i will become stronger, just so i can be gentle

[epyonrose]

Xanadu is arguably both very safe and very dangerous - all places, mundane to fantastic, have each side of the coin. On the one hand, so many people are so very anonymous, encased in the scattered anti-violence field. On the other hand, the limits of the supernatural know no bounds, and around every corner lurks doorways to other worlds. Children

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[sandrocker]

Sometimes, people need a break. It's not really what his friends mean; a vacation is what he needs, according to them, but here Quatre is, managing to catch that brief break in Xanadu. He's simply another face in the crowd; no one thinks to bother him, ask if it's wise to be alone, and the peace of that is relaxing.

If he were smarter, though, he would be in bed, sleeping, but the attempts leave him restless (he feels he has to do everything; it's there, and people need him, and he can't ignore that). Because his body aches, bruised rather terribly, and the sweater turtleneck he wears to hide the bruises is a little hot

[bloodhearted]

Most certainly, indeed. And though Dad probably spots the pilot first, it doesn't take Marie long to feel the weight of a conflicted stare. She's sharp, sometimes to her detriment, and in an instant Quatre is being appraised with uncanny blue-violet eyes. It's probably about time to start wondering: what does the Quatre of her world look like? Are the Gundam pilots known faces? Would Treize expose her to that kind of thing?

But then it's over, though whether it's because Mariemaia doesn't recognize who's been peeking at her or because her father told her to not go bothering anyone she does, who can tell. She flits away like a fish under water, over to the far more imposing figure of the President, apparently to plead for something. Curiously, the wheedling turns from English to Luxembourgish - daddy's native tongue - when she turns up the octaves. And it works, too, because with a sigh and a resigned nod, she's off again, delighted at whatever she's been given permission for.

It's only then that Treize flicks his gaze over towards

[sandrocker]

(All questions Quatre would prefer to not consider in some stomach-twisting, nervous-wreck-inducing way. Though, it's mostly the thought his face is known as a gundam pilot that leaves him feeling so tightly wound and sick; he has to block the idea from his mind before he overworks himself, jumping through every little thing that could result.)

He smiles, though, watching the interaction. Knowing and amused because despite how terrifying he finds Mariemaia (oh, the irony), she is adorable, and it is of no surprise she is persuasive. It's a familiar sight to watch, and he remembers the times he did it himself and is reminded he must suffer through his nieces and nephews being so terrible in much the same way.

When Treize finally returns his gaze, Quatre only raises an eyebrow, as if to say 'you aren't that easy, are you?' (But it's okay. Quatre is far easier.)

[epyonrose]

Wait until you're a parent, Quatre, then you can decide what qualifies as easy. Elegant as always, Treize manages to join the younger man without dividing his attention far from Mariemaia - there's what looks like a dolphin pool a little ways away, filled with friendly, but certainly unusual, animals. The attendants are all quite chatty, however, teaching both children and fascinated adults about what swims within.

"Have I availed you of the hospitals here?" He begins, gaze still on his daughter, tone casual (to the point that it suggests he can, indeed, recall, despite his comments). "I can't recall." Quite the shiner there, kid.

[sandrocker]

"Neither can I," Quatre replies, tone the same. He watches Mariemaia, curious; the only thing he really does know about her is 'little girl that almost took over Earth,' and he is well aware most of that was due to Dekim Barton. Which doesn't make her any less worrisome and worth learning about. "But your concern is touching." Thanks for pointing out the obvious, Treize.

[epyonrose]

"I'm a concerning individual."

Shut up, Treize.

Marie is engrossed with the display in front of her, touching rainbow-colored water and laughing with a girl near her age beside her. It takes an enormous weight off Treize that she can have this; he waited far too long to take her here, to share this with her, but he'll always be so over-protective. (How did she get this old?)

"But I do hope the damage is only cosmetic." Though his tone is light, there's no hint of mocking - it's almost startlingly sincere.

[sandrocker]

Briefly, Quatre eyes Treize. While his sincerity is not surprising (he has heard stories, of course, of His Excellency, and Treize has proved to not be a complete bastard), it is baffling; and, for once, it has nothing to do with the fact it's Treize Khushrenada. He tries not to think about it, though.

"Bruises are hardly cosmetic." A beat, as his gaze returns to Mariemaia. It's slight, but his tone shifts, passive. "But mine aren't severe."

[epyonrose]

Treize spares him a glance, and his silence is weighted with something - it's not quite exasperated, but somewhat amused. Perhaps he was suggesting he thinks Quatre's tougher than to really be bothered by bruises, but then again...

"I doubt that you are so charmed by my company that you seek it out," he muses. "I wonder what lesson the powers that be thinks we should each learn."

[sandrocker]

Quatre is fairly certain that the powers that be just hate him. (But that self-pity is a little too frivolous to say aloud.)

"I think what's more curious is neither of us has walked away," because they certainly could, and there are times Quatre knows he should. ...he hasn't quite gotten a better grip of his ambivalence yet, apparently.

[epyonrose]

"Really?" Treize gives him a look, similarly genuine in his inquisitive inflection. "I don't find that suspect at all."

[sandrocker]

He only returns the look, curious and raising an eyebrow: elaborate, sir.

[epyonrose]

"Do you think yourself the type?" Implying that Treize certainly isn't, to no one's great surprise. He's parted ways with Quatre before, of course, but only when it suited him. Despite their various and strange conversations, Treize has never seemed particularly bothered or in need of an exit from them.

[sandrocker]

"Somewhat," and the honest answer is 'yes, certainly.'

Because he has a disadvantage; it may not be dangerous on principle to even speak to him, but it is a balancing act - one Quatre knows he has a grasp of only by luck. He is, by far, less experienced than Treize, and while the challenge is interesting, he can't very well trust the man. Really, it would be in his best interests to walk away, but then, Quatre would have to lie to himself (that Treize isn't fascinating; that he doesn't invite the challenge, that he doesn't want the challenge; that he feels no kindship, twisted or not).

He doesn't really like lying.