vatheon | (no subject)

Who: Gale and anyone
Where: Plaza
When: Evening
Style: The style of your choosing
Status: Open, incomplete

[It's been a few days since Gale disappeared from the bubble, when he finally reappears. It's not the time for newcomers, so it's obvious from the start that something strange is going on. Anyone passing through the Plaza right now is likely to see a person in gray and orange appearing and... landing in the fountain.

Not that they can control where they land, really. But that person isn't moving... and once again, the water is turning red.

Gale doesn't move at first. Not because he doesn't recognize that he's in a different place, or that he's no longer dying. Those things registered rather immediately, as soon as he fell into the fountain. The things he said to Jenna, however, those need a moment of consideration.

Still, it's not long before he pulls himself up out of the fountain. One of his hands is still transformed, and there's a gaping hole in his armor now, but other than that, he's fine. It probably helps that the fountain has washed most of the blood off.

For once, he doesn't set out immediately, or take out his SFC. He'll just be there for a while. Almost dying is tiring.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I know.

[Not that he was around when it happened. But the pieces weren't hard to put together, knowing what he does now. There's only one reason Cielo would have had to fight jets.]

The others separated from me just before then.

. . . I see.

[To be fair, she hadn't asked for too much detail about the circumstances under which he died. It seems she'll have more of a chance with Gale, and for that-- well, she doesn't know if she can be thankful, but she'll be happy to at least know what became of her comrades. It's a luxury that was not afforded to her in Karma City.

It comes as no surprise either, that Gale already knew about Cielo's death.]

Where were you?

In a hangar. Angel confronted us there.

[The only ones he isn't sure about are Serph and Sera, and he is currently of the belief that they'll manage.]

[Argilla is of that belief, too . . . since evidently Serph "undied" after Heat stabbed him, as Cielo so eloquently puts it. She never really did get details on that, but it doesn't seem to matter too much now.]

But you were alone.

[The others had separated from Gale . . .

They left him?]

[Not quite.]

I sent them ahead. A battle with Angel would have taken too much time, and we did not have much to spare.

[She doesn't know how to respond to that. There are so many other questions she could interject with here, but none of them make it out. She simply lets the realization sink in.

Finally:]

Then you and I both . . .

[As well as Cielo, and Roland . . .

They did what they had to do. And now they all remember; at least the ones in Vatheon seem to be, slowly, one by one.]

That world is not Nirvana. Perhaps it is to be expected.

[So he says, but he sounds... worn out when he says it. Death was just as much a part of that world as it was the Junkyard. In fact, they were all pretty lucky, in the Junkyard, that none of them died. There were others who made those sacrifices for them.]

[And the Embryon make it a point never to forget those sacrifices, or any of their fallen. She understands well and nods; though when Gale begins to sound as tired as he does, she can't help but place a reassuring hand on his shoulder.]

Sadly, Vatheon may be no different. [There's just so much they don't know about it. She can't say for sure.] But I still feel as though we're lucky to be here.

At least . . . in certain ways.

Thus far, it has proved better than either. That may continue to be so.

[As long as most of them remain here, really. A great place isn't very useful if the tribe just disappears for good, one by one.

He meets her eyes when she rests a hand on his shoulder.]

In certain ways, yes.

[She nods. Even if they are still forced to devour, the peace is definitely an enjoyable change; and so she'll give him a small smile when he meets her eyes.

Realizing she hasn't said it yet in all this time, she speaks up again:]

Welcome back.

[He doesn't exactly smile in return. But he looks pleased.]

I... am glad, to be returned.

[It's probably close enough to a smile. So Argilla puts a hand on his shoulder-- likely a habit she's picked up from Serph.]

The others will want to know . . .

Is there anything you need, before we go back?

[It's a pretty good habit to have picked up. The members of the Embryon will probably always respond well to a hand on their shoulder.]

Not from the Plaza. The tribe takes precedence.

[Once he's said no, she can't help but glance down at the hole in his armor. She wonders briefly if it still hurt -- though she remembers asking Serph the same thing, and he said no.

There doesn't appear to be a wound there anymore, anyway, but, just in case . . .]

All right. If you're sure.

[She'll give him another opening to stop and use the Coral if he wants, before leading him away.]

[He touches it briefly, and it helps the way he's standing, but he still seems tired. Really, he's prepared to just sleep it off. At least he can, in Vatheon.]

[She waits for him patiently; but she does notice that he seems more tired than usual, so she would approve of this plan to rest. Just as long as he doesn't sleep for three days again.

She quickens her pace so they can get home faster, but occasionally looks back to make sure he isn't left behind.]