Amaravati

[bufudine]

Who: Serph and YOU
Where: In the Plaza
When: On the 12th!
Style: [action] preferred, but I'll match!
Status: OPEN

[It's been a long time since Serph's disappearance. Maybe it seemed like he wasn't going to be coming back to Vatheon.

But if you happen to be passing through the Plaza, there's someone appearing out of thin air and... falling into one of the fountains with a great splash. If you're curious enough to look at the water, it's gaining a reddish tinge.

...Yeah, that's blood mixing with the water.

But wait long enough, and there's a guy pulling himself out of the fountain, looking like a drowned rat. There's a break in his abdominal armour. But while there are some stubborn bits of blood at the break's edges, there's no wound in the flesh underneath; the skin is unmarked, like it had been healed perfectly.

Serph's back. And he's alive.

...And totally dripping water all over the Plaza again.]

Comments

[teradine]

[Considering this is exactly how she felt upon seeing her comrades on arrival, she can sort of sympathize-- but she's too happy to see him to really worry about it. Because what matters is that he's here, right? No matter what memories he has, what point in time... it wouldn't change anything, least of all what they mean to each other.

...Upon closer inspection, she looks relieved, too, that there doesn't seem to be any wound beneath that hole in his armor. But still, it kind of troubles her, so she closes the distance between them further. And she can't help but do what she didn't do the first time: that being, give him a gentle hug.]

You were gone for weeks.

[It's something of a response to his silent question-- that confused look of his. And though she'd like to ask several of her own, she tries not to attack him with them all at once. She pulls away slightly her eyes meeting with his.]

Does -- Does it hurt?

[She thinks it's obvious what she's talking about, but if not-- a moment later, her gaze casts downwards.]

[bufudine]

[Serph closes his eyes -- it's good to see Argilla, even though he hadn't expected to see her -- when she hugs him, and he returns it in kind.

Weeks, huh... They hadn't spent nearly that much time in "Nirvana"...

When she pulls away and asks him that question, Serph doesn't lie. He shouldn't.]

Not any more.

[teradine]

[Argilla will give him a little bit of space, since she seems satisfied with that answer-- though she still stays quite close to him. She knows, too, that it is popular for the natives, as well as others to offer towels to the wet, but she doesn't particularly see a reason for it at the moment. So she doesn't go anywhere.

That can wait, can't it?]

I'm glad...

[Definitely glad that it doesn't hurt. She can't even look at the hole for very long, because she can still remember vividly the scene that must have caused it, despite it having been a couple months now. And she also doesn't know what else to say... where to even begin, to talk about anything.

So she chooses comfortable silence. Wondering if Serph even remembers being in Vatheon previously at all.]

[bufudine]

[The memories of Vatheon are slowly piecing themselves together. So... uh...

Argilla had come from their future when he was last in Vatheon. She'd talked about Fred... But she hadn't been specific about the events she'd witnessed, and Serph had never asked. But now, he wonders. Had she witnessed his death?]

What was the last thing you remember before arriving here?

[He may owe her an explanation, but he wouldn't want to burden her with events from the future if she hasn't experienced his death yet.]

[teradine]

[Funnily enough, they're in the same position here. She'd rather not burden him with details of her own death, either, but... she had been pretty vague before, so she figures she owes him something.

At the very least, an honest answer, even if it, too, is vague.]

It's been almost two months now.

[Stalling first. It's not as if it's been that long, but she hesitates, and then--]

The... power plant facility.

[......Yeah.]

[bufudine]

[. . . Oh. That must be... after his death. Wow awkward--]

So you already know?

[About the moment he stood between Heat and the rest of them. About the moment he decided he wouldn't fight. About the moment he decided he wouldn't move out of the way.

It's an almost unconscious movement, brushing his fingers against the healed over skin.]

[teradine]

...Yes.

[She'd known from the very beginning-- since her arrival. And by now, he's probably slowly realizing that. She feels a little bit guilty, but at the same time, she tries not to let that ruin their reunion.

She watches as he runs his fingers over the healed skin, and she begins to wonder whether or not he'd been telling the truth before-- about whether or not it hurt. But in the end, she decides to take his word for it, albeit with a frown.]

But, I wasn't sure how to bring it up. Or...if it would even be a good idea to do that.

[Especially not to Heat...]

Nobody else...

['seemed to remember.']

[bufudine]

[Ah... How much would that have hurt, knowing the future while the rest of them were oblivious. He doesn't begrudge her decision to keep her knowledge of the future to herself instead of sharing; he will be doing the same thing, after all. That must have been why... the expression when she'd seen him.]

Sorry.

[For unknowingly having her suffer in silence. For not properly saying goodbye.]

I had faith you could continue without me.

[Collective you.]

[teradine]

[...Argilla actually feels a little relieved. Not at the apology, because-- well, she hadn't wanted anything like that. But rather, she feels relieved at not being the only one anymore. The only one, who remembered "Nirvana" and how dreary and unwelcoming it had been.

Being the odd one out, it was easier to think something was faulty about her, but...

Now she knows that wasn't true. It never had been.]

For what it's worth, you were right.

[bufudine]

[He never doubted they would, but it's good to knkow, nevertheless. It's good to know anything that's happened after his death, really. Serph's grateful for the faith and loyalty shown by his Tribe. He nods.]

I'm glad.

[But... he owes Argilla an explanation, at least.]

I have a lot to make up for. But Heat is still our comrade.

[Despite everything.]

[teradine]

[In truth, she doesn't remember much after his death. It had affected all of them deeply, but in the end, there aren't too many answers she can give him. Only the reassurance that they never lost sight of their goals; and didn't let his death hinder them in that respect.]

I know.

[Isn't that what he said? Isn't that why he held his ground...? Maybe... in his own way, he'd hoped to remind Heat of the fact.]

I haven't forgotten.

[bufudine]

[Serph nods, satisfied with that answer. Well... though technically whatever happens in the future doesn't affect him, since he's dead, Serph is a little curious.]

What happened afterwards?

[He doesn't have to know, but Vatheon offers unique opportunities.]

[teradine]

[She's silent for a moment as she considers the question, and how best to answer it. Lying isn't an option of course, though if she could avoid talking her death... or Roland's, it would be ideal.

Then again... maybe he should know.]

Gale took your place.

[As leader, at least-- nothing more than that. Both have their own place in the Tribe; both irreplacable.]

We needed power to return God back to normal. To stop the data transmission... and that's why we went to the power plant.

[It was Roland's idea.]

[bufudine]

[...Wait, what? He understands Gale taking his place as leader; Serph expected him to, in his absence. But, the rest...

His brow furrows slightly.]

What data transmission?

[teradine]

[. . . suddenly, she likes it even less that she knows more than he does. But she swallows, determined to explain.]

Earth's data. Into the sun.

[She'll just let that sink in for a moment.]

He was going to absorb everything . . .