2023-01-04: A Quiet Moment
- Log: A Quiet Moment
- Cast: Citan Uzuki, Fei Fong Wong
- Where: East Calm Lands
- Date: January 04, 2023
- Summary: It has been a little while since Citan and Fei have had the opportunity to speak heart to heart/
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
With the talks now officially underway, now is the point where the Al Bhed and Shevat contingents' respective ability to come to an accord will be put to the test. Hopefully, after all that had to be done to salvage the talks to begin with, everything will be alright...
The most that Citan can do is offer advice between the sessions. Other than that, it is down to the parties involved to work matters out.
But not being directly involved in the discussion does not mean that he is standing idle while the talks are in session, either.
"Fei, I trust you did not find your 'additional duties' too taxing?" He smiles as he approaches him, as if in amusement over his own not-so-subtle little joke.
"It is a good thing there were so many of us present. I do not think that the Al Bhed were in any condition to resolve the situation as it stood..." He folds his arms over his chest and gazes up at the ceiling, as if in thought.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Fei Fong Wong had a good time doing some spring cleaning with his family. He doesn't really expect anything to go wrong with these talks and he isn't going to pretend he understands the potential political reprecussions, but well--the Queen of Shevat seemed pretty reasonable to him but he also wouldn't pretend he understands the more complicated nuance past whatever the Queen might decide either.
But in the end, his own travels really began with Citan and Elly and the former, in particular, is the one he looks up when he needs advice.
But he hasn't felt particularly lost as of late. Certainly, there's been problems, but there hasn't been a major Id manifestation in a while, Elly and Emeralda are both safe, Xantia... seems....okay? And Doc is getting to spend more time with Yui and his own family so he feels considerably less guilty about that.
But he still looks up to Citan. Fei's lingered on the ship in case someone tries to disrupt the proceedings but he isn't really expecting anything like that. He smiles as Citan approaches and says, "Hey Doc," turning back to him and leaning against the railing as he does so. "We had a tough time finding a mop but Emeralda was well behaved and helped a lot. There's actually something really satisfying about cleaning a place up even if, uh, we had to fight off some rat...ghosts?... And..."
His expression gets a bit more...complicated as he thinks about Brother.
"But for the most part, I didn't mind it. Wasn't glamorous but I had a good time of it."
HE smiles. "How 'bout you? Midori and Yui doing well?" He always asks after them.
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
The political situation is... complicated.
If Yui has the correct read of the situation -- and he rather thinks she does -- then the Queen is in favor of the alliance, glad for the opportunity to shed the reactive stance that Shevat has held for so many centuries and atone for its sins. Shevat is in dire need of bodies when all is said and done -- their numbers are few, largely composed of those they have rescued from Solaris' clutches over the numerous decades. More who are able to fight -- and possibly even make use of the weapons that Shevat still has in its possession -- would be even more welcome.
But Zephyr's word is not law in Shevat. The 'old men of Shevat' hold as much sway, and not all of them are in alignment with their Queen in this regard. There are those who wish to continue a comfortable existence, which conflict with Solaris -- and others -- would afford them not at all...
But as long as the earlier... predicament that the Al Bhed had faced does not repeat itself, then Citan has faith that matters should proceed without incident.
It truly is a miserable thing to be a realist of an optimist, at times.
"I see! So you had a difficult time, as well..." Citan grimaces, if in a manner that does not wholely suggest that the ordeal was utterly crushing. "Certain situations involving a particular pot of chili aside," Brother has much and more to answer for, though perhaps only once various people tattle to his sister regarding, "I would not say that it was too terrible...?"
Leon might have had to go get a drink afterwards. Just a little one.
He nods, as if in agreement with Fei's assessment. "Yes. It was far more difficult than most of the times I have helped clean house," he says.
wait, just 'most of--'?
"Still... I think that we accomplished what we set out to do!" Which was to salvage the summit, lest it die before it could even get started.
"They have been well. Thank you for asking, Fei. I dare say that Midori would not mind a visit from you. And you?" He pauses, smiling before he continues, "...How has it been between you and Elly?"
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Fei says, "Oh I wouldn't--" Then he seems to get his meaning. "Haha, well, I wasn't expecting someone to try and ... burn things clean." He says this in the tone of someone who feels maybe they should've expected just that. "It reminded me of Guba--oh did you run into Guba before? He liked to, uh, throw blitzballs are people unexpectedly."
Among other things.
BUt he does nod at that. Not too terrible all considered. "If this is the worst of it I'll consider ourselves lucky."
Citan mentions most of the time he cleaned house. Fei blinks a little. The idea of Citan's little slice of home having bigger problems than THAT particular cleanup job... "Was it...tough cleaning up in the mountains?" There were wolves on the path to Citan's house, maybe one got in and ate all of Yui's delicious homemade cooking.
"Hopefully this has been kept quiet enough that nobody'll be sent to try and cause problems." Fei says, then he smiles. "I'll drop on by after. She seemed pretty a taken with Riesenlied, but Riesenlied always had a way with kids so that doesn't really surprise me. Bet she'd love to babysit if you and Yui ever wanted to take some time to yourselves."
Citan brings up Elly. "It's been good, it's been good." Fei insists. "Busy for the both of us. Still getting used to Emeralda being older."
Well, sort of older. "Elly's seemed uh. A bit down lately since that job in Damzen. I haven't talked to her about it yet, given her some space but she's still working on her fishing. She's a lot better at it than I am now."
He leans in and says, "She might be some kind of fishing genius. Some of the catches I've seen her make--to say nothing of the hooks she's done in RUINS."
He smiles. "She's...wonderful. Every time I think I know everything about her she shows me a new miracle."
He thinks for a moment. "You know, this peace talk--if it goes well I think it might be just the thing to really cheer her up."
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
There is a moment here where Citan stops and stares at Fei, as if genuinely taken aback. "You, as well?" he says, mere moments before Fei also mentions--
"...Ah." Citan fidgets with his glasses briefly before he nods and quite gravely -- and simply -- says, "Yes. I have."
Just as Leon had, he had last seen Guba attempt to take out Lombardia with a Blitzball. God protects children and fools.
"Yes, I agree." The Gardeners wouldn't dare make a blatant move in front of the Queen, and as long as the Al Bhed are on their best behavior, there shouldn't be any further issues. Still, as Yui has remarked before, he worries too much.
(And talks too much, but that's a separate issue.)
He's positively avuncular when he smiles in response to Fei's surprise. "Well, of course! Did you think that Yui kept house on her own? ...Besides which, there were a few times when some of my projects were, er... shall we say, 'unstable'?" He means the shed out back, as well as the various pieces of junk he sometimes collected from the areas around Lahan. Being near the border had meant that it had been at times fruitful for materials with which to tinker.
The wolves were never any problem. Something about an angry housewife with a kitchen knife (or a sword, when it became truly problematic) had a way of keeping the wolves far from their door.
"They have taken every precaution as far as I can determine," he says, regarding the secrecy of the meeting. "Oh, would you? I think that Yui might appreciate it, as well. She has been asking after you of late." Fei recommends Riesenlied as baby-sitting material. "That is so... I had not thought of it, but..." Citan remarks, rubbing his chin. It isn't as if Yui lacks for childcare options, but...
There are not that many people with whom Midori feels comfortable.
He says that things have been going well between him and Elly, which prompts Citan to nod, though... there is one thing.
"Your instinct is not wrong, Fei," he says, lowering his voice, as if Elly might happen upon them both next. "Still... there are times when we need to be left to sort out what troubles us outselves, and there are times when we need another's ear but find it difficult to ask. Perhaps it is our nature," he muses, gesturing with his right arm. "Well, or perhaps it is natural for some of us! But it can be difficult to ask another to share our burden, and so it can be easier if another is the one to ask first, if they might share our burden. ...Do you understand, Fei?"
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Only fools, Fei would say. Only fools.
And he wouldn't know why.
But he says, "Well, it's just that you always seemed real busy, Doc." He lets that hang for a moment. "Because of the projects." Yeah Citan probably got that just fine. Fei knows NOW that Yui is a tougher lady than her housewife days might suggest but the Yui of Shevat who helped him with his training and the Yui who only ever seemed the blissful housewife--he doesn't quite instinctively connect the two. But...well...they clearly were able to handle it one way or another.
"Oh yeah! I'll still drop by of course, of course--Midori's always fun to spend time with and she's a real sweetie. And smart. Really talks after her parents."
He grins. "But I know Riesenlied would get a kick out of it and--it's good for Midori to get to know people from outside the village and Shevat." He pauses and laughs, "And I'm sure Yui could use a break too."
Citan lowers his voice. An unexpected Elly is a reasonable thing to be worried about. Fei has run unexpectedly into Elly many a time himself. He leans in.
It can be difficult to share one's burden with another. Normally he'd ask for advice on Emeralda but Emeralda is now older than Midori, is this still something he could go to Doc for (he likely has before!). But...
He nods to Citan's advice. "You always know what to do, Doc." Fei smiles. "Alright, I'll approach her about it. Gently." He wonders if he can really do gently but he can TRY to be. "Fighting Solaris can be tough for her sometimes, you know? She worked with them for a long time and it's her home--I wouldn't really blame her if she just chose to run away from it. But she's really got a strong sense of responsibility."
It was her after all who told him to take responsibility in the first place. And he wouldn't blame himself for running away wither.
"Not even because it's dangerous, though it is dangerous, but because... it's hard to feel like you can't return home, you know?"
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
Because of the projects, yes, and as well as the actual doctoring. But the fact is that sometimes, he did have to pitch in around the house -- and Yui had long washed her hands of what he did in the shed out back, which had meant that if anything was getting cleaned up with regards to that, which it sometimes needed, well, it was his responsibility.
Still... Lahan had been a small farming town, and aside from the annual following up on the residents' health or seeing to their complaints and/or concerns and otherwise checking in on the town proper, only sometimes did an emergency -- or a birth -- see him hurrying down the mountain. Most of the time life had been peaceful in Lahan. Life had moved at its own pace and permitted the smaller moments and little needful things the space to creep in.
Yui has said she misses those days. She is not the only one.
"Takes after her mother, I believe you mean!" Citan says, waving a hand dismissively at Fei's remark. That slight but self-satisfied smile, though, tells a different tale. "Still, I agree. The more people that Midori is able to meet... the better, I should think. I wonder sometimes if we should have encouraged her to interact more with the children in Lahan..." he muses, glancing up at the ceiling. "It was good that you were around."
Parenting is a trial whenever or however one approaches it, he's found. At least Midori is still young.
"Call it 'experience," he tells Fei, shaking his head. "Communication is, I have found, essential." Perhaps he would know -- his own marriage is a most unusual one in itself, enduring even in spite of some very fundamental rifts between him and Yui by dint of birth, to say nothing of his absence until relatively recently.
But even that, they had already planned for.
"It must be difficult for her," he agrees. "There are those such as Billy's father, who were able to turn their back on Solaris even in spite of their birth -- he too was a First Class citizen, you recall. However... Jessiah has always been an 'unusual person'. An iconoclast, you might say. If it is the right thing, then he will simply do it, no matter the cost! But that is not the sort of thing just anyone can do. Severing your connection with your friends, your family..." Citan shakes his head.
"It is different for me. But Elly still has her mother and father at home, does she not? Perhaps there are even friends from school. And there are even little things. 'One's home', 'one's own bed'. She must miss these things." He smiles if slightly, if a touch sadly. "...I think she would appreciate your shoulder in such moments, Fei."
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Fei certainly misses those days. Citan knows full well if Fei felt he had the option he'd just go off to a farm in the middle of nowhere with Elly and Emeralda and just LIVE for the rest of his days. Emeralda's taste for adventure might not permit it but Fei doesn't exactly have that bite in him. He's a Drifter by fate not by choice.
Even if he has met all sorts of incredible people.
"Aw I don't know," Fei says. "Sometimes kids --people really, they just aren't into crowds." His cheeks redden faintly at the implication that, well, he kinda filled in the role for children. He supposes, especially early on, he didn't exactly have a full life's worth of memories. Maybe in that way. "She's still pretty young and at the birthday party, why, she seemed real sociable."
Did she really? ... .... Well, it was definitely a big step up from just Fei, Citan, and Yui being around. "Emeralda might be a good friend too, come to think. She hasn't really--well I mean, I know she's a bit of a special case, but she hasn't really spent much time around other kids her age."
He winces. "Er, well, you know what I mean there."
But he does bob his head. "Experience. I'm...really grateful for the help here, Doc. Really. I mean, I know I saw that about everything," He has a bit of a laugh. "For sure, I'd be lost without you, but-- Well, I'm one thing, but so long as Em grows up well--well, if she does, I owe you'n'Yui a lot." Even if she's a bit of an atypical case.
He nods a bit. He hasn't really asked her about her parents. She knows she had some difficulties at school. "She's met her friends from school for usre out here. I didn't want to ... make her remember painful things, or the things that she had to give up. But you're right, Doc."
He smiles. "I'll ask her and if she needs shoulder, she's got mine for as long as she wants it."
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
If fate would stand aside, Fei would not be the only one to do otherwise with themselves; this Citan knows without question.
But fate waits for no one. There are things now set in motion that cannot be stopped, things that will see the world forever altered. Indeed, the very 'fate' of humanity -- all of humanity, all that is sentient that lives and breathes on the surface of these twinned worlds -- itself hangs in the balance.
But that decisive moment has not yet come to pass. If, indeed, it will come to pass in the manner others have plotted. There is much, Citan considers, watching Fei in silence for a moment, that is yet to be determined.
"Hmm... yes, that is true," Citan says then, glancing up at the ceiling and again folding his arms over his chest. Some children are more drawn towards their own private pastimes... or have other reasons why they do not connect with others. "Did she?" He glances over at Fei. "I was uncertain... but it is good to have your insight. Oh, which reminds me, she had been quite pleased with the seeds you gave her. They of course had partnered well with the planters I had made her." Space is a bit of a premium in Shevat, so there are only a few ways for someone to have a garden of their own. It's still unfortunate she never got to see what came of the seeds she'd planted back in Lahan.
Perhaps one of these days he will travel and see for himself what has become of their old house.
"That may well be a good idea. I understand she is good friends with Primera and Maria, but there are not terribly many children in Shevat," he tells Fei. "I will mention it to Yui, though I do not think she would be opposed! Come to think of it, Maria and Emeralda may also get along well." At least, so he thinks, given that they are the two closest in 'age'.
He shakes his head when Fei expresses his gratitude. "Please, do not think anything of it! I am more than happy to, ah, lend my expertise? We all are able only to learn as we proceed through life, but that does not mean that what we learn is for us alone." He smiles, if faintly. "...Perhaps the Nisan credo has the right of it."
Perhaps he's wrong. Perhaps Elly would rather keep her pains and fears to herself. It's impossible even for him to know what's hidden in the darkness within someone else's heart. But he doesn't think he's wrong in this case.
"Yes. All that is necessary is to listen, if she would have you do so," he tells Fei. "Whatever else happens... is up to her."
He falls silent for a time, gazing at the wall across from them, aware of only the thrum of the Fahrenheit's engines. What will come of this discussion, here?
He glances towards Fei again and wonders, too, what will come of the young man -- of that power that lies dormant within him even now. 'He' hasn't emerged in some time -- not since Xantia's altercation with her 'sister'. It had almost seemed as if Id might have grown somewhat...
But if that is so, what does it mean? Which will is the dominant one within that body? And... is that 'enough'?" Can the future be entrusted to...
"To be a fly on the wall within that meeting room," Citan remarks instead, his smile an almost helpless one. "I wonder what they are talking about even now!"
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Fei smiles, "I'm glad. She is a really good kid."
Maybe eventually they can go back to Lahan--well, if not Lahan at least her family home. Maybe transport the plants back there over to Shevat somehow? If they're still okay? Maybe natural elements and weather took care of them? Maybe Fei's trying to be too optimistic here... "Yeah, I think so too. Emeralda gets along with people real easily." He isn't going to flat out admit that he's pretty sure she gets that from her mother rather than him.
But he's totally thinking that.
He doesn't comment on Id, instead looking out. His eyes--seemingly open, easy to read--but what lurks behind it, essentially invisible...
If Id gets better, what happens to Id when he's no longer on stage? There is so much time where he simply isn't observed. He is just sitting there, waiting.
Alone. Only able to see things through the outside. How long can a person--or even a personality--endure that?
Regardless, Fei too cannot see into Id unless Id wants him to and right now Id is letting him take the reins full on. Fei worries about why he hasn't been snapped back as of late.
Because of...Emeralda?
"Well..." Fei mthinks about it aloud. "You know, I think the Queen can be pretty diplomatic--and, there's a certain charm about the Al Bhed, even when they're being wild--I think things will be okay with them, at least. But..." He exhales. "But that doesn't mean the rest of Shevat might think that way. I guess if I'm worried about anything, I'm worried not about how the talks will go but... How people might feel about how the talks will go... If that makes sense?"
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
The house had still been standing when he had paid visit to it roughly a year or so after the incident -- back when Fei and the others had been whisked away by ancient technology to Lunar. But it has been many years since, and the status of matters in that part of Ignas remain a mystery even to him.
There are many things of which even he cannot easily learn, simply because none but him deem the matter worthy of significance.
"That she does," he says, of Emeralda. "She seems quite adaptable," he says, straightfaced. Most likely, it is her nature -- but nuture plays just as significant a role in the development of a child.
At least, that is what he would like to believe as he regards Fei.
There are too many unknowns. There is something in which he is failing to account for, he is certain of it. And yet, time moves inexorably on. Eventually, he will need to make his determination.
Fei speaks his own feelings on the matter of the summit.
"That is very astute of you, Fei. ...My own thoughts are the same. I believe that the Queen and the Al Bhed will come to quite an agreeable conclusion amongst themselves, but they may need to make certain... concessions for those who feel differently."
What they might be, he can only speculate. And that is assuming that others do not...
Here on Spira, he won't even be able to receive 'advance warning' if they have learned and have decided to move.
"...Nevertheless... there is nowhere to proceed but forward. I believe," he says looking over at Fei, "that is what Yui would say, if she were here now."
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
"She's got good company. Good people in her life. And I'm not talkin' 'bout Elly, but--she's treated well by the people she meets. Maybe that puts me a bit at ease, you know? You know, when she was first set upon us and we rescued her--I was worried how people would treat her. Still am, I guess, but I'm a bit more relaxed about it now because I've seen how she's treated and, well, I can't see everything but ... she really does adapt well doesn't she?"
Citan says he made an astute observation! Fei blushes a little and tries to not look even less directly at him than he already is. He doesn't think he's all that smart. He even talked to that Krelian guy and thought he seemed like a straight up dude and then, well.
But it's still nice to get a compliment like that! Maybe Fei isn't so above it all either.
Of course, Fei was thinking more like Solaris than people within Shevat himself. He spent most of his time in Shevat trying to reach out to survivors of Lahan.
"Yui huh..." Fei says. "If she says so, must be true. She's maybe the most reliable person I know."
He grimaces. "Though hopefully I don't have to undergo training with her again anytime soon."
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
"That she does." It would have been strange to have done otherwise. However one might choose to consider it, Emeralda is an unusual person. It goes without saying that there are those who would certainly reject her, cast her aside. Or worse.
But she has fallen in with that select group of people who already know and have experienced such rejection -- perhaps that's why. Only those who are a little bit unusual to start would have known how to handle someone who is extraordinarily so--
To say nothing of the fate that has chosen to bind Fei, Emeralda and... Elly, too. Yes, after what he had learned, it would strange to think of it any other way.
Is that embarrassment? "I say so simply because it is so," he chides Fei gently. "There are many who would fail to see beyond the concerns of those 'at the table'. That you see there are greater concerns..."
It is a good thing. Most likely, that is.
Still, Citan smiles. How could he not at such a remark?
"I as well," he tells Fei. "I would not be where I am today without her."
Only to then raise an eyebrow at Fei's remark. "Now, now, the bruises will fade in time, but you will be the stronger for them!" He's smiling in a way that suggests he is having a little bit of fun at Fei's expense. "As they say, 'there is no success without hard work'!"
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
And if you're okay with yourself, if you've got people who do care for you--well, maybe a bit of rejection isn't so tough to deal with. At least, that's what Fei is hoping.
"Yeah I ... remember having a weird dream. About you and her. AFter using the Elw teleporter." Fei says. "Like I was in your shoes. She really didn't go easy on you either." He smiles. "I guess I have to just kinda endure it then right?"
It doesn't occur to him it might be a little embarrassing to have your past replayed by some weird Teleportating Elw dream messages.
"I guess I'm getting a little better at reading this stuff. Honestly, Doc, I still often feel pretty out of my depth so..." So he's glad Citan's here. He never seems out of his depth.
Even when he's out of his depth! That's part of the magic of Citan Uzuki.
"I guess I should get back on practicing my forms now that you mention it. If something does crop up, I should try to be prepared. Haven't been in a direct fight too often lately."
Maybe that's why he's doing so much better.
<Pose Tracker> Citan Uzuki has posed.
Fei then goes on to remark about having a strange dream about Yui and him, about having been in Citan's shoes. "...I... see," he says after a moment. He fidgets with his glasses, considering this. "Perhaps, you were inspired by a remark she or I had said? ...Why, I myself used to have some interesting dreams when I was younger that were clearly inspired by some of Jessiah's drinking stories."
He's not unaware that Elw technology is strange and barely understood, or that there is some evidence that the capture and storage of memories was something of which the Elw were capable. This a potentially concerning development, if there is a connection.
Though even if it is so, not the most concerning of developments, in the scheme of things. One need look no further than the revelation of the Yggdrasil System.
It might have been one of the few times that Fei might have recalled seeing Citan well and truly out of his depth.
"I think many of us may feel that way, at one time or another. There is little that we can do, for now, except wait to see the summit's conclusion." And after that...
"Perhaps that may be wise. Indeed, I might even join you! Physical exercise is a good way of clearing one's mind."
He, after all, has much and more to consider.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
"Hm..." Fei thinks it over. "You know, I think it was after we met back up btu before we found Shevat so... I definitely have been, er... WEll, I think we talked about it already, but I was definitely feeling guilty for keeping you occupied away from your family."
He still does, a bit, but Citan has reassured him some on that matter so it weighs less on him now than it did during that period after he started coming to terms with Lahan but before coming to understand that the two lived in Interesting Times even before they met him...
And well... The Yggdrasill System's revelations.... They aren't GREAT but the truth of the matter is, they maybe matter a little less to someone who already didn't have memories from that time period. He might have been concerned Yggdrasill was RESPONSIBLE but the timing doesn't really match up even if it's closer than he'd like--and, well...
"Actually it kind of reminds me of the Ruins of Memory, maybe if those are Elw built... I wonder why they were so interested in memories though." Even to go so far as to collect them in places that don't really seem like they'd be that useful.
"Oh wow--yeah, hey, it's been a while. Yeah I'll go find a room and if you're still up for it, we can maybe do our forms together. It'll be relaxing."
And so it will be.