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"I promise, Basi, no matter your opinion on the physics of comet lasers," Encke couldn't help a quiet laugh as he walked alongside his husband toward the barrier that they had all been pulled to the other day, holding a couple of large bags in his hands, "Caedus is a really good guy."

It had been a few days since the initial arrival of Caedus and Lyndin's vanguard, Encke intentionally keeping his distance to give them space to deal with the people who were questioning them and also to get settled in. No need to rush anything; it sounded like Caedus had no plans to go anywhere for at least the foreseeable future.

He glanced down at the bags he held.

"He's also about to be a really well-fed guy..."

When they went to leave, Luke had intercepted them with a jolly, "Where are you going?" When the answer was a glance at each other before deciding that visiting allies was appropriate, they found themselves unable to leave for another thirty minutes as Luke whipped up a few quick dishes in the kitchen and also heated up a few leftovers to put into containers that they could bring to share with this ally.

"He always appreciated when I brought him Dad's cooking when he was here last time, though, so I'm sure he'll love it even more now."

When they arrived at the barrier, Encke cleared his throat, rolled his shoulders, and tapped it rhythmically to the beat of a song he wasn't entirely certain he was emulating correctly.

"Caedus?" he called, hopefully, as the wisp danced around his shoulders to the attempted song. "Brought a friend."

"I'm just saying, conceptually 'comet lasers' are cool. I'm just not sure about the application." Basiluzzo's chuckle was affectionate, however, as he patted Encke's shoulder. "But I believe you, in any case." About the food, though, "oh of course. Do you think my parents would let us not smother your friend in food given the slightest chance?" It had also worked well to keep their curiosity from making them suggest Encke bring Caedus back to meet them.

While Basiluzzo was sure his parents wouldn't find 'being a literal space alien' a hindrance to adopting Caedus, too, Basiluzzo wasn't sure how Caedus would feel about that--

Oh, Caedus was Constantine-height-- Which shouldn't have surprised Basiluzzo, given how tall the other one--Lyndin?--had been--

Focus, Basiluzzo.

"Likewise," Basiluzzo replied genially.

Caedus smiled politely as they spoke, and while he was interested in the wisp, his attention again snapped to Basiluzzo when Encke confirmed that he was his husband.

“Encke has spoken of you,” he said enthusiastically. “I was very happy for him. It is an honor to meet you. I have met many people recently,” he confirmed, “But you have come at a good time. It is a little more peaceful now.”

Though, Caedus still seemed like he was a bit anxious and not sleeping much.

“I know you are safe,” he said to Basiluzzo, but he looked back to the wisp. “Is it? I am afraid to touch it, I do not always have pleasant reactions to such things. But I am fascinated all the same. I am impressed that it has chosen to bond to you.”

Encke couldn't help the way he expressed his glee, practically vibrating with his excitement when Caedus declared that he was very happy for him, of all things. Basiluzzo's sheepishness and teasing were met with Encke sticking his tongue out, a quiet, teasing, "I've said nothing you didn't deserve," though perhaps Encke might have been the most biased person in the universe when it came to topics like that.

He was, after all, Basiluzzo's husband.

In all honesty, Encke was fairly sure the only reason why he had followed any of what had been going on at that meeting was the fact that he had been standing right next to Caedus. And, to be honest, the moment he had heard that they might be able to end this fight, finally, that maybe for the first time in twelve years Ignacio might feel like Ignacio again and not just a moving piece of an intergalactic war for five minutes, that he might be able to just explore his planet and sleep peacefully on Earth and perhaps not be haunted by the thoughts that--

He was quick to bury those thoughts.

"I think it's safe," offered Encke, quietly, gesturing for the wisp to get a bit closer if it wished. It did, swirling around Encke's head and then settling in front of him. "I'm not sure how you'll react to it, but you are welcome to come closer to it if you'd like. I'm-," he laughed, "I'm honestly a bit confused as to why it chose to bond to me, like Basi said, it's been harmless." Paused, considered, offered, "That merchant that I mentioned to you on the phone who mentioned the Starstones - Almadel - he came to Earth and was gathering these. They formed into a creature. Guessed they were apart too long because it attacked us and then fractured?"

"I believe you," replied Basiluzzo, sincerely and promptly. And he did. Why wouldn't he? He'd heard some of the murmurings at the meeting, but he trusted Encke, and Encke trusted Caedus, so Basiluzzo saw no reason not to trust Caedus, in turn. "I'm not upset, just... it's a lot, you know?" A sheepish chuckle, an awkward rub of the back of his neck as he glanced to the side to follow the motion of the wisp around Encke.

...Would the wisp blow up? It had seemed safe for the moment--

He also wanted the end of the fighting, the end of having to run out and deal with things that sometimes brought back Ignacio's nightmares. Anything that helped get them to that point... Basiluzzo was more than open to.

Even if it involved breaking physics as he knew it.

"Maybe the food my father insisted on bringing will help ease--don't worry, he doesn't know you're aliens. Just allies."

Caedus seemed first touched by their kind words, and then again by the offer of food. He looked on with obvious interest and probably could have eaten all of the food himself, but he seemed to think better of it and nodded. “I think it would be nice to share, thank you. I have been so spoiled by generosity. I want my people to love Earth like I do. The food definitely helps. Although, I have found that my appetite is still immense. I do not know if I will ever eat enough.”

But, he would try, and he was off to a good start with this generosity.

“...Perhaps I will indulge a bit before sharing. If that is not selfish?” he seemed to look to them for approval, and while he waited he looked to the wisp and then back to them and added, “I think restoration is a valid goal. And I am grateful to have your trust. I will not waste it. I know all of this is a lot to ask, but I know it would be impossible alone. We need help. And, we are lucky to have such kind allies. I hope that after the Negaverse is gone, we will be able to restore and grow, together. I hope I can take you to Velencya one day. Or,” he smiled, nostalgic and sad and hopeful, “Velenia, even.”

"Eat as much as you want, even," added Encke, merrily, handing over both full bags to Caedus in their entirety. "Just let us know what you think. Like Basi said, his dad'll just be ecstatic someone likes his food."

He paused, before adding with a smirk, "And I suspect you will, because a lot I brought with me the first time you were here was leftovers of the food he made." Encke shot an apologetic glance in Basiluzzo's direction; that might have been the first time he actually stated plainly the reason why he took so much of their leftovers for a small while before. They had probably thought nothing of it, but slowly all the pieces were coming together--

The wisp seemed to dance harmlessly behind Encke as Caedus watched it.

"I'd like to see Velencya someday too. And Velenia." He had to believe Velenia could be saved just as Earth could be saved. And if Velenia could be saved, perhaps their homeworlds too could be restored to the same former glory. "Speaking of that, though. There is one other thing I did want to show you. Remember that I mentioned I'd like to take you to a place?"

He had been cagey about the place, but--

"Would you be interested in seeing Encke's Comet?"

Basiluzzo chuckled softly when Caedus nearly dropped the bags at Encke's offer. When he had been first invited to Encke's comet, he had been just about as stunned. It was, admittedly, partially because he hadn't quite absorbed what Encke meant when he said he could go to his comet. That was, until he'd been confronted by the reality of standing on the comet in question and seeing the very different sky above them.

Though, he was pretty sure that wasn't the reason why Caedus was so surprised considering Caedus was, in fact, an alien.

The enthusiasm on his face was, well, cute. It reminded him of Encke's enthusiasm.

Basiluzzo watched as Caedus vanished and then almost immediately reappeared. "Not a worry at all! I'll tell Dad you loved it."

He glanced toward Encke, knowing this was mostly his thing, though he could at the very least say, "and you don't need to bring anything. Think you just need to grab onto his hand and he'll take you there, right? Senshi just have a button on their phone to press."

Basiluzzo still heard the saying in his head that he knew would take him to his wonder, but he hadn't yet recited those words. Another time.

For now, he'd take one of Encke's hands.