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 Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 9:01 pm
He did not know how to seek him out again; but the rumors had been made that he was keeping to the forested areas, so that was where Celsus went.
It was not exactly quietly; his uniform had never been conducive to stealth, and the little golden coins jingled softly as he traipsed past a thicket of oak trees. He looked marginally better than he had the last time he'd seen Caedus, less worn, but also quite a bit different. His hair was shorter; a thin line ran from his forehead down over the swell of his cheek, and a vibrantly pink cast was on his left hand, from his fingers to his elbow. The Oath mark was also there, burning golden bright across Celsus's neck, but he couldn't see it without a mirror.
It was dark and quiet here. A small breeze rifled through the air, and Celsus narrowed his eyes a little.
"Caedus?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 9:23 pm
Caedus was more cautious, now; he kept his signature carefully concealed and when he sensed the aura of another he usually attempted to hide. At least, until he knew that he wasn’t going to be attacked. When they wanted to find him, usually they called his name. And he was usually compelled to answer. Tonight was no different, and with reluctance he pulled himself from the shadows of the tree he had been reclining against. He recognized Celsus, though it was obvious that he had some confusion. He recognized the difference in Celsus and took a few seconds to take it in. Celsus himself was no longer garbed in his cloak; now, he was simply concealed beneath a thick black blanket that he kept drawn about him. His golden eyes glowed eerily in the darkness, but he seemed like he was trying to conceal even those. "I am here," he murmured, in case the shadows concealed him too well.
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 9:47 pm
He heard the voice before he saw the figure huddled in the darkness, and Celsus went towards it, a small frown on his face. He slowed his steps once he drew nearer, stopping in the shade of a large oak tree that cast long, deep shadows over their features.
He could not see much of Caedus; only his eyes, which he had not even expected.
"I heard," said Celsus quietly, "that you were attacked by a senshi. How are you feeling?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 8:33 pm
Caedus was quiet for a moment, but he looked away. The action was easily missed in the darkness, but he nodded. "Neither at my best nor worse. It was a while ago. I was gone before he could do much damage. I did not stay around to see if he would do more." He was quiet for a moment, listening to the way Celsus' coins jingle. He cocked his head just slightly, as if to hear better. His words were heavy, defeated, almost. Tired. "May I ask what else you heard?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 2:01 pm
He heard, rather than saw, the sound of Caedus moving, the shadows around him shifting with it. Celsus remained silent, a small breeze rifling through the air and rustling the leaves on the trees above their heads and carrying with it the scent of flowers and cool night air.
His lips quirked up in a small smile, and Celsus slowly lowered himself so that he was crouched on the ground, easing himself into a sitting position so that they were on a similar level.
"Not much," he said softly, "That you were trying to help and that it resulted in the senshi attacking you. That he pulled off your cloak while you were trying to speak to them, which admittedly is rather rude."
Celsus was quiet for a moment and then said, "I'm sorry to hear that the Order treated you so abominably."
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Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 3:15 pm
Caedus seemed to appreciate his own silence, and after a moment nodded. "I do not expect apologies, but I am grateful for the sentiment. My cloak was little more than a rag. I suppose it was inevitable. But I have had it for a long time. It was safe, for me." He seemed comforted by Celsus lowering himself, and though he was still on edge, he relaxed a bit. His gaze lingered on the smile and he seemed to contemplate it for a bit before speaking. "…They were upset, though. I understand overwhelming emotion. Death threats, of course," he shrugged and looked away again. "I understand why he made them. I am not natural to your people, and I opened the portal. It is understandable that he would blame me. I should have been more prepared. I heard, though, that you were saved? That a senshi managed to pull you to safety? She must be powerful." Caedus sighed softly, the sound almost entirely lost in the wind of the night. He drew into himself just a bit. "I hope you did not lose anyone. Did you make it in time to help them?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 4:55 pm
"Still," Celsus persisted. "Even if things got out of hand, there was no call for you to be attacked, surely. A page told me that the senshi in question was temperamental and lacked proper judgement; that he acted rashly when he attacked you, which merits apology."
He absently smoothed his fingers over the pendant of Chronos at his neck, feeling the curves of the sides, the sharp edges.
"Yes," said Celsus, "A senshi did save us, though I scarcely remember much of it. I was...a little out of it at the time," he added, with a wan smile tinged with weariness at the edges. "We called upon her later, to help with the purification of my brother. She is very kind and strong."
He pressed his lips together, easing out a breath. "We did not lose as much as we could have, though it was still painful. There were many of us injured, and I doubt the recovery will be short."
Celsus was silent for another moment, and then said quietly, "You were telling the truth, then; you did not intend for the portal to close, nor for us to be trapped there."
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Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 11:56 pm
Caedus seemed very talented at sitting quietly. He was a good listener, something probably heightened by his usual disinterest in speaking. Even if his voice seemed to have recovered a bit, and especially after being attacked, he was on edge. "No," he confirmed after a moment, perhaps because he thought Celsus needed to hear it, or because it was just nice to say. Nice to feel trusted. "I know there are those that do not trust me. Those that trust me less after the portal closed. I do not blame them, but I would do whatever I could to prove that it was not my intent. My goal is still to get home." His voice seemed forlorn; he sighed and rested his head back against the tree he reclined against. The blanket he'd donned as a makeshift cloak did little effort to conceal his face when he wasn't gripping it tightly. Though the shadows made it difficult to see much, the faint traces of moonlight caught just a bit of his blue-tinted skin. "I doubt it is possible, though. After the portal failed, I do not know who would think to provide me with more energy. I have the crystals, but." He sighed. "I am afraid to ask." It was not illogical to fear attack, after his last major encounter had ended with death threats. But he couldn’t stay on this planet forever. Something would kill him—Senshi or Negaverse. He knew this. Instead, he tilted his head at Celsus and in a lighter tone said, "You seem different. Did you find your hope?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2016 3:20 pm
He still could not say for certain whether he trusted Caedus; but the honesty in which he had answered his questions was, at the very least, enough for Celsus not to continue to build walls where there seemed no need to. He would remain wary and cautious, perhaps, but he had no intention of starting a squabble that seemed pointless.
He'd had enough inter-faction fighting to last a lifetime, after all.
"I can't say that I feel particularly safe just yet, or if I understand what truly happened," said Celsus, after a moment. "But I...believe you when you say that you didn't intend for this to happen. I wasn't there when you were attacked, or when it closed from the outside, but I still think that you had no idea it would happen."
He shifted slightly, glancing at what little he could see of Caedus' face. A slight smile touched Celsus', weary and exhausted, but still genuine.
"Not hope, exactly, but...something," he said quietly. "Or perhaps hope. Understanding, I think is a better term for it, because I see things a little differently now, after all that's happened."
He glanced over at the other, Celsus thoughtfully smoothing the fingers of his good hand across his Oath mark.
"I can give energy, you know," he said, after a moment. "Transcended knights and senshi can give energy boosts."
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Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2016 1:35 am
Caedus nodded as Celsus spoke; his eyes closed, even if just for a moment, and he seemed to be genuinely relaxed around the male. "Something is better than nothing." Hope or not, at least there was something to work with. When Caedus mentioned energy, Celsus' eyes opened again and he glanced tiredly at the Knight. "I did not know that. I do not know much about Transcended anything. I do not think I ever met one before. Would you, though?" He moved a bit, so he was facing the Knight. "…Offer energy, I mean. The crystals could hold it. I have to charge them to get home, but…" He reached into his robe; there were a few easily reached. He drew them out and it almost seemed more for comfort than purpose; he rolled them in the palm of his hand and watched them glisten as they caught thin beams of moonlight. "My alternatives are slim. I am trying, though. I do not wish to ask for help or garner mistrust. I want to be out of everyone's hair."
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Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 1:47 pm
There had been a point in time where Celsus would not have believed that - but he did now, because he would rather have had his brother purified, even lacking in memories, than steeped in Chaos. Something was better than nothing, as hard a lesson as it had been for him to learn.
He gave a nod, only half visible in the waning light as Caedus shifted. "Transcended knights and senshi have peculiar abilities, though mine is rather simple. I can give energy as needed, though the amount varies, and obviously I cannot simply dole it out whenever and wherever." He gave a tired smile. "It would exhaust me to the bone, drain me to dust - but I can give a little at a time."
Celsus's gaze went to the crystals in the other's hand, watching the moonlight reflect off of them even as Caedus was. He was wary, perhaps, of what might come from this.
But not suspicious. Not mistrusting.
"I wouldn't mind," he said now, a small smile on his face, genuine in spite of its weariness. "I have little to offer in other ways; and perhaps this could help us both to get what it is that we need."
Celsus stretched out a hand, palm up.
"May I?"
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 11:21 pm
Caedus seemed surprised by Celsus' answer, but there was relief in his posture. His expression was still hidden—mostly, at least—but he seemed to take on a gentler demeanor. "You may, but I cannot thank you enough for what it means." He offered the crystal, carefully, as if to make sure it was truly what the Knight wanted, and to make sure he had the opportunity to drop or refuse the crystal if he changed his mind. "May I ask, though. What is it that you need?" He did not seem as though he intended to pry or press for an answer Celsus wasn't willing to give, but he couldn't help his curiosity.
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Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 1:12 pm
A slightly wan smile touched Celsus's lips.
"You give me too much credit," he said, and reached out to accept the crystal, the weight of it cool against his palm. He drew it closer and looked down at it, merely letting his gaze rake over the appearance of it; such a small and insignificant thing, yet it wielded so much.
Celsus's fingers curled around it, and with a little push he felt the energy begin to seep in, his eyes narrowed slightly behind the golden rimmed glasses.
What is it that you need?
His gaze rose, the corners of his lips quirking as he looked at Caedus.
"Strength," said Celsus simply. "Not...physical strength, but...it's hard to keep moving forward, in spite of knowing that I made the decision to do so."
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 10:58 pm
Caedus seemed thoughtful for a moment and then nodded before he settled back against his tree. "You will find it," he decided, and despite the wavering faith the alien seemed to have in himself, he sounded confident when talking about this. "Deciding to move forward at all can be a difficult decision. But you have a light in you that I do not imagine will be snuffed so easily. Even if your light should dim, you will find what you need. People like you are uncommon. At least," he added, "So far as I have known. But it only makes you more special. You will have hardships, but you will persevere. I have faith in that. I hope you can, too."
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Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2016 8:03 am
The energy seeped through Celsus's fingers, ebbing into the little crystal without too much effort. It was a practice that he had only done once or twice before, but he remembered the feel of it, the way it seemed to draw from his very soul, spreading warmth to whomever he was giving it to.
The crystals were inanimate, but they still held a purpose - a strong one.
Caedus was given a small, grateful smile. "You are very kind to say so," said Celsus quietly. "I have not felt full of light for quite some time, and I still don't, not really. But I should like to believe that, now that I have made my choices, I will persevere as you have said. It is...comforting...to know that you have such faith in me."
He drew a small breath and then extended his hand towards Caedus again, the crystal now imbued with the energy he had given it.
"Would you like me to give more? I cannot give a lot, but I can perhaps do the best I can."
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