middleofsomewhere | Final: Blue

Entry tags:

Final: Blue

The siege continues. Crabs, giant squids, shark head beasts, all continue out of the sea. The islanders are in good spirits though and everyone pulls their weight. Traps are set, settlements defended. Some of the older islanders have taken it upon themselves to make sure everyone is fed and rested and so in quiet moments those who cannot fight are sent with packs of foods to give to those patrolling and guarding.

Those voidtreckers who don't know how to rest may find themselves practically kidnapped by a well meaning islander and forced to eat and sleep.

All the time the sky is getting darker, the seas rougher.

Day Ten

Just after dawn on day ten the storm breaks. Crashing thunder, lightning and roiling seas. The water swirls and seems to rise, it is rising, up and up a wave so high that you may fear that when it breaks it could swallow the island whole.

But it doesn't break, instead twists, taking form. A huge towering beast made of water and sand. A hand swipes down over a patch of beach, a wall of water to knock any fighters off their feet.

Around the same time, those not busy being attacked by the water monster will notice their SCA's light up and a screen appear. They might hear some familiar voices.

It seems there is more than fighting a monster to be done!

Beacon Building

Assuming the information is given those of the island will suggest the best place for a beacon to be built- the cliffs are the highest point on the island.

It will be hard work lugging wood up there in a storm, not to mention actually building and lighting a fire as cloud is low, rain is heavy and the wind is high.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I'm sorry..." He really is. He wishes they didn't have to fight. That monsters hadn't attacked these people. That they didn't have to fight back. That there would be peace.

But there was no peace to be had in the world. Indeed if peace were easy and kindness far spread then there would be no need for kirin at all.

He sighed and sat down opposite her, unwrapping one of the food parcels and passed it over to her.

"At least the food here is a change from the constant bacon meals on the train," she remarks, trying for some good cheer though exhaustion keeps weighing heavily on her body, mind and golden core.

She peers at Taiki from the corner of her eyes. "And there's nothing for you to be sorry for. There's a time to apologize, but you are doing your best to make things better here." She tries for a little smile, even. "You can be proud of yourself. I have seen how hard you work."

"Yes." He nodded, fully agreeing. Not that he had eaten any of the bacon but it was nice to be able to partake in at least a little bit of the communal food. He always feared being seen as rude on the train, refusing every thing that was made. Though at least red team were on kitchen duty, so making alternatives was relatively easy.

"Thank you Lady Wen." He was working no harder than anyone else and indeed the work was a lot less taxing. Still he wasn't going to argue with her.

"Do you need anything else? I can go and find more food if you want it."

She gave a small shake of her head, taking another large spoonful of the hearty fish stew before speaking again.

"No, no, that's fine. I don't need anything else. This is plenty. But if you like, I can take the rest down to the fighters. You shouldn't have to go there." Not too close to the battlefield, to danger or to bloodshed.

Yet at the same time, it wouldn't do to coddle, either, she was well aware of her tendency to be overbearing. So hard as it was, she added, "unless you'd like to." And then, immediately ruining that, followed a sharp look and a demand of, "have you been getting enough rest?"

"Um..." He doesn't really want to make her do more work when she has already been working so hard and yet there is only sense in him not wandering into a battle field. The smell of blood already lingers on the whole island and though he is not ill it's enough to make him feel uncomfortable.

His eyes widened and he nodded quickly, not wanting to draw her ire. "Yes."

It's probably not a lie, it's hard to rest when he knows everyone is out fighting, but there has been a lot of waiting, being still and keeping the children still as well.

"Hmm," was all she said in response to that, her face still the very picture of skepticism on principle alone. It wasn't even that she thought he would lie to her, more... Well, it was hard to remember rest and gauge these things properly when you were busy. She knew that very well herself.

"It's no bother for me to take your food packages when I return to the battle," she offered in the place of more chiding. "And I hope you won't worry too much for Lord Gyousou. He is very capable... and I will do my best to watch over him for you if he does get wounded at any point."

"I know. He is." He could agree with that. Lord Gyousou was strong and incredibly capable and the idea of Taiki being worried about him was practically laughable. Yet he cannot help it. He hates to think of him fighting and being in danger when Taiki can do almost nothing to help him.

"Thank you." His voice was still soft, but it held an intensity. Wen Qing might be intimidating but she is also kind and a good friend to both of them. "I don't know what is blocking our covenant but it is like he is not here at all, even when he is sat next to me."

"That sounds frightening," she said, her voice carefully gentled again. She hesitated once more, before reaching for him, a hand placed on his forearm and squeezing gently. "I can't imagine what that must feel like for you."

If she could have sensed her brother like this, and suddenly couldn't anymore... She knows it would have terrified her.

"You are very brave, to be focusing on helping others anyway."

He leaned into the touch, glad for it. It's been a hard few days and any comfort is welcome. He reaches out hesitantly towards her, hoping that it would bring her comfort in return.

He looked down at her words though, sadly staring at the sand. "I'm not brave. Not at all."

If he were brave he wouldn't be here. Nor would Lord Gyousou for long. If he were brave he would have the courage to end his life and the life of his king, to allow the next kirin to be born and chose another king.

It had seemed easier before they had been reunited and yet now, the idea of condemning Lord Gyousou to death. Maybe a braver kirin could. But he could not.

So here he was on this far off world helping people because it was the only way he could help, trying to keep busy whilst Gyousou fought to keep these people alive. Whilst worlds away their own people starved, froze and were set upon by Youma and Asen's forces.

It's a good thing to be helping these islanders and he is glad he can do it. But it is far from being brave. Being here at all is if anything, an act of cowardice.

He looks away, not wanting her to see his tears.

She can't possibly fathom what dark thoughts are going through Taiki's head but she can clearly see that he is in pain and trying his best to hide it from her in whatever small ways she can.

Wen Qing is the last person to begrudge someone the right to lick their wounds in private but Taiki always tries to hide his tears and his pain, she has witnessed it before. And there's only so often she can sit there and let it happen without trying to take action.

Her grip on his arms tightened a little and she found herself wishing she would have an easier time reaching out and simply hugging people, or just showing at all how much she cares. But it's hard and so it's words she finds instead, though she longs to reach out physically.

"That's not even remotely true," she says, her voice firm. "Do you think there is only one way to be brave? It's not all about men with swords and golden cores. There is bravery in sacrifice, and in continuing to live so you will endure another difficult day."

There's the briefest of moments where Taiki wants to pull away. Not because he fears her, she is good and kind and though he fears her disappointment he knows she would never hurt him. But because he fears for her.

But he doesn't, because it's fine. She won't be harmed, even as her grip tightened. He blinked at her, he can see the wisdom in her words. There was more ways to be brave. Bravery came in many ways. Fighting wasn't always the right thing to do, indeed it was the wrong thing to do, even if sadly necessary.

There was bravery in sacrifice, to enduring hardship. But he is not brave. Not for being alive. Still it isn't something he can put in words.

It's especially not something he can put in words in a way that someone from outside his world could understand. So he just nods, because he really does agree with her words. They just don't apply in his situation.

"You're very brave." He speaks before wondering if she will find that insulting. After all it is not as if such a thing would ever be in any doubt.

She gives a shaky little laugh as Taiki turns her own words back on her, figuring that this is a reference to her own sacrifice, to the burning, to... She actually isn't quite certain how much she may have mentioned in passing without even realizing it, how much he has figured out for himself. He did witness her nightmare, after all, he had seen her burn.

"If I'm brave at all, then I'm no braver than many others who endured the same or worse than I did," she says, shaking her head a little. "My brother was... is brave." Is, for Wei Wuxian did promise her that A-Ning lives. "A-Yuan is brave. I only kept going when there was nothing else to do."

She gives him a small smile and finally releases his arm. "I guess that's a lesson for here, too. We just have to keep going. There is no other choice." There is something pointed to her voice, though. He may dismiss her attempts at reassuring him but maybe he will take more comfort from harsh pragmatism.

He had put bits and pieces together, witnessed her nightmare. He knows he barely knows anything about her but the little he does know confirms his instinct that she is indeed a very brave person.

He listens as she spoke, her words cementing the idea more. She was brave, keeping on when there was nothing else to do. He nodded, he could agree with that.

"We do." He nodded, looking at her sadly. Keeping going was the only thing they could do.

"Do... Do you want more food?"

She shakes her head, though she accompanies that with a reassuring small smile.

"No, I'm good. You've given me plenty." She sighs, smile fading away. "I should take the rest and return to the fighters. I don't like being away from battle for too long, just in case I'm needed there." Before he can get himself worked up about keeping her away from battle, though, she adds, "I was glad for getting to talk to you. It has been a relief to get away from it for a while."

He did feel guilty that he had kept her away from where she was needed, though he was also relieved it had given her a break from the fighting. He didn't like to think of anyone fighting at all. Never mind his friends.

"I hope you stay safe." He handed over the parcels for the others. "I will see you soon."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Final: Blue

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

cw: inner thoughts of killing self for good of a country? idk but it it probably needs warned for

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject