purrrrfection | •||• Open Post •||•

[ Boy howdy is he in for a surprise once Sanguis hits and he has to deal with the changes that come with it. Toh'ni had filled him in on most of the basics of how Lunatia works, but there's a definite difference between hearing about something and experiencing it.

He removes the axe from his back and leans it against the chair before he takes the offered seat and relaxes into it, leaning back with arms crossed as he listens to Ziva. He's glad to hear that some of her friends are here, at least. It's good to know she hasn't been completely alone in this strange place.

Her emphasis on others is more than a little peculiar, though, and he raises an eyebrow in question. It could be that they're just people he's unfamiliar with, but... ]

Others? Anyone I would know?

[He has the right of it, and even on the verge of a potentially unpleasant conversation Ziva finds herself glad to be able to discuss the bizarre turns of events this place offers with someone familiar, someone who may begin to understand how she might feel about it all. Were she privy to his thoughts she'd consider them touching. They would have come at once as both a surprise and not, for who knew the dangers of solitude and loneliness better than Ardbert? Yet considering how they had started off so at odds on the Source she wouldn't be able to help but think it an ironic turn of events. They'd come to care for one another so dearly, he truly was as much a surrogate brother to her as she considered Alphinaud, Haurchefant, or Aymeric.

Once she's finished dabbing up the last of the coffee she goes to get another mug, pouring Ardbert a helping before she takes up the seat next to him and sets the mug before him on the table. All of this took only about the same amount of time for Ziva to list off the previous names, then for Ardbert to settle and inquire for details.]

In a manner of speaking. I've run into a few other Warriors of Light here, and what's odd is that we all hail from the Source, to the last. It's not like with the First, where the names and places are different.

[She'll get to Emet-Selch.]

Edited 2020-05-22 01:49 (UTC)

[ He gives her a nod of thanks for the coffee, a welcome gift given how little he's slept. He takes a long drink while she explains things, listening carefully. He's not sure what to make of these other Warriors of Light, and takes a long moment to consider the information he has, looking down and away as the gears in his mind turn. They're all from the source? He and his were all Warriors of Light, all from the First, so he knows it's possible for a shard to house more than one of Hydalen's chosen. The more he thinks about it, though, the more out of place these particular Warriors of Light seem.

During his brief partnership with the Ascians, they had only ever spoken of one, of Ziva. Were there more Warriors of Light on the Source, they wouldn't have escaped the Ascians focus. Those lot didn't miss much, especially when it related to the Deity that opposed their own. ]

And none on the source spoke of them before now?

Edited 2020-05-22 02:38 (UTC)

That would depend entirely on who you asked.

[She states calmly in response, leaning on one arm against the table, mug back in hand with the other.]

You see, we all more or less share the same general memory of major events, starting points, meeting the Scions, ending the Dragonsong War, all that. I've yet to figure out how or why.

[Make it make sense. Not that she minds. It was more than passing strange when she spoke with her first few about it, but she had no explanation for it and had decided that there simply must be more to it all than they'd assumed.]

Several of the others I've spoken with all seem to have memories of their own Warriors of Light. You're the first to have any idea who I am, specifically.

[And since no one has stepped forward to correct her on that, she assumes it's still true, which is fine. She'd had more than enough practice at hiding how much it chaffed to be- well, "forgotten" wasn't quite the word for it. It was more that so far as any of them were concerned she had simply never existed. Realizing that the first time had been quite the chilling moment, but the last thing Ziva wanted to do was make things awkward or otherwise uncomfortable. But still, if anyone would understand what she was saying without saying it in so many words it would be Ardbert.]

Edited 2020-05-22 03:22 (UTC)

Gods...I'm really the only one who remembers you?

[ It felt as though all known laws of the universe were flipped on their head. If he hadn't known Ziva, he might think she was speaking complete nonsense. Oh, she was saying words, and those words held meaning, but they made no sense. Everyone she knew (including those other Warriors of Light, from the sound of it) had the same memories, yet none but he could remember her? What, then. Was Ziva interchangeable with any of these other so-called warriors of light? How absurd.

He scowled, grit his teeth. His hand clenched tight around the cup in front of him. If he thought it would help, he'd try to shake some sense into Thancred and Alphinaud, set their memory straight by force, but that would help little and likely cause more problems.

It doesn't escape his notice, the things that go unsaid, and he's suddenly grateful he kept his earlier thoughts to himself. If he had said he was glad she hadn't been alone...well. It would have no doubt left a sour taste in both their mouths. Because she had been alone, or at the very least forgotten or replaced by whatever impacted the memories of her friends. ]

And no one knows the reason for this? Dark magic, maybe...? [ Look. He's no Aetherologist, but he knows memories can be altered at least slightly. The Pixies did it to Rhyne and Thancred in Il Meng, to obscure their memory of Urianger's home. So maybe...no. That didn't really track. It wouldn't explain why he's here. ]

Aye.

[She says it simply and quietly, and finds herself wishing she had something much stronger in her coffee mug now.

At least someone is here now that knows her. She knows they haven't all been so lucky. She considers telling him what else she knows, about how some have come and gone from other worlds after being drawn from their homes and before winding up here, but in a rare moment of restraint she realizes those aren't her stories to tell. What little she knew she'd either been told in confidence or didn't quite trust herself to recount properly.

No... best to leave it to them to tell it. Let Ardbert speak to the others for himself. Besides, after a century of wandering alone it would probably do him quite a bit of good to be able to speak to someone other than her, and that thought was enough to chase off any lingering frustration or hurt.

She elaborates with a gesture of her hand, tail moving to and fro with her restlessness.]

So far as we've been able to tell we all come from some sort of... alternate realities, as if the source and its reflections have been duplicated several times over. Each copy seems to have its own Warrior of Light, but it seems everyone else is more or less the same, save for their memories of-- ah--

[With a soft huff Ziva shut her eyes and shook her head, bringing her hand up to pinch the bridge of her nose.]

--"us"? The warriors? This is too damned much for me. It's all a damn mess, and still not our main concern, besides. More a point of curiosity, to be truthful.

[ Alternate realities...as if things weren't wild enough. It seems like more than a point of curiosity to him, especially given...the potential duplication of their universe or the potential repercussions that might have, but those questions and concerns are better left to those with a firmer grasp of Aether and the inner-workings of their world. Someone like Urianger or Y'shtola perhaps, though it sounds like they're not here at the moment.

As much as Ardbert wants to know the how and the why of this nonsense, he knows better than to think on it much longer. He would end up wanting to bang his head against a wall before long. He's a fighter, not someone who could puzzle out a mystery of this magnitude.

He settles back to a more relaxed posture, rubbing his forehead with a sigh. ]

If that's not our main concern, I'm guessing being...brought to this place is? Unless there's even more I'm unaware of.

[It's enough to make one's head spin. Some of the others are most definitely better suited. She considers herself to be capable of imagining some pretty wild things, after all, she's tagged along on all of Hildibrand's recent exploits, but this? This is in a whole different realm of bizarre.]

... Yes.

[That's it. That's the answer. Yes to both. Yes to all of it. Yes to everything. This shit is weird, mate.]

Things are quiet here for the most part. Every now and again some weird shite goes down that we find ourselves roped into, but otherwise we all just live normal lives here.

[Finally her frustration over the topic a moment ago falls away, and she offers her companion a crooked smile.]

I'd be lying if I said I'm anything but glad you're here with us now. I realize this might not have been your first choice, but...

[Ah, but words are difficult, easy to say, harder to choose carefully, at least for her. She knows he must miss his original companions (who knows, maybe they'll turn up as well), but she's still glad to know he'll get a second lease on life along with the others that have been lost along the way. They deserve it. Most aren't that lucky, and she hopes to see him make the most of it.]

[ She's right, if he's being honest with himself. This place isn't his first choice, furthest from it. He's tired, after all, and not just because he didn't sleep the night before. After everything that happened with Hades--finishing his story, making amends--Ardbert had hoped to finally be able to rest. Yet here he is, and a cynical part of him wonders if he's only been brought back to contribute to some other grand plan, that perhaps what he gave wasn't enough.

He wants to hope, though. As much as he misses his friends, and as confusing as the whole situation is, he can't deny how appealing a normal life sounds. ]

First choice or not, I'm here now. Full glad for it too, believe it or not.

[ He just wishes...his friends could be here, too. If anyone's deserving of a second chance, it's them. ]

Edited 2020-05-25 04:00 (UTC)

[The smile she gives in turn is warm but also a little sad. She can imagine only too well how he feels, though his words do give her heart. Learning what they had sacrificed, hearing all that he'd lost, seeing what they'd given their all to try to protect, he deserved to rest. Ziva was a woman who took her bonds to heart and kept them close, and even with him here before her now she couldn't help but still think of herself as a sort of protector, though she knew damn well better than to say so aloud. Besides, just who had saved WHO at the end there, hm? Exactly.

Still, the man deserved his rest, and she knew she'd find anyone who tried to take that from him and she'd tear them a new asshole.]

Take heart... there's always a chance.

[She said it with surprising softness, a tentative hope that she wasn't fully sure he'd want to be given, but he'd seen his hope rewarded before.]

After all, this place saw fit to see us reunited. I mean it, of all the faces I could've seen from home, yours is the one I'm most grateful for, and not just because you remember me.

[But maybe this was too emotional for a reunion. For a moment she let the sentiment linger, gave him a chance to respond if he wished, but was ready to offer a segue should it be too much.]

•||• Open Post •||•

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject