Welcome to Gaia! ::

[ They had safely made it home! Naturally Roma was up to no good, probably pranking Astraea in some way. Evident of her overpowered laughing in the distance. He looks over in the direction with a worried smile. Though he can’t see them, he can imagine what position everyone is in. Astraea doom-and-gloom against some object, Roma on her back hollering, and Cartel sighing in his failed attempts to calm Roma down. Just imagining it is enough to have him snickering to himself, happy to have such wonderful friends with such diverse personalities. He stands himself up and goes to handle the anchor as told. Once the ship comes to a stop, Galand looks up at the temple atop the highest mountain peak--their main base. The home of Eden Dove. Proudly he stares for a few moments before noticing Roma and Cartel stepping land side, and heading on up. After hoisting the sacked spoils of their mission over his shoulder, he heads on over towards the gangplank.

A slight look of surprise takes him as he notices Astraea standing there, giving him a small wave. His surprise quickly shifts to a warm smile as he holds up his free hand to reply to her greeting. The two start to head off onto land, following some distance behind the other two casually. As usual Galand slides his freed hand into his shirt, across his abs. A habit he built up in his time back in Wano. Every so often he’d look down to Astraea from his peripheral for no particular reason other than, well, just being happy to have her by his side. Naturally he is proud to stand by all the other members, but something about Astraea just...having her there calms him. Balances him out. Even in battle the two often wind up back to back against the more dreaded odds, but if it’s them together, he feels as though any obstacle can be overcome. Except the awkwardness they seem to share when alone. His ears perk as his partner speaks up, commenting on his fighting ‘being good’. He nearly takes a misstep as he forces back the laughter.

“Pfft! Thanks a lot, and I mean it!” he starts, continuing to walk and talk. “But, if you think I’m good, it’s only because I don’t have to worry about my back. Since…” he starts, before sliding his free hand from his shirt, and pointing towards his back with his thumb. “...you’re always there watching it. I fight confidently because of you and the others. Without you guys, I’d be fish food by now! Jipapapapapa!” he laughs out loud, garnering the attention of Roma, who slyly looks over her shoulder with incredibly mischievous eyes. Though it seems for now, she’d be leaving the pair be. As they walked, the first of the three ‘House of Dove’ was getting closer in the distance. ]

[ It was beautiful, these moments they spent together. It’s like everyone collectively felt a well of relief when the first house came into view. Rome especially, since it’s her favorite hangout spot. From the distance the pair can see her rooting and jumping in glee. Even turning around to waves her arms at the both of her allies with such a large smile. If one wasn’t aware of her age, you’d think her to be nothing more than a child impatiently waving down her parents to hurry along to a fairground. Cartel is the first to walk up to the entryway and stands next to the door. He drops his luggage to the side and waits for Rome to get close up before offering a simple “Welcome home.” The shorter woman smiles and offers a very out of character curtsy before letting herself inside the building. Galand and Astraea on the other hand have taken their time thus far. Their small talk had somehow endured them all the way here, something which Galand is very happy with.

For him, that means his partner must be getting a lot more comfortable with talking to him openly. She had always seemed to be super nervous before, but now, look at her go! Though, he does give a surprised face when she asks him if he needs help carrying the spoils. He never expected that, even though he should have. But he’s well aware of how much damage she takes during battle, being so adept at stopping attacks--and using her body no less. She may be durable, but damage is damage. And he wouldn’t allow her to be burdened any further than she has been. He speeds up his steps just a bit so he can swing himself in front of Astraea. With his free hand, he gently flicks her forehead and gives her a bit smile instead. “Don’t think I don’t know about how sore you get after every mission. I rely on you a lot during battle, so I need you to let me at least do these things for you.”

With that he’d turn and start to proudly march forward, finally getting that off his chest after who knows how long. He can’t take as much punishment as her, but darn it he can at least carry the luggage! Eventually the two would make it back to the first house, and just like Roma, be welcomed home by Cartel. The rifle toting gentleman follows the pair inside, where they are once again welcome back by another member of the team; Leona. She immediately rushes forward and wraps her arms around the two of them, squeezing them both with her head between theirs. “Welcome home, you two. I'm so happy you came back safely!” Like a big sister, she’d release them and start checking for any wounds--focusing more on Astraea who is known to body damage like a tank. Whereas Galand is generally okay in comparison. Roma leaps up and take the sack of materials from her leader and prances over to the ‘Recording Table’ to keep a log of all of their findings and rewards.

Some other soldiers stand by saluting until given command by Cartel to be at ease, thanking them for their hard work in defending the island. “Another successful job well done. And another step closer to more peaceful world. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK!” Galand says with both hands by his side, bending his upper half into a bow. ]

[ In Another Time. On Another Mission.

Screams. Roars. Snarls and screeching. From every which way, the cries of men and woman alike fill the skies. Metal clashing and grinding against each other, leaving little room for one’s own thoughts. Red sprays all over, grotesquely running the ground a foreign hue. Staining it for days to come. War. Galand lays on his side brutally injured. Gashes and bruises ruining his body. He grasps his head firmly due to excessive ringing. His vision is blurry and distorted. Almost echoing as he tries to focus it. After coughing up some blood, he reaches out his hand, coincidentally grabbing hold of his blade’s hilt. As if he knew it was there the entire time. The weapon remains plunged in the ground, defiantly refusing to fall. To be a crutch for its master in his weakened state. With all of his power, the marine grips the weapon and fights against his body to come to a stand. He struggles, tilting back and forth, desperately trying to retain some semblance of composure. “...Where…” he starts, glancing back and forth, thinking hard. He’s looking for someone, but who? His eyes begin to shift about now, realizing he stands right in the midst of a battlefield. He violently coughs now, then drops his gaze by chance. Only then does he notice all of the bodies surrounding him, and the large scar imprinted into the earth. That’s when it hits him. Why he’s in this state.

He, Astraea, Leona, and Dist were to end a civil war happening in a country under the World Government’s thumb. Them as the elite soldiers, along with several Vice Captains, and a platoon of regular soldiers. All tasked with securing the continued life of their allies. With their help, negotiations had gone well, until the opposing side launched a sneak attack. Each side was forced to call their men to arms, and all hell broke loose. Almost instantly, as if planned, the leader send by the opposing side held out his arms in glee, smiling with a face more disturbing than anything they had seen before. He revealed it all. The numerous bombs strapped to his body. He was never here to negotiate. He was here to wipe out the leaders of the opposing side all in one swoop. As his body began to glow from the activated bombs, Galand had used his special powers to punch the air, and stop the brunt of the explosion, but the force was so great it broke through regardless. The whole building went up in flames and debris. Several of the leaders were blows away from the blast, and only Galand’s allies, and a few leaders were spared--or so he hopes.

*cough* *cough* “-aea…! Ast… ASTRAEA?! DIST… Ngh…” he fumbles, nearly losing his footing as he tries his best to retain his strength. His ears, even now, rings from the explosion from before. Just how long had be been out for things to be this bad?! “LEONA… one of you… Answer me damn it!” His breathing is ragged and un-patterned. Almost like he’s fighting to breathe as is. To his right he hears the ever approaching clacking of metal grieves, followed by the roar of an armed soldier. Quickly, Galand motions and cleaves over to the man, splitting his chest, forcing him to his knees. He can only watch as the man collapses onto his face. With shaking arms, he catches his breath and begins looking around again. But with the battle, the fires, and the disorienting sounds all around, he can barely maintain consciousness. Just what in the world kind of bombs did that man use?! ]

[ This was nothing more than the work of nightmares. A terrible battle that should never have come to be. Yet, here it is. And it’s the job of the Doves to put an end to it. But how in the world could they manage such a thing when all of them can barely endure their own injuries. The cruelties of those suicide bombers, the harbingers of war, ruined everything. And with the downfall of peace, too fell Galand. Unbeknownst to him, Astraea had come to his aid, wrapping her arms around his form. But he just can’t tell right from left, nor up from down any further. He just knows someone is there. And with the sudden interruption of his balance by the concerned woman’s grasp, his legs give out for but a moment, forcing him to drop down a bit before bracing himself. His delusions kick in with such a large amount of blood loss. For him, just as usual, he’s at the forefront, protecting his allies for the opposing vanguard. “I-I’ll...break their… I’ll clear us… a pa-” Weakness.

Through his illusioned bravado, he tried to muster up the power for another quake, but the energy leaves his form, and the hypocenter attempting to surround his fist shatters like glass. The man’s consciousness shifts back and forth, forcing him into silence, then back to the horrible sights of the war. Bodies dropping left and right. Anger, roars, blood, fire...Astraea. Wait, Astraea? His golden iris shifts over to get a better look at the woman’s face as she struggles to move him to a safer place. Though silent, he tries his best to register the situation. To his other side is Leona and Dist. All of his friends are here, alive. Injured, but very much alive. He managed to save them after all, at the cost of taking the brunt of the explosion. He smiles weakly as he’s laid onto his backside, coughing up blood. He tries to lift a hand and place it against the side of Astraea’s face, genuinely glad she and the others lived. “...S-Sorry. Looks like...I messed up…” he forces out between coughing and loss of breath.

Leona tries to silence him, worried he’s only stressing his body by talking right now. Pleading for Astraea to quiet him for now. Dist looms over, looking down at the injuries his leader took on for them, before looking at himself. Had Galand not used a quake right when he did, he would’ve died right then and there. The thought sends rage up the man’s soul, but he steels himself in resolution, preparing to slaughter anyone who would dare to approach and interfere. It’s the least he can do, or so he feels. “Gotta...stop this… Gotta save...as many people...as…” he tries speaking, but surges of pain run up and down his body. Shrapnel the size of daggers, all the way down to mere fragments rest in his form, causing him excruciating pain, even more so when Leona tries to remove them. “Astraea dear you HAVE to stop him from speaking! And hold him down! Dist, when the coast is clear, you help as long as you can as well! We must do this as soon as possible or we will lose him!” she commands, taking control temporarily to keep everyone bound together and focused.

In the distance, the sounds of screams and explosions grow louder as the enemy forces launch their sweeping force. Numerous machines piloted by men and women of their cause, each wearing a bombing vest similar to the one from before. Dist stares in disbelief. He looks over his shoulder to Leona’s progression, and Astraea’s focus. “Sorry to ruin the mood, but they’ve got more of those bombs. A friggin’ lot more… Better hurry up, Leona.” he demands, turning his attention back forward and hoisting his brutal looking battle axe over his shoulders. Payback time. ]

[ From that day, there are so many gaps in his memory. Galand can only recall a few things in fact; The explosion, his friend’s panicked faces, and the touch of Astraea’s lips against his own. After that, everything is a blank. Inside their ship, his eyes slowly begin to open up, nearly blinded by the light of the sun breaching the window. After everything focuses, and he can properly see, he turns his head to stare out at the scenery from the window, taking in the beauty of the ocean shimmering under the rays of light from above. “...Oh. Guess it’s over.” he says, commenting on how they’re sailing away now. The others must have ended things while he was unconscious. After turning his head back he eyes the ceiling and stares for quite a few seconds. Just what in the world was he doing, letting things escalate to that point. If it were Roma or Celty, they definitely could have disengaged that problem before it escalated any further.

“I gotta get stronger.” he whispers while trying to move his arm, only to have it lightly brush against something.

Nearly startled, he looks over, and notices Astraea next to him in a chair, sleeping by his arm. His eyes widen at first, wondering if she had been there this whole time. But, he’s glad she’s there. Her presence alone calms him down, and assures him that if he did one thing on that island, it was protect his friends. With a smile, he lifts his hand and gently strokes her head. “I’d like to think that, but in the end it was you who saved me wasn’t it, Raea? Thank you…” he says ever so quietly as to not disturb her sleep. He continues petting her for a few seconds more until the sound of a shutter startles him. He looks around until he notices the door cracked open, and Leona standing there with a Camera Den Den in her hands, absolutely flushed with a blush. “Oh don’t mind me! Keep going! This is absolutely adorable!” she says, having not any sense of restraint, being a sucker for these touching moments.

Dist lifts the woman up by the back of her collar and looks through the doorway, giving Galand a eye glint thumbs up. “Not bad back there.” And then the two head off. Galand can only stare in both shock and disbelief. Did they see all of that? No...did they HEAR all of that?! The embarrassment sets in, and he grabs the sides of his head in a blush. He had thought they were alone darn it! ]