middleofsomewhere | [OVERFLOW] Event: Healing Waters

[ There were makeshift footholds indented in the dirt, so when Roland grabs onto Quatre, he helps his burden by jumping first to get some height, then resting his weight against the solid rests. It allows him to climb up a bit faster, and hopefully reduces the effort on the other man's part to lift his weight. When they're settled, he dusts himself off with two hands before standing at attention. ]

That wasn't so bad. You okay? [ He'll assess his mountain climbing partner for a bit before he moves on and starts walking. ]

[The footholds definitely helped Quatre be able to hold onto and help pull him. If he'd had to do it all on his own, it would have taken far longer and much more effort on his part]

No, not bad at all. Yeah, I'm fine.

[A little dirty from kneeling down to help pull him up, but no worse for wear. He continued the hike up with him]

It's nice here.

But if you've seen space, does something as simple as this still compare? Heh. [ He crosses his arms and does the same; takes a look around, letting it all overtake him. Roland breathes in deep, the air sweet from the syrup. ] Kind of making me wish the presidential package came with a free trip up there too.

[ Roland smiles. Whatever Jema'grethy had in store for them, at least they had silver linings like this. ]

I think so. The colonies in space were basically large cities. There were a few parks, but it was nothing like this. If you looked up in a colony, you saw more buildings, not the sky. This is certainly much better.

[He smiled. He found nature very pleasant and understood that it was something to cherished since he'd never had this when he was younger]

Presidential package?

Heh. Nothing. [ He shakes his head and ventures forth, even closer, even higher so that they can see the very best of the mountain. Sometimes his little understatements hiding as jokes slip out, but he won't mention much of it now that he's caught himself. ]

So, what was the name of the colony you were assigned to?

[Quatre didn't ask any more about it. It was either an inside joke that he didn't know about or something of like, but in the end, it didn't make much difference as they walked up the mountain]

Nothing fancy. It was called the L4 cluster because that block of colonies and associated satellites were located at the L4 Lagrange Point.

...Well, I guess that works. Nobody said naming countries had to be creative. [ Roland quips wryly. ] Apart from that special metal you mentioned, is there anything else you'd like to see from your home world? Something you could try to order for yourself on the train?

That is true. It just sounds so technical rather than someone's home. Still, makes it easier to remember where they are located. L4 is always at Lagrange 4.

[He thought about that for a moment as they walked]

My violin. I miss being able to play it.

Maybe you could name it on your own? Why not, right? [ Who would stop him here, anyway? ] Especially if it'll help endear it to you even more. [ And from this, Roland speaks with experience. Names have power, even if it's just your own way of calling home. ]

[ They're close to the summit at this point, if the stronger breeze and sloping ground was of any indication. He was glad for his walking stick to help give him some leverage on softer soil. ]

Wow. I'd love to hear a song or two if you manage to get it. [ Roland smiles, turning back to Quatre. ] I haven't heard an instrument from home in a long time now...

Well, that is true. There's only so many here who would know or care.

[Home was always home, but Earth had always been far more appealing for him. He still did care about the people on the colonies, always had]

I'd be happy to. I'll have to see if I can request it from the train.

That's certainly one way to put it. [ He's encouraging about it, strangely so. ]

[ At last, just at the right time when Quatre speaks, the vast landscape of Jema'grethy is revealed to them at the top of the mountain. The sun is beating down steadily at them, but the breeze is refreshing and the smell of the sea is mingling nicely with the syrup running down the veins of the soil. ]

I'll remember that, then. I look forward to being in your audience. [ Roland smiles; closes his eyes and takes it all in. ]

I'll have to think about it then. See if I can come up with a fitting name.

[Quatre paused for a moment, looking down the world now stretched before them from this mountain. It was breath-taking, the sort of thing he had always wanted to see when he was on the colonies, dreaming of going to Earth]

Thank you. I appreciate that. I will let you know when I get it.

It's beautiful up here.

Let me know about it, once you do? [ Roland turns to him, in a generally good mood. ] And yeah, it is.

[ There's a swell of silence that follows, with just the breeze to keep them company. When he speaks next, it's a bit more foreboding, that serious air returning to him naturally. ]

...If only it was just beautiful, and nothing more.

I definitely will.

[Quatre was quiet as well, enjoying the wind blowing around them, carrying the scent of nature. He'd been thinking the same thing about this place, that it was not all that it seemed and he glanced over when he spoke]

Yeah... those visions when we first arrived.

[ Aha. There it was. Voicing out what he wasn't sure how to bring up. Visions. So it wasn't just him. Of course. ]

[ He hums first, takes his time to answer. When he does, Roland has his arms folded against his chest again, looking out into the vastness that was the planet. ]

...What did you see?

[He had known others had but he wasn't sure how many had seen them. Now they were just adding more to the list]

It was someone's apartment. The person was figuring out his budget because he was trying to pay bills and still have money. And I think I remember seeing the creature that was with him on the train, but I can't place them.

What did you see?

[ That sounded....Oddly familiar. Something about the bills, and a creature on the train. But he won't pry too much. This already felt strange as it is. ]

Some sort of colorful restaurant. There were teenagers around me hanging out together. Laughing. Talks of sports, exams. They just came from school.

[ Huh. ]

...That sounds completely unrelated to yours. Hm.

Hmmm... interesting. Such very mundane things to see. It's not what I would expect if it was a message of some sort.

[He nodded his head]

It certainly seems like they are unrelated.

Right?

[ So they were correct not to trust the island. They were correct not to trust any of this for what it was. ]

We'll need to be vigilant. We could wind up seeing more.

[Quatre was fairly trusting overall, but a strange vision was something that he wasn't so sure about. Certainly, nothing good came from showing someone such random information when they didn't want it]

Of course. Should we share if we see more? See if we can put something together?

[ Roland nods decisively. ]

You read my mind. Let's. The more minds trying to figure this out, the better.

Great. If I see another one, I will let you know so we can compare notes.

[They seemed to be very much alike in someways, very much wanting to figure out why strange things had happened]

Heh. Thanks. That'd be really appreciated. [ Roland smiles at Quatre and returns to the view, just breathing quietly and letting it wash over him before work takes priority once again.

Visions, huh? Not the first time he's had to deal with that. Guess it's not going to be the last, either. ] I enjoyed our little trek up the mountain. It was well-worth the climb, I'd say.

No problem. There's usually an answer to things if people work together to accomplish it.

[His own gaze turned back to the view. It was amazing up here. So beautiful. Places like this were the reason he had wanted to go Earth, why he wanted to defend it]

Definitely worth it. Too bad this is something we can only do for a limited time.

[He'd love to bring more people here and share this with them]

[ Now that's a philosophy Roland gets behind. His smile grows wider upon hearing it from someone else, pleased that Quatre would even vocalize it. ]

Right you are. Hard as unification is...It wouldn't be worth having if it came easy.

[ Roland just hums at that. It's nice, but it's already coming with a price to pay. They just didn't know how heavy. ]

Well, I don't know about that. Vacations feel special because you don't get to do them often, after all. But I won't disagree - it's a one in a million experience.

[OVERFLOW] Event: Healing Waters

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