Let there be, let there always be

[withoutasign]

Who: Signless and various campers
When: five days after drowning, early afternoon
Where: the Plaza
Style: action jackson
Status: semi-open to close CR; the video part is open to everyone!

Signless is dreaming. He's dreaming, and it's beautiful. He's surrounded by the neverending light, surrounded and engulfed by it, but there is no fear. How can he be afraid when surrounded by such vast, indescribable beauty?

Nor is he alone; he can feel them with him, all the friends he's known and lost along the way. Sometimes they stay beside him for a time, dancing next to him and sharing a beam of light; others slip past shyly, brushing against him and then disappearing. Disciple is there, and Lulu as well, and if Psii were there with them, they would be complete.

But the light begins to fade, and though he is sorry to lose it, he understands. It's not his time, not yet his turn, and he sinks willingly into the darkness, watching the neverending light as it retreats and glimmers into nothingness.

He opens his eyes.

It doesn't take him long to recognize the dome above Vatheon, and he sits up, looking around him. He's not surprised to see that some of his friends have gathered there with him.

"Hey. What's going on?"

~*~A few hours later, open to everyone!~*~

[The video feed clicks on, and there's Signless, brought back by Vatheon's miracles. He's sitting somewhere with his back to the bubble, tropical fish swimming and darting behind him, and someone has taken the time to weave him a crown of flowers, which almost completely hides his nubby horns. His expression is serious, as is his voice.]

Vatheon, I am back. I'm aware that there has been some fighting and violence regarding my death. Let me say, here and now, that what happened was an accident. Dualscar did nothing wrong, and should not have been held responsible. Anyone who would further trouble him about these happenings should first come and see me, because if anyone persists in bothering him will find they have a problem with me as well.

Leave him alone.

But yes, I am back. I missed you, Vatheon, and I'm very grateful to have another chance to be with you all.

[He looks into the video feed, like he wants to say more, then shuts it off.]

Comments

[aim_exorable]

I came here, didn't I? But... I cannot make you say something you don't want to say.

Lysunder... I don't know what I'm doing. [He makes a small sweeping gesture with his hand.] I have not the slightest clue... But I want that to change. I do.

It simply means nothing if you do not truly wish to speak to me of it.

[rebull]

Honor, Darkleer. I am trying to restore Dualscar's honor. [He's doing his best to keep his voice steady, trying to keep eye contact.]

As well as to take the potential he has and get it to actually do something. Let him open his eyes.

[aim_exorable]

[There's no immediate answer; Darkleer doesn't want to rush this like last time. His eyes go half lidded absently as he chews over the reasoning in his head. Finally, a very slow nod.]

In a way, I suppose I can understand trying to push at potential, particularly in that manner. While it doesn't necessarily take away the pain of dying, or the pain others feel of knowing a loved one has been harmed, this place's system of revival can be a benefit in that way.

However... I am afraid you have me lost one other point. Dying is usually a loss of honor unless it happens in a particular fashion. You mentioned it before, in relation to his guilt, I believe.

[rebull]

Heh. [Summoner bows his head, his eyes closing as he shrugs his shoulders up, wings rustling.]

There are few deaths that allow one to hold onto her honor. One I hope to have send me off in the future, and another I assisted in here. In a place where death is impermanent, it only makes sense to have the same happen in return to hold one's honor. The pain of it should be shared if both are to merely return. [He shakes his head.] It being an accident is an entirely different part of this, but the honorable death to show your ability to grasp what has happened and accept it as your own is extremely important. Taking lashings for a wrong doing you accept as your own is also holding honor, though uh, it might not look like it.

[aim_exorable]

You realize that last part- how it does not look like a way to retain or regain honor- is exactly what is going to have a great many individuals displeased with you.

Will you be able to handle that?

[rebull]

For something this important, yes. [He feels his chest clench but he says nothing more.]

[aim_exorable]

Even if it's Signless? Your reasons may have been good, but anyone would be swallowed by emotions at the death of a quadrant partner.

[And he knows how much the other admires the other rebel.]

[rebull]

[He feels his chest clench tighter.]

Yes, even if it's him.

[aim_exorable]

[A soft sigh, and then Darkleer simply holds his hand out to him, palm up.]

There is certainly something to be said for your conviction.

[rebull]

[For some reason he doesn't enjoy the sound of that and his eyes slim tilting his head away and staring down at Darkleer's hand.]

[aim_exorable]

[For obvious reasons, Darkleer doesn't like the look of that.]

Lysunder... I just want to hold your hand.

[rebull]

[Again he for some reason feels really offended.]

What do you think of what has happened, what I have done?

[aim_exorable]

Of what has happened, I am of the personal opinion that everyone involved was some degree of idiotic. That not only includes yourself, but also Signless, Dualscar, the seadweller children, and others I choose not to name.

For what you, yourself, did? [A long, drawn out sigh.] It makes sense, on at least one angle. But I still wonder if there was not a better way, one that would not make you outcast from some of the others here. We cannot afford our time spent wondering on 'what ifs', however. It has happened. That is that. There is really only one thing I can do, now.

[rebull]

An outcast from trolls that have softened to this place and desire to remain here and no longer have the roar of battle pumping through them? If I am an outcast for what I have done, so be it, but I here, I have always been an outcast, smiting the seadweller or not.

[aim_exorable]

And you deal with it badly. I should know.

[rebull]

I deal with what badly?

[aim_exorable]

Loneliness. Separation. You are a social being, Lysunder, and you would drive yourself mad with no one.

I've seen your tears. The way you shake. That message you sent to me before you wouldn't answer your communicator and I had to track you down.

And that is why I want you to take my hand.

[rebull]

[He stiffens, eyebrows furrowing.]

I don't shake. [Those his words have lost a little drive because he knows Darkleer's right. Summoner needs people now, even if he wants to stay with his animals, only speak to those beasts like he did when he was a child.]

[No, everything he has done has pushed him to finally need his people, to need his followers, even if sometimes he wishes to merely plunge himself back into the wild.]

[aim_exorable]

I never said anything about shaking.

[He's just watching, now, so obviously wanting to be there for this pitiful fool of a troll. And more than anything, there's that devotion in his eyes. It's plain as daylight; he'll stay and wait for as long as he lives. Dural got that much right.]

[rebull]

[His jaw tightens, his eyes straying from Darkleer's gaze now as he stares at the grass. His own fists ball tightly at his side, or some reason feeling a lot smaller than usual compared to the other right now.]

[aim_exorable]

[Yeah]

[That waiting thing?]

[Not a joke.]

[Take your time, Summoner. He's not going anywhere.]

[rebull]

[He doesn't take his hand, just... stands there.]

[Eventually he does glance over, but only looking up to Darkleer's chest before looking down again. The glance is followed by a slow lean, setting his forehead on Darkleer's chest, hands still tight at his sides.]

[aim_exorable]

[And this... This is something he's more used to.]

[Gently, Darkleer pulls his hand back and cups the back of Summoner's hair. His other hand raises up, just barely brushing against that tensed fist.]

[He doesn't say anything. Not right now.]

[rebull]

[There's a deep breath and soon he's a bit closer, feeling a push behind his eyes and a jerk in his chest as sobs trying o shove there way out. He doesn't let them though, just twitching every so often, not letting the tears leave of the hiccuped sounds leave his lips.]

[aim_exorable]

[Finally, soft hushing noises, and Darkleer threads his fingers through Summoner's hair.]

I'm here. I will always be here, Lysunder. Even if nothing else will.

[And with that, he holds him closer.]