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 Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 8:35 pm
Every other night, Aliez went out to cautiously wander the woods near the city. The same woods where they’d first landed, where the battle on the hilltop took place, where the little animal that had died in his arms had been buried.
He’d been looking for Caedus. He didn’t know what to expect when he found him. He didn’t know what he wanted to do, other than make sure his message was properly passed along. The others… he didn’t know if they still felt the same for him after he’d voiced his concerns. They’d acted out and either yelled at him or left, and he’d felt an emptiness in his chest since then.
That night, it was just before sunset. He sat near the tree under which had the animal buried in part of Caedus’ old robes. The little ghostly wisp had emerged to play with the leaves that had fallen. Aliez held his hand out for it, and it seemed to react by dancing around him-- but it paused, as though seeing someone, and quickly disappeared.
Aliez’s heart felt like it had stopped, and he didn’t dare to move. He might have been able to reach for his vambrace in time to shield himself, but he didn’t want to risk it.
“I’m unarmed. I just have a shield,” he said quietly into the woods in front of him. He didn’t know why he announced what he did have, but maybe it was because he hoped it would be enough for Caedus to stay. Because who else could have been out there and move silently through the fallen leaves?
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Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2022 8:33 pm
Destiny City had its fair share of dangers, and Caedus had been diligent and careful. He liked the month of October, and maybe he was at his safest then, when the people of Earth ran around in costumes and the air was thick with mischief. He haunted these woods occasionally, and it had been an age since he’d seen anyone here. It had been an age since he saw the Vanguard, too. He’d frozen as soon as he spotted Aliez, no matter how kind the younger man had always been to him. For a moment, Caedus didn’t move. And then, from the shadows, he slowly approached. Silent, as always. He had abandoned his cloaks and robes and traditional Velencian clothes in favor of something a bit more practical, though he wasn’t wearing his glamour right now. He wore black, to fit in with the darkness of the night. When the sun set, he’d rather be safer. He knew things tended to get a bit more dangerous after night fall. “Aliez,” he greeted. His voice was a bit gravelly, as though he hadn’t used it much recently, and he sounded cautious. He glanced around instinctively but kept an eye on what Aliez was doing with his hands. He didn’t seem to have reached for his ComTech, so he allowed himself another careful step forward. “You are a Commander now? Congratulations.”
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Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2022 8:42 pm
“Thank you,” Aliez said quietly when he was congratulated, but let out a small, weary sigh. “I’m still having trouble accepting that I am worthy of the rank, but there are others. Vyn and Andreiya. Others have been made Corporals,” he explained. He didn’t get up, but he allowed himself to dare to glance over his shoulder at Caedus, and then shifted where he sat so it was more comfortable to look up at him.
“I was hoping to find you. I know it’s not… I mean, I remember around this time last year before everything…” he started and then cleared his throat. He held up his hands to show that he wasn’t going to do anything but reach into his subspace and pulled out a pumpkin that was significantly smaller than the one he brought to Caedus the previous year.
“I was having trouble carrying anything bigger around. I thought if you had time, you might like to paint it with me? I have supplies,” he added, pulling out a small palette with a few brushes and paint.
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Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 3:50 pm
There was a brief moment when Caedus tensed; he held his breath and waited for whatever Aliez was going to pull out, but– It was just a pumpkin. Last year was still so fresh in his mind, but more often than not it was the battle. Lyndin. He hadn’t forgotten the peaceful moments before it all went up in flames. His expression softened as he looked between the pumpkin and Aliez. Caedus was cautious by nature, but he was more hopeful than that. He wasn’t going to give up on his people. He didn’t want them to give up on him. “I have a bit of experience with paint. I would like that.” He took a few cautious steps forward. “Are you sure you will not get in trouble? I know you have orders…”
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Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2023 7:43 am
Aliez was quiet for a few moments as he carefully shifted the pumpkin in his hands, and moved the paint supplies as well. He found a mostly clear spot on the ground, and lowered himself to the ground so he could sit with the intention of setting the pumpkin and supplies between them.
“My orders are to find a way to save Velencya,” he said quietly, even as he could feel his cheeks burn. “I will not get in trouble for trying to find an alternative to what the Commodore believes is the last option we have.”
Aliez stared down at the pumpkin for a while longer, before looking up at Caedus. His eyes felt hot with tears, but he stubbornly kept them back. Being emotional was frowned upon in their society, but they’d all been through so much. They had so much to lose.
“I’m unsure if anyone has spoken to you, or if you know already but… the Commodore is dying, too.”
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Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 7:16 am
Caedus’ face seemed to lose all emotion. For a few seconds after Aliez spoke, his expression was empty and foreign, like he wasn’t even living in that moment. His eyes seemed distant and faraway, and it might have looked as if he hadn’t heard at all if he didn’t then move to put his face in his hands and rub at his eyes. It was a new burden for him to process, and it took a moment to sink in before he sat up straight and looked at Aliez again. “I did not know this.” It was all he could say, and the silence of the night passed over them for a short while. Caedus hadn’t attempted to touch the pumpkin, but given the gravity of the news, his mind was reasonably elsewhere. He did not have tears in his eyes, but he was not particularly succeeding at keeping himself devoid of emotions. Something like panic might have risen in him, or guilt, or frustration. Or, everything, all at once. Caedus’ voice was gravely again when he finally mustered the energy to speak again. “Is he hurt? Or is it something else?”
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Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2023 10:14 am
Aliez hated that he was the one to give Caedus the information, but he deserved to know. He knew how difficult it was to receive information like that, and Aliez had seen enough death already, just with his parents’ occupations in the medical field, that he knew it was never easy.
“He is not injured,” he was at least quick to reassure, but there was a heaviness in his voice that maybe made it obvious that injury was subjective in this case.
“From what I understand, from both what he told us and my understanding of Velencya… they are connected. His desperation to save Velencya I do not believe comes from a selfish desire to save himself,” he added, looking up at Caedus with an expression that he hoped would offer both sympathy and sincerity. “I believe he is so desperately trying to find a solution because he doesn’t want the burden to fall on anyone else.”
He paused for a moment, his lips pressed together as he held the pumpkin and smoothed his fingers along its fleshy orange surface. When he spoke again, it was slow. He was guessing at best. Maybe he was being paranoid, but it was also a heavy worry that came from Lyndin’s resignation with everything. Not so much giving up, but an acceptance that they all just had to do their best.
“I am not convinced that restoring Velencya will be enough to save his life. I think it will take more than that. And I do not think he would admit that he knows that as well, if that is the case.”
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Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2023 10:46 pm
The pumpkin was hardly at the forefront of Caedus' thoughts. He stared at it, not quite blankly, but as if he needed something simple to focus on while he collected his thoughts. A moment passed before he managed to speak again, and when he did it was clear that this news carried a great, painful weight to it. He didn't want anything to happen to Velencya. He didn't want anything to happen to Lyndin. No matter how difficult the betrayal had been. "He would put the needs of the people above the needs of himself," he murmured. Lyndin was like that. He would-- could--do everything that was necessary. He was braver in a way that Caedus didn't think he could ever be. It wasn't surprising that Lyndin would be connected to Velencya, not with all that he had given for it. Caedus did not disagree with Aliez's assessment; Lyndin's desperation would be for his people above himself. He caught Aliez's eye and looked away, as if he were ashamed that he could not find the strength in himself to do what Lyndin would certainly have already managed. "...Do you have any idea what might help?" he asked quietly. There was only so much that he could do–less, if he was unwilling to sacrifice everything–but Caedus cared for his people. For his world. Worlds, all of them–Velencya, Velenia. Even Earth. He cared for Lyndin, too, even if he couldn’t bring himself to look up from the pumpkin when he asked.
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Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2023 1:00 pm
He was quiet while Caedus seemed to be sorting through his thoughts. Quiet when he responded, since it seemed like he was just talking to himself for a moment. When he was addressed, Aliez sat up a little straighter.
He didn’t want to say no. That wouldn’t be helpful, and would probably stress Caedus out even more. And in turn it would stress out Aliez. He didn’t have any real idea of what might help, but he knew he was trying. He was researching what he could. And the others were helping. Some of them at least. Andreiya and his plants. Vyn was helping out with the research as well, not to mention being a guinea pig for testing things out.
“We are still researching what makes Earth so special. There has to be a key to all of this. Something that allows it to survive through everything. Some of us are working on projects. Plants that can help heal and regenerate. We would like to cultivate it for medicine. Maybe it would help the Commodore… and you as well,” he said quietly. He saw the starseed in Caedus’ body when it was pulled out. He knew it must have been painful from just looking at it.
“I do not want you to die. I do not want that on the Commodore’s conscience. But I do not want our world to die either. What was done to you was… wrong… all of it. And I know you weren’t there for long, but Velencya is all we have. So… we have to find a way to save it and everyone.”
He was okay that the pumpkin wasn’t being touched. It was more of a means for starting conversation, anyway.
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2023 8:56 pm
A heavy shadow had crossed his face as he listened. He wanted to be optimistic. He wanted to hear better news than Aliez had. When a silence had fallen between the two of him, he was reluctant to let it sit. At first, he nodded, and then he sighed. “Lyndin had so much faith in you all. When he was planning this trip to Earth, he spoke such high praises for all of you. He knew that Velencya would be in good hands with the Commanders he left, but he was optimistic about this new generation. He wondered if he was still as proud of them now as he had been when they first left Velencya. “I think I am proud of you all, though. I know how scary Earth can be. And you are working on such creative projects. I wish I could help. Though,” he sighed, and finally pulled the pumpkin a little closer. “I suppose I would be of no use to you. The skills I had kept me alive, but I doubt they could be applied to helping Velencya, or Lyndin. Is there anything I can help with?”
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Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2023 7:54 am
“If you wish to help, then you should help,” Aliez decided, although he didn’t want to step out of line. His face felt flushed from Caedus telling him he was proud of them. He didn’t think they deserved for Caedus to be proud of them, when most of them were fighting to either find a way to bring Caedus to Lyndin, or find another way to get his starseed to the Cauldron so it could be healed and reborn.
That would take such a long time, though. He could only imagine how quickly Velencya and the Commodore would deteriorate then.
“Would… you be okay with being a test subject…?” he asked cautiously. “Andreiya has been working on a plant that heals. We know it heals physical wounds, but maybe it could be applied in different ways.”
He didn’t know for sure, but if they were to absorb its energy somehow, maybe there could be a way to try and at least ease the pain Caedus was feeling.
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Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2023 9:09 pm
Caedus’ eyes flitted up quickly and his fingers lightly brushed over his chest. He wasn’t thinking about the action; if he had been, he would have curled his hand into a fist before Aliez could see the way they twitched and trembled. He didn’t answer for a long moment. He swallowed, once, with the difficulty of swallowing an egg whole. He’d been a test subject before. It had left its scars. “I can try,” he said cautiously. “But I do not like surprises. I would like to be informed as much as possible before committing to anything. Please.”
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Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2023 7:16 am
Aliez noticed the gesture, noticed the way his hand trembled. He also remembered what Caedus’ starseed looked like when it had been pulled from his chest. Remembered the conversation that took place between him and the Commodore that night…
“I was just going to try and make some tea for you,” he quietly explained. “I would drink it as well, as proof that it’s safe. And you can check the ComTech readings before.”
He felt guilty. He knew he must have pulled some bad memories for Caedus, if his hesitance and subtle reaction said anything. Which it did.
“I will let you see our research as well,” he promised, although he would have to make sure Andreiya gave him permission. He would likely be more willing to let him help Caedus than Vyn, but he was still cautious about getting anyone involved.
If the Commodore did get upset with any of them, Aliez would rather it be him.
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Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2023 2:16 am
“Oh,” Caedus said, and after a moment of processing this information, he nodded. “I trust you.” Although, he seemed to realize that such a thing was probably rather silly. He’d trusted before and look how that turned out. “I can try tea. I would like to see the research. For curiosity’s sake. I appreciate how considerate you are, Aliez. I want to do my best for Velencya.” He was quiet for a moment, clearly mulling something over. His eyes were downcast when he softly added, “And Lyndin.”
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Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 8:47 am
Aliez seemed to recognize the realization in Caedus’s expression, and offered him a small, reassuring smile. Trusting others, especially after everything, was difficult. He wasn’t sure who he could fully trust in the Vanguard to know that he was trying to help Caedus. Vyn would likely be furious. The Commodore…
His heart ached at the idea of disappointing the Commodore. But he believed that Caedus was telling the truth when he said he wanted to help Velencya and Lyndin.
“We will figure things out,” he insisted, because that was all they could do. They had to keep fighting to find a solution, otherwise they would lose everything.
But for now, Aliez gently pushed the pumpkin closer to Caedus, along with the paint. They could at least take a moment to breathe and create a new memory to look back on fondly.
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