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 Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2023 8:07 pm
A scattering of letters had arrived here and there to update him on his brother's slowly strengthening condition, but little else had come for the longest time. Then, finally, news of his mother. By some twist of nature, she had survived the crash. She was alive! Lioe had been relieved beyond words.
It would be a while before either his brother or mother would be well enough to make the trip home though. It gave him a lot of time to think about the homecoming. Perhaps too much time. He was eager to see them return, truly. Would they understand though? Why he hadn't gone? Why he had stayed home? They would surely be different after such a traumatic experience? How would he talk to them? Talking to his mother had been hard enough before!
This last letter he'd gotten... he sat outside the café he liked to attempt relaxing for clearer thinking about those written words. He stared at an untouched bagel and a cup of tea long gone cool as his mind rolled over and over and over his options.
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Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2023 11:54 am
It had been a good, long while since Aerexa had last left Azehra's side. Her training had intensified and days had started melting into weeks. The Vandrea was thriving though, even if her arms felt like seaweed some days and couldn't hold much more than a leaf! When her mother had deemed her ready for a longer break she decided to spend it with Lioe, especially since she hadn't seen the earthling in so long! If she knew their language better then maybe she could write to him, but...well...even when she told him she would learn she...hadn't. When she'd looked into the shop and hadn't found him Aerexa went out on a search. Thankfully someone was able to give her a rough idea of where he might be - a café he visited - and a...pat on the arm? The earthling's face had softened before returning to the shop which Aerexa found weird. What was the look for? It was almost somber. Shrugging it off, the Aishan went about her walk until she spotted that familiar fluff of hair! "Lioe!" Aerexa laughed, much to the shock and displeasure of the earthlings unfortunate enough to be close to her. One old woman clutched at her heart before the Vandrea crossed the street closer to him. "You weren't working for once so I had the hardest time finding you. Good think I'm such a great huntress, right?" She kept that smile up until she really got a look at him. "Hey...you okay?"
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Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2023 6:04 pm
The familiar voice practically slapped Lioe out of the vicious cycle he'd been spinning through in his head. He blinked a few times and looked up with surprise. Aerexa's presence was a breath of fresh air to clear some of the fog of the last few weeks, and her cheerful greeting managed to earn a weak smile. "Sorry to make you work so hard." The question strained the smile he had managed. He looked at his stale meal and wrinkled his nose. What a waste. He stood up and reached into his pocket to dig out a few coins. "Okay is a word for it," he murmured as he dropped the coins onto the table. Maybe some time with Aerexa would help more than food. He didn't want to talk with so many other people around though. "You came looking for me? ..Did you have something planned?" he asked as he walked over to meet up so that she wouldn't have to navigate the tables.
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Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2023 1:01 pm
Aerexa blew a raspberry and waved off his concern. "Eh, don't worry about it. I'll just count all that walking as leg exercises." And to emphasis the work the Vandrea leaned down to give her calf a good smack. An older lightning couple at the next table over looked aghast at the display, but Aerexa didn't even notice. Lioe's red flags were so bright that even someone as dense as Aerexa could see them. She furrowed her brow, words hanging on the edge of the tongue when he stood to leave. Aerexa very nearly snapped at him to turn back to his food, but everything about this set her hair on edge. "Uh...yeah, I got something." She did not. "I wanted to buy a book so I could learn how to write like an earthling. It's a long walk here you know and sometimes I'm a very busy person." It wasn't a complete lie, and Lioe did like books. She'd thought about teas or cakes or - I should have said I wanted to buy tea! "And tea!"
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Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2023 9:00 pm
As someone who preferred blending into the background, Lioe felt the heat rising to his face at his friend's continued bold scene making. Still, he couldn't be upset about it. He probably would have laughed had he been in a different mood. As it was, laughing was a bit of a tall order at the moment. "Not like you need the exercise," he commented to hint at his amusement. Indeed, the Vandrea's muscular calf was probably bigger than his own scrawny thigh! He looked up with interest, but he couldn't help deflating a little further. Oh, she was looking for another book... Again, he would have been delighted under normal circumstances. Now though, he felt a tug of disappointment. Part of him had been hoping that she had simply been looking to see him... He might have realized it if he'd been more focused. After all, why would she keep looking after stopping at the bookstore? He knew there was someone else working today. At least the tea caught his attention and he gave her a quizzical look. Well, that was unexpected, but at least that was an easy enough fix. He hesitated a moment before he pointed over his shoulder while his eyes drifted to the side. "The tea here is usually really good. I'm not working at the bookstore today.. but whoever's at the shop will be able to help you find what you want, too." He shuffled his feet like an awkward youngling. She was probably too busy to listen to his troubles. "I was actually just about to head home... if you want to have tea there after the bookstore... If you have time?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2023 1:02 pm
"What? I drink tea." Aerexa raised her chin a bit, trying her best to look as 'aloof' and 'casual' at the same time. She'd never had a cup of tea in her life but it wasn't uncommon for some of the more traveled sisters to drink it. There were even some blends brewed from local flora that she...still hadn't drunk. "I can always stop by the bookstore on my way out of the city. I'm not in a rush so if you're inviting me to your place then I'll come." She didn't know what to make of his sullen attitude. This quiet, more reserved side was common enough for Lioe, but this was just so...Aerexa couldn't place it. She just knew that she didn't want to leave him alone right then. With that in mind keeping up falsehoods didn't seem as important. "Truthfully? I was looking for you; not a book. They're pretty boring; no offense. I'd rather spend my coin on pastry puffs or a new dagger."
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Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2023 2:05 pm
Lioe's gaze remained everywhere except on Aerexa even as she agreed to the invitation. He really needed to sort through his thoughts, but did he want to drag her down with him? Aerexa was so strong and confident and.. everything he wasn't. The opposite of him. She would know what she would do in his situation without any trouble, surely. So, did that mean whatever she would do, that the opposite would be best for him? 'Truthfully?' His gaze rose just barely enough to peek at his friend's face. After a moment, a wane smile rose. "I'm not sure if that makes me feel better or worse." She thought books were boring? Blasphemous! Yet, if she really was there for him... Then why lie? "It's always good to see you," he offered up softly, subtly reassuring Aerexa's decision to see him rather than seek a book. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets with combating emotions and started on down the road toward his house. "In that case, what did you actually want to see me for?"
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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 1:42 pm
"Yeah? Well it's good to see you too." Unlike earlier, Aerexa's tone was more subdued and genuine. She dipped her head as she walked to look down at him, a softer smile tugging at her lips. It was harder to see him, as close as they were down the city street, but that didn't make it any less worth it. As they moved away from the more densely populated streets and into a residential area the Vandrea was able to put enough space between them so her neck wasn't straining. All these buildings...it was a sight! She gave a half turn as she walked, not-so-subtly staring up at the high rise buildings and wondering just how big they could get before they fell. "I missed you." She answered plainly. "You always have such interesting things to say, Lioe, and I like talking to you. It's always an adventure when I come here so I just wanted to check in. ....Seems like I came at a bad time though."
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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 6:26 pm
Getting closer to home gave Lioe a mix of relief and trepidation. It was good to get away from the crowd, but home was strangely lonely now. It was empty as ever, the way he liked it, but the occasional visits he usually had with certain family were now nonexistent. There were others he saw through work, but he'd never invited them to his home or been willing to talk at length about personal matters with them. It was a sharp reminder of the situation that he didn't have his triplet sister to go spend time with... Heat prickled along his face as Aerexa spoke, but the first real prickle of warmth in a while bloomed in his chest. It wasn't often he heard such nice things said about him... maybe he hadn't needed to be so alone. "It's my brother and my mom.... I told you they work on the airships." He bit his lip, still hesitant but just wanting to get it out with someone he trusted. "Their ship went down. Across the ocean, by Matori." He took a deep breath and looked around self-consciously, voice lowering slightly with emotion. "They're alive... They both got hurt really bad though..."
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Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2023 4:02 pm
"Oh." Aerexa hadn't honestly expected Lioe to say anything. She knew bits about his family through prior conversations, but nothing in depth. Lioe was such a private person that she didn't feel right prying which meant that this must have been eating at him. When she looked down at him her golden eyes had widened considerably, lips slightly opened while her mind processed it. At first she worried for the worst - those things didn't look right from the start, like flying buildings! - but then- "But they're alive, Lioe." She reached out to put one hand on his shoulder and crouched to grab his hand with the other. Aerexa didn't care that they were in the middle of the street; he needed this now, not later. "Goddess, I'm so happy that they are! When are you going to see them? Do you already have your ticket? What about your father, and your sisters?"
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Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2023 8:02 pm
Lioe practically jumped out of his skin when he was grabbed, completely unprepared for such an... enthusiastic response. He looked up at her with wide eyes as he worked to get his mind back on track. So many questions! "I-I- uh- Yeah.. I'm really glad, too." As he had suspected, Aerexa seemed to have zero doubt about the next step. Now was the troublesome part though. She had clarity where he.. did not. His cheeks heated up hotly again as he tried to work out an answer to speak, and he ducked his head to deflect the sudden focus on him. He suddenly felt like a youngling again with someone hovering over him trying to get him to speak. It was silly to feel after so many years, especially with Aerexa... Finally, a soft voice spoke again. "They left for Matori... weeks ago... my dad and sister." He chewed a little on his lip. "I'm supposed to watch things here. That's why they told me to stay while they went over..."
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Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2023 4:41 pm
They left for Matori Aerexa nodded her head, weeks ago, her head stalled, his dad and sister, and her jaw gaped. "Why did you stay? Did they make you stay? Lioe, you shouldn't be here, you should be over there! With them! What are you supposed to be watching? I could do it for you." If it was a house or some kind of pet then she would gladly take over the duty if it meant getting him on a ship that night. Goddess, if this were about her mother she'd have been on the first boat out! But then she wasn't Lioe and he wasn't her. She was probably already getting too rough with him, but honestly she didn't understand. "It's obviously eating at you and I've never seen you look so out of it before."
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2023 7:07 am
Lioe's head shrank even lower between his shoulders. "No, they didn't make... They didn't want my little sister to go.. and.. someone had to watch her here." Which was mostly true. He had gone over to check in on Marcella every day for a short time, but there had been consistent help from his parents' friends, and she had gone to stay with their uncles a while ago. All he did now was make sure the houses hadn't burned down and water some plants.
It was strange having someone notice so much about him who wasn't his brother or sister. Aerexa was dear to him at this point, but he'd never really delved into what it meant having a close friend. She could see when he was troubled and actually cared enough to probe in... "I got another letter... Says I can go see them..." He inhaled sharply as his mind tried to sort through the words to say. He was so much better with writing things than saying them...
Maybe that was the key? He closed his eyes and tried to imagine he was just at his desk at home. A paper in front of him and pencil in hand, just saying out loud what he was going to write. "I want to go, but.. it sounds hollow now, asking me to go now. They picked me to stay with Marcella because they know mom and I aren't close. She wouldn't feel better seeing me there. She'd prefer I just stay and take care of things here. That's what she'd want." The dull ache that had been in his chest for what felt like ages gave a sharp tingle as he hit the crux of his internal dilemma.
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2023 12:18 pm
"Oh, well..." He had a little sister? She knew he had one, but...wait, there were more right? Older ones, but...Aerexa blinked a few times, visibly raising a hand to try and count it out. Too many to count, too little time to care! "Why don't you just take her with you? Especially now that things have settled! Or is she too young to go?" How little was his little sister, anyway? If she were like...an infant then maybe not, but anything that could walk could ride on a boat. She stayed close, with one hand on his shoulder, but didn't press him further, even when he closed his eyes. A few passerbys slowed around the seemingly harassed earthling and the crouching Vandrea, just in case, but when it didn't seem too evident that he was in danger they kept moving. "Some people are just faster reactors. They need to go right then and that's how they handle it. Sounds like your dad and sister are like that, but...you're not. And that's okay, because it doesn't mean you care any less. You helped here, but now you should go. Seriously." Aerexa nodded her head and took a half step back to fully stand for her spine's sake. "I don't know what it's like to have a relationship like that with a mother. My mom and I are two sides of the same sword, so take this how you want, but...seems like you'd still be pretty sad if she didn't come home." Her tone grew a little softer, "You don't know that she'd feel that way and she's never going to know how you feel if you don't tell her. I'm not gonna make you go, but...well, even if you don't want to see her you'd be worried about your brother, right? Wanna see that he's okay?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2023 6:28 pm
"The letter didn't say anything about her.. I'm sure she got her own sent to her." Surely Marcella would want to go as soon as possible. He doubted she would hesitate either. Marcella was so close to both of their parents... The pain grew in his chest more. Go tell his mother how he felt? Maritza didn't talk about feelings; especially not with him. And then there was Isaia... "I do want to go," he admitted quietly as the heat finally reached his eyes. "Aerexa.. from how dad described it.. I'm scared to see them." He'd been injured in the past, and had the scars to prove it, but he was still whole. How was he supposed to approach the severity that he'd read up on? How.. how could he bear to see two of the strongest people he knew beaten down and broken? His subconscious knew they would be okay, and that they would continue to heal and get strong. Right now though, it was heartbreaking to think about his family in such a state. It was strange, and new, and it frightened him.
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