(no subject)
So I was also talking to Owl last night, but if I wrote about what we talked about, certain people would murder me, so that's not really relevant--!
I am kind of a fag for the going home prompt and all the beautiful drabbles written by other people about it. And so I am probably going to do it for more than just Emiri, hence this drabble-that-isn't-really-a-drabble-fml. ENJOY ROUND TWO.
Also lolol it makes no sense I'm sorry.
Prompt: Going Home
Title: When She Smiles
If anyone knows what's inevitable, it's Judith. Surprisingly, she doesn't fight it with her usual vigor, acknowledging that this time, there's nothing she can do to stave it off-- and that's fine, she's needed elsewhere.
She continues her walks, not actively seeking company, but she finds it anyway. Some days, it's Kaito ambling beside her and proudly regaling her with another tale of a successful exploration. Other times, it's Kiyomaro and Gash, and then there's no hope whatsoever of a quiet stroll-- she doesn't mind it. Tear joins her occasionally, and the younger girl is prone to more solemn musings until Judith gently guides her to a lighter topic, for her own sake. With all of them, she doesn't bring up leaving, no mentions of missing them, because she doesn't want them remembering her that way. She just smiles and watches them go their separate ways.
On her last day (she can sense it, thanks to Ba'ul's presence in her mind continuously flaring nervously as he tries to decipher the changes in the air), Radu joins her in the evening. They chat amiably, and Judith gives in to her more playful nature, kicking off her boots and letting the shallow ocean waves nudge at her ankles.
"If you would be courteous enough to humor a curiosity of mine..."
As formal as he is, this additional layer of it has Judith glancing over at him with one eyebrow raised. "Go ahead."
Radu sighs, gazing pensively out across the ocean. "Had you not... ah, pursued the idea of being more than an acquaintance to me, I'm quite certain we both would never have received some valuable experiences. I'll thank you for that, Judith."
The Krityan dips her head slightly. "You're welcome, but I don't see how that's a question."
"True enough. The simple question of why, however, remains unanswered. You never did provide a reason for your tenacity."
She lifts her head, giving the question consideration. Her smile is reminiscent, softer somehow. "There really isn't a deep reason behind it, I'm afraid. I did it because I wanted to."
Radu waits, sensing she has more to say. He's right.
"But I once had a group of people who refused to let me vanish from their lives, despite the trouble I caused them. If someone like me could deserve that, then you deserved just as much, if not more." She pauses, then the playful aspect of her smile returns. "Or maybe I just like a challenge. It'll be fun to figure it out, won't it?"
The two exchange calm looks, both acknowledging that they likely won't ever see each other again after today. Again, there are no sad good-byes or lamentations, just the content knowledge that they've made a good friend here.
"Good night," is the last thing Judith says to him, but it isn't the words that are remembered so much as the fact that she is no longer smiling.
-----
Judith adjusts seamlessly back into her life and their quest, though Ba'ul makes it very clear through their connection that he's concerned about her.
"I'm fine," she reassures him, waiting for a night when they're out flying to finally speak vocally. Ba'ul doesn't stray too far from the group, but there are times when he needs to move just as much as his Krityan friend does, and both of them are happier among thin wisps of gray clouds and clusters of stars. During the day, everything is all about enlisting the spirits' help, preparing for the final battle, silencing doubts. There simply isn't any time to miss their friends from the Island.
But she does. Duke's contempt for humanity reminds her of another, who looked down on humans-- no, Normals was the term-- as well. He'd just been more humorous about it. She soothes Karol's fears and doubts by telling him about a boy not much older than him, one who claimed he would surpass a god one day and honestly believed it. She tells Rita about a boy with a book that contained a great power-- and can't help but laugh when the mage eagerly demands that she borrow that book as soon as possible. Neither she nor Yuri remember the island, and Raven never mentions it, making it impossible to know whether he's the same.
Forgetting may have been easier for most of the island's victims, but Judith does remember, and accepts those memories, and is much more complete because of it.
"I'm fine," she tells Ba'ul now, quietly repeating the words because she wants him to believe it.
Ba'ul, who is far more observant and intelligent than most who didn't understand Entelexeia would give him credit for, remains doubtful. If you are fine, would you really find it necessary to tell me as much?
Judith laughs, pats him comfortingly. "You'd know before anyone, wouldn't you?"
Even before she herself would know it, she thinks, and when she smiles again, there is just a touch of uncertainty in the vicinity of those upturned lips.
-----
Yuri remarks in surprise how Estelle's swordsmanship has improved tremendously, but the princess only modestly replies that she had an excellent teacher, a new one after her original sword master. That's all she says, but Judith often finds her awake long after the others have gone to sleep, eyes fixed wistfully on the stars.
"Do you think they're all right, Judith?" For all that they're only a year apart in age, Judith has always viewed Estelle as someone much younger and naive in the ways of the world and the people living in it. She's been critical of that attitude before, but when she sees the indecision and worry written on that face, she only sighs softly and takes a seat beside her. Estelle smiles shakily at this. "It's foolish to worry, I know, especially when there's so much to be done in our world, but I can't help but think about h-- them."
Judith doesn't mention the slight slip-up, nor does she offer false words of comfort that she can't completely verify. The Kritya are a dream-driven, optimistic race, and while she retains some of those qualities, it isn't to the extent of the rest of her brethren. She's too realistic for that. So she doesn't lie, but her answer is-- like most of her replies-- vague.
"No one knows how any one person is doing when they're apart." She shakes her head when Estelle droops, knowing that the girl is already beating herself up for worrying in the first place. "But I do believe that, whatever they're doing, they're giving it everything they've got." Tear and Jay with their missions, Kaito with his magic, Kiyomaro with his quest to assist Gash, Terry with his training, Adell... she briefly thinks of Radu, then dismisses the thought. He's resting, she hopes, as he deserves.
"We are too," Estelle says after a moment, quiet but firm. "We can't be afraid now. I want to face everyone and tell them that we succeeded, even when everything looked bleak. Or..." She smiles sheepishly. "Is that too silly? It sounds a bit like the ending of a story."
"Write it," Judith suggests. "I know at least one person who'll want to read it when this is over with. You can give it to him when you see him again."
The girl looks at her, blinking in confusion-- but if Judith is offering hope and saying "when", not "if", then-- she relaxes and looks back to the stars. "You know... I believe I will."
They share smiles, determined and understanding, and stay there for a little while longer until Repede wriggles his way between them and demands attention.
-----
There are times when even Judith isn't as unruffled as she'd like. During a training session, they're attacked by an group of new monsters-- gangly things with flopping limbs and disturbingly cultured voices. Judith, preoccupied with taking down something else, only sees them out of the corner of her eye.
When she turns fully, Tear's face is the first thing she sees.
Accustomed to striking first, to gleefully charging ahead with spear swinging, to heading into a fight without a moment's hesitation, Judith falters. It's a fraction of hesitation, however, not anything for her opponent to take advantage of, and then the next minute, she acts. She doesn't need any sort of springboard to launch herself into the air as the creature swipes at her, and then she's curving effortlessly into a dive and drags the spear down through its shoulder and into its chest.
By the time she lands, it's already dead.
It doesn't make her feel any better.
"There's the acrobat in motion!" Yuri yells his approval while engaging in a fight with another of the things, this one blue and white and... odd.
Judith closes her eyes briefly, hands behind her back in a seemingly modest movement, but it's just to hide her trembling fingers from view. After a few seconds, she relaxes fully, and then feels a hand on her shoulder. Raven's, from the heavy feel of it. Sure enough, when she looks over, it's to meet his eyes.
"You okay there, darlin'?" Just by his expression, she knows that she and Estelle aren't the only ones to remember.
Her own expression doesn't slip, and she moves away from his hand. "I may be getting rusty if I was caught off-guard. Ahaha, I suppose I'll have to train a little more!"
She doesn't answer his question because she's-- as she's admitted-- a horrible liar. She does eye the creature on the ground with a faint air of intrigue, however, and gives it a nudge with her foot. Her smile is tinged with an interesting mix of amusement and bitterness.
"Really, I think she would be offended if she saw you."
-----
Judith doesn't form attachments easily, and it's understandable that she would miss the bonds she formed during her island stay, but there are priorities. There's a world to save.
And, after that, as the group stands exhausted but triumphant, she realizes there is no longer anything she has to do.
Shortly after that, she takes her leave from the group, promising that she'll indeed stop by to see all of them (and Raven is sobbing almost as hard as Karol), but that she and Ba'ul need to travel on their own for a little while. In their own way, everyone understands; they have different paths to take now, and they wish each other the best.
Ba'ul requests a destination.
"I can't provide you with a clear one," she apologizes. "Just keep flying, and I'm sure we'll find whatever it is we're meant to find. Or it may find us first."
It's fair, she figures, as Ba'ul surges upward and turns west. She'll travel, but she won't actively seek any of them out just yet.
And yet she knows she'll find them.
That thought brings about her warmest smile yet.
I am kind of a fag for the going home prompt and all the beautiful drabbles written by other people about it. And so I am probably going to do it for more than just Emiri, hence this drabble-that-isn't-really-a-drabble-fml. ENJOY ROUND TWO.
Also lolol it makes no sense I'm sorry.
Prompt: Going Home
Title: When She Smiles
If anyone knows what's inevitable, it's Judith. Surprisingly, she doesn't fight it with her usual vigor, acknowledging that this time, there's nothing she can do to stave it off-- and that's fine, she's needed elsewhere.
She continues her walks, not actively seeking company, but she finds it anyway. Some days, it's Kaito ambling beside her and proudly regaling her with another tale of a successful exploration. Other times, it's Kiyomaro and Gash, and then there's no hope whatsoever of a quiet stroll-- she doesn't mind it. Tear joins her occasionally, and the younger girl is prone to more solemn musings until Judith gently guides her to a lighter topic, for her own sake. With all of them, she doesn't bring up leaving, no mentions of missing them, because she doesn't want them remembering her that way. She just smiles and watches them go their separate ways.
On her last day (she can sense it, thanks to Ba'ul's presence in her mind continuously flaring nervously as he tries to decipher the changes in the air), Radu joins her in the evening. They chat amiably, and Judith gives in to her more playful nature, kicking off her boots and letting the shallow ocean waves nudge at her ankles.
"If you would be courteous enough to humor a curiosity of mine..."
As formal as he is, this additional layer of it has Judith glancing over at him with one eyebrow raised. "Go ahead."
Radu sighs, gazing pensively out across the ocean. "Had you not... ah, pursued the idea of being more than an acquaintance to me, I'm quite certain we both would never have received some valuable experiences. I'll thank you for that, Judith."
The Krityan dips her head slightly. "You're welcome, but I don't see how that's a question."
"True enough. The simple question of why, however, remains unanswered. You never did provide a reason for your tenacity."
She lifts her head, giving the question consideration. Her smile is reminiscent, softer somehow. "There really isn't a deep reason behind it, I'm afraid. I did it because I wanted to."
Radu waits, sensing she has more to say. He's right.
"But I once had a group of people who refused to let me vanish from their lives, despite the trouble I caused them. If someone like me could deserve that, then you deserved just as much, if not more." She pauses, then the playful aspect of her smile returns. "Or maybe I just like a challenge. It'll be fun to figure it out, won't it?"
The two exchange calm looks, both acknowledging that they likely won't ever see each other again after today. Again, there are no sad good-byes or lamentations, just the content knowledge that they've made a good friend here.
"Good night," is the last thing Judith says to him, but it isn't the words that are remembered so much as the fact that she is no longer smiling.
-----
Judith adjusts seamlessly back into her life and their quest, though Ba'ul makes it very clear through their connection that he's concerned about her.
"I'm fine," she reassures him, waiting for a night when they're out flying to finally speak vocally. Ba'ul doesn't stray too far from the group, but there are times when he needs to move just as much as his Krityan friend does, and both of them are happier among thin wisps of gray clouds and clusters of stars. During the day, everything is all about enlisting the spirits' help, preparing for the final battle, silencing doubts. There simply isn't any time to miss their friends from the Island.
But she does. Duke's contempt for humanity reminds her of another, who looked down on humans-- no, Normals was the term-- as well. He'd just been more humorous about it. She soothes Karol's fears and doubts by telling him about a boy not much older than him, one who claimed he would surpass a god one day and honestly believed it. She tells Rita about a boy with a book that contained a great power-- and can't help but laugh when the mage eagerly demands that she borrow that book as soon as possible. Neither she nor Yuri remember the island, and Raven never mentions it, making it impossible to know whether he's the same.
Forgetting may have been easier for most of the island's victims, but Judith does remember, and accepts those memories, and is much more complete because of it.
"I'm fine," she tells Ba'ul now, quietly repeating the words because she wants him to believe it.
Ba'ul, who is far more observant and intelligent than most who didn't understand Entelexeia would give him credit for, remains doubtful. If you are fine, would you really find it necessary to tell me as much?
Judith laughs, pats him comfortingly. "You'd know before anyone, wouldn't you?"
Even before she herself would know it, she thinks, and when she smiles again, there is just a touch of uncertainty in the vicinity of those upturned lips.
-----
Yuri remarks in surprise how Estelle's swordsmanship has improved tremendously, but the princess only modestly replies that she had an excellent teacher, a new one after her original sword master. That's all she says, but Judith often finds her awake long after the others have gone to sleep, eyes fixed wistfully on the stars.
"Do you think they're all right, Judith?" For all that they're only a year apart in age, Judith has always viewed Estelle as someone much younger and naive in the ways of the world and the people living in it. She's been critical of that attitude before, but when she sees the indecision and worry written on that face, she only sighs softly and takes a seat beside her. Estelle smiles shakily at this. "It's foolish to worry, I know, especially when there's so much to be done in our world, but I can't help but think about h-- them."
Judith doesn't mention the slight slip-up, nor does she offer false words of comfort that she can't completely verify. The Kritya are a dream-driven, optimistic race, and while she retains some of those qualities, it isn't to the extent of the rest of her brethren. She's too realistic for that. So she doesn't lie, but her answer is-- like most of her replies-- vague.
"No one knows how any one person is doing when they're apart." She shakes her head when Estelle droops, knowing that the girl is already beating herself up for worrying in the first place. "But I do believe that, whatever they're doing, they're giving it everything they've got." Tear and Jay with their missions, Kaito with his magic, Kiyomaro with his quest to assist Gash, Terry with his training, Adell... she briefly thinks of Radu, then dismisses the thought. He's resting, she hopes, as he deserves.
"We are too," Estelle says after a moment, quiet but firm. "We can't be afraid now. I want to face everyone and tell them that we succeeded, even when everything looked bleak. Or..." She smiles sheepishly. "Is that too silly? It sounds a bit like the ending of a story."
"Write it," Judith suggests. "I know at least one person who'll want to read it when this is over with. You can give it to him when you see him again."
The girl looks at her, blinking in confusion-- but if Judith is offering hope and saying "when", not "if", then-- she relaxes and looks back to the stars. "You know... I believe I will."
They share smiles, determined and understanding, and stay there for a little while longer until Repede wriggles his way between them and demands attention.
-----
There are times when even Judith isn't as unruffled as she'd like. During a training session, they're attacked by an group of new monsters-- gangly things with flopping limbs and disturbingly cultured voices. Judith, preoccupied with taking down something else, only sees them out of the corner of her eye.
When she turns fully, Tear's face is the first thing she sees.
Accustomed to striking first, to gleefully charging ahead with spear swinging, to heading into a fight without a moment's hesitation, Judith falters. It's a fraction of hesitation, however, not anything for her opponent to take advantage of, and then the next minute, she acts. She doesn't need any sort of springboard to launch herself into the air as the creature swipes at her, and then she's curving effortlessly into a dive and drags the spear down through its shoulder and into its chest.
By the time she lands, it's already dead.
It doesn't make her feel any better.
"There's the acrobat in motion!" Yuri yells his approval while engaging in a fight with another of the things, this one blue and white and... odd.
Judith closes her eyes briefly, hands behind her back in a seemingly modest movement, but it's just to hide her trembling fingers from view. After a few seconds, she relaxes fully, and then feels a hand on her shoulder. Raven's, from the heavy feel of it. Sure enough, when she looks over, it's to meet his eyes.
"You okay there, darlin'?" Just by his expression, she knows that she and Estelle aren't the only ones to remember.
Her own expression doesn't slip, and she moves away from his hand. "I may be getting rusty if I was caught off-guard. Ahaha, I suppose I'll have to train a little more!"
She doesn't answer his question because she's-- as she's admitted-- a horrible liar. She does eye the creature on the ground with a faint air of intrigue, however, and gives it a nudge with her foot. Her smile is tinged with an interesting mix of amusement and bitterness.
"Really, I think she would be offended if she saw you."
-----
Judith doesn't form attachments easily, and it's understandable that she would miss the bonds she formed during her island stay, but there are priorities. There's a world to save.
And, after that, as the group stands exhausted but triumphant, she realizes there is no longer anything she has to do.
Shortly after that, she takes her leave from the group, promising that she'll indeed stop by to see all of them (and Raven is sobbing almost as hard as Karol), but that she and Ba'ul need to travel on their own for a little while. In their own way, everyone understands; they have different paths to take now, and they wish each other the best.
Ba'ul requests a destination.
"I can't provide you with a clear one," she apologizes. "Just keep flying, and I'm sure we'll find whatever it is we're meant to find. Or it may find us first."
It's fair, she figures, as Ba'ul surges upward and turns west. She'll travel, but she won't actively seek any of them out just yet.
And yet she knows she'll find them.
That thought brings about her warmest smile yet.