[Ekko beaming a confidant grin as he optimistically broaches the subject playfully teasing the other a bit. If nothing else the boy savior tried his best to remain positive despite the situation they found themselves, not one to cast despair easily no matter how bleak. He was used to fighting with the odds stacked against him back home so why should it be any different here in Aldrip?
When Ange mentions the fact that he seemingly takes on a leadership role he nods in agreement, a hushed bit of laughter ushered forth at the latter sentiment with a shrug of his shoulders.]
Perhaps none of them are up to the task but maybe we can change the tides here and unite those who also wish to return back to our homes.
[A solemn sigh as he looks away for a moment.]
Then again...There will always be someone who opposes us.
[Knowing that all too well given the resistance he fought back home in Runeterra, Silco and his cronies the very reason he created the Firelights in the first place.]
Oh? [Not knowing the ocean doesn't surprise Ethlyn. In her homeland, travel is restricted either with those who have the reason and means to go long distances or to people part of a military campaign, who generally don't get to choose the destination. Most ordinary folk don't travel farther than the local market town. But still, they would know about rivers or lakes.] Are you from a very arid place, then?
[Vi starts to wave him on before she starts to walk off, putting her hands in her pockets. her step's actually pretty light right now, because for once? maybe she won't be constantly clashing or having weird feelings with someone from home. even when she'd met up with him back at his headquarters... it was so easy to slip into something simple again, even though so much had changed.]
It's not all sunshine and rainbows, but the air isn't poison, so it's a start. You just gotta keep your eyes peeled here, just like anywhere else.
[ Sunday waves a hand at Guinaifen, an attempt to reassure her that all is well. ]
Please, there's no need to tiptoe around it. But it is true. There are quite a number of Halovians who call Penacony their home.
[ And even more who technically weren't from Penacony, but they spent so much time in the Dreamscape that they may as well be actual residents. Maybe it's the same for Guinaifen. She's already introduced herself as an outworlder on the Xianzhou. It stands to reason that she must be an outworlder from somewhere else.
Where that might be is none of Sunday's business. ]
Are you you familiar with my sister's work?
[ Just out of curiosity, of course. Have her talents reached as far as the Xianzhou Alliance? There's a part of Sunday that's always been proud of her, even if he loathed how she sometimes fell in the crosshairs of danger because of it. ]
[ the only information he'd gleaned about humanity's real home had been from ancient videodiscs and what few books that the expedition had deemed appropriate enough to retain amongst its cargo - a lot of scientific information, to be sure, but vash knows nothing of legends and local stories. it's the colour that he lacks in his idea of earth - the actual people who lives in it. ]
Besides, I really appreciate you telling me these things, it's really a nice distract--AAAAH!!?
[ it's not exactly sea monsters or sharks (they're too shallow for that), but rather a random floating bunch of seaweed that brushes past the back of vash's knees as they keep wading into the water - vash flinches, jumping away from whatever terrifying monster is that just tried to grab at him - loses his balance, teetering for what seems like hours (though it's really only a split second) on unbalanced footing, before falling straight into the water. ]
[ okay okay OKAY, scott really has a misguided idea about how cool vash's exploits are!!! and of course there's no way vash would set him to rights. he's not giving up on this influx of cool points! ]
I mean ... uh, sort of? [ right, he's about to lose those points. ]
We were travelling to a viable environment for humans ... I mean, I was very young then, of course! Hahaha!
[ that's really an understatement of the century, vash.
but then really, he figures there's no harm in telling people about the place he comes from, right? after all, there have been stories of even stranger places, after all! and nobody thinks it's suspicious! for sure! ]
[He isn't even sure how he's going to explain this. Being able to use artes in his world is seen as something really not good and something that could get you locked up. That's a worry for later though.
Getting his arm grabbed surprises Ruca, but he doesn't waste any more time. They have to run before the dog comes back!
Once they far enough, Ruca takes his time to catch his breath. He still isn't good at running, especially running for too long.]
[Ruca doesn't really mind. He understands that pleasantries are not everyone's thing.]
Miss Ange... [He smiles.] One of my good friends shares name with you. Sadly, she's not here.
[Or maybe it's for the best? Ruca misses his friends already, but he doubts any of them would want to be here.
His eyes widen a little when he hears that Ange has been here for so long.]
I-I see... You must be very knowledgeable about this place.
[His brows furrow ever so slightly. Was Ange okay whole this time? Is she missing her own home? He's not going to ask any of these questions, since they've only met, but concern still shows on his face.
He's also not sure what he would do if he had to stay here for that long.]
And he will remain nothing if I can help it. I won't let Silco ruin another world just for his own selfish gain.
[The corrupt man had already ravaged Zaun and instilled his immoral values to his home but Ekko would be damned if he let that happen here in Aldrip as well. He knows how the other operates, pretending to be an outstanding member of society here but in the shadows was scheming up some way to seize control of this place from the seemingly all powerful Council. Despite his lack of knowledge about their overseers they could not possibly be as bad compared to the vile tyrant who ruthlessly oversaw the Lanes, subjecting the masses to such harsh living conditions under his dictatorship ruling.
Caitlyn's latter sentiment resonates with him immensely, nodding in agreement as he sighs solemnly with a pensive look stricken over his face. There were too many people in Runeterra who relied on him to be stuck in this place and needed to find a way back to them by whatever means necessary.]
We'll find a way. We have to...For the people who need us.
[A brief pause as a flash of a sincere smile graced Ekko's features as a bit of hushed laughter erupts under his breath.]
You know we're a lot more alike than I originally thought given your status as a Piltie, Caitlyn. No offense.
[ He's so kind. She still struggles with believing in herself, finds it difficult to take credit for her work as a healer, or to see herself as a good friend. Dimitri appears ever the collected prince, polite and courteous in her brief interactions with him back at the academy. She would be surprised to learn they shared any similarities. ]
I don't know if I've made any difference, but I try to help where I can. I remember how overwhelmed I felt when I first arrived here. Um, how are you settling in?
Oh, yeah. For sure. Nobody else knew back home, but-- there's only so many of us Chosen. People were starting to connect the dots.
[mostly thanks to Peter, but. Scott figured it out. Matt #1 probably did. Jim and Spock for sure did-- honestly, the list could go on.]
Yes, this is much better than before. Way less smelly. [even if fighting giant rats in a sewer wasn't exactly the most fun, but Nightcrawler had been hilarious.]
Don't worry, it's kinda outside of everyones experience. Including Jim and Spock's.
[They're all just lost on this one. But at least the simulation theory seems credible. Now if only they could find that AI port.]
I know this is a lot-- really, you're not the only one that's struggled to wrap your head around all of it. I've also met someone from an alternate version of my reality, so. You know. Just all around weird around here.
Considering that you just saw through me, I can definitely see some dot-connecting going down! Plus I haven't really been seeing signs of anti-mutant sentiment around here... It's definitely given me a lot to think about!
[But for now, he's still leaning towards keeping up his disguise. Just in case.]
Exactly! Much more fragrant, much better water and no gross creatures. Top points all around! You having fun beaching it up?
[ It's as if the whole thing is happening in slow motion. Vash's reaction is so loud that for a moment Mitsuru almost reaches for her evoker, just in case there really is some kind of shark or monster present. Surely they're not far out enough for that? However, after that tussle with sea monsters not long after she first arrived in this world one can never be too careful...
It quickly becomes clear what spooked him though, as Mitsuru herself feels the familiar and slightly unsettling feeling of seaweed brushing against her ankles beneath the dark water... Ah. ]
Vash--
[ Her reaction is just a little too slow, attempting to maintain her hold of his hand and keep him upright but unable to prevent the inevitable as she witnesses the blonde man (??) tumble onto his backside into the water. Fortunately, it's not that deep but it's still up to the shorter of the pair's shoulders as she kneels down to help him. ]
Are you alright?
[ She reaches for both hands this time, both metal and flesh, as she attempts to haul him back to his feet again. ]
It was just seaweed. It's a collective term for different types of marine algae, a water plant... Not particularly pleasant to touch but they're quite harmless.
[ Hopefully this doesn't entirely put him off the ocean forever and ever and ever... ]
It is, as you say, quite overwhelming. The technology I can tell will take me a bit to get used to...
Otherwise, I find it a bit surreal to be so far away from home and expected to just carry on. [ What of Faerghus, of his friends? Is Dedue worrying for his charge who is unable to be found?
Yes, one would. How does Dimitri know? ... Don't worry about it! All he can say is that is, as she thinks, a sometimes very inconvenient sort of thing to deal with.
"I do know there are others here from my world," he mentions, at her familiarity. "Perhaps you learned of it from one of them?" They're not anything secret either so he wouldn't expect others to hide such knowledge.
To the contrary, we in Faerghus at least believe a leader is only good as the people he serves. If I was not willing to take up arms in my country's name, then I would be considered too soft and unfit to rule our nation.
[ He would be lying if he said he wasn't a little disappointed to see such a thing carried through to Claude's adulthood. While he'd been guarded as all of them, Dimitri had wanted to see him smile more genuinely some day. Perhaps, he will get the chance to here.
Something tells him that despite their worries of home and what's to come upon their return, they might have time here at least to enjoy themselves. He hopes at least Claude, Marianne, and others do. He's unfortunately never been known for allowing himself to 'loosen up' and have much fun. ]
I can't imagine that we wouldn't. [ he says, sincere, since he actually... can't imagine it at this time. Why wouldn't they agree to work together for a better future? The fact that Claude says that though makes him think there is something that might prevent that. But what? It does no good to dwell or speculate though, honestly, so he'll try not to. ]
That's... certainly a good idea. Though I am prepared to do what I must to cooperate and hopefully get more information about why exactly we're here and how to return home. Even if that means working something outside of my expertise. [ Serious as always. ]
She wouldn't be incorrect. He does consider himself a knight of Faerghus even if his ranking was even higher than that of most. It's... nice though to not be addressed as prince or highness. While he imagines the truth will come out eventually, he'll enjoy being just an average soldier for now.
"It heartens me to hear that people are able to continue to utilize their skills here. To that end, I would gladly offer mine as a lancer." A pause, considering. "I also have some knowledge in other weapons, but my strengths do lie in - as you presumed - riding and the lance."
As far as Dimitri is concerned, it isn't a let down at all. In fact, he's a bit pleasantly surprised that they'll be experiencing it together then. While he may be glad to blindly follow behind, in terms of people to tag along... He's probably one of the easiest to do so with. She likely won't hear nary a complaint out of him overall. He's a very good boy.
Even the little nudge - which flusters him slightly - is taken in good stride.
"That does sound difficult," he agrees, giving a solemn-seeming nod. It's not, he's just unfortunately far too serious for his own good sometimes. "And I think I understand. While new myself, I can tell it's going to take some time to get used to everything."
[There's a small frown to him now. That's just... kind of depressing. Also why is Vash acting all weird about being young around that time?? His attempt to correct himself is more noticeable than anything else.]
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expiationlogs2024-06-10 07:58 am
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