We Tumble - 04/16/21
[Alkaid]
```Near Nyunkrepf's Hope…```
Scaling about the cliffs as if they were playing some kind of game, one would be able to see a red-headed miqo'te moving around at irregular speeds and intervals. She was dressed in what appeared to be a skin-tight metallic suit of sorts, complete with a visor completely obscuring her face. She was covered in a Hakama from the waist down, but did not appear to be wearing anything on her feet–aside from the metal suit. Every once in a while, her head would jerk about to some distant sight only to immediately return to normal. After some several more repetitions of this she jumped down from the cliffs entirely and stood completely still as if she were mimicking a statue.
[Astra]
Astra was dressed in a very loose set of pale color clothing, her ears were pushed down under a straw hat. She stared up at the blasted ship. The hot sun of Gyr Abania blinded her eyes even from the shade. Losing count of the time that she had spent on this day, the last few days of her attempts seemed to blend together. Chewing at her chapped and blistered lips, tucking herself into a shadow of the mountain. She reviewed her supplies again, or lack there of. She changed her bandages that wrapped around her ripped skin around fingers that ran up to her palms, that revealed recent burns around her wrist. Slumping down, as she redressed her injuries, not noticing the Miqo'te hopping around like it was a jungle gym.
[Alkaid]
The Miqo’te remained still for a long time before suddenly audibly buzzing to life in a series of clicks.
“Contact established. Update as necessary.”
[Astra]
Once redressed, she began to climb again, however half way up the side of the fatigue and injuries got the best of her, and she slipped, again. Attempting to use a quick reversal of gravity spell, she hit the ground softer than expected but hard enough to knock everything out of her.
“Fuck.”
[Alkaid]
The miqo’te turned at the sudden sound and moved near, a series of clicks coming from her visor.
“There are no creatures nearby. What has attacked you?”
[Astra]
Astra looked around at hearing a voice, she thought she was alone. She slowly rolled to her side.
“Who's there?”
[Alkaid]
The miqo’te looked around, making doubly sure to scan her surroundings.
“There is nothing here. You do not require care.”
[Astra]
Astra looked around, still confused. Muttering to her “…There it is again. Where?”
[Alkaid]
Seeing that Astra was apparently fine, the miqo’te seemed to lose interest. She moved back to her previous position before becoming a makeshift statue again, only a series of clicks and beeps indicating any activity at all.
[Astra]
She looked around, trying to find the source of the voice, a voice she knew from somewhere. Her vision was blinded by the metallic suit and the suns reflection. Covering her eyes, “Are you following me?”
[Alkaid]
The clicking briefly stopped, as the miqo’te turned their head again to face Astra.
“No.”
[Astra]
She scooted back into the shadows from the sun. Not to look directly at the blinding figure. “Then why are you here? Care for the sand stuck in your hair, and in your undergarments?”
[Alkaid]
“Do not ask questions you cannot answer.”
More clicks.
“I am not here for you.”
[Astra]
“Ok…”
She looked around confused.
[Alkaid]
“Match found.”
The woman looks up, pointing at Astra.
“A’erina’s friend.”
[Astra]
“Yes, that is me, one of A'erina friends. Who might you be? Considering I cannot see you with out blinding myself.”
[Alkaid]
Several more clicks and silence.
“….Alkaid. You should fall less.”
[Astra]
“Falling is not the problem, it is the climb.”
[Alkaid]
“Then get rid of the problem.”
[Astra]
“How? In order to get to the top, one must climb.”
[Alkaid]
“Are you too weak to find a better solution?”
[Astra]
Astra just sat there not responding, thinking.
Astra climbed on top of one of the smaller sand pillars, pressing herself against it. She sent herself across the gap onto the larger sand like mountain. She slid down a little, but was able to dig her heels of her boots into the side to prevent the slip further.
“There is always multiple solutions to an outcome. But I am injured, and injuries are just a means of an obstacle in ones path. Could climb the trees with a broken arm.” She gripped at anything in reach as she free climbed up. “I just am…” She said after sometime when she pulled herself up onto the flat surface. With the sun beginning to set, Astra just made a seat for self and watched.
[Alkaid]
Alkaid did not seem altogether interested, waiting for Astra to finish her climb before looking back to the ship. Bending at the knees, she jumps towards the mountainside before catching herself on a foothold and jumping again, repositioning herself on top of the mountain.
“Signal lost. Report.”
[Astra]
She looked over at Alkaid making her jumps, briefly raised an eyebrow. Returning her attention back to sunset.
“Report?…” Astra bit at her lip “I never seen anyone move like you.”
[Alkaid]
Alkaid turned her head towards Astra as she spoke. After several more clicks, her visor seemed to hum to life, with bright lights in the shape of sinister eyes glowing green just beneath a dark layer of the visor.
“Are you an enemy? Is your purpose distraction?”
[Astra]
“Am I an enemy? Purpose a distraction?” She looked away, “I do not think I am either.”
[Alkaid]
“Then why are you falling here, in this place?”
[Astra]
“Prehaps I miss calculated myself, and my current state.” Astra took more of a relaxed position, one leg extended and the other bent at the knee, drapping her arm across her knee. She looked up at Alkaid, letting out a sigh “Do you ever question the impact one event could have? Figuratively speaking, would something be for the greater good if it hurt many?”
[Alkaid]
“Hurting many does not impact whether or not action has merit or benefit.”
visor clicks
“Life does not exist in a perfect state where nothing must be taken or hurt.”
More clicks
“Do not question. Act. Do not falter. Do what must be done.”
[Astra]
“Very matter of the fact, but none the less it is an interesting concept on the matter.” Astra looked out over the land with a smile. “Things are not always that black and white, everything deserves a shade of gray. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Questions are good, when asked at the right time, and there is never one right answer such a complex question.”
Astra seemed to beam in delight as she returned her gaze to Alkaid.
“There are many answers to the questions I seek, and that is why I am here, for answers and guidance on my path. A pilgrimage in a sense.”
[Alkaid]
“Rocks do not speak.”
[Astra]
Astra stared at Alkaid with her mouth open.
[Alkaid]
Alkaid began moving towards the edge of the rocky platform, preparing to jump back down.
“Sight-seeing will not provide answers you did not already have, they will simply make you feel better about believing in them. You cannot save anyone with that much hesitation. Give up.”
[Astra]
Astra cocked her head, curiosity and amusement etched her face.
“I do not seek answers from the rocks or the view. The view is like Art. I am here for other reasons. There is no giving up on my little adventure.”
Wiggling her nose in a very rabbit like manner.
“Why is it so one way or the other with you? Even in our pervious meetings, it was straight and to the point.” She clapped her hands, “Alkaid, what do you do for fun?”
[Alkaid]
“Fun.”
Clicks.
“Fun is a means to an end. Without pursuing those ends, it is unnecessary. I do not require fun.”
[Astra]
“Fun is a means to an end? You could find fun in your pursuits. A bit of enjoyment out of a regular task.”
[Alkaid]
“There is nothing to enjoy. My purpose is not meant for enjoyment.”
“My reward is sleep.”
[Astra]
She shook her head, a bit more confused. “I do not understand.” She let out a sigh.
[Alkaid]
“That seems normal for you.”
[Astra]
Rolling her eyes, she looked away. “Perhaps, but is that not the reason to learn?”
“You just confuse me, the way you speak is very to the point, and matter of fact. It is as if I am looking up a word in a dictionary.”
[Alkaid]
“You seek answers, yet dislike when you hear them. You must enjoy confusion.”
[Astra]
“I enjoy options.”
[Alkaid]
Alkaid raises her head.
“Connection reestablished.”
[Astra]
“Connection?”
[Alkaid]
“You are not a part of it. There is a war happening. We are ending it.”
[Astra]
Astra nodded, “Is that why you are so far out here?”
[Alkaid]
“It was.”
Her visor suddenly folds in on itself in impossible fashion, almost dissolving away before folding away out of view. Half of Alkaid’s face was obscured in pitch black paint, which made her bright red seeker eyes stand out even more in contrast.
“Your status as a potential hostile is revoked.”
“….You should not speak to rocks.”
[Astra]
Astra snickered and clapped as Alkaid visor vanished, “Neat trick!”
Astra looked behind her at the old boat. “I'm not here for the rocks, I'm here to study the magic that encases the ship.”
[Alkaid]
“For what purpose?”
[Astra]
“My own curiosity!”
Astra stood up, dusting herself off. Looking at the hunk of wood in front of her, as it pulsed with whatever magic. Poking it out of her own good will, being 'zapped' she shook her hand. “I figured this has to have some sort of magic that can be research and better understand.”
[Alkaid]
Alkaid makes a humming noise.
“I am leaving. If you hurt yourself again no one will notice for a long time.”
With that, she jumped down, landing with a rather loud thud.
[Astra]
“Ok, bye?”
Astra watched Alkaid leave, then pulled out a small crystal shard, devoid of any color. Pulling some of the aether that was around the boat into the shard. Happy with her work. She was there then gone as she just teleported from view.
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