[Thread; Closed]

[eidolon_soul]

Characters: Rydia, Cecil, Kain, Ceodore, Rosa
Progress: On-going
Summary: More reunions
Location: Genome Village, then Dollet
Date: Sept. 30/Oct. 1, 1804
Warnings: Nah

Comments

[lunarianlegacy]

What a jumbled chaotic mess this whole day had been. It had started out of more of the same. Fight through monsters. Heal the injured. Encounter something the crystals revived from the past. Rest for a while, then proceed deeper into the depths of the moon. Ceodore would have never admitted it but this was far less of an adventure than he would have thought it to be a few months ago. The bone weariness was real, as was the danger. And now he stood on foreign soil, away from the danger. Away from stopping their doom.

He didn't know what to make of any of this strange predicament, anymore than he did the inhabitants of the village. He took his time inspecting them curiously, walking about their hidden village, browsing the wares of their shops. He questioned why such an out of the way place would have such supplies but who was he to question? At least the rabbit women had stopped using him for target practice and gone about their business.

After an hour or so of waiting and looking into the sky, he took to passing through the forest, looking for a clearing. He'd been informed it would be a hike to reach the place large enough to accommodate an airship. Unfortunately the prince hadn't realized just how much 'hike' meant.

Eventually, those waiting for him would see a youth come into view, only a couple scant inches shorter than Cecil, but who held himself just like the paladin and even had the same walking gait. For anyone familiar with Baron's military, his armor would be immediately recognizable as standard issue for the Red Wings. But more importantly, his hair, eyes and coloring mimicked his father in almost every way. Except for having Rosa's fine nose.

[eidolon_soul]

Upon spotting him, Rydia stiffened. The resemblance to Cecil was uncanny, even at a distance. The closer he got, the more details she could see to confirm his parentage. His armor was definitely recognizable as well, and if Rydia had any doubts before this point, they were gone now. Cecil really did have a grown son, and they were just about to meet him.

She didn't move to join him, though; given that Kain couldn't walk, it seemed unfair to hold any type of reunion or meeting outside. That the dragoon was far from social wasn't the point; she would not exclude him, regardless. So, the green-haired woman waited for Ceodore to reach the ship, looking him over all the while.

When he finally caught up, her lips curved in a warm smile. However confused and unsettled Rydia was about all this, she wasn't going to be unwelcoming. "Hello, Ceodore. It's nice to meet you at last."

[lunarianlegacy]

It still felt strange to hear Rydia talk like she'd never met him. Especially when just a few hours ago there was an uproar in the camp around her smacking Palom across the face for some obnoxious comment. Probably something to do with the summoner's finer attributes. Edge wasn't too happy with the black mage either, come to think on it. There were days when seeing to weapon maintenance was far more preferable than other things. Like getting into the middle of whatever that ruckus happened to be.

If she was expecting formality from him, there was going to be some disappointment. He nodded once and smiled in return. "Hey." Clasping his hands behind his back, he peered curiously at the opening to the airship. "Just you?"

[eidolon_soul]

Rydia shook her head. "No, Cecil and Kain are inside." She holds up a hand, to explain before he can charge in. "People can return from death in this world, but there's a price for that. Kain...won't have the use of his legs, not for a while. Cecil has the same problem with his hearing. It probably won't last forever, but it's not going away any time soon. I just thought you should know before we join them."

[lunarianlegacy]

Ceodore froze in place, too stunned to say anything at first. Returning from death? How? "They died? What happened?" Talk about a day going from bad to worse. His mind was struggling to understand what he was being told and failing. So much to take in, in so few words. The implications were horrible too. Depriving his father of talking to him. For that matter, Kain and well, the man was too proud and independent not to go about on his own. No, there had to be some sort of misunderstanding.

[eidolon_soul]

There's an immediate wince in response. "It's...a long story, involving a demonic being. They were both victims. Come." She gestured for him to follow her, as she entered the Lunar Whale. They could share the full story once Rosa was retrieved; Rydia wasn't a big fan of repeating herself, if it could be avoided.

[dragoon_rising]

Kain was seated inside with Zephyr right beside him. The small dragon was still clinging to him more than usual; she'd been shaken by his absence and seemed to be making up for lost time. It was fine by Kain to have her near as much as possible, since he'd go fully insane otherwise. He was still wracked with guilt, and he felt himself nothing but a burden, his pride and dignity both taking a beating every time he had to accept someone's help. He really should have asked to be taken elsewhere. Preferably far away where no one knew him.

Both Kain and the dragon warily eyed Ceodore as he entered. Zephyr hissed and growled, whereas Kain just... stared. He really did have an unmistakable resemblance to Cecil.

[sandrubies]

Just a seat away from Kain off to the side sat Cecil. He looked troubled as he worked with his sky phone. See, because he was deaf there was no way he could hear Zephyr growling or any approaching steps. So typing out a message to Kain, Cecil went to hold out the device for him to read (Is this device always so difficult to use?) only to pause when he caught the movement from the corner of his eye and turned the seat to look towards the entrance.

He froze at the sight of Ceodore, his intake of air soft but sharp. The resemblance hadn't gone unnoticed. In fact it was enough to get him to utter the word, "How..?" in a hushed voice.

Cecil wanted to look to Rydia or Kain for answers but he could only stare at Ceodore who looked almost exactly like him; his skin tone, his hair, his eyes.

[lunarianlegacy]

The staring was mutual. It was unnerving to see both his father and his mentor both so... young. In fact, Ceodore was just stunned enough now that he was seeing it for himself and not in those tiny boxes that he didn't even take notice of the dragon growling at him. The unusual thing was that while Kain was familiar, even if he was in different armor, the prince had never seen him like this. However, his father looked just as he remembered him as a very small child.

Could today possibly get anymore strange than this?

He blinked and nodded at them both, finally getting up the nerve to say something. "Father. Kain." He glanced then to Rydia. "Has anyone attempted to heal them?"

[sandrubies]

Cecil caught the nod. He couldn't return it, too stunned to do anything other for sitting there and staring at the boy even as he looked to Rydia. He was deaf to their words.

...And he just continued to sit there. Saying and typing nothing.

Staring, watching.

The armor Ceodore wore didn't escape his attention either.

[eidolon_soul]

Rydia re-typed Ceodore's words for Cecil's benefit, then her own. "It's been tried, but nothing's come of it. When someone is returned from death in this manner, they lose something of themselves. At least with physical problems, the loss is temporary. You'll see for yourself, in time; they'll recover."

She glanced over to Kain, then the others. More typing, speaking overlapping that. "Shall we retrieve Rosa? I'm sure she'll want to see us.

*eyes char list on top, punts Edge out of the final group* XD

[lunarianlegacy]

While Rydia busied herself pushing stuff on the strange box, Ceodore stared in fascination. It distracted from the awkward situation before him. Once he saw words materializing as she pressed, his eyes went wide with surprise. "This box can also write? Cid would love this." Staying on task and focused wasn't always his strong point.

After a moment he sobered and looked back at Cecil. "He doesn't know who I am, does he?" Somehow it struck him that it was not so very different from home after all, and his face fell, all excitement over the boxes utterly lost.

[dragoon_rising]

"...yes... Let's go."

Kain wondered how much Rydia had told Ceodore, but they weren't out there long, so, it couldn't have been anything beyond their current states. He spent some more time studying Ceodore, unsure what he reall felt about the younger man. It was still mind-breaking to think of who he was, and when he was from. The future held no interest for Kain, really, and especially at the moment he needed it to be not set in stone, so he almost resented Ceodore on principle for coming from such a time.

[sandrubies]

He couldn't read Ceodore's words and so he shot a glance to Rydia again, then back to Ceodore.

Cecil was half tempted to get up out of his chair and circle the other male. Everything about him suggested that Ceodore was almost like a younger lost brother. But it really wasn't the case at all.

[eidolon_soul]

Rydia tilted her head at Ceodore, after translating his question for Cecil. "Why don't you tell him? I'll steer the ship toward Dollet, so you'll both have time to talk." Typing that as well. Tedious, but what else could be done?

[lunarianlegacy]

Ceodore nodded once to Rydia. "Thanks. I appreciate it." A glance was shot to Kain and his reptilian companion. Probably best to keep his distance until it had an opportunity to adjust to his presence. He found keeping a dragon as a pet somewhat unnerving, yet unsurprising somehow.

To facilitate the conversation, Ceodore dropped to one knee on the side of his father farthest from the dragon and started to punch the fascinating buttons on this talking box to leave a message for Cecil to read:

My name's Ceodore. Do you know me?