A Soldier's End/ A Leader's Birth

[vjockey]

1) [Action

Comments

2

[howling_alone]

I had always heard about the Gucun State from the League's records... but never have I been. Our mercenaries always considered this place a no-man's land, nothing to be gained from being here...

You've found value in it though, have you not?

[vjockey]

I did. My comrades. My family....it was once my home. Soon.. it will be again.

[Cheng walks up to the desecrated building and brushes his hand against the broken stones.]

[howling_alone]

A bitter sweet feeling it must be... I remember walking the ruins of Rayleonard when I had been reinstated... it was a morose experience...

[Alexei stops for a moment and takes in the atmosphere. It's somber...]

You'll lead this place to new heights?

[vjockey]

I will lead it to a better future. One day... people will look to Gucun with pride and acknowledgement.

The land of my family will be a land worthy of respect. I refuse to let their memory be tarnished or forgotten.

2

[punches_vamps]

...Dude doesn't know when to let a grudge die, does he.

[vjockey]

He was a petty man. Something like this... it is no surprise.

[Cheng merely shakes his head.]

You would have guessed though. You did meet him before.

[punches_vamps]

Yeah, I did.

...What are you gonna do after this? I mean...

[vjockey]

Help rebuild Gucun. Raise my family. Make sure nothing like the Civil War ever happens again.

A tall order... but someone has to take care of it.

2

[curseu_reflexes]

... It's...

... It would've been bad enough if he'd just ignored this one like all the others.

[vjockey]

It would have... but his desire to prove that he and his family was better than mine in all ways wouldn't have allowed an opportunity to let this pass by.

[Cheng let out a sad chuckle.]

It's easy to acknowledge that this would have happened... but harder to accept.

[He shakes his head as he regards the sorry state of where the dead of his family were interred.]

[curseu_reflexes]

All of this caused by a superiority complex...

Can't we... at least do something for them though? If not right now, then at least before the Chalice leaves?

[vjockey]

... Perhaps... but they are my family... I will take care of them myself... do not worry...

[He looks to the other mausoleums, and to the many graves they passed before.]

But the others... if we can tend to them soon... and grant them a small offering... then it would be for the best.

2

[2hell_weride]

So... what now bro? You takin off to rebuild?

Or you wanna start by cleanin this up? [[Pointing at said mausoleum.]]

[vjockey]

[Cheng looks at the mausoleum... and turned to regard the others before finally looking right at MarKus.]

We will rebuild and we will give the dead their due respect...

My family...

[He takes a deep breath... and lets it out.]

They can wait... they would understand.

[2hell_weride]

Alright. I gotcha man.

[[MarKus looks over the mausoleum again, then, around.]]

But fuck... where do we start though...

[vjockey]

The basics... provisions... medicine... machinery that isn't solely military in nature.

Depending on how much time we have... if we can get a few people to stay a while and make sure we have enough people who know what to do.

Even with enough half trained men and women the rest should fall into place...

Work on keeping the living alive. Honor the dead when we can.

[Cheng gives MarKus a small smile.]

Think you can teach a few men how to fix a water filtration system?

1

[emorangerblack]

[Away from the crowds, away from the noise. Just like Devon likes it - even if she looks a bit pained and more than just a bit exhausted at the moment.]

The hard part begins now.

No... that's a cliche thing to say. Inaccurate, too.

What you accomplished today - is an extraordinary feat already.
I'm proud.

[vjockey]

...Perhaps... but I never would have gotten this far by myself.

[He turns to look at Devon with a smile.]

I have both you and our comrades to thank. I am proud of what we all have accomplished.

[emorangerblack]

It was not easy. Admittedly...

[Hesitation, awkwardness, all the usual stuff whenever circumstances force Devon to open up a little.]

I was worried.

[vjockey]

[Cheng seemed unsure as what to say... hesitation and awkwardness? Cheng felt it too. So he did what he thought was a good idea... and moved over to hold Devon close.]

I know. I was too...

[There was more than one scare for the both of them throughout that fight.]