02/19/21 - No Dawn for Old Xaela
[Veldi]
Veldi was lying in her now wet red trenchcoat and pants barefoot, looking idly out into the approaching waves. the entire left half of her body was buried in sand at this point, making her appear like a washed up corpse. She had not, in fact, moved from this spot for an entire day so far, not having found any will to move. A small distance away, what appeared to be a rather large serpent drew cautiously near, sliding closer bit by bit to test if it should eat her.
[Blue]
| I wonder if she's still in Bozja.. |
Blue had been practicing various Mudras out in Yanxia. There were several flops, but every minor victory was something to celebrate. In truth there were still deep-rooted worries and anxieties that she had no answers for and distractions just weren't enough. It had been a while since she'd seen Veldi, and after everything they'd witnessed, the little Xaela was still a bit buried in it all herself. How was her sister faring though? She brushed the back of her arm against her forehead and made towards the beach where she could just listen to the waves and let her mind go numb for a bit. That was when she spotted the body half-buried in the sand. Blue's heart sank, but the approaching hungry serpent promised that this wasn't just some dead body. Most snakes liked live prey. She darted out onto the beach and pulled out her claws, hopping over the mystery person and brandishing her claws at the serpent. “Go away! Shoo! Go eat some fish or something!” She made the appropriate shooing motions with her claws and dug her heels into the sand.
[Veldi]
The creature seemed ready to attack, drawing back and expanding a bit to show it’s full height and appear more intimidating. Seeing Blue not move however seemed to spook it, and it slithered away back into the water.
[Blue]
Blue was impartial when it came to beasts trying to strut their stuff, bouncing from one foot to the next eagerly. Her mood shifted when it slithered away, waving the creature off and putting away her claws before dropping down into a crouch before Veldi.
Though indistinguishable from afar, now that she could see who it was, Blue gave the faintest traces of a whimper and began digging around the woman, trying to unearth her.
“What are you doing, Sis?” Murmured gently.
[Veldi]
She did not move or respond as she was dug up, only turning her gaze to Blue once she was completely unearthed, taking a deep breath and stretching.
“What is it? I was enjoying that.”
[Blue]
“Do you enjoy being chewed on by beasties too?” She teased before noticing that the body she'd unearthed was covered in, well, earth. Figuring she'd be helpful, the Xaela casually made two hand motions, confident in her practices that surely nothing would go awry.
But whether it was because Blue had already been exhausted before finding Veldi or whether because Veldi was actually nearby, rather than the gentle spray of water she'd imagined gently spritzing her sister into clean, a large gush of pressurized water burst from below her like some rampant fire hydrant, going and going…and well, going some more until it sputtered out completely.
Blue gave the blankest of stares throughout until it was all over and done with. “…Sorry, I'm still working on that…
[Veldi]
“Why does everyone think it’s fun to throw me in water?”
She sat up slowly and looked around before pushing her now soaked bangs out of her eyes.
[Blue]
“To be honest, it is kind of fun..” Blue hops to her feet as well, dusting herself off.
“What're you doing here?”
[Veldi]
“I wasn’t doing anything until you decided to try drowning me. Why are you out here?”
[Blue]
“I'm training with Lami out here, remember? Though I guess that'll be coming to an end soon.”
She side-eyes Veldi briefly, fidgeting a little.
“How are you? I haven't seen you for a bit n' all. Is everything okay?”
[Veldi]
“Everything’s cheery like always. Just resting up a little before getting back to work and all that.”
“Think you learned something worth while from the rat?”
[Blue]
Blue plucked a comb from one of her pockets and hopped up to Veldi, tail giving a wag and making an attempt to fuss at her wet hair.
“Yeah I'm learning lots! Lami says I've got skill, oh and I beat her in a duel too! Apparently there's some final test or something I gotta get through, then I can call myself a…” Blue tapped her chin. “A ninja?”
“Aether feels a lot less scary now too. When we get back I'm gonna learn more bout it from Vinalo and Novine.”
“Then I can come help you more with all the drug stuff!”
[Veldi]
“It was scary before to you?”
[Blue]
Blue pauses in her fussing and tilts her head. “Well…yeah. Made me real sick and I mostly kept away from the idea of it till this trip.”
[Veldi]
“And the rat helped huh. Anyway, I think you’ve helped enough don’t you? Go home already.”
[19-Feb-21 03:09 PM] [Blue]
“I'll be going home soon, n' then I'll be able to help with all the crazy drug stuff on that side of the world too!”
She resumed combing.
[Veldi]
“Why? You saw what it’s like dealing with it.”
[Blue]
“Sure I did. It was really scary. I don't know how you deal with all that stuff by yourself.”
The Xaela looked past Veldi's shoulder, briefly transfixed before she shook her head and gave a warm smile.
“But it needs to be done right? And it helps people. And we got that child out of there. As scary as it was, that was worth it.”
[Veldi]
“That was probably a mistake. We can’t save everyone.”
[Blue]
“We can try though, can't we?”
[Veldi]
“Even when it puts others in danger?”
[Blue]
Blue brought her hands back, scratching at her cheeks thoughtfully at the question.
”…Depends I guess. You told me I put Lami into danger by wanting to go out and be with you, but she insists that she went because she wanted to n' that I couldn't force her to do anything.“
“We pulled that lil girl out to try and save her and everything started collapsing…but it's not like that was really a surprise and everyone went in there knowing the risk. Me too.”
“If I said, 'Sis, please stop doing these missions. It's dangerous and you'll get hurt and I'm scared you'll disappear and I need you.' - would you listen?”
[Veldi]
“That is entirely different.”
[Blue]
“How?”
[Veldi]
“It’s already work of mine. And I chose it before we met.”
[Blue]
“Would your answer really have changed if we'd met before you took it?”
[Veldi]
“Yes. It really would have changed. But you don’t want to hear any of that. So just imagine what you want to hear from me and use that I guess.”
[Blue]
Blue flattened her ears. “Course I woulda liked to hear that..but you keep going on about what I want over and over again, like I've tied you up and now you can't do anything you want.”
[Veldi]
“Just like that. I haven’t said any of that to you, but that’s what yer hearin, cause that’s what you think I’m thinkin’ ain’t it?”
[Blue]
Blue shrugged her shoulders. “After finding you the last time, every time you claim I want something I feel like you hate me.”
“Never said I was right.”
“I don't think I ever asked before. You have any family?”
[Veldi]
“None that are alive, no.”
[Veldi]
She reaches for a cigar that is not there and clicks her tongue in disappointment.
“Why are you asking?”
[Blue]
“Do you..remember what it was like growing up with them?”
[Veldi]
“Yeah.”
[Blue]
Blue dips her head and twists around to look at the shoreline.
“I don't really remember much anymore. Or maybe it's not that I don't remember..Just that a bunch more bad things happened that I see just that when I try to think back that far.”
“But in all that time, for all the people I've met and befriended and loved and cherished. You're the only one I've ever called my sister.”
Blue looked back and waved her hands awkwardly. “I dun think you like all this mushy stuff though. Just thought you should know.”
[Veldi]
“I don’t know what’s real anymore. If he could just bring back people who are lost….why not my sisters? What else can he do? How much of what I feel is just someone else dangling bait in front of me?”
[Blue]
Blue tilted her head and said nothing as she listened. She didn't need to ask who Veldi was talking about and chose instead to rub at her other arm.
“Those are questions you should probably ask him. But I don't think he or anybody's got control over how you feel, least I wouldn't believe that.”
[Veldi]
“But what about you? Or anyone else I know? How can I know that anything is real?”
[Blue]
Blue looked distressed at the thought and reached over to clasp at Veldi's wrist, squeezing gently.
“Trust helps. And people doing realistically stupid things.”
She sighed softly. “I'm sorry I don't have a better answer than that. If you don't think I'm real, I'd be happy to prove it to you.”
“I just don't know how.”
[Veldi]
“Neither do I.”
“What are you going to do when you get back?”
[Blue]
“Prolly spending time with friends n' Tret mostly.”
“Then when it's all nice and settled, I'll try and see if I can learn to do more things with aether. Wanna know how to heal with it..and also see if I can figure out new ways to protect people, maybe in time for our next mission.”
[Veldi]
“Have you tried the guilds?”
[Blue]
Blue gave Veldi a blank stare. “What're…what're those?”
[Veldi]
“Places for adventurers to learn things like that.”
[Blue]
“Dun think I've heard of 'em before. I've got a couple folks in mind who've offered to help teach me but if that doesn't work, I'll try those too.”
[Veldi]
She looks out into the waves for a while, not saying anything.
“….Want to fight?”
[Blue]
Blue cocked her head, looking out at the waves as well, before teasing, “The last time you near drowned me in The Wash, gonna try for that here too?” She glanced down at her claws before wrapping her fingers around them. “But sure, I'm always happy to fight.”
[Veldi]
“Alright. What rules?”
[Blue]
Blue straightened up. She almost felt like she could repeat word for word what Grindstone rules were even though she'd been away for moons. And this was slightly different.
“Weapons n' magic are both fine. Bare fisted just as well.” “Maybe…4 solid hits, not scrapes! Definitely hits. Or make the other submit first. Or I guess if one of us is unconscious..” “And I guess no animals…”
[Veldi]
“It will be short if you expect me to dodge.”
[Blue]
“Plan to just take every hit?”
[Veldi]
“We’ll see.”
She pulls a revolver from her trench coat and swings it, aiming to slap Blue with the barrel against her jaw.
[Blue]
Blue backstepped in reaction to the swing before rocking forward on her heels to close the distance again. She crouched down and spun her leg around, hoping to trip her over and onto the sand.
[[Veldi]
Blue’s leg sweep did not miss—it simply did not cause Veldi to move. At some point, the sand beneath Veldi’s feet had hardened into a solid mold around her foot, keeping her in place. In response, Veldi stomped her other foot, causing several small rocks to form along where Blue’s hands were.
[Blue]
Blue had a look of surprise on her face, blinking as she observed the hardening of the sand keeping her upright. Welp. Still in a crouch and none so pleased at having rocks form along her hands, the Xaela scramble- hopped back and to her feet again, shaking out her hands and trying to rid herself of the stones.
[Veldi]
“This is what you learned from the rat?”
She pointed her revolver at Blue, pulling the trigger several times and causing the weapon to click repeatedly.
[[Blue]
“Nooo, that's more a Grindstone special.” She attempted to handsign in spite of the rocks covering her hands, and though her movements were slowed, managed to get something off at least, a puddle forming beneath her outstretched hands before bursting into a large column of water that dispersed the rocks at last. She drew her claws and pointed at Veldi with a talon.
“Isn't stuff supposed to come out of that gun?”
Before dashing forwards and attempting to slash for her Sister's outstretched arm in the hopes of making her drop it.
[Veldi]
She seemed used to people trying to disarm her, bending her arm and blocking again with the barrel of the weapon before trying to step back….forgetting that she had sealed her feet into place by hardening the sand and began to fall backwards.
[Blue]
Blue's claws clashed with the weapon and she pushed back against Veldi, blinking when it seemed she was stuck in place yet falling backwards.
Blue sidled over to the side opposite her gun arm and ducked under Veldi's back to prop her upright again helpfully. “Here.”
Then she ducked down and made a swipe for the back of her leg.
[Veldi]
She pointed the barrel at Blue’s face.
“Not much of a fight if you help—“
Aaaaand legswipe. There was that split second of disbelief—that refusal to acknowledge what had just occurred. Perhaps the surprise was why Veldi’s initial response was out of her control. Red blood weeping from a wound quickly turned black, and small blade shaped spikes burst angrily outward towards Blue’s arm, followed very quickly by a mass of fragmented clumps of dirt and Veldi’s opposite leg swinging straight for the side of Blue’s head immediately after.
[Blue]
Blue was not nearly prepared for bunch of black spikes launching themselves at her retreating arm, nor the dirt that followed after. Though her claws did well to guard her hands, the Xaela's arms were bare, and she yelped painfully when they embedded themselves into her skin.
The only saving grace was that in her bewilderment, Blue had clumsily fallen backwards herself, narrowly missing the head kick as a result.
Blue cradled her injured arm and dropped her other claw weapon in favor of plucking out the projectiles, eyes watching Veldi.
“Okay…that hurt a little.” No mention of the bladed spikes that shot out.
[Veldi]
She snapped out of it a moment later, jerking her head around to look down at Blue.
”….This is stupid. I quit.“
[Blue]
Blue tilted her head at Veldi and slowly rose to her feet.
”..It's okay you know. I was asking for it anyways when I hit you.“
[Veldi]
“It's not like that.”
“I get a certain way, and I aint got any drink.”
“But its all of me. I dont even have to think about it anymore.”
[Blue]
Blue shrugged her shoulders gingerly, pressing her arm against her chest while the other dropped down to collect her dropped claws and holster it properly on her person.
“It's all of you just trying to protect yourself. Nothing wrong with that. Keeps you safe.”
“Does drink help?”
[Veldi]
“Keeps me asleep mostly.”
[Blue]
“That doesn't sound fun though.”
[Veldi]
“You must not sleep much then.”
[Blue]
Blue dusted herself off with her free arm and walked back over to Veldi. “Sleep is nice but being awake is better.” She leaned over the other Xaela to look over the wound she'd made curiously. “I'm sorry anyways. Will you be okay?”
[Veldi]
“I'll be fine. I should probably head back out there now anyway.”
“I might disappear for a while but it wont be anything to really worry about.”
[Blue]
“Still gotta stay in Bozja a little longer?”
[Veldi]
“For a while, yes.”
[Blue]
Blue visibly wilts. “But not too much longer?”
[Veldi]
“Just making sure.”
[Blue]
Blue nodded reluctantly. “Okay..” She reached up and slings her free arm up in a half hug-squeeze.
“I'm sorry I couldn't go wherever you went that day.” She says gently before pulling away.
“But I want to keep on helping you however I can. I'm learning all this stuff so you don't have to worry 'bout me all the time you know.”
[Veldi]
“That aint really how worrying works though is it? If it were, you wouldnt be trying to make me not worry in the first place.”
[Blue]
“I'm afraid you didn't end up with a terribly passive sister. Specially not when it involves ya.”
[Veldi]
“Yeah….seems that way. Dont die.”
[Blue]
Blue stuck her tongue out playfully. “Technically I beat you today, what more do I have to worry 'bout?” Her expression grew softer.
“Don't die either, please.”
She hesitated before offering a wave and turned to head back to the hut where she and Lami were staying.
[Veldi]
Veldi raised her arm to stop her, but seemed like she was not really going to really say much anyway, opting instead to just put her hands into her trench coat paocket and sit back down on the sand.
“Alright, have fun and all that.”
[Blue]
Blue's earfins flicked at Veldi's words and she turned back to grin at her, calling back, “Don't let the beasties nibble on you either!” Before turning around and wandering off again to bandage up her arm and resume her training soon after.
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