Digital Domestic Saga continues

[teradine]

Who: Argilla and you
When: Sometime during the day
Where: Near the Plaza, though she's wandered away from it a bit
Style: Whichever, but starting in brackets.
Status: Open!

["Welcome to Vatheon. Welcome to Vatheon! Welcome, to Vatheon—"

The name of this place is about the only thing Argilla's been able to get so far, since she woke up here. That, and a towel, although she isn't necessarily sure what she should do with it until she sees the other newcomers using them. Being wet doesn't really bother her, after all, nor the torn and charred clothing—just as long as the dash of orange is still visible on her skirt, which it definitely is. Even the pain she'd initially felt is slowly subsiding, which she's been told is something she can thank the Coral for after she touched it. That large structure at the center of the city...

But other things hold her interest at the moment—like where this place is and how she got here, so she's slowly exploring. She at least hopes this means they were successful, her and Roland; but she accepts that it's probably unlikely she'd ever find out now.

She'd made her decision. And now...somehow she's living with it.]

Hmm? What is this?

It's...cold.

[It's just about then that she passes by what appears to be an ice cream shop, where a local stops her to offer her a free cone of ice cream. Apparently, Argilla's hair made him think of it—it's perfect for her! Because the first thing you do when seeing a person wet from head to toe (and still trying to dry off) is to offer them ice cream—

Ah. Regardless though, she takes it with a tilt of her head. She's supposed to eat it, she assumes, but it almost feels like it's going to fall off if she moves or touches it the wrong way. Besides, is it...looking at her?

...

The local goes on to explain something or other about the shape of the ice cream, about how it was specially made in the spirit of the Fisholympics which just took place-- but she's really looking for an excuse to leave and explore more.

Come to her rescue?

...Or don't. Whatever. She'll quietly leave eventually—]

Comments

[rainbowarch]

Neither did we. It's no Nirvana, but it's not bad at all.

[Apart from the occasional murder...but those are occasional! He nods and does his best to explain the fact that it's been months for him even if it only seems like moments for Argilla.]

This place, it takes people and brings them here. Me and Serph, we were first. Then Gale came, then Sera, then Heat, now you're here.

[Okay, that doesn't really explain anything at all aside from the fact that it's been a while for him and that the others came at different times.]

[teradine]

[Well, just that explains quite a bit already, she supposes, but it doesn't make it any less odd or suspicious. She's long since come to terms with the fact that the Nirvana they once strove for likely doesn't exist, so... that much doesn't phase her either. But Serph, and Heat...

She'd watched them. She watched them both fall, she remembers yelling after the both of them in the EGG. Or at least Serph...

And then there's Roland, too. What about him?]

What about Roland?

[He hadn't mentioned him. She knows that what would eventually become of both of them, but... if she could be rescued and whisked away here, then...]

[rainbowarch]

[Cielo blinks once at Argilla. That's an odd thing to ask. Roland? Cielo was pretty sure there wasn't a Roland in the Tribe. So after a moment of serious pondering, complete with thoughtful frowns, he has to ask.]

...who?

[teradine]

[......Cielo, she enjoys your sense of humor, but now really isn't the time, okay.]

What do you mean, "who?"

Roland. The leader of the Lokapala in Karma City.

[...They kinda captured you for a while there?

Uh.]

You don't remember?

[rainbowarch]

[None of this is ringing any bells to him. Lokapala? Karma City? He has no idea what those are either. He shakes his head. He doesn't know Roland or Lokapala or Karma City unless there's a gigantic hole in his memory which is admittedly quite possible.]

No idea what you're talking about, Sis.

[teradine]

[......

She frowns. It really does sting to hear that, because it must mean there are other things he's forgotten as well. But... it's probably the best this way. What has this city done to him?

To the others...

She'll have to figure it out.]

Never mind. It...doesn't matter.

[Not right now, at least. If Roland is here somehow, she'll definitely find him later.]

[rainbowarch]

[Woah, woah, wait. Back up. That ain't gonna fly, nope. It's serious face time again.]

It matters to you, don't it?

[It matters enough that Argilla would ask about this Roland and that it shows on her face.]

[teradine]

... Yes.

[She can't lie to him. But she also doesn't have to burden him with painful memories, if he doesn't know. She doesn't know how or why-- but maybe he just hasn't experienced it yet.

She's finally getting the feeling that this is a different Cielo than the one she left in the Power Plant Facility.]

But if we're stuck here, there are probably more important things to worry about. Right?

[Other than the past-- because in the end, what's done is done.]

[rainbowarch]

[Ugh, he is no good at this. This is something Serph should be handling, not him. So when Argilla changes the subject, he goes right along with it.]

Ja, you have to learn all about this place.

[teradine]

[That is perfectly okay.

In fact, it's what she wanted Cielo to do, rather trap her in her awkward line of questioning before. She places a hand on his shoulder reassuringly, her frowning turning into a tiny smile.]

Tell me. Where should I start?

[rainbowarch]

[It's time to give Argilla a crash course in Vatheon basics!]

Okay, first, there's no Tribes and no war. People here live peacefully.

[Mostly.]

Second, most people, they're not like us. But there's all kinds of people here. They can do all kinds of things and some of them aren't even human.

Third, we have a base here and you should go up to the island and visit the beach.

1/2

[teradine]

Cielo--

[Wow, should she be taking notes? She's used to Gale, who speaks more slowly when he's explaining everything. But he is also considerably less excitable, so it's probably a fair trade-off.

Her smile is widening still, even as she opens her mouth to tell him to slow down.]

[teradine]

[Except wait-- that last part. That last part, about the base and the island and...

What?

Her interest is definitely piqued.]

There's... there's a beach?

[rainbowarch]

[Whoops, was that too fast? Ah, no worries, she'll get the hang of it quickly.

Right now, we're talking about beaches.]

That's right, there's a beach here. With sand and ocean and everything.

[teradine]

A real one...

[A real beach. She imagines there must have been one somewhere in the world, but it isn't as if they had time to think about it much once they arrived in the "real world."

Those memories she has...the ones they all have.

She refuses to believe they're fake. And even if they are, they're just going to make new ones. Here.]

I'd like to see it.

[rainbowarch]

[It's the exact same reaction he had when he first heard there was a beach here. Cielo's not surprised - Argilla shares the same vague, distant memories that he does.]

You...wanna go see it now?

[It's raining up there right now, not the bright blue skies they always see in their minds. But rain at the beach has its own appeal.

And just seeing the beach, no matter what state it's in, would make Argilla happy, he thinks.]

[teradine]

I'd love to. Please.

[Not that Cielo's going to make her get on her knees and beg, but she has no problems being polite about it anyways. She's perked up considerably from a moment ago, though the events of the past still shadow her, lingering in her mind.]

Will you take me?

[rainbowarch]

[As if he could say no.]

Sure, just follow me.

[He motions for Argilla to follow him, navigating Vatheon's streets with ease. Cielo by now knows Vatheon very well and he brings Argilla to the elevator, waving at the Station Master as the elevator doors open.

Ladies first.]

[teradine]

[Argilla is distracted by all of the things when she follows. This is a new place, so naturally she is curious about it, though she won't keep Cielo waiting. She'll just keep her eyes and ears open, and when he stops at the elevator, she does, too.

She steps inside when the doors open, looking around yet still.]

An elevator. It almost reminds me of the ones in our old base.

[Back in the Junkyard.

Heh, she almost looks nostalgic when she says it. It's been a while for her. And judging by the pitter patter she can hear from the rain, there is only more nostalgia to come.]

[rainbowarch]

[The elevator goes up, up, and up before finally reaching the surface. The doors open out to the island. It's raining, but who cares? Certainly not them. Cielo steps out.]

Welcome to the island! It's just a short walk to the beach from here.

[And he starts to lead the way. It's not long before the sound of waves can be heard.]

[teradine]

[Sure enough, as she thought, it is raining. She'll continue to follow Cielo, but she can't help but stop for a moment to feel the drops against her face-- and to listen to the sound of waves, too, that only get louder as they approach.

Her eyes close, but she'll open them again not long after to take a look up at the sky, too. It's been a while since she's seen it this color.]

Do you come often?

[rainbowarch]

I come here a lot.

[He slows down a bit. The beach isn't going anywhere. Brushing one of his dreadlocks away from his face, he continues.]

And at all times too. In all kinds of weather and during different times.

[He wishes Argilla could have been here that one night that ship was here and the glowing blue things were on the sand.

And there it is, right in front of them. The beach.]

It never gets old.

[teradine]

[It's true. The sky in her vague memories of the beach are a vibrant blue, not gray. But nevertheless, the environment is beautiful. Feeling the sand beneath her feet is something indescribable, and everything about the experience is breath-taking.

There's a wide smile on her face, and she doesn't even have to see Cielo's face to know he is smiling, too.]

I know the feeling.

[...

She continues to walk, though. Just seeing it isn't nearly enough, and when they get closer to the water, Argilla spots something half-buried in the sand.

She bends down to pick up a seashell.]

[rainbowarch]

You should come back when it's sunny.

[Because that's when the beach most reflects what they remember. The sights, the sounds, and the smells put those memories to shame.]

[teradine]

Of course.

[She isn't going to be going anywhere anytime soon, after all, so there's no reason for her not to.

And the idea that anyone-- not just them-- could stand under the sun without turning into stone... well, that's pretty amazing in and of itself.]

...And look, Cielo. They're everywhere.

[Argilla's picking up even more seashells now. There sure are a lot, and they're pretty, too...]