape with leggings. I dunno if that's what priests wear here or not."
He squinted momentarily, then added, "I still can't see any of the other people around the fountain beyond like, vague shadows. No idea if what Romengarda and Gara are dressed up in is normal or not. But it seems to be a festival or something."
Romengarda took her turn to make an offering then, and more of the shadows crowded at the edges of the fountain, pressing in to make, to Vindemiatrix's eyes, a near-solid ring of shade around it. The woman climbed over the edge of the fountain and into the water, grasping her companion's hand for support, then let it go as she waded through the wine-stained water to lay her flowers at the feet of the crouching warrior.
Then she turned a few elaborate steps, twirling around with her skirts, the bottoms now sodden in the fountain, trailing slowly behind her movements. She danced for a few moments, Garavellus taking up the rhythm and clapping along; presumably the crowd did as well, but they made about as much noise as the shadows they appeared to be.
"She just offered her flowers to the warrior..." he trailed off momentarily, his eyes straying to what looked like a nameplate engraved in the stone edge of the fountain, but of course he could not read it from this distance, and the language would not be familiar to him anyway. "Romengarda is dancing, too, in the fountain. The water is pink with wine, because people have been offering that, too, and more flowers."
Like a film reaching its conclusion, the vision faded, and Vindemiatrix immediately seemed to snap fully back to reality. Smiling a little, he turned to Babylon and asked, "Is it okay if I offer one or two of my flowers now? It seems like the right thing to do."
Silverah
Babylon stared at the fountain as Vindemiatrix spoke, trying to imagine the scene as it played out before them. He was jealous, although he knew he shouldn't be - this was just how things worked. Still, the festival Vindemiatrix described sounded beautiful.
At the mention of offerings, Babylon's attention had already begun to shift towards the flowers. "Of course," he murmured sweetly, tugging a pair of roses gently out of the bouquet. He handed one to Vin, keeping the other for himself. So moved was he by the description that he wanted to give an offering as well. He would have felt odd to leave without doing so. Like a trespasser on holy ground.
"Do you mind if I leave one as well?" he asked, lips close to Vindemiatrix's ear as he glanced towards the fountain. "Just show me where to put it, I don't want to mess it up." The squire wasn't displeased with the turn this trip had taken. In fact, following an ancient vision was objectively more interesting than just wandering aimlessly around the city. It hadn't impacted the weather any - the day was still sunny and warm and enjoyable.
He looked back at Vindemiatrix, meeting the other boy's eyes. The senshi looked like he'd come back - they'd lost the far-away look. Babylon twisted the stem of the rose in his hands, waiting for further instruction. "Is it over?" he asked reverently. "The vision, I mean?"
At the mention of offerings, Babylon's attention had already begun to shift towards the flowers. "Of course," he murmured sweetly, tugging a pair of roses gently out of the bouquet. He handed one to Vin, keeping the other for himself. So moved was he by the description that he wanted to give an offering as well. He would have felt odd to leave without doing so. Like a trespasser on holy ground.
"Do you mind if I leave one as well?" he asked, lips close to Vindemiatrix's ear as he glanced towards the fountain. "Just show me where to put it, I don't want to mess it up." The squire wasn't displeased with the turn this trip had taken. In fact, following an ancient vision was objectively more interesting than just wandering aimlessly around the city. It hadn't impacted the weather any - the day was still sunny and warm and enjoyable.
He looked back at Vindemiatrix, meeting the other boy's eyes. The senshi looked like he'd come back - they'd lost the far-away look. Babylon twisted the stem of the rose in his hands, waiting for further instruction. "Is it over?" he asked reverently. "The vision, I mean?"
Asahi Kumoru
The green-eyed boy appeared to return to the present, and smiled to Babylon as he meted out the flowers.
"That's fine," he replied, then looked back to the statues. A momentary look of surprise crossed his features as he saw the difference in the sculpture now, compared to what he had seen of the past. Vin added, "Yeah, it's over."
He approached the fountain and set down his gifts from Babylon on the edge of the basin for the moment, then climbed over it into the dry interior. Pausing, he reached for the Knight's hand to help him if he needed it, then walked up to the statue, eyes following the larger-than-life warrior's body up and then out to his broken off arm. Then, retaining his rose for the moment, he moved around to the opposite side to get a look at the other figure on the pedestal.
"This is her," he told Babylon. "This is Romengarda. I don't know who the guy is, though. It doesn't look like her friend, but I'm pretty sure it's the same figure I saw in the other statue, in the vision. He's some warrior who is older than Romengarda. But...." he trailed off and shrugged. "I don't really know more than that."
Eyes still directed upwards, studying the graceful stone figure of Romengarda, lightly pockmarked by time and salt, he approached her to give his flower to her-- and tripped suddenly, stumbling forward and catching himself on his hands. He had been so busy gazing up that Vindemiatrix had failed to notice the pile of dark, smooth, flat stones piled upwards in the basin of the fountain against the pedestal on which Romengarda stood.
Straightening gingerly, he brushed his scuffed gloves off on his skirt and then set the flower down gently between the graceful woman's bare feet. He looked back at the edge of the fountain, opposite her, and thought he saw, just for a moment, a vague figure of an old man, leaning on the edge as he skipped stones by the dozen towards the figure of Romengarda, but the ghost faded in a matter of seconds, leaving Vin alone once more with Babylon and the two statues.
"That's fine," he replied, then looked back to the statues. A momentary look of surprise crossed his features as he saw the difference in the sculpture now, compared to what he had seen of the past. Vin added, "Yeah, it's over."
He approached the fountain and set down his gifts from Babylon on the edge of the basin for the moment, then climbed over it into the dry interior. Pausing, he reached for the Knight's hand to help him if he needed it, then walked up to the statue, eyes following the larger-than-life warrior's body up and then out to his broken off arm. Then, retaining his rose for the moment, he moved around to the opposite side to get a look at the other figure on the pedestal.
"This is her," he told Babylon. "This is Romengarda. I don't know who the guy is, though. It doesn't look like her friend, but I'm pretty sure it's the same figure I saw in the other statue, in the vision. He's some warrior who is older than Romengarda. But...." he trailed off and shrugged. "I don't really know more than that."
Eyes still directed upwards, studying the graceful stone figure of Romengarda, lightly pockmarked by time and salt, he approached her to give his flower to her-- and tripped suddenly, stumbling forward and catching himself on his hands. He had been so busy gazing up that Vindemiatrix had failed to notice the pile of dark, smooth, flat stones piled upwards in the basin of the fountain against the pedestal on which Romengarda stood.
Straightening gingerly, he brushed his scuffed gloves off on his skirt and then set the flower down gently between the graceful woman's bare feet. He looked back at the edge of the fountain, opposite her, and thought he saw, just for a moment, a vague figure of an old man, leaning on the edge as he skipped stones by the dozen towards the figure of Romengarda, but the ghost faded in a matter of seconds, leaving Vin alone once more with Babylon and the two statues.
Silverah
Babylon followed Vindemiatrix into the fountain, keeping his fingers gently closed around the other boy's. This place felt significant, and he wanted to be here as some sort of emotional support. Staring up at the statue from this close, he was struck by the care put into rendering the woman's features. "She's beautiful," said the squire softly, because it was true. The statue's face had strong, classic angles - the sort of looks that you could appreciate even if women weren't really your thing. Not to mention the masterful craftsmanship.
When Vin stumbled, Babylon made to catch him but was too slow. "Are you okay?" he asked worriedly, glancing down at the disturbed stones.Those were... odd, to say the least, but here they were offering flowers. In a roundabout way it reminded him of a different funerary tradition that he knew from earth. One did not take flowers to a Jewish cemetery, only rocks to place on the headstone.
Kneeling quietly, Babylon quickly placed his flower at the base of the statue and waited for Vin to do the same before speaking again. He placed a hand on the small of the senshi's back and steered him back towards the edge of the fountain, saying quietly, "I think it's very late on a tuesday night."
He scooped up Vindemiatrix's gifts and handed them back to him. "Really, thank you, for bringing me here," said Babylon, smiling at the senshi. Seeing someone's planet seemed sort of, well, intimate to him. It wasn't like he'd take just anyone to Babylon, after all. That said, he would take Vindemiatrix to his wonder in a heartbeat - Menachem's opinion be damned. (And, truthfully, he didn't know if the ancient knight even cared.)
"I'll return the favor someday soon," he said, raising a hand to brush Vindemiatrix's cheek and kissing him softly. "But for now, I think it's time to go home. Happy Valentine's Day."
When Vin stumbled, Babylon made to catch him but was too slow. "Are you okay?" he asked worriedly, glancing down at the disturbed stones.Those were... odd, to say the least, but here they were offering flowers. In a roundabout way it reminded him of a different funerary tradition that he knew from earth. One did not take flowers to a Jewish cemetery, only rocks to place on the headstone.
Kneeling quietly, Babylon quickly placed his flower at the base of the statue and waited for Vin to do the same before speaking again. He placed a hand on the small of the senshi's back and steered him back towards the edge of the fountain, saying quietly, "I think it's very late on a tuesday night."
He scooped up Vindemiatrix's gifts and handed them back to him. "Really, thank you, for bringing me here," said Babylon, smiling at the senshi. Seeing someone's planet seemed sort of, well, intimate to him. It wasn't like he'd take just anyone to Babylon, after all. That said, he would take Vindemiatrix to his wonder in a heartbeat - Menachem's opinion be damned. (And, truthfully, he didn't know if the ancient knight even cared.)
"I'll return the favor someday soon," he said, raising a hand to brush Vindemiatrix's cheek and kissing him softly. "But for now, I think it's time to go home. Happy Valentine's Day."
