2020-12-07: Old Sad Stories
- Log: Old Sad Stories
- Cast: Citan Uzuki, Billy Lee Black
- Where: Djose Temple
- Date: December 07, 2020
- Summary: Out near Djose for business of his own, Citan encounters someone who remembers him from a long, long time ago. Billy brings him quickly up to speed on the family situation.
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
The fact is that Citan Uzuki cannot keep an eye on Fei every waking hour of the day. Indeed, it would likely be counterproductive -- any young man, even a troubled young man (to put it mildly) needs some space of their own, and more than that...
Well. There are a number of things taking place in this land of which he knows little. He has little faith that they will be unable to learn of them in any meaningful manner, and so he has decided to apply his own technique to the problem.
There are some things that the Spirans will never tell an Otherworlder and that is fine; secrets such as those often have a way of making themselves known in good time. But there are some things which they are more than willing to say to those willing to listen--
And especially if the person in question is willing to dispense some free medical consultation in the process.
"Hmm... yes. I understand. My recommendation is for you to use that arm as little as possible for the time being. Then, once moving it does not hurt you as much, you must do the exercises that I demonstrated for you before. It will take time, but I am certain your arm will recover."
The refugees here include not only those from Mi'ihen -- mostly taking the role of overseers at this point, those who have remained -- but others fleeing the war as Althena's Guard wends its way across the land. In time, they may need to undermine the Guard.
And so speaking to those who have fled the Guard's advance gives him a better perspective on how they might begin to attempt that.
<Pose Tracker> Billy Lee Black has posed.
Billy Lee Black takes his responsibilities as an Etone very seriously; the tales of the young man in the blue habit, wandering from one end of (accessible) Spira to the other, ferrying messages, seeing to the sick, and hunting monsters, are now cropping up in every town. He doesn't make a scene of himself, but he works with dedication. Someone must, for the sake of these poor people.
All of which is to say the young priest of a foreign god has come to town again, a fistful of mark bills in his pocket to report to the locals, when he sees...an unfamiliar scene!! Or rather, a very familiar scene, but from a very long time ago.
Two dust boots step up near where Citan is working, worn by a young man in the plain, navy blue traveling habit of the Etone. He has an ethereal presence, pale in face and eye and especially hair, but an intensity about him as well, as he lays eyes on Citan and gasps, "It can't be....Mister Hyuga?? Is that you!?"
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
"...Yes, I do understand that you would prefer to regain the full use of that arm." The doctor sighs, but for a moment. "However... there is no medicine that I can give you now that would restore its function on its own. Fortunately, the body is the best healer! For now, consider this your permission to 'take it easy'. With rest and the use of those exercises, you should regain the use of that arm in time..."
Some injuries are more insidious things than cuts. White magic in Spira is capable of a great many miracles, but some things remain beyond its scope. Indeed, the same can be said even of most magic--
Someone approaches. Citan turns his head as if to ask that person to please wait for a moment, except.
Except for the fact that the person in question is nearly a dead ringer for the Jesiah Blanche of eighteen years prior.
Which, quite frankly, is an impossibility.
Which means that--
The man calls him by a name that Citan hasn't had directed his way in some time.
"Ah," he utters, blinking the once. "Please forgive me," he says, turning back to his patient. "I must speak to this young man."
With that, he steps away, urging with a hand gesture Billy to follow him. "You are... Jesiah's son, correct? It has been some time," he says, reaching up to readjust his glasses. "I did not expect to encounter you in a place such as this."
<Pose Tracker> Billy Lee Black has posed.
Billy can't hide cracking into a smile, though he is a polite young man even still and does let Citan finish up his work. Indeed: "Ah, apologies for the intrusion," he says, folding his hands and dipping his head.
But Citan ushers him aside, and he follows easily enough. "Yes, sir." His smile escapes his face. "Billy Lee Black." A gentle reminder, because Citan seems unsure. "It's been...gosh, must be fifteen years, right? I was still a child...but, you always were memorable company." He chuckles. "Ah, yes. It's...a lot's happened, I guess you can imagine." He reaches down and half-consciously rubs at the fish-hooked cross of the Ethos hanging below the large, sea-green ribbon tied over his habit. "I guess you must've been in the area of the Main Gate...I had been pursuing Reaverbots in the area when it all went sideways."
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
"Black..." he muses. "Aha, I see."
Of course Jesiah would have changed the family name after he had vanished from Etrenank, taking his wife and children with him. There had been a search, but of course, Jesiah had always been canny...
"Fifteen years... yes, that does seems about right." He pauses, though. "Was I, now?" He's raised an eyebrow. "...Ahem, though perhaps I must clarify... that is not a name which I currently use," he continues, gesturing vaguely. "As your father may have told you, there are... shall we say, 'complications' with the names we used in the home country..."
And his gaze trails then to Billy's attire.
And more specifically the Ethos' mark, just visible under the ribbon.
At once, Citan learns a great deal about Billy, and may also be able to intuit some of the relationship between father and son.
The Jesiah he had known would not have permitted...
"Indeed. I was accompanying an acquaintance of mine," he says, using more guarded terms than he might otherwise, "but, as you are aware, a great many unfortunate things happened at that moment and we were forced to flee into the Main Gate. And, well, now here I am."
<Pose Tracker> Billy Lee Black has posed.
Just so. And Billy hesitated not one second before using Black, even with an old friend from Solaris; it's entirely possible he doesn't even remember the old name, given the ages involved.
"Ah, yes, I suppose...that makes sense. Father..." His brow furrows with displeasure. "Jesiah," he clarifies, unnecessarily, "...he never explained it much, but it rings a bell. Apologies."
He straightens up a bit, brightening. "Yes, it was a bit chaotic. Before and after, both. And of course...what a strange place to find myself." He chuckles, a bit sadly, glancing about the town. "Yet, familiar, as well. Here as at home...people need monsters slain, small needs cared to. I'm grateful I can do that much."
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
That is another thing that is becoming clear to Citan -- Billy remembers little of his life in Solaris, which given the age he was when he left, only makes sense.
Which also means that, given other things Billy has said, Jesiah has not told him much, either.
"It is quite alright," says the doctor, shaking his head. "The name that I use these days is 'Citan Uzuki'. It is best to be, ah, circumspect in such things. And what of your father? Is he well?"
He does not explain the reason for the need for this. Of course.
"Hmm... yes. I ended up assisting with some of the effort to rescue a certain young lady, myself," explains the doctor. "And you? Were you involved in that, as well, or were you focusing your efforts among those here? The war, I am sorry to say, has had quite an unfortunate impact on the lives of the local people... Fortunately, I am able to put my training to good use, here."
Perhaps in multiple senses of 'his training' when all is said and done. If there is one thing that the Emperor knows -- little of, as compared to 'none of', thanks to Citan's efforts -- it is without question Spira.
<Pose Tracker> Billy Lee Black has posed.
"Citan Uzuki. Alright," Billy says, nodding. Clearly he at least understands - or is able to project from his own life - enough of the precariousness of Citan's position that he doesn't ask for reasons.
He skips the topic of his father for a moment. "Ah, I...left myself out of the issues with Summoner Yuna. A bit over my head, you understand. First contact with a foreign religion on another world..." He chuckles, lightly. "Not my specialty. I've been focusing on doing an Etone's work." He puffs up. "I suppose I didn't say, did I? For the last several years I have been a fully-ordained Etone of the Order of Ethos. It's an honor and a blessing."
In another mouth that might sound like a boast, a lie, or both; but while Billy's clearly proud of his station, he's speaking with the humility of a man who truly considers that station to be an opportunity to serve. Which, considering some of the darker truths of the Ethos Citan may or may not have access to...might not be the best news to get, actually.
"I've been hunting monsters, running messages...the people who normally do those things are either in the war or running for it, at this point. It's..." He shrugs, a bit helplessly. "Well, it's work that doesn't seem like it will end soon, at least."
And then.....finally, he addresses the shoopuf in the room. "As for my 'father'," Billy says, turning his gaze aside with a sudden anger across his face, "he left us long ago pursuing some lead or bottle or woman or other. He's returned in the last few months, as if skipping out on us for years is excusable. ...Prim still seems to like him, though, so I can hardly kick him out." He shrugs, unhappily, but his jaw is set tight with displeasure.
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
"Yes... that is quite understandable," Citan remarks, punctuating his response with a nod. "I, myself... I must admit that I became involved largely due to my own acquaintances' engagement in those circumstances. Otherwise..." He shakes his head. "I cannot say. --Oh?"
Billy elucidates on a matter that Citan has already at least partially gleaned -- that he is with the Order of Ethos.
That he is an Etone.
"...And at your age? That is quite an accomplishment, Billy," the doctor remarks, easily enough.
Jesiah is unlikely to have approved of this.
"I see... so you have been assisting the people. That is quite industrious of you. Yes, as long as this war rages, there is much that the people of Spira are cut off from. It is all that I can do to see to some of their needs, myself."
Even if his real aim is not their own good, but rather...
But eventually Billy can evade the subject of his father no longer. Just a touch, Citan straightens, the intensity of the anger in the young man a thing to behold. "...I see. That is..."
Hardly the Jesiah he'd known.
"'Prim' would be your...?" When he had last seen Jesiah and his family, they only had the young son. "Speaking of... how is your mother, these days?"
<Pose Tracker> Billy Lee Black has posed.
Billy's clear anger at Jesiah blooms at the mention of his mother. Billy takes a moment, in fact, to compose himself, quietly signing a nervous cross in meditation.
"Primera," he says, first. "My younger sister. She's almost 10, now. Yes...that was after we left, wasn't it..." he says, hands falling to fold back in front of him. "I'm sure she'd love to meet you. Perhaps when we return to Filgaia we'll have a chance."
"Though..."
His eyes turn hard again.
"Mother is dead, Citan," he says. "Wels killed her in front of us. We only barely survived thanks to the Bishop arriving when he did...." .... "He'd been gone for years at that point," he says. It's implication - a jumping thought train - but he presumably means Jesiah with the last one.
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
He has asked the wrong question.
That much, Citan can tell immediately, given the young man's mannerisms. He's clearly ill at ease, and if there is one thing the doctor can do, it is guess at the reason why. But he doesn't interrupt, doesn't call off the question he'd asked. He instead listens, his expression cordially neutral, as Billy explains.
First, about his sister.
"Ah, I see. To think that Jesiah had a daughter, as well..." He rubs at his chin, as if in thought. "Yes, perhaps so, once we are able to return."
If that is possible, he doesn't say. He suspects there is indeed another way back, given the network of gates between both worlds that have been used to date. The problem is if one of those portals is in unfriendly hands. But this concern is neither here nor there at the moment--
Particularly when Billy explains about his mother.
"So Raquel is... I see," Citan says, bowing his head. "I am sorry to hear that. I have heard many tales of the Wels..." He lifts his gaze and shakes his head. "It must have been a harrowing experience for you two. It is fortunate that you were able to be rescued by Bishop...?"
So Jesiah had been away at the time. Had it been to shield his family from 'their attention', or...?
<Pose Tracker> Billy Lee Black has posed.
Billy is quite confident a way will appear. After all, a priest must have faith.
"Bishop Isaac Stone," Billy says. "He's been my mentor since. Father taught me to shoot, I'll grant him that. But he was never there when we needed him."
Spoken with the bitterness of a boy who has let the distance poison even the good memories. He still draws in a breath and tries to square himself again. "Bishop Stone ensured we had the protection we needed, and mentored me throughout my Ethos training. I work for him directly now, when I do receive orders."
He puffs up. "He also helped me get the orphanage I've been maintaining going. Provided references for a few of the staff I leave on hand, helped secure the land....that sort of thing."
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
"Bishop Isaac Stone..." Citan murmurs, as if trying to place the name. "Hmm..."
As a matter of fact, he does place the name. And the reason why involves a matter which he can speak to no one about.
But it's followed by further bitterness yet from the young man. If Citan ever-so-slightly frowns, considering the matter of the scion of his old friend, he may be forgiven for doing so. What, precisely, is Jesiah doing?
And where is he now?
"I see," he says, his expression easing. "My congratulations to you, Billy, I believe that is a considerable accomplishment at your age? You must be quite proud."
Not only that, but he's running an orphanage, too...
"That is good. I hope they are not over-worried in your absence," he remarks, nodding the once. "Speaking of which... were you in the midst of your work, here? I would not wish to keep you." He gestures to himself. "As for myself... as of late I have taken up with a mercenary group. --In a supporting role, to be clear!" he interrupts himself with, "Where possible, I, ah," and here the doctor fiddles with his glasses, as if ill-at-ease about something, "prefer the pacifist approach, one might say? ...However, desperate times, desperate measures; I have been able to support an acquaintance of mine in this way."
There is a long pause. "It is a long story, I am afraid. Perhaps too long, for the current moment? I am certain you have things to attend, and I admit I have other patients to see! I am sorry to cut things short like this."