2020-09-11: Apologies Under the Moonlight
- Log: Apologies Under the Moonlight
- Cast: Xantia, Seraph Clarine
- Where: Meria City - Outer Regions
- Date: September 11, 2020
- Summary: Xantia, wanting to clear the air between her and Clarine after circumstances forced them into an unfortunate fight, sets up a needlessly clandestine meeting.
=======================<* Meria City - Outer Regions *>======================= Outside the inner wall that contains the oldest parts of Meria City and the main castle itself is a newer city, the result of growth over the centuries well beyond the original parameters of the settlement. With Meria's good fortune in terms of natural resources, the city proper does not need to be terribly crowded, and so it doesn't compare in terms of sheer scale to the more compact metropolis of Guild Galad. Nevertheless there are a lot of people here, and that means inns, shops, businesses, and beyond the outer walls, farmland for miles. The port is active, carrying goods from the northen regions as well as the ore from its mines, and bringing in goods from the south. Meria City has relatively wide streets, but there are few gas-powered vehicles on them, considered to be largely reserved for the military. The buildings themselves tend to cluster together, sprawling slowly over time. The atmosphere here is often reserved, and quite proud. It is known among other things for a fine collection of teas brought in from around the world. BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj2d8U-CO9E
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
Yesterday, an OMINOUS MESSAGE arrived through the Memory Cube! It begins as follows:
"Clarine,
Can you come meet me tomorrow? As for where, from the inn I stayed at in Meria last, after the whole train thing..."
...which is followed by some very needlessly convoluted directions that basically go in a big circle before ending up very close to the inn again...
"...then turn right the first chance you get. I'll be waiting in that alleyway at midnight. Come alone. It's not a trap, I promise.
-- Xantia"
That's not suspicious at all. Then again, it is Xantia. It's not that much of a stretch to assume that she's just being her honest self and genuinely thought mentioning it's not a trap would be reassuring.
And indeed, if these directions are followed, it doesn't lead into an ambush of some sort. Waiting in the alleyway is but a single figure. A cloaked figure, leaving their identity shrouded in mystery. Is it actually Xantia...?
Well, one can probably make an educated guess, there are a number of clues. For one, the figure is wearing a white cloak, where anybody with a lick of sense where it comes to stealth would probably have picked a darker shade to go out in at night.
Second, Xantia is pretty much always wearing a white hooded cloak just like that. Granted it's easy to overlook, given that she normally doesn't wear it properly, it just sort of trails behind her like a cape most of the time.
And third... red hair is pretty obviously spilling out from under the hood. Xantia's hair is so long that that sort of thing is bound to happen.
But really though, how can anyone be sure that this is actually the person who said they'd be here at this time??
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.
The Memory Cube is a curious thing. A device that allows one to send messages at a distance to anyone in the world, as long as you know their name... It was something that had taken Clarine a while to get a hang of, but once she did it became a rather useful tool.
She may, more than once, have become accidentally responsible for rumors of ghosts haunting the local Memory Cube.
But, a message had arrived for Clarine... a request to meet a friend. And so, on the requested day, at the requested time, Clarine finds herself in Meria City, following a circuitous set of directions without hesitation, to the letter.
...Despite the fact that, with her innate sense of direction and almost perfect recollection of the topography of places she's visited, she knows full well the requested route will bring her right back to the alleyway not far from the inn.
There, she finds a very mysterious red-haired figure in a white hooded cloak. Clarine studies her for a moment... before approaching. She seems a little hesitant... though it is less out of suspicion and more out of a sense of awkwardness.
"Xantia..." Clarine greets. She seems certain of this. "It is... good to see you again. To be truthful... I had been hoping to speak with you, as well..."
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
Good guess! The figure's face becomes visible upon getting closer, and it is indeed Xantia, who quickly brings a finger to her lips. "SHH! Not so loud!", she cautions, way louder than Clarine.
With that, she rushes past the Seraph, peeking around the corner of the alleyway to make sure nobody else is out there. Breathing a sigh of relief, she addresses Clarine again. "Did anyone see you? Were you followed?"
There's a brief pause, during which time one can see realization dawning in Xantia's eyes. With a frustrated grunt, she pulls back her hood, and frees her hair from its cramped confines, letting it spill around her as usual. "You know, it's not fair. It's so much easier to sneak around when most people don't see or hear you. Do you know how hard it is for humans to not get noticed?" Especially supremely unsubtle ones like Xantia? One can imagine it was a bit of an adventure for her to get here without being seen.
With a sigh, she leans against the wall of the alleyway. "Sorry about all this, but, well, I guess before anything else, I'd better make sure..." She turns her head to Clarine, giving her a worried glance. "...Am I in trouble? Are your friends looking for me? Because of, you know... that whole thing..."
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.
"A-ah, I am sorry..." Clarine replies, as Xantia cautions her about being loud. She turns to watch Xantia peeking out of the alleyway.
"No, I do not believe so..." She says... then pauses, considering. "...Ah, I believe one of the local cats may have spotted me, but they lost interest within moments..."
But, Xantia seems to realise why this might be within moments.
"I apologise... Truthfully, there are times when it is rather inconvenient... With the exception of the Resonant, it is very difficult to make myself known when I wish to." Clarine says.
But, Xantia asks her a question. It takes Clarine a moment to settle on an answer.
"...To be truthful, I do not know for certain. I have not received any active orders regarding you... but they may yet be reeling from the aftermath of our assault on Odessa's flagship." She explains.
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
Xantia looks apologetic when Clarine notes that Not Being Seen as a state of being can be not all that great either. "...I guess we all have our own problems. I never would've guessed that being seen or not could be that much of an issue for that many reasons."
She never really stops looking apologetic after that. She awkwardly fiddles with her cloak as Clarine speaks, until she has it back to her preferred configuration, where it serves more as a cape than a cloak. Then she turns back to face the Seraph, with a hint of a smile.
"...I see. I guess I was right to be careful. I mean, you're an anti-terrorist group, and I guess what we were doing was kinda sorta maybe a little terrorist-y... Probably should've seen it coming that you wouldn't be on our side on this, huh?"
Her smile fades, and she hangs her head a little. "...I'm sorry, I really am. I mean, I meant what I said back there, but I didn't want to cause problems for you. And I really didn't want to fight you. I get that sometimes I have to fight friends if they do things I don't agree with, but this was just..."
She raises her head, trying to find the right words. She shrugs, settling on, "It wasn't good. It didn't feel like either of us were wrong."
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.
Clarine nods quietly at that. It certainly made trying to learn more about the society of mortals difficult when most of them couldn't see you.
Xantia gives her a slight smile, and so Clarine manages a smile of her own. But it fades soon after, as well, as Xantia apologizes. For a brief moment, Clarine looks hesitant. And then, quietly...
"I must... profess my own apologies as well, Xantia. I... should have listened to you more closely. And even if I did not agree to your actions... there are better ways in which I could have approached the situation..." Clarine admits. She nods quietly as Xantia comments that it didn't feel like either of them were wrong.
"...It is never easy, never good, when friend must fight friend. These days... it happens more often than I prefer." She says. She goes quiet for a moment.
"...I must admit, too... your assertation of the character of those people, those 'Solarians'... you were entirely correct." Clarine says. "...They turned on us within a matter of hours - firing upon Odessa's flagship while we were still on it, and moving to eliminate us before we could flee the wreckage. We managed to escape them, but... it was close."
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
Xantia listens quietly when Clarine apologizes as well. She opens her mouth slightly when Clarine says she could have handled things better, but closes it again, deciding not to interject right away.
Except that soon after, she hears the words 'it's never easy, never good, when friends must fight friend'. That prompts, of all things, laughter. Not full-blown, but Xantia can't suppress a short, awkward laugh all the same. She realizes that impulse is probably going to need an explanation.
"I, uh... is it bad, that I actually kind of like fighting friends sometimes? It just kind of feels like... sometimes, fighting is the best way to understand each other better. Especially people who won't tell you much. They're more honest when they fight. ...If that makes sense."
She shakes her head. "But, I don't need to do that, when it's you. And besides, I know you don't enjoy fighting to begin with."
Xantia frowns when told of the Solarians. Even before she hears what they did. But then, she made her opinion of them plenty clear already. When Clarine clarifies, she slams her right fist into the opposite palm. "I knew I should've gone back. I was thinking about it, after making sure our group got out safely. I didn't think Solaris would stick around, but you know, I could have helped you deal with Odessa, make up for things a little. But, I was worried it'd just cause more problems. I wasn't... feeling very sure about things, in general." Xantia averts her eyes for a moment, before getting back to what she felt like commenting on originally, now that she's sorted out her feelings on it.
"I think that you approached the situation just fine. You weren't trying to hurt me, just hold me back. And I, what I was about to do..." She shivers, feeling uncomfortable just thinking back to that moment, before refocusing on Clarine.
"It may have been better for Filgaia if you'd let me do that, but... it would not have been better for me. So... thank you, for stopping me."
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.
Clarine is confused a little when Xantia laughs at her comment, but when she explains Clarine can't help but smile.
"...Ah, I see. This world may be better off, I believe, if more people felt the way you do." Clarine replies. "I can... understand that, at least somewhat. I do have a few rather stubborn friends."
It is true, though, that she doesn't enjoy fighting.
She can see the way the mere mention of Solaris causes Xantia to react. Clarine shakes her head.
"It is alright. You had your own to look after. No one can begrudge you that." Clarine says. She goes quiet, then, as Xantia gets back around to what it is she wanted to say. She listens... and once she's finished, Clarine offers her a small smile.
"...You are most welcome. I am pleased, then, that I was able to help you." She replies. "...You... are a good person, Xantia. I am glad that you do not have to have such an act weighing on your conscience."
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
Xantia cants her head curiously when told her viewpoint might be an improvement to the world in general. She felt pretty sure that she was the weirdo for being able to feel good about punching her friends (under certain circumstances, anyway). Maybe this is one of those rare instances where everyone else is weird? Of course, she can't help but smile at that.
"Then, I hope more people will understand that, maybe even without me having to punch them first! Although that wouldn't be as fun."
Probably not making herself look any less weird, but hey. She knows what works for her.
On the other matter, she looks more awkward, scratching her cheek as she looks away, embarrassed. "Gee... and I just got done telling someone how weird it is that good people never seem to see themselves as good. I guess I didn't know how it can feel when someone tells you you're a good person."
Her expression turning serious, she continues, "...You should know that I haven't exactly... not killed before. But, at that time, I didn't understand the difference between fighting and killing in battle, and just killing someone outright. I'm just... not an assassin. And I don't want to be. That's what I realized. Maybe it was different once... before I lost my memories."
Her smile returns then, when she adds, "But, even so, you're going to say the person I am now is a good person, aren't you? What's that thing people say again? It takes one to know one?"
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.
"We can hope." Clarine replies with a nod... and, a slight laugh as Xantia comments that not having to punch them wouldn't be as fun. Clarine smiles at that embarrassed look.
"It is true... People often tend to be their own harshest critics." Clarine observes. She goes quiet, then, as Xantia continues with a serious expression on her face.
Clarine doesn't seem horrified by it, though - she just nods quietly in understanding.
...And then she laughs sheepishly.
"Ah... perhaps I am too predictable." She confirms with a nod. "Yes, that is what they say... and, I am glad you think so. Sometimes I wonder... so, it is good to have the opinion of another."
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
It's always nice to be able to talk frankly with someone you know will understand. It certainly looks like Xantia is managing to anticipate Clarine's reactions pretty well. She laughs when Clarine posits that she might be too predictable.
"I don't know, maybe? I'm not sure if I can really judge that fairly... I kind of cheated, after all."
After saying that, she becomes less certain of whether the meaning of that was as clear as she thought it was, and she explains further. "When we were fused together, I guess I could just kind of... tell what you were like. I couldn't help it, it just happened. Maybe it's part of whatever power I used to do that. It's not like I could tell what you were thinking, or know what you know or anything like that. I just... felt the way you felt."
The more she talks about it, the more awkward it feels. Xantia rubs the back of her head. "This is weird to hear, isn't it? Sorry I didn't say anything about it sooner, I just hadn't worked out that that's why using Light is suddenly so easy for me."
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.
"...Cheated?" Clarine questions, her head tilted to the side curiously. She listens, then, as Xantia elaborates a bit further - how when they were fused, she was able to tell what she was like.
"Ah, I see... It is alright. I do not think either of us could have anticipated the full consequences of what transpired that day." Clarine replies, shaking her head with a knowing smile. "I suppose I should be glad that you still think so highly of me, even having seen so much of what I am..."
She pauses then, considering the situation.
"Because we joined together, you were able to understand me... and because you could understand me, you understood Light." She muses. "...Yes, perhaps I should have anticipated it. But still... I am glad I was able to help you."
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
As accepting of this as Clarine is, Xantia clearly still feels a bit awkward. Mainly because, again, she could predict this. "...See, this isn't really a surprise to me because that's just the way you are, always understanding. It'd have to be some real big nonsense for you to not be willing to try and understand it. I can feel as sure about that as I could if I felt that way." Though in this respect, to be fair, it's pretty close to what she's like herself anyway. She shrugs slightly. "Well, I suppose if you don't mind, I shouldn't feel bad about it."
Xantia pauses, only now starting to parse something else that was said. "Hey, wait a minute, what's strange about thinking highly of you?" She shakes her head, then smiles. "You're way too unsure about yourself. You always want to help people, and you look for ways in which you can do that. I've always thought that was normal, but by now I realize that it's a lot rarer than it should be. People like me are lucky, for getting to be friends with you."
In an instant, Xantia moves in closer for a sudden hug out of nowhere. "Don't ever think you're not wanted, okay? Nobody who spent any amount of time getting to know you would not appreciate you for who you are. I didn't need to cheat to know that much."
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.
"...That is true." Clarine admits, with a good-natured chuckle. She does have a tendency to try to accept and understand things - she was, after all, doing her best to try and adapt to human society and all the strange new things that came with that. She shakes her head, then. "It is alright. To be truthful, it is not my first time experiencing such a bond, though the exact nature is different. ...It is nostalgic, in a way."
But then Xantia pauses, and Clarine blinks.
"A-ah, well, that is..." Clarine starts... but then, Xantia interrupts her with a sudden hug! Clarine goes quiet, stunned by the gesture and the touching words that follow.
"...Thank you. That... means a lot..." Clarine replies, returning the hug.