Fandom Final Fantasy: The Age of Ophiuchus [Closed]

[Lucyfer]

Didymus was surprised by the reaction he got from Cleon, eyes widening a bit at what he picked up on. Was it that much of a secret? He supposed it probably was, and the only reason he knew the exact date was because, well, he was party to their plans. Still, he waited for Cleon to calm down – or really, for Kikiti to talk a bit about him. He realized where he messed up, and spoke up to it, “Look, I didn’t have the exact date for a while, either. Not that it makes my plans any better, but it’s kind of hard to hide armies and airships. I could see them flying, and I knew Ucantis was on the agenda, so…yeah. I kind of followed. I didn’t know when exactly, or how.”

He sighed, hanging his head, “I know it doesn’t make it better, but even if I wanted to tell someone, Kikiti’s right – if I came to the palace and tried to tell someone, I’d just be laughed out and dismissed. It isn’t as if people were unaware the Empire was gonna attack Ucantis.”

Reva’s ears flickered, but Didymus wasn’t wrong. Even if he had come with an exact date, who were they to believe him? Didymus wasn’t anyone. The likelihood of his information being carried along to Inara or Cleon was slim.

“He is not…incorrect,” Reva said, though she stepped closer to Cleon as she did so, “there was much rumor, much speculation, about when and where. We heeded them little, used our scouts, but our scouts were not prepared for the speed of the airships, or how many could be carried in an airship. They made themselves unpredictable.” It was not what Cleon wanted to hear, but he had to hear it.

She even spared Kikiti an appreciative glance, for how she dared to stand up and interrupt Cleon. It was bold, but Cleon was hardly in a position to enforce his will as a King would. “It makes his intentions little better. We do not need forgive him that.”

“Thanks.” Didymus said sarcastically, “see if I don’t poison the food,” he muttered, but it was half-heartedly. He wasn’t going to poison the food. He should poison the food, but he wasn’t going to. Mostly because he was afraid the viera would pick up on it and he’d be murdered before she even took a bite.

Reva’s piercing glare on the back of his head, made him look up, not to her, but to Cleon, “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for what you’ve lost, I’m sorry we’re all in this mess together. I may not have had the same things to lose as you, but I don’t like the Empire any better than any of you. They’re just a bunch of even richer asshats with fancier things that they don’t deserve.”

“Is that how you think of the Bandoethels?” Reva asked, tone icy.

Didymus considered shrinking and giving in, but this time, he didn’t, “Yeah. It is. I don’t want you suffering pain,” to Cleon, to Reva, “but you all don’t really need 50 sets of fine dinnerware, when my family doesn’t have one set, of regular dinnerware. So yeah. I was gonna steal some things of no consequence, and no one would even care, or notice. But this? This whole, taking over a kingdom and killing people thing? I’m on your side. That bothers me.”

And it did.

But he still had a job to do, eventually…and Zariel wanted Cleon alive. That made it better, right?

 

[Arcanist]

There were things Cleon didn't want to hear. And it was obvious that he hadn't wanted to listen to them. He wasn't that stupid. He knew the Empire would have had to come knocking on Ucantis' doorstep at some step. He was surprised it wasn't sooner, when his mother was at her weakest, when he had one foot in the afterlife and the other barely on the ground of the living. Still, it surprised him, how unprepared he truly was, how everything could be snatched away from him, from Reva too, even Kikiti.

He felt even more like a helpless fool the longer this day and night dragged on.

Cleon couldn't seem to answer any of them. What was he supposed to say? That he truly was clueless? That he agreed with them when he thought about it? Of course, none of them would have cared what Didymus had to say, if he even considered telling anyone. All he could was sigh, nod. He was too hurt to say anything more.

Kikiti frowned at Cleon's fall into silence once again. It was a hard truth to swallow, for sure. It was one she didn't want to accept, but had no choice other to. Though, she did suck her cheeks in at Didymus' comment. "Better not...I'd like to have one last good meal at least..." She murmured, folding her arms, and was about to go back to her work, though, Didymus hadn't quite finished.

The Lalafell watched Didymus and Reva verbally spar, and His Princeliness look as if he would have something further to say. She supposed Didymus had a point. Did anyone need 50 sets of fine dinnerware? Kikiti was lucky enough to have one of each kitchen utensil somewhere in her house. Certainly not as poor as Didymus, but nowhere near as loaded as what the royals ever were. She caught Cleon's eye, as if he looked to her and knew better. Rather than giving her piece though, she kicked at the ground, glancing away. She may not have agreed fully with how curt Didymus was being...but that wasn't to say she didn't disagree with him either.

"At least...we all agree on the last thing, right?" Kikiti suggested, at least wanting some sense of union here.

"...I suppose," Cleon finally murmured. From his tone, he was less than convinced.

Kikiti awkwardly kicked at the ground again, before she said, "I, uh, better get back to the fire, huh? Don't want it getting out of control..." She gave a weak chuckle, before walking back towards it. At least poking at it and having something to do would make things feel less awkward. Though, she was glad Reva was grateful for her help earlier. Prince or no, she wouldn't let things devolve into absolute chaos.

Not when they all were on the run together...

 

[Lucyfer]

‘Yeah…we’re all united in that.’

Didymus thought as Kikiti strove for union, while he felt the twist of guilt. Why should he feel guilty, though? What was wrong with taking a Prince to an Empress? She wanted him alive. He’d be okay, right? He tried to ignore his own guilt as he went about making the food, waiting for someone – Cleon, or Reva, really – to lash out at him, to accuse him of not understanding nobility, how hard it was, and how deserving they were.

No one did.

And the ache remained.

So Didymus, also, fell silent.

Reva understood there was little to be done to get over the awkwardness that had set in. There was loss of all sorts right now, and they had the misfortune of falling in with a thief who wanted to deprive Cleon of material wealth. A trifle, in the long term, but it certainly bothered her even if he would do the same to the Empire. It meant he was mercenary, and could be turned on them for the right price.

She would try not to give him more reason by stoking the flames further, that night. They weren’t too terribly far from Ucantis; he could head off that way and tell the Empire where they were, under the guise of something else. “Didymus, in a few hours I will be cleaning the clothes. I will see to yours as well,” she said, speaking loudly enough that it would carry to Cleon, in case he hadn’t heard her speaking with Kikiti about it earlier. “Just the upper layers, I do not think the small clothes need washed.”

Didymus gave a mute nod.

Reva accepted that, and did not push conversation further, but went to her bracers to begin to gather the ashes into them, and then went to get sap from the trees, as well as a bit of water to begin the preparation for the soap.

It wasn’t too long before Didymus had rigged up the quatrices over the fire, plucked bare and beheaded. The scent of cooking meat would soon fill the air, as Didymus had the berry and nut spread set aside to go along with them. ‘Plates!’ There were no plates! How was he gonna serve the spread?

In the end, he just cut the quatrices breasts down the middle, and spread the mix within, once they had mostly finished cooking. Not all the way – if he was going to have them in the quatrices, may as well have them help flavor the quatrices, too, right?

“Okay, food’s done,” he finally said to the campsite, and took one first to bite into it, to show at least he didn’t have any concern about poisoning. Not to mention anyone could have seen him poison them, he wasn’t hiding his activity in the least.

“One of you may have mine,” Reva said, and before Didymus could ask what was wrong, she said, “I do not eat meat.”

His expression fell. That should have been obvious. Viera looked kind of like rabbits. He flushed a bit. “I—sorry, I didn’t know.”

“No one told you. I will find my own food later,” she said, not at all worried.

“I could have at least saved you some of the spread,” Didymus muttered. Next time he’d remember.

 

[Arcanist]

The silence, Kikiti soon learned, was not enough to be filled with the fire crackling or their general busying around the camp. Like Didymus, she wanted someone to speak, if only to rid them all of the awkwardness that hung over them like a dull cloud. Didymus' reveal of his apparent plans in the castle, Cleon's outbursts, and the glares of Reva, were enough to make the atmosphere grow heavy. She should have known to not take everyone at face value, Didymus especially, then again, she had her doubts about him beforehand.

So when the silence was inevitably filled, she flinched, expecting another row to break out, though, it had only been to alert their resident thief and the prince that their clothes were going to be washed.

Cleon, hearing how Reva had directed that to him too, gave his own nod, and a small, "Thank you," in reply, before resuming his awkward loitering around the camp. The more he loitered though, and the more he smelled the meat and that nut spread, the more he cursed Didymus for how good it smelled. Damn his cooking skills!

It hadn't been long before Didymus had announced their food was done, and had even took a bite into his bird first to prove that he hadn't poisoned it. Though, Reva had just informed, and embarrassingly, Cleon had just remembered, that she didn't eat meat. He wouldn't be the first to claim an extra bird. He wasn't sure if he had the stomach for it. Kikiti's eyes, he noticed though, lit up at the idea of an extra portion.

"I probably should have mentioned it," Cleon murmured sheepishly. "I've eaten enough times with Reva to know she doesn't take meat..."

"I didn't know Viera didn't eat meat," Kikiti commented, grabbing a quatrice. The smell of the meat was driving her to insanity, to the point where she couldn't wait around for it any longer. "Huh, guess you learn something new every day..." She murmured, taking her quatrice and seating herself on a rock nearby. She was about to tuck in, though, she watched Cleon awkwardly take his quatrice, and fumble with it, as if a beast discovering a completely new object and wondering what to do with it.

"...Cleon?"

The young man flinched but tried to feign composure. "Yes?"

"Have you...ever ate with your hands before?" Kikiti asked, watching him hold the quatrice.

Cleon blinked, a Chocobo caught out in the open, before he said, "...what makes you ask that?"

Kikiti frowned and shook her head. A horrible liar. She supposed she'd have to teach him how to do that well, even if she found lying to be bad at the best of times. "You look rather uncomfortable sitting there with that quatrice. It's not difficult, rather fun if you ask me. We do that for our dinners at home if we're eating straight from the bone," she said with a smile, already taking a huge chunk out of the quatrice. She at least had some manners though, not to talk whilst she was chewing, chewing while her mouth was closed...things like that.

Cleon, by comparison, was more timid when it came to eating. It wasn't new though; he was always such an awkward eater from his childhood. Always took small bites, like he was doing with the quatrice right now, taking it slow...and often dishing out his greens onto Reva's plate. Because all children were fussy when it came to vegetables, plus, he knew Reva never ate meat, so he always shovelled what he didn't want onto her plate.

 

[Lucyfer]

Reva and Didymus also saw how Kikiti looked at the extra bird. Reva chuckled quietly to herself. She had not asked Kikiti how old she was, but she had a fairly good sense she was young even by human standards. A growing girl – perhaps not in height, but in plenty of other ways. She would need the energy perhaps more than the boys, in spite of her size.

Reva was lucky that, while being vegetarian, she also did not hunger so much as humans, either.

There were plenty of differences between humans and viera – diet being one of them few knew. Much was not common knowledge when it came to the viera, though Reva had dome some part in helping to offer more information to the world through her time at the academies. “There is little that is known of my kind, I have found,” viera said, “I imagine I have much to learn of the lalafell, too.”

Though she would not call personality anything inherent, she knew some aspects of her own personality had made her stand out. Aspects of Kikiti’s personality may be the norm amongst lalafell, like her willingness to try and teach Cleon how to eat with his hands, something that Reva had not considered immediately.

Among the viera, it was the norm, with only certain meals like soups and stews requiring utensils. “You will have to become accustomed to eating in this way,” Reva did say, “it was normal for me, before,” she told him, to perhaps quell any concern he may have of how he’d look. “We will be on the road a while…though we may pick up more supplies to help.”

“Plates would be good,” Didymus thought to say, “And some other things,” he could fill them in.

Didymus did find some small amusement in watching Cleon try to eat, though. “It is pretty normal to eat cuts of meat on the bone, by hand, even for us humans,” he said, though obviously that wasn’t the case for nobility. Still, he supposed Cleon ought to know that it wasn’t a terrible thing. Even if it was what peasants and thieves and viera and lalafell did.

 

[Arcanist]

"Ohhh," Kikiti nodded at Reva's words, taking another large bite into the bird. "That makes sense. I never found any books on them..." She murmured, now only just thinking about that. After all, they seemed to be a rather secluded people. She smiled then, responding soon after, "Feel free to fire some questions my way. I'd be more than happy to answer any questions." As a result, at least she'd be making people less ignorant. She met enough people in that camp regularly.

She no doubt knew the three of them would have some questions, people always did, though they hadn't been the first priority, what with Cleon's problems with eating with his hands. Poor thing. He hadn't really lived, had he?

Cleon felt himself grow redder, with each comrade in turn referencing his awkwardness with eating food like this. "I-I'm not saying it's a bad thing or anything," Cleon started, looking from Reva to Didymus, "I'm just not...well, it's obvious I'm just not used to it. I guess plates would be nice too..."

Kikiti couldn't help but laugh - it sounded oddly mischevious, childish almost, though, Lalafell laughter always did sound childish, even with older ones - and she looked to Cleon. "Don't worry. We'll help you adjust. We'll make a commoner out of you yet!"

Cleon blinked at Kikiti, wondering if that was something he should laugh at, given his current situation. Though, he did the amusement in it, and he chuckled a little. "Yes...I suppose you'll have to soon enough." It seemed Kikiti was glad the comment was met with some amusement. They needed it, even if they were caught up in a horrible situation like they were now.

He turned back to Didymus, realising that he hadn't even thanked him for the food he got them. "It's, uh...good by the way. The food, I mean." Sure, it wasn't anything luxurious or fancy, but it was better than eating something completely bland or...not so edible... "Where did you learn to cook?"

 

[Lucyfer]

Though there were a few books of encounters with the viera, in truth, Reva would be surprised to find any books actually about viera, or written by a viera. They did not have too much of a written history even amongst themselves, though they were taught to read and to write. It was necessary for things they may find to know at least that much, and for their few interactions with the outside world.

Yet, it was not a practice many took to. The Wood kept their history for them.

Reva’s handwriting remained atrocious.

So she would only offer a slight nod to Kikiti’s statement, agreement, as she listened to the rest of the conversation about food, and a bit of moving forward as Cleon learned their “ways” so he could blend in amongst the normal people. It would be a bit of a trial for him, but he would overcome that.

They would see to it.

Didymus had finished off his own quatrice, but wouldn’t go ahead and reach for the second. He’d been famished, so now he felt much better. “Figured it out on my own,” he said with a shrug, “and maybe from filching food from parties. It’s just figuring out what flavors go well together, and mixing what knowledge you know. Bunch of rich people in Escander are always having these farm-fresh birds, stuffed up with tart berries and breading, so this seemed like it would be good.”

Reva arched a brow at the ingenuity of it. Most humans never noticed much subtle nuances in flavor. “You were able to figure things out by tasting them?”

“Yeah, and hearing of things. Like, I guess, down south, they really like to use fish and citrus together a lot, and up north they’re famous for spiced wines – so then it’s just trial and error. Took a bit to figure out what kind of spices were really good in different wines, but I had an idea of what was popular up north. Like, they use a lot of cinnamon, cardamon, anise, and some other things,” he ticked off, apparently more eager to talk about food than to talk about his life as a thief.

Reva did have to bring it up, “Why did you not find employment as a cook?”

“Connections, money, no formal apprenticeship…the usual BS.” He shrugged, as if it were obvious. Which, perhaps, it should have been.

Reva sometimes forgot how she’d coasted on her ‘exoticism’ and what rare information she had to offer. Didymus was just another human in a sea of them.

 

[Arcanist]

Cleon, too, was rather surprised that Didymus was able to figure out food and their combinations just by tasting them. He wasn't even sure that was possible. Not even their own cooks could boast to such a feat. The hearing things he supposed was true enough. He imagined they took time to do their research in other locations.

He was even more surprised, as Reva was, to find he couldn't exactly get employment as a cook either. "Who knew it'd be that hard to find a job as a cook..." Cleon murmured, most likely highlighting his naivety.

Kikiti wasn't so surprised by Cleon's cluelessness. She frowned at Didymus and tutted. "Such a shame. To think so many oppurtunities are blocked off to people just because of their status..." It seemed common across several classes, ages, races...what a nice world it would be if everyone could walk through the same door. Though, she wondered if such rooms of oppurtunity would be too cramped then...

"Well, I'm grateful for your skill at least," Kikiti smiled, wanting to inject a little bit of positivity into that. "At least we're eating well," she pointed out, before she rose to her feet and she looked to the others, almost...expectantly. Or rather, searching for someone to ask her about that last quatrice. Her stomach hadn't been quite filled, and she felt rather rude just going and taking it...but asking for it was rather embrassing too...

Cleon, luckily, caught on, when he looked at her, and he mentioned, "Anyway...I'm pretty full...so, uh, if you want that quatrice, Ki--"

He didn't even get to finish his sentence as Kikiti seized the bird, and already started laying into it. In her rush to grab it though, she had completley forgotten to thank them for it again, and she sheepishly said in between chews, "Omph...thank yew, Cleowm. Am just so homgry..." Always so embarassingly peckish. People often joked she ate more than an adult human, but yet, Lalafell did love their food so very much. She had to wonder why it didn't help to make them grow any faster.

All the while, she sat tearing strips off this bird, all the while kicking her legs up in a satisfied glee.

 

[Lucyfer]

It was a shame, not only for Didymus, but many others. Kikiti probably understood it a bit better than the other two – certainly better than Cleon did. ‘Maybe he can understand.’ Didymus pushed the thought out of his head. He wasn’t supposed to be empathizing with the person he was kidnapping, even if that was currently on hold and survival was more important. He wasn’t supposed to really get to know Cleon, at all.

As Kikiti dove into her second quatrice, Didymus laughed a little, “I’ll make a note that you eat more,” he said, “Is that typical of lalafell?” He honestly didn’t know, but it wouldn’t surprise him. They might have an amazingly fast metabolism, in spite of their stature. Then, to Reva, “Er, do you…eat much…usually?”

Reva shook her head, “No, I usually take two meals a day, as large as a humans, but not their usual three or more,” she answered Didymus, which did mean the tallest of the party ate the least…and possibly the smallest at the most. It would be amusing if that were true, though he again tried not to think of them in positive, humanizing, endearing, terms.

After Kikiti took the last of the quatrices, Reva set up her bracers above the fire so they could ‘cook’ the soap and allow it to form into a kind of thin mold. She could scrape it out of the bracers and use it to wash their clothes. With any luck, there might even be some left for them to use for themselves.

She certainly wanted to get cleaned off after the mess in sewers.

 

[Arcanist]

Kikiti, though flushed with embarassment and with tearing strips off the bird, looked at Didymus with some appreciation. After swallowing yet another bite, she looked to him as she explained, "Pretty much. I suppose that's why they're--uh, we're--so stocky. Or, well, at least most Lalafell would be, with their height. I don't know, with me, I seem to keep off the pounds. Guess it's the human in me. Or maybe it's Lalafell metabolism. I dunno," She shrugged, taking another bite. She wondered if anyone had even noticed she was human. It was either people noticed the Lalafell, or noticed the human in her first. She was surprisingly more comfortable with being recognised as Lalafell; as a human, most people considered her to be a child, something she completely abhorred.

"No more than two meals a day?!" Kikiti exclaimed, looking to Reva wide-eyed. "The thought of it..." She shook her head, almost despairing.

Cleon chuckled at her. "I could take or leave three meals or more, if I'm being honest..." Though, he always took his three meals, mainly because he knew Reva would have tried to force feed him or watch him eat, or something else that was ridiculous.

Kikiti mockingly frowned. "You wound me. You probably eat the best out of all of us too!" Her comment wasn't meant in an insulting or an accusatory way, more disappointment that Cleon didn't seem to take to such luxurious foodstuffs as much as he should have.

By the time Kikiti had finished with her quatrice, she was ready to have a deep, deep sleep...though, knew that clothes washing was a thing, and sleeping in her sewer drenched clothes wasn't highly recommended. She lumbered to her feet, sighing patting her belly as she did so, as if it had expanded thrice its normal size. She wobbled over to Reva and the braces. "You know, I didn't think you'd be able to make soap out of what you did out here. It's kinda neat."

 

[Lucyfer]

It was good to have some idea of the eating habits of the party, if Didymus was going to be around them a while. Which, it looked like he might be. It would be difficult to separate Cleon from Reva, and get Cleon into the Empire’s hands. He’d have to end up near an Empire outpost or…something.

He’d figure it out.

He at least nodded as he took in the information, surprised that Kikiti was party human. ‘Huh…I didn’t know…’ It made him wonder about viera and humans for a moment, before he shook that off quickly. He knew a lot of humans, usually men, who lusted after the thought of viera. He didn’t want to even get near that, with one in the party, where he was half-certain she might catch a whiff of such thoughts.

She was probably very, very used to it.

And if he wanted clean clothes, he didn’t need to upset her further, as it seemed the soaps were coming around, hardening up with the heat. “Huh,” he did make that sound aloud as he realized they did look almost done, thin and ill-shapen though they were. “Er, I guess…you need our clothes, then.”

Being partially stripped in front of the Prince, Kikiti, and Reva hit him. This wasn’t his idea of a fun day, and he felt himself turning scarlet. “Yes, I will. I can turn around if—”

“No, no, not gonna matter when you have to return with the clothes anyways,” he muttered, getting to his feet and shucking his boots off, before pulling his tunic up over his head, and stripping his pants. He wouldn’t go so far as to take off his smallclothes, he didn’t think they were really touched by the sewers since it didn’t get too high on his pants to begin with, and only a few splashes had touched his shirt.

Still, he wanted the shirt washed, and he folded them up, with the boots on top, to hand over to Reva. He was definitely red now, but Reva at least made no show of acknowledging it, as she simply took his clothes, and looked to Cleon to follow suit.

 

[Arcanist]

Kikiti wasn't sure where to look when it came to the boys having to strip off. Or well, strip off some of their clothes at least. She awkwardly looked in one direction as Didymus took off his shirt...though she didn't know why she moved her eyes to him again, for when his pants started coming off, she squeaked a little, turning away. I mean, it wasn't as if she'd immediately see anything, right? Right??

She glanced to Reva, as if to ask through a gaze whether the two of them were finished, though, her looked to Cleon signalled that they weren't quite at that stage yet.

Cleon hadn't quite gotten the memo. Or well, he did, but hadn't thought to shed his clothes off his body. So, he had been hanging around too, regressing back into his thoughts again, until he caught Reva's eyes on him. He blinked for a moment, before he let out an, "Oh! Uh..." He stood for a little longer, unsure of whether to just...start taking off his clothes. Eventually though, he relented and started to do so. It was best while Kikiti's back was turned.

So not to drag out the process, Cleon disposed of the jacket he had, pulled his own shirt over his head, and dropped his pants. Though, then rememebred that he had to take off his boots so that he could get them off. So he attempted to stand on one leg, wobbling a little as he pulled one boot off, then the other, and finally his pants. Much like Didymus, he felt his face heating up at the thought of being...well, much less than modestly dressed. Reva probably didn't mind. The Twelve knew what she saw when he was just a child, after all...

Cleon was no expert in folding. He could just about do it, but he wasn't as neat as what Didymus was. He had watched maids fold up clothes before, or hang them out, and trying to replicate that from his memories, ones that he hadn't tapped into for several years at that. So, he had awkwardly handed Reva some slightly scrunched up clothes, but a thankful gaze at that.

Now he just had to survive the weird atmosphere of both him and Didymus running around in their smallclothes.

"Are we done?" Kikiti asked, her hands over her eyes now at this point. Seeing Didymus in his smallclothes was bad enough. Seeing the Prince in his would just be even worse. She instead moved her hands to the side of her eyes, trying to make her way towards the river. "I'll, uh, lead the way! Hopefully I'll find the river..." She murmured to herself afterwards.

 

[Lucyfer]

Didymus felt even more embarrassed when he heard Kikiti’s squeak, and saw her eyes dart away, but he would just have to burn under that sensation for a while, as the prince figured out how to get undressed. Didymus wasn’t directly looking—but he couldn’t stop himself from a glance over as he heard the scuffle and noted that Cleon had forgotten to take off his boots.

He didn’t laugh. He was tempted to, though, but he refrained and kept his own gaze averted through the acts of disrobing even though he knew that he and Cleon would be stuck together in this state.

Reva eventually got Cleon’s attire and gave a silent nod, “Yes, Kikiti, we’re done,” she agreed, as she noted Kikiti’s ways of trying to prevent herself from seeing what was going on. These kids were all so young, it was as amusing as it was stupidly endearing that each of them wanted to protect some shred of modesty and dignity in this situation. “We will be back within the hour,” she said as she walked off to follow Kikiti, keeping hold of the clothes and soap as they made their way into the forest.

Thankfully, from this point, it was rather hard to miss the river. The sound of it alone was loud in the forest, and soon enough, they were at it, and Reva was able to sit down the clothing of the boys, “I will need your clothes, too,” Reva said, though as she spoke she turned away from Kikiti. Besides Kikiti’s, she needed her own, and she did begin to undress as well.

Armor at least needed rinsed, but her poor dress-tabard needed washed. She couldn’t repair the tear in it from the crocodile’s swipe, but she could at least see to it that it was clean and there was no sewage or blood too visible on it. The blood might be a bit harder to completely clean off out here in the woods.

~***~

Back at the campsite, Didymus’s face remained red, but he opted to hang near the fire. It was also much colder without all his clothes on. He was keeping his gaze off Cleon, though. Sure, they were both guys, but it was still weird being around a half-naked prince and it wasn’t an experience he relished.

Especially since he was still supposed to kidnap him.

‘You could probably put him to sleep, and…and nothing, damnit, we don’t know wilds.’ He could navigate a city’s underworld like a pro, but if he tried to wander this forest, he’d likely get lost. Reva would find him, and then she’d kill him. He was pretty sure Reva knew how to get around in this area, she’d found them this site near the river with no issue.

Besides, how would he explain them both being half-naked to Jagger? ‘Yeah, so apparently I’m the prince’s type?’ Just imagining how Jagger would laugh at him made his face go an even deeper crimson and he looked at the fire as if hoping it might make him go blind, or else somehow relieve him of his embarrassment.

He couldn’t find words for the moment.

 

[Arcanist]

"Phew, thank the Twelve for that!" Kikiti exclaimed, still shuffling off somewhere ahead, hoping she was heading in the right direction. Reva wasn't so far behind her when she told the boys they would be back within the hour. She trusted the Viera being in her line of sight would allow her to get the river without much of a problem.

Of course, it hadn't been a problem at all. The rushing water was enough to tell Kikiti it was nearby, so she definitely wasn't walking herself into some animal's den. By then, she had taken down her hands anyway, so she hadn't been walking the whole way to the river blind. She glanced around to Reva when she requested for her own clothes. "Oh, yes, of course!" She said happily, before turning subconsiously, and beginning to shed what she had on her. Her boots, those pants she had underneath, the dress and the leather accompanying it on her arms...she had only realised how many layers she actually had on her when she thought about it.

"Oh, I can wash my own too, by the way. Saves you of having to do my work," Kikiti giggled, finally dumping the last of her upper layers onto the ground, before gathering them up in her arms. "I'm hoping they don't stain too badly though..." She murmured. She grew close to clothing she made herself, ironically. She could give them a good scrubbing, for they weren't entirely brand new, but she did rather like this dress, and where it came from. She could always make more...

Well, not for awhile. Not if she was on the run.

Anyway, at least she was in good company. Reva seemed very trustworthy by all standards, with a good head on her shoulders. The Prince was...well, she could see he was kind, though rather naive of how the world worked. Didymus was...well, she couldn't quite put her finger on him. Friendly enough, but an outsider from Ucantis? Perhaps she was being too judgemental. She would have been a hypocrite otherwise, when it came to those who were different from her.

As Kikiti waited for Reva to undress, she couldn't help but dip one bare toe into the river, and was surprised to find it wasn't as cold as she had thought it to be. Yes, cold still, but certainly not freezing. Still, a quick scrub, in and out.

~***~

Cleon was in the same boat as Didymus. He wasn't quite sure where to look either, though, rather than it being because of guilt, and the weird combination of having to kidnap another person, his was more based on the more obvious modesty that had quite literally been stripped away. Cleon, too, had the sense to hang near the fire, though, on the other side of it, where he would have been facing Didymus. It made trying to avoid eye contact even worse.

To think this is how my night would end, Cleon thought. Running from home wasn't something he counted on. Running from home, through a sewers, only to sit almost naked and defenseless in a forest, was something he definitely did not count on.

But he knew the two couldn't sit in silence. Not for how long that Reva and Kikiti were going to be away for. He was in half a mind to join them; Reva wouldn't have minded, though, judging by Kikiti's adverse reactions to them undressing, he knew that was by far a good idea.

So he fished for some conversation.

"So, uh...Escander?" Cleon asked, though, further went to clarify. "You said you came from there? I've, uh, never been..." Well, obviously. Cleon had very rarely left the city, whether it was on his own excursions or otherwise.

 

[Lucyfer]

Reva wasn’t going to argue against help with washing, and she had made two bars in the bracers. Thin bars, but nonetheless, she could share one. So, once she had stripped herself down to her own smallclothes, immensely useful in preventing armor chafing in certain parts of her, she gave Kikiti over one of the bars before she sat down besides the bank of the river and began with her own attire.

As she soaked her own attire a bit, to work on the armor, she did take note that the water was warm. That wasn’t much of a surprise. Though the rain had stopped at some point after they had entered the forest, it was a late summer storm. They were well on their way into autumn. The water would still hold its warmth a while yet.

“Have you ever been far from Ucantis, Kikiti?” Reva asked to start conversation as she started to set pieces of her armor aside, rinsed off, but not sudsy. She would still want to pick up some armor wax from a shop when they came to one, to help cleanse the armor. She wasn’t concerned about it rusting, not terribly.

Kikiti and Didymus were still questionable figures in all of this, Kikiti less so, but all the same. Reva did not get any bad vibes from Kikiti as it was, but she also did not know the lalafell as well as she did humans, now. She had misread humans many times when she was younger, sometimes to her detriment.

~***~

Didymus looked up – and looked up quicker as he caught sight of bare skin and remembered – when Cleon spoke to ask about Escander, breaking some sort of silence that had been terribly awkward between them. Didymus sighed. He didn’t really want to talk, but he also didn’t not want to talk. “No kidding?” The sarcasm was obvious in his tone.

Of course he wouldn’t go.

Escander was closer to the war, and had been taken over by the Empire recently. It was the step needed to advance to Ucantis, after all. They’d never risk going that way. At least, that was what Didymus thought. He tended to see all the Kingdoms as only serving themselves, though.

That’s why the Empire was winning.

No one was helping each other.

And now there was just one left.

“You’re not missing much. It was a den of greedy nobles who saw money as playthings. Lots of casinos, even though they’re illegal on land.” So lots of casino boats instead, and likely some airship casinos. “Lots of waste, lots of showing off. It was a stupid place. It deserved to lose."

 

[Arcanist]

Kikiti smiled as she took one of the bars, also sitting down at the side of the river. She started with her dress, dunking it in the water before starting to run the bar of soap over some of it. She had been quite used to doing laundry - well, with better soap, but she would take what she was given. So doing her own wasn't a huge bother to her.

Kikiti looked up at Reva, and smiled, "Not really. Oh, no," she shook her head, giggling a little. "I tell a lie. I've been to a one or two towns outside some cities, like Nalia, but never in the actual cities themselves. Papa did most of his travelling before he set up shop in Ucantis, and with the war going on, it's not really advisable to go to other places with the Empire and all…" She shrugged, continuing to scrub at her dress. "Oh, I suppose I never told you. He's a merchant with a shop in Lalafell town. Or, maybe you gathered that."

Kikiti was rather blabby for someone who was practically a stranger. Anyone would have told her not to trust a stranger, let alone a Viera and an outsider. Perhaps that's why she was so open and trusting with her.

"Don't Viera live in secluded places? I've never heard of any that live in cities."

~***~

Cleon swallowed back before glancing at his bare toes again. He supposed that much was obvious. The most he knew of other kingdoms was from what he was taught, or what he read about them. He never got to experience what any of them were actually like.

And if he was unlucky enough, he might not get to experience anything to do with them. Part of him wished he had been able to when he was younger, but then with his ill-health, and his mother's insistence that he keep inside all the time his own safety…

But he didn't expect Didymus to understand that, or anyone else to understand either.

Cleon looked up again at Didymus, listening closely to the Escander he saw and he experienced...and it was less than a wonderful review. He had heard of casinos and gambling, though not much of their illegality. "You would...really say that? About your own home?" He murmured, frowning as he thought more on Escander. Perhaps there was much more about the world he didn't really know. Again, not unsurprising.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kikiti spoke on about her life, and her parents, easily answering the question without any trouble, and indicating places she had been to before. The city names were familiar to Reva, and she was certain she’d been through them at some point in her ventures through Ucantis, but she could not recall any distinctive details immediately. Still, she nodded, continuing with her wash.

“I was not sure what it was your father did, nor if he was human or lalafell,” given the earlier information she had provided them, “but I am glad to know now,” that he was in lalafell town as a merchant. That didn’t tell her much, she hardly knew what he sold, but at some point when they could all return to Ucantis, she would like to pay him a visit. “I hope that I can meet your parents, one day.”

The Crown would no doubt owe Kikiti a great debt, and her parents should know the story of her actions, her bravery.

It would not help with their worry now, but it may make it worth the worry.

“Viera live in forests,” she answered, “few ever leave them, and it is hard for any non-viera to find them,” considering where they were, she added, “there are no viera in this wood,” she would know, no matter what. Of that much, she was certain. She had always just known whenever she stepped into other woods that viera occupied. “We are unlikely to meet any in our journey to Rozari.”

She could not think of a wood between here, and Rozari, that housed viera.

~***~

Didymus huffed, then laughed, as Cleon seemed surprised at Didymus’s own review of his home. “What, would you enjoy a place like that, Cleon? Where everything had a price, even your own life, and the life of your mom?” Didymus shook his head, “I wouldn’t expect you to understand. You’ve never had to worry about things like that.”

Didymus was always worrying about things like that. Always wondering about funds, always trying to acquire more, always resentful of people who just played it away without a care. “When you can blow through 50,000 gil in a night, and laugh it off, while people only make 10,000 gil in a year…,” he sighed, “it’s not fair.”

It never would be.

Not with the Empire, not with anyone, because the people who Had, never understood those who didn’t Have. They didn’t want to, they were never presented with that, unless they lost it all. Even then, “Even the people who couldn’t afford to do that, or those who did lose it all, when they came down to my level, they were always just talking about how next time they were going to make it big. They’d save up gil, only to blow it all again, or drink it all away.”

It was disgusting.

It was disheartening.

“That kind of place deserves what it gets. It was already for sale, anyways.” There hadn’t been that much fighting as he understood it.

Zariel had found all the right prices to make her passage smooth.

 

[Arcanist]

Kikiti smiled and nodded. "I'm glad I was able to tell you. Oh," she turned again to her again, realising upon what Reva had said, she didn't even mention her parents' genetic heritage. "Mama's Lalafell and Papa's Human. With me, they didn't know what they were going to get." Truly, it was a strange one to try and explain to people. Not many pairings of her parents' kind were common at all, at least, in some cities. She hoped maybe one day, people would be more open to it, that it would be more common. She nodded to Reva and said happily, "Of course, and I'm sure they would be happy to meet you too!"

She just had to hope her parents would be okay, and that she would get back to them safe. Going back to them now wasn't an option, with those soldiers knowing who she was. Maybe, if she could manage it, she could get a letter to them...then again, she wasn't sure if the Empire would intercept such messages...and then she'd have to be so careful with what she writes...it had to be oh-so complicated, didn't it?

As she continued her washing, Kikiti listened intently to Reva's explanation of Viera and their abodes. She hummed at little, musing, "That's sad. It would have been nice to meet more Viera. Though, I suppose if they're so secluded, they'd want to keep to themselves..." She did always like picking up extra knowledge here and there. Tidbits and trivia, that sort of thing. She had remembered hearing about a Viera being employed in the service of the Crown, but never got close enough to the castle to see if the rumours were true. She turned to Reva again. "Though, you seem nice."

~***~

Cleon pressed his lips tightly. He had thought about answering that, though, it wasn't something that needed an answer. Though, he could imagine now there was a price on his head, an extortionate amount, he was sure. It was expected, but he had no means enjoyed it, like Didymus would correctly assume.

"No, no...you're right. I suppose I didn't..." Cleon murmured. And it worried him now, that he never did, and now he had to. All these places, and people, and things he hadn't an inkling about. Didymus was right too. He supposed, looking from his perspective, it really wasn't fair. How people could squander away money whilst those who hadn't a gil to their name suffered everyday. He was a hypocrite for it, but...

Cleon looked to Didymus, blinking. "Really?" He had assumed the Empire had just pillaged and invaded, like they seemed to have done everywhere else, only Escander gave up while the going was good. He didn't think there was money or dealings involved. Again, he was foolish to think the Empire wouldn't have had other means of taking over the other kingdoms.

He had a lot to learn.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kikiti offered clarification on her parents, and Reva nodded. Oddly enough, not how she imagined it, but it worked out for Kikiti so she could hardly comment on it. It was odd enough as it was, not necessarily in a bad way. Reva knew little about how races could or could not mix, but she knew enough of humans to be fairly certain they would sleep with anything.

But they could also love anything.

It was endearing, when it wasn’t annoying her personally.

“Then I shall look forward to meeting them, one day,” she would not speak of ‘ifs’. This would be a ‘when’, and Reva would make sure of that, no matter how everything seemed to turn against them right now. She would find a way back to Ucantis, and she would seat Cleon on the throne, even with an entire Empire against her.

And Kikiti would return safe, as well.

Reva gave a wane smile, “Yes, they prefer their own kind,” she said, “I am…an exception,” she had chosen to forsake the wood, after all. Had chosen to mingle with humans, “This world is harsh on viera. Our ears are sensitive,” Kikiti could likely guess, but perhaps not how much, “leaving behind our home, we lose our ability to hear how plants converse because of the cacophony of the world outside. It is…not a path for every viera to tread.”

She set aside her attire, to start on Cleon’s.

~***~

‘Really.’

The ignorance was clear in Cleon’s gaze, and Didymus hated the way it made him feel. Cleon wasn’t acting haughty, wasn’t saying that the people lower on the hierarchy had every opportunity that everyone else had. He was questioning things, clearly trying to get an understanding, and Didymus let out a heavy sigh.

Well, at least he wasn’t thinking about being nearly naked.

“You don’t…really think an Empire would have much power if it just went marching through everywhere and destroying everything in their path, do you?” Didymus asked, “I’ve been further south – through Prumoor and all the way down to Nalia. It’s not ashes, you know. It’s…pretty much the same as it probably was, except they’ve had time to repair some buildings and walls.”

Cleon wouldn’t like to hear that most people didn’t notice changes. That people weren’t clamoring to have their monarchs reinstated. He wouldn’t be happy to hear that there were more job opportunities in a lot of these places – mostly in the military, and some as research subjects.

“Even in Escander, the main thing that changed was that gambling is now legal, but people still keep them on boats and in the air for the aesthetic.” There was a bitter laugh at that, and then a sigh. “I know there were some battles, and I know people died. Probably a lot of noble sons looking for honor, or poor mothers funneling the money from their service back to their family, but I know a lot of places just opened the doors for Arkidian’s army and let them through.”

Because Zariel could pay the right people. He'd heard her father had been worse, that she was much more like Leander. He didn't know, though, but suspected a lot of the razing and pillaging rumors may have come from the Emperor before her. He did take an awful long time conquering; Zariel was...doing significantly better.

“Living people are more profitable than dead ones, and so are functioning industries. Even an Empire needs tax revenue. If that helps. It probably means they aren’t razing your home.”

 

[Arcanist]

Kikiti could sense Reva was rattling her head for some sort of understanding on how such a pairing would even work. Surprisingly, though you'd think people would realise that's private, often asked how that worked...in more ways than one. It was a question Kikiti didn't like to, and rarely, answered.

And it also brought up thoughts she didn't particularly want to have in regards to her parents.

Kikiti nodded at Reva, a huge beam stretching over her lips. "And I'm sure they'd be happy to meet you too! Oh, and the prince, I'm sure. Maybe Didymus, I suppose, if he's still around..." Again, she wasn't sure what Didymus was going to do. Perhaps they would go their seperate ways. Perhaps he would stay with them, since the guards were sure to have seen his face in the scuffle that ensued.

But that was all to be thought of later in the future.

Kikiti, as always, listened attentively, though, she couldn't help but be so interested in Reva's case. Even if they were a kind who preferred the company of their own, Reva had abandoned that, though, perhaps at the cost of being so close with nature. She wondered how much damage it could really cause them.

"Still, you did," Kikiti said, looking at her. "And I think you were brave to." She was still scrubbing at her own clothing, but no doubt she would be finished with them soon, and she could move on to Didymus'. After a moment, she couldn't help but turn back to her and ask, "So, what brought you here then?"

~***~

Didymus had asked him that question as if he should have known, as if it should have been entirely obviously. Even the stare Didymus had given him before he asked it seemed to signal he should have known better. Maybe it was to other people, or to Reva, or perhaps it had been to his own mother. He swallowed back. "No...I guess they wouldn't..." He was relieved to hear that kingdoms hadn't been razed and burned to the ground, yet, at the same time...he wondered if people were so willing to give up everything to the Arkidian Empire without fighting back.

And his own home. At least it could be safe. Then again, if Oleander's words were right, if his running away meant that Ucantis would suffer for it...he didn't like to think what would happen to anyone living there. He couldn't know for sure though, not until he heard any news from Ucantis somewhere down the line...if ever.

And if living people were more profitable than dead ones...the Twelve only knew what kind of work they would be put to.

"I...well, I'm not sure if it does," Cleon murmured, rubbing his hands together. "Kind of. Sort of. I don't know," he sighed, bring a hand up to rub at his eyes. "I guess it does in a way. So...thank you." He wasn't sure why he was thanking him, when he heard such things. But like Kikiti had mentioned, he had to at least some hope to hold onto.

And he was hanging onto it.

 

[Lucyfer]

How long Didymus may be with them was, indeed, a question, though Reva felt little need to ponder it for long. There were many questions about his arrival and joining of the party, but he had proved immensely useful against the crocodile in the sewers. While Reva still felt some suspicion towards him, as any would a thief who cared little for monarchy, she was willing to accept they may not be here without him, either.

For now, that sufficed to clean his clothes, and make sure he was taken care of along with the others.

Reva let a soft chuckle escape her at the comment of being brave to go against her people’s ways, and come out into the world. Brave, foolish, rash – she’d called it many things over the years, and no doubt, others had, as well. It was some mix of all, no doubt, and she retained a smile on her lips as she answered, “I traveled this way, some years ago. I am from much further north.”

To at least give Kikiti some idea.

“I wanted to see the world, and I went through Rozari, and then into Ucantis. I met Inara,” that much was true, “and she stopped my wandering, for a bit. We became friends. I did not know she was a princess at that time. We were in the same academy together, and I chose to stay with her afterwards, as a guard.” Dreams of leaving when she passed and Cleon was established, were now over with.

How naïve she had been to think it could be, with war always on the horizon, and Inara’s love perishing in it.

And now Inara was dead.

She felt tears prick at her eyes, but she simply carried on with her work, “I had hoped to see her through many more years than I have had with her. I knew she would not live so long as I, but….”

It was still…painful.

~***~

Cleon was getting it, slowly but surely, realizing he had vastly underestimated and misunderstood his enemy. It was no doubt a painful realization, and one to be made far too late. It had some good sides – his kingdom would remain as it was, for the most part – just in different hands. The parts that he loved, his life, were gone.

That would always make this terrible, no matter the silver lining.

He shrugged at the gratitude, “I’m not really the one to thank,” he had no control over what happened. He just had knowledge of what he’d seen before. Really, the Empire was the ones to thank for not being bloodlusting, slaughtering, monsters – just terrible conquerors who wanted a lot of gil, to fund various projects elsewhere.

He had no idea what sorts of projects or why, he didn’t understand what the hell they were doing or why, he just figured they wanted to have everything under their control for some reason.

It was just weird it didn’t end with Leander. Usually these things did.

“So, uh…what exactly is waiting us in Rozari?” He tried to change the topic to something he hoped would be a little more optimistic. They were going there for a good reason, he assumed. Cleon must know someone -- or Inara did, who could help, somehow. In theory.

 

[Arcanist]

"So far north..." Kikiti mused. If she was remembering rightly - and she trusted she was, with the wilting map of Ivocia having hung in her room for years - the north was much colder than Ucantis could ever think to get. And yet, she thought the winters could be bitter, harsh...farming outside the city had to practically cease with the snow that came in. She wondered how the Viera could cope with that, but perhaps even worse...

Kikiti had moved onto dealing with Didymus clothes - if she could even call them that - and started wash them. She was careful with them, afraid of tearing them with any brute force she had in her previous scrubbing. Though, she had to stop, upon hearing that Reva had a close friendship with Inara, the Queen herself. "You both went to the same academy together?!" She exclaimed, staring at her with a doe-eyed wonder. She knew a Viera had been in the service of the royal family, but she never once thought that she would be friends with the Queen. Though, she supposed that explained her closeness to Cleon.

Even as Kikiti sat and listened, sat and watched her, she realised something was amiss. Reva hadn't thought to look up again as she continued with her work. Something in her shifted ever so slightly in her tone when she spoke of Her Majesty, as if holding back her emotions. "But...?" Kikiti implored, her brow lowering in concern. Even her words carried this great deal of sadness, this sense of Queen Inara being in the past.

And it was then that she realised why.

"Is...is she...? She couldn't be..." Kikiti swallowed back, unable to bring herself to say the very word, as if speaking it would make it true.

Now Cleon's demeanour suddenly made a lot more sense to her.

~***~

Even if Didymus wasn't the one to thank, in which case, Cleon assumed it was the Empire to be thanked. In his good conscience, he couldn't bring himself to thank them. Not when they had taken not one, but both of his parents. None of it felt real to him anymore. Something that was so distant and out of reach to him. Somehow, coming to terms with it, even realising it, was difficult for him to accept.

He wondered if he would wake up back home, from this horrible fever dream. He doubted it. But one had to wonder.

Cleon could push such wonders away for a little longer.

He looked up at Didymus, who had asked why they were heading to Rozari in the first instance. He blinked, adjusting to the change of subject, before he started to form some kind of an answer. "My mother always told me if...anything were to happen to Ucantis, we would flee there, to seek out someone who goes by..." Cleon glanced upwards as if searching the dark sky for the name that was sitting on his tongue. "Ah, what was it...Elcid. An old friend of my father's, apparently," Cleon murmured, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm not sure what this Elcid can do for us...we could end up fighting for Ucantis, and all the other kingdoms again...or be smuggled off to another continent."

It was embarassing, not knowing what this contact could really do to help them out. His mother must have organised it and kept the details brief with the intentions of fleeing with Cleon...

Cleon shook his head and sighed. "All I know is that whoever they are, they can help us." Apparently.

 

[Lucyfer]

Reva gave a sad nod to Kikiti’s question. To her, it did not feel so long ago that Inara was a young woman, just beginning down her path of education. Not so long ago that Reva was learning the giggles of human women were not so far from the giggles of her sisters back home, or how nice it was to feel that she had a sister with her, again.

Kikiti heard it in her tone.

Perhaps saw it in her eyes, as she tried to blink away those tears that formed and demanded to be spilled in some fashion. They began to stain her cheeks, and she could only hope strands of her hair were hiding them.

She did not wish to break in front of Cleon. Neither did she wish to break in front of Kikiti, but it was better Kikiti than Cleon. She had to be so much stronger for Cleon, for he had lost his mother. “The Empire’s Imperator called Cleon ‘King’. That could only mean one thing,” Reva answered, her voice remaining even, though there was a tremble in it.

She did not have Didymus’s attire to clean, as she finally set aside Cleon’s. Kikiti was seeing to that.

“I do not think he bluffed.”

And how she ached. How she wished she had the time to stay, and to kill him.

~***~

Elcid was no one that Didymus knew. That didn’t mean much. He could be a noble and Didymus just didn’t know him, but it seemed he was a friend of Cleon’s father, who Cleon hadn’t met, by the sounds of it. Or didn’t know very well, at any rate. ‘Reva probably knows more.’ Given she was, well, older, and seemed to be in charge of this.

Didymus had little idea of how old Reva was, or how well she might know this Elcid.

Didymus drew his legs up to his chest and folded his arms over them, to rest his chin there. It was just getting colder. He really wanted his clothes back, but that was probably still some time away. “Never heard of him. Must not be too famous,” for better or worse.

Cleon was at least considering rational things. ‘Except the Empress wants you.’ Certainly she wouldn’t want Cleon enough to care if he went off continent, right? She probably just needed him for some political thing, maybe to prove Ucantis had surrendered, or that there was no heir to take over.

“Probably a stupid question, but, what is it you want to do?”

Probably revenge.

Probably take Ucantis back.

“If this Elcid doesn’t want what you want…will you listen to him?”

Probably too soon to have an answer, but not too soon to think of it.

 

[Arcanist]

Kikiti felt her stomach drop as if she herself was falling off the tallest cliff known to man. She looked down to the water, to Didymus' clothing. So, the Queen was dead. How horrible. No doubt her execution had been brought about by that horrible Arkidian Empire. To think they could be so merciless to her. She seemed such a kind woman, even if she looked to be strong and authoritative on the surface.

"How horrible..." Kikiti murmured, both to the news of the death, and to how that news was delivered. It must have been a blow to Cleon, hearing of his mother's death in such a way. Reva, too, by how she finally released her tears. She rose to her feet, bringing Didymus' clothing along with her so that she could sit nearer to Reva. She dropped down onto her knees again, though, didn't resume cleaning so quickly.

"You must have had a really strong bond with her," Kikiti said, unsure of what exactly to say to comfort her, but trying to, nonetheless. "And I know you care for Cleon just as much. I'm sure she was thankful to how you protected him, above all else, in the end."

Kikiti reached down to finish off with Didymus' things, though, paused again after a moment, and looked up. "They won't get away with this. I know we're only four people but...we can't let them."

~***~

Elcid was much like Cleon's father. A concept, in Cleon's mind. Cleon may have seen his father's face, but he had never seen Elcid's face. He had heard details of him, that he was a tall and broad man, but even then, imagining him proved difficult. He didn't have a voice to Cleon, though, nor did his father, in his mind. Cleon had very little of these two people, and yet, he felt strongly attached to the concept of his father, a great man. Perhaps it was because he was of his blood. Cleon even had his father's name. All he had was the memory of him, recounted by his mother.

Ones tainted, once again, by the Empire.

Either way, Cleon hadn't expected Didymus to know of Elcid. He could only assume that he was a man who kept to himself, who didn't like his name being thrown around. Who knew?

Cleon glanced up again at Didymus, blinking. What did he want? At first, the answer was obvious to him. He wanted to see the Empire on its knees. He wanted to see them rebuke their own actions, come face-to-face with the crimes they committed. He wanted to make them suffer for what they put him through, and Ucantis, and those from so many other kingdoms. Yet, the very thought of facing them, of even trying to fight back...it scared him. He wasn't sure if it was even possible.

Cleon's lips parted, then came back together. His eyes moved to the fire, and suddenly, he realised how cold it was. Well, probably because he was without clothes, which again, he realised he was sitting almost stark naked with another man, but...

"...I don't know," Cleon answered honestly, his fingers interlocking between the fingers of his other hand. What else was he meant to say? He didn't know the gravity of the danger he was in, or the what will have even happened by then.

 

[Lucyfer]

Kikiti drew closer to her, bringing along the attire she was cleaning, and Reva drew her gaze up from the water to meet Kikiti’s. The situation had to be awkward and unusual for Kikiti. In many ways, Reva hoped that it was; she did not wish grief upon her, nor for her to know many people grieving. In a way, that was worse. There was a hopelessness to seeing another in pain, when there was nothing to be done for it.

A smile found itself on Reva’s lips, through the sorrow, at the recollection of how dear Inara was. It would remain painful, but there was happiness in that pain, in the memories, even if no new ones were to be made with Inara herself. “Yes, and I know she would want me to stay with Cleon and protect him, and so I shall.”

She liked Cleon on his own, of course, though that was a far different relationship. He was more like a niece or nephew of sorts to her, dear, precious, but it was not the same as Inara. Not that it ever could be. Inara had known her through the academy, and Reva had watched her fall in love, had been there as she ascended, and observed her struggles – adult struggles.

She had never known Inara as a child, and had not the view that accompanied it.

“We will have more allies, in Rozari,” Reva said, taking a breath and wiping the back of one hand over her cheek. “We will find a way,” even if she had to go back home to try and make it happen, to fruitlessly try and convince the viera again to do something.

Perhaps this time it would not be in vain.

Though, she hoped that would be unnecessary.

“Hold the clothes up, Kikiti?”

Reva knew they had to dry, but she could hasten the process, just a bit – she could draw the water out and return it to the river.

It would still be chilled and damp, but it was better than the state it was currently in.

~***~

Cleon didn’t know.

Didymus saw it before the words came. Having considered what Elcid might recommend, he realized he wasn’t sure what he wanted, what was best, for himself, and no doubt, all of Hyune. ‘How much would it matter if he fought and won against the Empire?’ It likely wouldn’t matter much at all if the other kingdoms didn’t have hidden claimants to the throne to help him.

Or some way for each kingdom to reclaim itself.

They were blurring together, bit by bit, becoming one whole and not a group of separate kingdoms.

“Yeah…I guess that’s fair. Too much to ask right now.”

Was it, though?

A part of him that was still annoyed with the nobles and monarchy wanted to insist it wasn’t. They should always have a plan, they should always know what they were doing. That was why they were so exalted above everyone else, right? Yet, he couldn’t do that, when Cleon just seemed so…defeated.

Maybe some other day he’d get into it with him over such a thing, but right now, he supposed even Cleon deserved some time to be, well…human.

‘That’s all he is, now.’

“I’m sure Elcid and others will have plenty of ideas and advice.” Though Didymus should be hoping they never got that far. That he had taken Cleon back to the Empire by that time.