prismatica | text; username: ambivalenceblack

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text; username: ambivalenceblack

[Caim has spent over a month contemplating exactly how to address the network or even if he should. Part of him thinks subtlety is the right pathway to take. Another part of him is convinced that he doesn't care. What does he have to hide, really? Who can really stop him?

The best thing about text is that no one can detect the uncertainty in his words or in how he phrases them. But maybe his texting is a little too perfect. In a world of shorthand and acronyms, written habits remain habits and do not die easily.]

This land is full of madness, I see. Its beasts prowling as the moons transform.

[It's a wonder the streets don't fill with blood during the cycles, considering he's of the opinion a Moonblessed beast is hardly any different from a feral one in the wild. He has yet to experience his own changes, though he doesn't feel a particular investment for or against that concept.]

I must know if there is a smithy in Lunatia.

[Obviously to defend himself against said 'beasties.' (Untrue.) He'll get a sword in one way or another. Even if he has to have someone custom make him one. Although it's probably wisest not to let Caim have a sword.]

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I will contact him. [There's a very silent 'thank you,' and Caim knows if they were in person, there would be an awkward palpable pause here.]

I would also not be averse to seeing what you have.

[Don't worry, awkward silences are usually not awkward with her. Because she doesn't mind.]

Very well. When are you available?

At your whim.

[He doesn't exactly have a packed schedule these days when he's not slaying Empire pigs. In fact, he probably has too much free time that he doesn't know what to do with. A part of him is marginally thankful for a distraction.]

[When it comes to having too much free time on one's hands, she can get it. Since she feels the same way, being that she came from workaholic to no work. It's also why she's planning on opening something here, just to keep busy.]

I have time now, if you are free! I just need to collect my weapon from my residence.

I had nothing I needed to attend to.

[Nothing that he can attend to. But that beckons the question of...]

I will meet you at a place of your choosing. [Because he isn't wholly certain how many people he actually wants having his residence location. Not that they couldn't probably find it if they really wanted to.]

Then we can do this as early as possible. Let's see...

[Where is a good place that isn't utterly suspicious to check out a gun?]

There is this place that allows training. I should be able to bring a gun there.

[And here is the address!]

[Training. That's a word Caim hasn't heard and hasn't said in... Well. It's been years. Not since Caerleon was still standing. His interest is almost immediately piqued. He didn't even know Lunatia had something like that. A shame he hasn't acquired his sword back because he'd likely be there every single day. Another one thousand plus swings a day as he works on his technique.]

I will be there posthaste.

[Practically with proverbial bells on.]

[Caim, you can still train with a practice sword! Or at least that is what she would be thinking, once they get there and see the training equipment. She uses the targets there, and some of the equipment to help keep her combat skills in check. This world strangely demands a lot of it.]

Then I will see you soon!

[And she will start moving too, to be there, waiting for him!]

[He arrives on the scene, looking... well. Not intimidating when he's not wearing the armour and while he would ordinarily be on his guard, he's been in Lunatia just long enough to understand that people don't go on murderous rampages (even if they'd like to) because authorities, believe it or not, are actually watching. Caim knows he didn't make a good impression when he was brought via transport and he imagines that won't be forgotten anytime soon.

The training centre is... everything a training centre ought to be. It's the perfect place to lose himself and he immediately makes a note to return at some point later when he has the place to himself. It will give him some time to think about where he is and what he must needs to in order to move forward. And considering she... doesn't have much in the way of competition, it's not hard to deduce who she might be.

Caim looks her over. In his understanding, most of the women he's been around, save some exceptions, have been rather delicate, frail things. It's a little hard not to question why a woman would ever be a soldier. Maybe it wasn't by choice.

He gestures absentmindedly, and tries not to look too gruff. Maybe his face is just stuck that way. And then he reaches for his device, grateful that he has some way of communicating in this bizarre world.]

Hello. I am Caim.

[It's a good thing that at least one of them has appeared so unseeming that she's often been overlooked. Which in turn means she probably could get away with quite a lot.

He notices correctly as well, how she looks. Even if it is within his experience, aside from her stern look, she's often thought to be delicate. And she doesn't mind at all because it's something she also uses to her advantage in the heat of battle. Still, his assumption on the reasons why she had to become a soldier was not wrong either. It truly was because of fate.

But those are not what one thinks about now, when she waits for him before the training centre, hands folded before as she looks around. Let's see, where is he...

Ah, someone is walking over!]

Oh!

[He communicates with his device even in person! She had not noticed nor realised that he needed another to talk and not through voice.

She bows her head politely either way.]

It's nice to meet you, Caim. I hope I am saying it correctly? You can call me Vietnam or Sen. Sen just being s-e-n. [Easier to type if he had to.]

[Whether she does say it correctly or not, Caim doesn't seem to address it. Truth being that he isn't exactly accustomed to phonetically providing that information to others. In Midgard, he always had someone else to make introductions on his behalf, both in and out of princehood, it seems. As such, his head tips in consideration for some moments and ultimately he decides she can call him however she pleases. In the end, it won't matter anyway.

He does make a note on how to properly use the name she's provided to him. He has no idea how to spell the former and settles on the one she spells for him. Sen it is, then.]

You may call me as you see fit. I trust you were not waiting long.

[Or maybe she was. It's been some years since he's had to play the role of charismatic prince and even back then, he wasn't super great at it. Somehow, he suspects she won't be holding this against him.]

[He's right, she won't be holding this against him. She does meet with all walks of life, being what she is. In the past, nobility. Nowadays, friends in high places, friends in low places, and most importantly, her people. Then you also have her entire family and colleagues, and everyone is rather colourful. She's patient, and he came out to see her after she offered, anyway.

A man who needs his device to converse, a prince in his time and displaced now, is still someone to her.]

Caim. [She's still trying, but he doesn't seem to care, so she'll just go with how she said it the first time around.

She shakes her head.]

I was not waiting long. Besides, it was not like this was an appointment that required us to meet right at the exact moment. Shall we go explore this place?

[She's kind and understanding. In his past, Caim liked being on time, though he supposed it might have been less about what he 'liked' and more what was expected of him. Furiae was often the one who was late, though he never really scolded her for it. He suspects that if Sen too, had been late, he would have thought very little of it. With no where to be rushing off to, it seemed silly to get up in arms over it.

He regains a sense of himself, a fragment of the man he had left behind, and he blames Eren and Nero for that. Around them both, he's felt his anger subside, though it's been a genuinely slow process. At times still unwelcoming and sharp of proverbial tongue, Caim is becoming a bit more bearable as company. So he bends at the waist and offers an arm for her to lead the way. And it feels both familiar and foreign to him. Seven years is a long time to go without doing that.]

After you.

[See, all is well in the end. Punctuality is important, but so is patience and letting go. While if as a habit it needs to be discussed and taught, if it was once in a while, who could fault them? Besides, she doesn't know if he's regularly late. And it seems like he won't be.

It's a good thing that he has many bonds now that reel him back. She, as someone who isn't human, knows too well the power of human emotions. They're strong, spirited, more so than those with plenty of time under their belt. She learns a lot from them herself. And right now? She doesn't even quite realise that this was a Caim that is growing. Rather, she thinks he's nice right now.

It is why she beams, as she slips her arm with his to warmly link them.]

Thank you. This way. [She remembers there was a large training room, that she wonders if he might be interested in. It was one of those that had all the equipment.]

[He isn't really sure which to be more perplexed by—her expression, which is transparent in its delight (or whatever he deems as delight), or the fact that not only does she choose to lead the way, she weaves her arm about his. He can't really help it when he freezes up because personal contact isn't something he's been accustomed to for... a very long time. Even before things went to hell he wasn't exactly an expert with people. Charming, sure. Nice, yes. Welcoming, potentially. Yet in light of all of that, he tended to pick the company of his sword over that of his people.

An unfortunate decision on his part in the end.

It takes him some moments—several, really—to stop staring at her and just to awkwardly go along. It helps that there is something remarkably pleasant, a thought that Caim immediately begins to inwardly kick himself for.
Thankfully, he has conversation to distract himself with, something he never thought he'd end up being thankful for. If he actually knows how to be thankful for anything.]

You come here often, then. Are you simply honing your skills? Although this place has conflict of its own, it hardly seems necessary for soldiers to get involved.

[He says knowing that he really has yet to lift a finger and help out at all.]

[And to think she thinks her expressions are low key (which is correct in that she doesn't notice when she's pleased). Also, she's been around all kinds of walks of life, but attempts to keep as graceful as possible. A dignified response can be achieved by anyone. That being said, she is also infamous for being hot and cold. He is safely, at the moment, in warm.

But she does notice that he stared at all her in surprise for a moment (several moments) as they started on their way. She blinks back, but if he doesn't bring attention to it, she decides that as this is their first encounter, she won't pry. Instead she'll move on and answer his questions.]

To hone my skills, yes. Conflicts do get resolved quickly, but not every single one of us know how to fight. I practice also because of that.

[The truth is she has no loyalty to this place acre could probably care less. Who she cares about are those here, arrivals like themselves. She's developed bonds with many of them, and so sell to protect them.]

Edited (PHONE WHY) 2019-10-22 13:28 (UTC)

You are protecting the other Moonblessed.

[A succinct and to the point observation. Noble, he supposes, if not absolutely foolish. There's a goodness in her that makes him think of Dextera, except from a single meeting, he feels like Sen is far more capable than the other. Dextera's such a seemingly meek man. One can't expect to triumph over anything by possessing a meek demeanour. Sen, on the other hand, seems sure of herself. Relatively unapologetic about why she does what she does, at that. Caim can respect it, even if he doesn't wholly agree with it. The Moonblessed are better off left to their own devices. If they don't survive, then they aren't strong enough to stay and never belonged there anyway.

Besides, maybe death just sends them back where they came from. Has... anyone ever died in Lunatia before? His eyebrows knit together, making a note to look into that at a later point in time.]

A foolish endeavour. You are not concerned that you will be betrayed? Are all of the Moonblessed this daft?

[She nods firmly.] Indeed, for, as I feel, they are our comrades, being that we are all in the same situation, and I have made friends with some of them.

[That being said, she does understand him completely. It is more accurate to say that she is selective on who she does protect and work with, but no one here has given her reason to be like that so far. She understands that sometimes there are a some you can't work with. And then some won't agree with you, but it doesn't mean that you can't work with them. It's really all a matter of opinion.

So she doesn't disregard his opinion at all. It's a very valid concern. She squeezes his arm gently.]

I know of the possibility. I just believe that if we work together, we'll be stronger. Power in numbers, as they say. The Prismals are much stronger than us here, so it would be ideal for us to pool all our resources together. [She did say "ideal". There is room to move around that.]

[He knows she won't get why, but she sounds ridiculous to him. In consequence, he doesn't bother to address it. Caim is used to essentially being a one-man army, though he supposes it's really a one man and one dragon army. Not very many people make an effort to stand against something that will roast them alive. And it's not as though he hasn't sent his own share of men running and screaming in the opposite direction.

At the same time, there's logic in what she says, too. In spite of whatever Caim's personal motivations were, he still supported the act of the Union standing against the Empire and his efforts were ultimately to aid in that.

She breaks into his thoughts with that gentle squeeze. It's strange and makes him think of Furiae a bit. Probably because that's exactly the kind of thing she'd do when they were younger, because Caim was always lost somewhere in Thoughtful Land. As he mulls over Sen's words, he shakes his head at her. Not because he completely disagrees. Just because he has a counter argument for her.]

If they were so powerful and if that power exceeded ours, they would not need us here. And they would have found a way home for those here by now. You overestimate their ability and their strength.

[Or he underestimates. It would be like Caim to be overconfident.]

[While she would debate the fact that he is a one man army (it's too dangerous!!) she doesn't realise that part of it also involves the fact that he has a massive dragon too. In which, actually, by all means. That really is one man worth one thousand!

Really, as someone in this line of work (constant diplomacy, debating, strategising), hearing his counters is actually welcome. How does one strengthen their resolve and their plans? By hearing others critique it. He looked thoughtful, so he was thinking over it, she is certain.]

Hmmm, perhaps. They're not very open, so one cannot confirm. It would be best for us to find more information on it. [She nudges.] Which could help if we do it together. [Team work?!] Still, they have some kind of power that is beyond us, and could even be beyond them, to be able to pull us here. And, I'm guessing you rather fight alone?

If they are not open, and they have no reason to be, then it would be all the wiser for the Moonblessed to assume our bests interests are not their intentions. Let them prove themselves.

[The thing about strategy is that there's never one way and one way only to do something. Caim's concept of strategy is best on the field of battle and maybe there's some arrogance there because he's a clever and cunning man when not blinded by madness and rage. Before coming to Lunatia, there's a good chance he would have lost all of that. It's true that he may be left with something melancholy, but the livid nature still resides within his veins. Perhaps then, it is wisest to assume he is simply biding his time.

Or maybe the select few who have chosen to imprint themselves on him have inadvertently acted as a means for keeping his rage to a minimum.

He finds himself looking over to her again when she nudges him. What is with all of that personal contact? Not that it's unpleasant, because it's not, even though he doesn't want to really think about it like that. He'd rather not think about it at all.]

I have had allies where I come from. ['Had' being the keyword. He's watched all of them perish. Well. Maybe not all of them. But in the end, perhaps they were simply a means to an end. Either way, he doesn't seem particularly keen on discussing the happenstance of Midgard or of those who travelled with him.] You speak with purpose. Do you have a plan?

Mmm, well, I have no loyalty to them. Doing whatever they request is simply because it benefits us. [Like an invasion. Not preferred.] You are right that while they have given us a place to stay, they have also been asking for something in return. But I do not mind a quieter life despite it of it.

[It's true, there are so many ways to approach something. There isn't a right and wrong, and sometimes even the worst plan is what brings out the best results. And he's willing to discuss all of this with her. She enjoys the challenging he brings, rather.

This version of him is impressive. She has yet to find out about his rage. Perhaps it is a good thing then, what else this place brings. A lot of comrades who also help him temper himself.]

Not that them giving us all we need means we should get complacent. I wouldn't mind seeing them prove themselves too.

[Hey, it benefits them more this way, she can agree to that.

Also, when you're this close, sometimes the contact just happens. She's going to have to live with it too--]

Oh? I see. So once you did have allies. [She heard the had. And as an immortal, she lives through that a lot. They will always move on, eventually. Whatever lies in the beyond.] A goal would be more accurate to describe it than a plan. The information here is patchy, so I will need to learn more first.

[She gestures towards the building.] But for the time being, we can still use their resources.

Once.

[He confirms it for her with a very simple look. Not angry, not sorrowful, simply firm and to the point. He seems to have accepted her input and decides she's not as foolish as he immediately gave her credit for. Not incapable. Not entirely foolish. She only looks delicate. It's an interesting observation to make about her. And considering Caim has not spent a lot of time around women, especially, there's not many he has available for comparison. She's definitely different. In a positive way.

She continues and Caim nods along, though undeniably curious.]

A goal. Something other than returning to your home, it sounds. [He cocks an eyebrow to gauge her immediate reaction before he continues.] I suppose where that is concerned, I have not found their resources to be particularly resourceful. [But it may depend entirely on what one is searching for. If her goal isn't to return home, however, he has to wonder what it actually is. What more could someone want?]

[She nods in understanding when he confirms it for her. She doesn't know what races through his mind, but she does notice a change in how he looks at her. Is it some kind of acceptance? She's not sure why, but perhaps an understanding. Even if they have differing opinions.

She respects everything that he brought up. Whether or not he has ego, he calmly brought them up, and she appreciates it. It gives her something to think about.]

Mmm, how to say. We have met others here, no? If this world is able to bring us here, and also put us back, would it also be able to put us in other words? [This is just a hypothesis. Basically she knows a lot of people worry about not being able to meet those they have met here.

She clears her throat.] Their library is very unreliable. [Oh lord has she tried.

Reaching the building, she lets go to push open the door, so that they can enter and investigate the training facilities to see if it is sufficient for him.]

Is there anything specific you are looking for?

[He cocks an eyebrow at her. Angela said something different, he thinks. That only his place is his. That only her place is hers. Or maybe not that it was impossible, but rather that such things to pass should not come to be. An unravelling of time and space...? He hardly understands it himself. It's all a foreign concept to him.

She continues and he finds himself thoughtful again. Unreliable is one way of putting it. Would that all of his questions could be answered with books. It would certainly solve the trouble of trying to be remotely civilised. He's not good at being something other than a brute, he finds. All of this socialising is reminding him of how awkward he is with people.

How awkward he once was, back even when he had a voice to call his own.]

My expertise lies with swords.

[He answers her rather easily. Although the truth is that he wasn't looking for anything in specific. He just wanted to see what was there, what was present. The company is... something of an unexpected surprise. So too is the conversation.]

Do you come here often?

text; username: ambivalenceblack

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