kaisou | video; un: riftdancer

Entry tags:

amal vasiya

video; un: riftdancer

WHO: Amal and whoever!
WHERE: The network
WHEN: The last week of May
WHAT: Amal's long nap is finally over.
WARNINGS: Endwalker spoilers in some threads, if you care about that sort of thing. Mind the CWs on Zelos' thread too (abuse, indentured servitude).

[video]

[Amal is dressed a little differently today. Repping Thavnairian weave and a ribbon in his hair, he's seemingly conquered the incredible bedhead he's nursed for several weeks.]

Hey everyone! Did you think you were rid of me? Sorry to disappoint! Being exceptionally difficult to get rid of is one of my many talents, as it turns out.

My birds are acting like I was dead instead of asleep, when I don't even remember going to bed. But I remember a lot of other things—it was like I was home. Like I never left. Maybe... my body was here while my soul was there? I have no idea, but I'm awake now, and I have every reason to believe what I saw happen... uh, happened.

So. What'd I miss?

[A pause.]

Oh, and what's a BBL? I woke up to a bunch of texts from work asking if I'd 'recovered' yet.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He's the worst. This is what you've signed up for, Raha.]

Why don't I tell you about those striking eyes instead? No one else has anything else like them—and there is reason for that.

You might think mine are a similar shade at first glance, but they're more orange-red, while yours carry a light all their own.

Edited 2022-05-29 07:41 (UTC)

[please stop semi-complimenting his physical features he doesn't know how to handle that.]

I-- I had assumed they would be considered natural in your world. Are they not? [is he wearing magic contacts or something.]

[ n o ]

They're a mark of your bloodline—diluted, perhaps, but ancient and storied all the same.

The tale, as it goes, involves a princess who loved her people but didn't quite approve of her family's tyrannical decisions. She kept a former slave as her closest companion, after all, and she had many like-minded friends in many places. Her vision of the future was sharp but she knew she wouldn't live to see it, so she arranged to have the special eyes passed down through ancient techniques, no longer bound to the dying royal line. It isn't just the eye color you've inherited, of course—there are memories and knowledge and some kind of guiding wish. It's the proof of hope in a bygone age.

If you ask me about all of this... I think it's very likely that the princess and her dearest had a thing. But there's no historical record of this, obviously. It all just seemed very romantic to me when I heard about it.

[Raha doesn't respond immediately, because once Amal tells him, he feels like he remembers this. Knowing this without knowing how, standing beneath a towering crystal structure. Though without the city (or ruins therefore) that he saw in the other realm... more to think on later. Right now there are other concerns.]

Please tell me you did not describe me as a prince to me when you were first telling me about your world.

[he definitely did]

Edited 2022-06-07 12:14 (UTC)

[Amal reddens all the way to his ears.]

That's the thing you're stuck on? Gah, I was hoping you'd forgotten...

[So he likes to talk Raha up a little.]

It's all true, though. Every word.

You made it sound very impressive.

[Of course he remembered that! Even though he can't help but think Amal talked him up too much.]

Are you able to explain more of that to me now?

[seriously 'newly ascended space wizard' was also in there and he has QUESTIONS.]

I can.

[He pauses.]

All the same, it might be better to talk about it in person. There's a lot to cover, and it's not entirely a happy story, as you might imagine...

Yes, I think I can.

When would be a good time to talk? [He does also need to meet Ghaleon at some point.]

Now is fine, if you like. I don't have to work tonight.

[Small mercies. He's not sure he could dance with his whole heart after everything he just experienced. Also he still hurts a bit.]

Alright. I'll be over in a moment.

[And if Amal doesn't think he's going to fuss over him like a mother chocobo when he sees he's still hurting he is sorely mistaken.]

[Amal starts some tea, because this is definitely a "tea" kind of thing. And while he has a moment to himself, he lays face first sprawled out on their fancy almost-futon because WHAT A DAY.

Just give him a minute to compose himself and scream a little internally and externally. He'll be OK. This is part of his promise to himself not to internalize everything anymore.]

[It doesn't take Raha long to get there, and if the door's unlocked he'll knock before peeking in. He can imagine Amal is probably tired, even if from this side it seems like he's been sleeping the whole time...]

Hey. How are you doing?

[The door is in fact unlocked. The sound of Raha's voice makes him leap up to attention, but this also has the effect of... making him wince openly. He rubs at his stomach.]

H-- [fuck that hurt] Hey! I'm uh, I'm... Doing. Surviving. You know.

[He is so bad at this.]

Tea?

[a m a l]

I'll get it.

[You stay. Raha will go over to where Amal had started the tea and pour a cup for both of them, bringing them over and handing one to Amal. At least he doesn't press on the fact that he's clearly in pain??]

...It's good to see you. [awake and all.]

[For once, Amal doesn't argue. He looks like he wants to, but instead he just gives a great sigh and flops back down on the couch. Butt first this time, since there's no need to be dead.]

... Thanks.

[He makes sure there's room for G'raha next to him, and graciously takes the teacup offered.]

It's good to see you, too. I'm sorry again for giving you such a fright—seems to be a bad habit of mine, lately.

I don't think it's you so much as the universe.

[With Amal at the center of it, but it doesn't really seem to be his fault. Raha will sit next to him, tea in hand, not touching but still a comfortable closeness.]

The universe needs to stop it, then.

[He blows off the top of his tea and takes a sip, not wanting to burn his tongue. This is definitely comfortable, and he won't deny there's an urge to lean in closer, but he'll let Raha be. This is just like he remembers at home.]

I'm fine now, though. Really. I think I just need to rest another week or so. Magic might save someone if you get to them in time, but... it's like all of the energy I would have spent in bed in stitches got used up all at once. Now I'm just tired and sore, with a few new scars to impress.

Mm.

[He's getting more used to the regaining of memories now, a distant recollection of a lecture on the use of aether in the healing arts coming to mind, but aside from just taking the time to sip at his tea to let his mind settle he doesn't comment on it.]

If you need any help, I should be around for a bit. [He was planning on moving in soon, though he'll be swallowed up by his masters' defense soon enough.]

[He gets the feeling there is more that Raha wants to say, but he's not sure how to get him to talk about it. Normally Amal loves the sound of his own voice so it's not a problem, but...]

No sparring or moving furniture, most likely. So if you still want to move in after all of this, you might be on your own unless you wait.

[He watches his companion, words unsaid weighing heavy. How does he go about... everything? Where does he even start?]

Do you want me to start at the beginning? With... how we met? I know a little about your origins besides the bedtime story.

I do. Still want to move in. If it's alright?

[He doesn't really know why Amal thinks he wouldn't, given that he's already said he understands why the real connection was kept from him, but he's fine to reassure him all the same.

He smiles softly at him, giving him a little nod.] Seems like that would be a good place to start. ~~[now i have do-re-mi stuck in my head forever, did i mention that my theater's musical next year is sound of music and the kids would not stop singing it????]~~

Edited 2022-08-01 22:41 (UTC)

O-of course it's all right! I'd be really happy if you did. [He rubs at the back of his head and glances away again.] The closer you are, the less I have to worry...

[Well. That's true enough.

He catches the small smile and it makes him flush. He hides it behind his tea so he can get himself under control, then sets it down on the coffee table.]

We... that is, the you I remember... we first met in Mor Dhona, which is a rugged little slice of weird country sandwiched between Coerthas in the north and Thanalan in the south. Coerthas is ridiculously cold, and Thanalan is a desert, and if that makes your head spin it's totally understandable. It wasn't always that bad, but Mor Dhona is rough. There have been multiple disasters there and each one left its mark on the world. There are crystals of every color jutting out of cliffs, lightning sprites roaming freely, ancient buildings overgrown with crystal, and a dragon's old corpse sitting in the middle of a lake.

So, not the most hospitable country...

But! Thousands of years ago, it used to be a thriving hub of civilization. And this was why your group of scholars, the Students of Baldesion, came to Mor Dhona. I came to help the Students with their exploration of the Allagan ruins they were excavating because that's what good and helpful adventurers do, or something. Cid was also helping on the project, and he was a friend of mine, so that was another reason.

[He pauses, and then he has to fight back a grin.]

Rammbroes called me over, and he said something to the effect of... 'One of my colleagues hasn't come back, again, and there's a 50-50 chance he's dead. Can you finish what he started?' So I had my orders. And while I was running from place to place looking for various kinds of aethersand, someone followed me and provided running commentary.

Obnoxious as this person was, I got what I could and brought it back to the campsite. Lo and behold, who do I see standing on the highest point of the scaffolding, wind dramatically flowing through his braided hair, but the intrepid G'raha Tia... You jumped down and swooped in like a hero from a legend, and you took charge of the expedition in your own way.

Now, this is the funny part...

[He takes another sip of his tea.]

I was barely over twenty, and you were a few years older and smarter and cuter, so I was kind of jealous.

[Raha coughs into his tea, face very flushed by that little story and looking more than a little embarrassed.]

Ah... that does sound like something I would have done when I was a bit younger...

[he was a smart-assed menace in high school and early college. Graduate school has mellowed him out considerably.]

I'm going to object to the 'smarter and cuter' bit, though. [In a match of 'years of education,' yes, he can absolutely believe that. But being 'smart' is much more than that, and he's really seen nothing from Amal to indicate that he's not intelligent in his own right. And he's definitely not cuter.]

[Amal chuckles softly at Raha's poor embarrassment. He does enjoy teasing him a little, but this is all very true!]

I know how hard it is for Sharlayan scholars to get their tattoos, and you certainly worked hard for yours. Me? Well... I never had the patience for that sort of thing. I got my so-called degree in knowing how to navigate the underbelly of any city.

And, you are very cute, and I won't hear any arguments, unless that argument is that you'd prefer handsome instead.

[He drains his cup and sets it back down.]

It's funny, really—you wanted someone to compete with and I was the perfect target. Then I got over myself and realized just how much I could learn from you. From being like you. You didn't take no for an answer, and you seemed to know who you were and exactly what you were born to do... right up until you left us. You never had a doubt in your mind. When destiny rose up before you, you didn't hesitate to accept it.

[This is Amal's blind spot right here-- thinking G'raha has always known who he was, even though evidence points to the opposite! But it's that strong sense of purpose that Amal envied.]

But... me? I was a ship adrift. I didn't fit anywhere. If there was a purpose for me, I couldn't find one. Everyone else seemed to think I was there to be their savior, so that's what I did... I hoped that if I kept working hard, eventually something would fall into place and I'd feel like the hero they wanted.

Edited 2022-08-02 00:13 (UTC)

[As Amal tells the story, there are parts of it Raha can picture perfectly- likely more memories, even if they manifest as a vivid mental picture. He tilts his head at the part about knowing who he was the whole time, in part because he certainly wouldn't say that's true of himself now and part because something about it doesn't feel right, with what he's remembering, even though that specific evidence is currently absent.

He has more questions about his- about the other him's- part in this story, but there's something else he wants to ask first.]

Did you?

[He rubs at the bottom of his nose. There's a sparkle in his eyes now that G'raha's asked that question.]

What I needed wasn't a purpose, but a home. Once I found that, everything else fell into place naturally.

Home doesn't have to be a... location. For me, it was people. My people are the Scions—my family, really.

[He reaches out to gently poke G'raha's shoulder.]

They're your people, too.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

--> action;

action;

action;

Re: action;

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

oh no once you get the sound of music started it's ALL OVER

the children would not be stopped

do re mi to the grave

no subject

no subject