boxofkururu | the rising

the rising

[ He had not wanted to be drawn from his yearly stupor of The Rising. Five years, the two he cared for both died during this time - both to prevent the Endtimes. In years passed, he tried to ignore the celebration in general. He could not stand to hear the sounds, listen to those who seeked to party to celebrate their survival.

This year, however, his fellow Archons - and those who called themselves Scions - had decided to go to the beach - and had brought him along. Perhaps they worried that if he were left to his own devices, something horrible may happen. (What had he done to earn that reputation. Were it the rumours of a man who looked like him? Many adventurers mimiced them, especially since they begun selling those replica uniforms.)

But Urianger... this one could not stand to be around them. This day was not one which he shared with many. Only his Carbuncle - who remained at his side today. A slight purr from the Carbuncle was a gentle comfort - but not one which ever mended the pain in his heart.

But then he stopped - his legs still moving until he was nearby, only but a few steps from her.

For, away from those who he had come with, he saw a familiar figure. One he had not seen for many moons - due to the moon.

An illusion - or an adventurer dressed and looking just as her? (There'd been a lot of mimics recently. He wondered why.) Before he could think it though, say anything, the golden tinted Carbuncle ran off towards Moenbryda - to flop by her, letting out adorable yips as if he were back as a Miqo'te and trying to get the attention of somebody at the Arcanists' Guild. (He could talk, but talking Carbuncle was usually enough to freak out people. And hey. She looked pretty nice, and Urianger was staring harder then he'd expected for anybody. Under his goggles, his dull gold eyes were laser-focused on her.) ]

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[ ~~hey mammets are cool id love to be one - nero, probably.~~
This is when he gives a slight blush, of embarrassment. ]

Perhaps there is - I mean not to say you are fragile as one.
There is stories of one who holds a weapon as their soul. One of strength and awe, roaming their lands to tend to deeds unfit of long ago. Though the body they hold is an illusion of the last to cause it to fall, it can roam freely with that knowledge and power.

[ A pause. ]

The Elder Primal, Zantetsuken. But the term used in this Era is Odin. Perhaps you mirror them, as a being of Light. There are rumours of new Primal, who seek not to destroy but to aid. But no others have seen signs of them. Could it relate to you and your state?

[ (Papayda is good at hiding.) But he's realizing he's going on a bit too much, and then goes to place a hand to her soul axe again - looking to her for permission. ]

[ Being compared to a Primal is less insulting but she's not entirely sure how to take that as a response. She might have been fishing for a compliment about her own features, but he always seemed to overlook matters of this nature unless they were in his face. ]

Does it trouble you to know this? [ She gives a nod to indicate he may touch her, before lowering her gaze completely. ] It troubles me. Not because it's my axe but because...

[ He wasn't the one to tell her. ] Nevermind that.

Does your hand not hurt? [ Ascians are strange. ]

[ Sorry, he's oblivious sometimes.

But he seems to narrow his gaze. He's figured out something. ]

You... did not consent. One with the strength - with the mind such as yours, which could figure how to destroy the un-destroyable. That you could be...

[ Fooled. Somebody must have fooled her. Well, not his her, but one who he is sure holds the same worth. But he trails off.

Oh, right. His hand. He looks to it, as his other touches the axe. Fingers running down it, wondering if she could feel the softness from his whole being. ]

No. I cannot feel pain. If it were a normal relationship - a body possessed - the one I had taken would feel pain, and I could react to their reaction. But there is no other. There is but an emptiness where suffering would hold.

[ There's the answer, however. There is no other in this body then this reformed Ascian. ]

It feels... nice. But back to the hand - then it is meant to be painful. Do fingers re-grow? [ #awkward ]

[ She had lowered her guard for someone she had trusted and in turn, now was trapped in whatever madness he pulled her along for. A madness she undoubtedly would have joined alongside him with little question; all he ever had to do was ask her to take his hand and she would. ]

No, they do not. [ Normally. But he is Ascian. One who doesn't die. Surely they are used to losing limbs when they wander too close to a warrior. ]

Though that doesn't mean you are to be without them. I couldn't leave here knowing I have left you in such a state.

...It were my fault.

[ It really was. He was too curious. Sadly, he continues to touch the axe - before moving his hand back to touch her body.

That's where she was. He stood, however, to move to the other side of the bed - and laid down. So he could gently start to place flowers in her hair, from the bed poles around them. Though he was Ascian, he could not abandon this body like his kin, those who'd shake off a limb in another way. ]

Do not blame yourself. You've... made no mistakes, Moen. You simply were to watch the fireworks of the Rising.

If I'd not wandered from those who celebrate their freedom - at a cost heavy to all - I would not have been injured.

[ He holds innocence. A man of peace, who simply wants to hold some happiness. ]

[ It was rare to be treated like this (by him of all people), so she stills her body while listening to him speak. He says to not hold herself to blame, but she blames herself for so many things. For not following after her mentor when he left the land of scholars. For not being strong enough to fend off the Ascian's attack. For not dying―that was a big one. For living when Urianger couldn't. For lowering her guard in her grief and believing that everything in this new world would be fine.

She pulls her axe just a little closer out of habit. Nabriales, Urianger―whichever of the two he was, she found herself running short on faith. ]

I couldn't stand to be around the others on this day. [ It's a heavy one for many. ] I simply wished to be alone and the beach... I thought it to be vacant with the cooler weather.

[ His voice lowers to a whisper. He can try and hold back his emotions now, as he continues to gently place flowers in her hair.

Perhaps she was simply wanting to be closer to her axe? He held no threat. But... he'd admitted so much. He probably was a threat. He was still an Ascian, and one who murdered her. (As he remembered.)

...He should leave her, as soon as he can. He doesn't deserve this. The feelings burned deep. ]

We both desired the same... simple solitude.

[ His voice is cracking again. And he simply then asks: ]

...I may leave you, if you desire. I'd not wish to...

[ He can't finish the sentence. He doesn't want her to be more hurt, but he's already fucked up. He doesn't want her to be scared, but he must have brought that on.

He would leave her if she wanted. ]

Please don't. [ She sounds so weak in saying so but it's the last thing she wants at this moment.

Even if it was damning to be near an Ascian, she found his presence to be pleasant compared to some of the others. Familiar. That was enough on days like this. ]

Perhaps in the morning when this day has passed. [ They can decide then. Until then, she will sit still and endure both flowers and his hands in her hair. ]

The morn... I can wait until then. With the morning will come the light... another year of the light brought by heartbreak.

[ He seems to be more mumbling. He stops messing with her hair soon, however, to just flop down - and let out a slight sigh. It felt wrong tonight. This emotional rollercoaster... he just wanted to rest.

Perhaps then, he would awake with this illusion gone, and Velas'to running in as his usual perky self - telling him about some new people wanting to take down Primals, and asking for knowledge. And his own feelings returning to simple fear of everybody finding out. ]

...Perhaps this is the pain we must suffer.

[ Turning in the bed slightly to look over her shoulder at him, she raises a brow. In the same bed even? That felt so unlike Urianger but he did say that the Moenbryda he knew of came along to Eorzea with them. Perhaps they never knew distance like her.

Would explain why he was so broken up over her death. ] Is it suffering to have me so close by?

[ He would not want to separate from her. They were so close... though not in a romantic matter. The future Miscarlet would call this sort of relationship a partner. One who he would trust so deeply that they were two halves of a whole.

He looks back to her, golden eyes dull. ] ...In times of doubt, it is safer to remain together. [ As their mentor might have said. Especially when one were a weapon, and one were a false person. ]

What is there to doubt? [ They were both in the same world together. Were it for any other reason beside to put their heads together and spare their world from whatever troubled it? ]

Me? I assure you that I won't take your head off... until you give me a reason to do so, that is.

...I still have trouble believing it is you - though it seems true. Even if you speak of being an Other...

[ He seemed almost to relax a little. ]

...I still see her. Do you know that feeling? Seeing one in another. [ Or is it not something that non-Ascian don't feel. ]

I think I have some experience with it. [ Considering who she is speaking with. ]

Hells, I don't think a different background would've influenced my personality by much either.

[ He seems to get her point - or is that smirk to himself something else? ] No - you seem to not be different. Though you've not stuck your limbs into my true mouth to try and get me to flail.
[ shit people didnt have true mouths
He flinches to look away. ]

...I-- you'd run off, would you not - to fight a Primal? If given the chance.

[ True mouth, huh? Seems there's more to him than meets the eye. Had it something to do with that form he took on earlier? ]

I tried once. [ Cracking a smile. ] Urianger made me promise I wouldn't go―was 'fraid I'd go off and get my mind influenced. I can think of a way to kill an Ascian but tempering? There's really no stopping that.

[ If she asked, he would show. But he seems to light up seeing her smile. ]

Aye. Tempering is a corruption of Aether - one incurable. Even if some may think it reversible. [ like velas'to ]

...Is he-- okay? In your world. [ Were you kidnapped from him? Would he need to figure out how to world hop? ]

[ Within time it may be possible but for now, her gaze is cast downward at his question. She's never been one to lie even if a lie must be told. ]

No, he is not. [ Bracing herself mentally for what will come as a result of her answer, Moenbryda doesn't flinch when she speaks. ] Whenever I was attacked in the Solar by one of the Paragon, it was Urianger who believed strongly in my studies to provide the aether necessary to...

[ Yes, they killed an Ascian. The one she's speaking to. ] No matter, there's no changing the past. We can only learn from it and move forward with the knowledge.

[ ...Oh.
As if he could not feel guilty enough being with her right now - clinging to the lie he loved - then it were his fault she were... alone. Though it may not have been him, he can understand the motivations of the one who seeked that power.

His mind has turned to regret once more. But at her final words, he seems to... go silent. For a long while. Sounds of fireworks fill the area.

If it were any other day, he would agree. But... ]

My thoughts turn to that past far too often. Wherein you were the one who supplied it - for your body had been weakened from earlier.

[ Due to him. But after a moment, he decides to add... ] But if the future can be brighter due to one as I am... then I would gladly carry what I did, and grow to someday deserve...

[ Not forgiveness. He trails off, looking back into her face as gently as he could. ]

[ It wasn't a malicious act: how could he have known that disconnecting her from the flow of time would affect her in such a way? No one could have predicted that... save for Miscarlet perhaps, but he would have found a way to work around it had he known. ]

Deserve what? [ Leaning in towards him. ]

Hells, if you want to sleep with me, you could have the decency to be forward about it. [ Was his Moen ever this crude and upfront? Probably... it's pretty much set in her personality to be this way. ] I should stick around for a little while at any rate. It's getting late and my body needs much rest.

[ ...Oh, by the gods of Light and Dark.

That seems to catch him off guard - as she used to, so much, and his face turns a bright red. ] I-- That is-- [ he sputters a little, trying to get his mouth and mind to catch up to what he should say.

But his arms move quicker then his mouth, and he quite suddenly hugs her. Not her axe, but her. His breathing now quite heavy as he moves to hide his blush by burrowing his head into her, he soon found the words. ]

And add to those who celebrate this day?

[ ...But he would sleep with her. In any way. A pause, before: ] No other Scion r- enter these halls, for they have moved to safer-- less governed lands. You may stay...

[ She's certain that their mentor wouldn't hold it against them if they chose to forget their grief for a little while with one another. ]

I didn't realize I had to ask your permission first seeing as you brought me here. [ What are they? Children? ]

Should I call my parents to make sure they know where I'm at?

[ Now she's really jabbing at him. It... makes it easier to distance herself from the hug. She doesn't want to enjoy it as much as she is. ]

[ He does soon let go (he mistook her again, he shouldn't do this to one unknown) - his blush still visible, but faded slightly as he looked to her face once more. But he seems to have a small smile. That's something rare. ]

It depends on if you desire to have them suffering from ill ailments at your expense.

[ He's... not taking this seriously right now. Congrats, you've gotten him to relax.

A little. Though he still wants to hold her - he satisfies himself by placing a hand near to her, gently observing. ]

Ah c'mon, you know my mother would think me capable of crawling out a crater years later complaining I that I didn't sleep long enough. [ Really, how she ever survived her adolescent years without sleeping through them all is nothing short of a miracle. ]

Your face is red still.

[ Because that will help his blush go away quicker. ]

[ Look at him trying to hide his blushing with his other hand now, covering his mouth. A few laughs come though as he talks - hopefully, she won't tell that he's totally trying to stop blushing and it's getting worse. She always knew how to fluster him. ]

Aye. And complain that your axe arm grows stronger day by day, as your mind seems to stagnate.

[ He wonders if her-- if her mother was the same as the one he saw her with. ]

Even if we both know that your mind grows stronger every day...

...As it deserves to.

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