|
Post by Kallera on Mar 10, 2017 19:20:23 GMT -5
The roads of Ul'dah still held the scent of recent celebration as Kallera made her way back down the lift towards the Quicksands.
She had only noticed it now after a long shower at home a change of clothes, and crashing on her first bed in almost half a week. In the morning, Kallera was shocked to hear Takeshi was being taken care of at a private room in The Quicksands, apparently at his insistence.
A sight of scars crossed her mind. Reasons as good as any, were they her own.
A pit formed in Kallera's stomach when she heard which particular room it was. The problem was more on her end than Takeshi's.
Kallera knocked on the door, ready with a host of excuses in case Star's role model went bar hopping.
|
|
Takeshi Isamu
Roleplayers
絶望の前触れ
絶望のDYSTOPIA, 今もこの心に染み付いた感情、捕らわれてく。
Posts: 33
|
Post by Takeshi Isamu on Mar 10, 2017 20:43:04 GMT -5
Who might this be...? She'd caught him out of bed, trying to prepare what seemed to be six bento boxes... He was making quite a bit of food. Hearing the knock, the bandaged miqo'te set his utensils down and answered the door, seemingly unsurprised when he recognized Kallera. In fact, he seemed happy, a smile showing as he mewled and stepped back, offering room for her to come in. "You're back? Come in. I was hoping you would come by." He motioned her to a table, where a bowl of udon had already been set down to cool. "There's Noodles there if you'd like something to eat.." Moving back to the table himself, he continued working on filling the boxes. He looked tired, but was obviously somewhat better, his behavior was considerably calmer, no fidgeting, no distress.
((Wip on mobile))
|
|
|
Post by Kallera on Mar 10, 2017 22:48:46 GMT -5
"Oh! Thanks." Kallera sat down and started stirring the bowl with a spoon. "I'm sorry I ended up rushing off like that, a lot of things just happened so fast, I was out like a light when the day was over." The tone of her voice changed, to something more reserved. "You seem a bit better." She kept stirring the noodles, in truth, she had several questions, but none of them felt appropriate to ask. "Have you any idea who sent you the medical stuff? Seemed oddly specific for a gift."
|
|
Takeshi Isamu
Roleplayers
絶望の前触れ
絶望のDYSTOPIA, 今もこの心に染み付いた感情、捕らわれてく。
Posts: 33
|
Post by Takeshi Isamu on Mar 10, 2017 23:18:56 GMT -5
Hm. He shrugged lightly at her apology, seemed he'd taken no offense in the first place. "It's okay. To be frank, I wasn't so great myself..." Then kallera commented on his change, and, the smile he had faded. ".. Ah, well.. I've been keeping my mind occupied, so the only time I'm thinking of what happened is when I sleep... The days are getting better, but my nights are making no progress. The nightmares are making it very hard to rest properly..." Takeshi stopped there, preoccupied with filling one of the boxes. There was a moment of silence between them, while Kallera was goofing with stirring the bowl's contents. Looking up, Takeshi frowned, noting what was likely reluctance or deep thought. He didn't ask what she had on her mind, but his expression spoke clearly of his concern. Given a moment, she finally asked another question, and at that, the cat's ears fell. "... I'm not sure I even believe it, but it seems my adoptive father, Aufoix, is in the area. They left me a note and it was very clearly him, they said they had silently protected me as I made my way here, kept the roads clear, and wanted to see me again when I was better... That he was tired of hiding, wanted to explain and take blame. I... I've been thinking on it the past couple days, and I'm not quite sure how I want to go about this. Though the writer never spoke their name, they called me Kitten and addressed me as though they knew me a long time ago. I know it's absolutely him, or someone posing as Aufoix. I... really don't know how to take it. He walked out on me years ago in rage, and never tried to reach me.. Then when I'm on death's door, he suddenly shows up to try and make amends and take care of me, without even seeing me face to face? What an ass...!" Takeshi stopped speaking, crossing his arms and sighed. He was silent for a couple seconds with eyes shut, before he smirked and gave Kallera a knowing glance, tilting his face aside some. "I know that isn't what you came for. The wise and mighty Kallera has other, bigger things on their mind... Let me see if I can guess..." His right arm raised to place his thumb against his lower lip, his mouth barely open as he pondered. "... You and the others were speaking of the Garleans, but I wasn't quite awake to hear what of... I do know, however, they're up to no good. Kidnapping people with the Echo, not just me... They're getting bold. Whatever they have planned..." He paused, then put both hands on the table, smiling strongly as he leaned forward. He looked proud, a newfound courage exposed. "If you're going after them, Count me in. Despite what they did to me, I've a mind to stop them, even if it means getting caught again. I'll gladly go, if it's to help you and everyone else. . . . . is that something along the lines of what you were thinking, or am I far off?"
|
|
|
Post by Kallera on Mar 11, 2017 19:25:44 GMT -5
Kallera blinked in surprise at Takeshi's comments. "...Well, I'm not doing the planning, but other than that..."Takeshi had the right of it, "To be honest, I didn't think too much about the empire until you came back..." It just never came up, yet here everyone was, being quite gung ho about it. Everyone except her, she's heard this song before.
"This is one of those 'I'm coming regardless of what you say' faces isn't it? Takeshi, It sounded like your "adoptive dad" wanted to see someone. Now if the only one he sees is me, how do you think he'd respond? i'm not going to stop you but." She learned to match his expression with a piercing look. "You're coming back. i want to hear that from you. And If I hear so much as an 'I'm sorry Kall' out there ,I'm going to go bloody berserk."
|
|
Takeshi Isamu
Roleplayers
絶望の前触れ
絶望のDYSTOPIA, 今もこの心に染み付いた感情、捕らわれてく。
Posts: 33
|
Post by Takeshi Isamu on Mar 12, 2017 1:06:55 GMT -5
Hmph... A frown was made, and he let her finish before he finally shook his face and shrugged. Silly Kallera... Didn't he swear already he was trying to change? "Well, He's going to have to wait. He made me wait three years, he can wait a bit longer to see me. But, aside from that... Kallera, when I came back, I had every intention of staying. I didn't want to leave beforehand! I couldn't help that the Garleans snatched me up. But this time, I'm home. For good. No "I'm sorry". Promised. And I also promise, I won't do anything reckless. Not without consent, anyways..." A small smirk showed again as he leaned forward more, letting his ears wiggle with joy. "Besides, what's a mother without their son?" He knew he was making a far stretch with that one, but he meant it none of the less. Where Aufoix had filled the role of father, Kallera was like his mother, doting, caring, a teacher and a guardian... Truly, he couldn't feel any safer. Deciding against any more words, he began to work on the Bento boxes again, half of them were done now... While he had the chance though, he took a spare pair of chopsticks and took a couple bits of noodles from the Udon bowl and with one hand under the noodles to keep them from dripping, he slurped them up and smiled. He was hungry, but.. he wanted to let Kallera eat too. Maybe.. Maybe he'd have one of the bento boxes now...? or maybe he could roll some sushi... ". . . So.. could you explain everything you know thus far? What Codec and Kisumi are planning, too? Just so I'm all caught up... I slept through almost all of it, I think..."
|
|
|
Post by Kallera on Mar 12, 2017 11:54:52 GMT -5
Kallera blushed a little at being called a mother. She sat back down. "I, well, yeah. Thanks, Takeshi. I know that sometimes I get a little too much. This time its more me than you." A mother, Maybe that's what has her so agitated, trying to square away the days of her past with her future. Takeshi was right, the circumstances were different, and they can't be helped. "I'm glad you're coming along, now about that, I don't really know all that much!" She said with a laugh. "Kisumi told me that she would handle the planning, I don't know if I'm getting a support role or a starring spot" she showed Takeshi a one of the jamadHar she had been using since her arm injury in the shroud. "so i'm preparing for both until she says something definitive. she doesn't know about you being ready to go though. I let her know to check on if anything involves a research facility. That doesn't jog your memory does it?"
Several choices came to her mind, some less forthcoming than others. Of them, staying honest seemed to be the most safe. Having Takeshi involved would mean Kisumi would factor him into the plan and have him in mind. Kisumi didn't seem the devious sort that would throw people away.
|
|
Takeshi Isamu
Roleplayers
絶望の前触れ
絶望のDYSTOPIA, 今もこの心に染み付いた感情、捕らわれてく。
Posts: 33
|
Post by Takeshi Isamu on Mar 12, 2017 18:36:58 GMT -5
Research.. facility...? He could recall something of the kind, but barely, he had no true recollection, not enough details. A light tilt of his face showed his confusion clear in expression. Concern also could be seen as he looked her arm over, but.. he wasn't sure what to do. "... Barely.. I can't really remember what it was like inside the Castrum, aside from lots of defenses, troops, metal buildings, magitek technology... I do recall a barracks, a place they stored Vanguards and their Magitek armors, and there was the prison of course... Where I was kept most of the time. But... there was, one.. building, I can'ta.. remember where... but it was different. It wasn't like a mender's home, not in the slightest, but it still looked like a lab of sorts.." He paused momentarily, before shaking his face. Details weren't coming back, despite his efforts.. it didn't help he was half awake at the time. "I wish I could tell you more. But I can't seem to remember much at all about it.. If I do recall more, I'll tell you immediately. Until then, assume I may or may not be lying, since my memory is gone." He had to be honest and blatant in that regard. Taking one of the boxes, Takeshi began to eat, but after the first couple bites, it looked as though he was starting to feel sick, as he set his chopsticks down and grimaced. "... I'm still upset about what Star did when I got back. It just.. made matters a lot worse for my mental state. Rather than expressing concern, she seemed angry with me. I've been trying to shake that from my mind, but I find it haunting me... I feel like I've committed a crime, that I should be ashamed. And yet, I know I couldn't have planned this. There's just... no way... I mean, I know I can lie decently well, but this... I couldn't have known my sister was alive and stalking me. And yet, when I showed up battered to hell, her first reaction was to curse at me... I'm not mad at her, don't get me wrong. I'm hurt. Despite us breaking up, I still counted her as a friend... I don't know what I did to earn her spite..." He then raised his gaze to Kallera. "... I just.. figured you should know... You asked me how I was doing, and I wasn't far from the truth when I said the nightmares are keeping me up. I can't forget what the Garleans did to me, all the things they said... The way they tried to manipulate me, and convince me I was worthless... that I should have just gave in, and gave up. They said even if they let me go, no one would miss me. No one would rescue me. No one cared... I.. am struggling to beat it back. As much as I know you care... I feel like it's a lie. All of this isn't real... I feel like it's a dream, you know? Like one day, I'll wake up, and.. I'll be back in the Castrum. That's not.. true, right?" Maybe, if he heard it from her, it might make it easier to believe... That, and he wanted her to know what was actually going on in his head. It was easier than to bottle it all up, anyways.
|
|
|
Post by Kallera on Mar 12, 2017 21:54:12 GMT -5
Letting Takshi finish his concerns, Kallera started having some of the noodles, she could understand if someone confused this for a gridanian dish. "Takeshi, it isn't a lie, you're here now. A lot has happened to people while you were away, but ...you made it. You're here, right now."
Seeing him like this was a reminder, of what their lot does to people, An, ongoing tale of pain for one man, wrought to standard procedure and alchemic guesswork. And she wasn't above it either. this isn't some godsdamned curiosity...
"No matter how bad it gets..."
They will pay for this.
"The times and bonds you have in Eorzea are real and still alive, can you believe in that, Takeshi?"
She took a deep breath, afterwards, offerring a weaker smile to the miqote. Its a lesson she's in need of learning, herself, yet here she was, trying to teach it. She wondered if there was anyone Kisumi hadn't rung up about this plan...
|
|
Takeshi Isamu
Roleplayers
絶望の前触れ
絶望のDYSTOPIA, 今もこの心に染み付いた感情、捕らわれてく。
Posts: 33
|
Post by Takeshi Isamu on Mar 13, 2017 3:45:58 GMT -5
It really was comforting, to hear that from Kallera. She made it sound so believable. She made him feel like everything was going to be alright, a frame of mind that he really needed to hold onto. When his demons came knocking, she somehow always sent them away again... A smile parted his lips as he sat back some in his seat, letting the words sink in. He hadn't the faintest what trouble brewed behind her cool expression, instead, he thought that she had only good things in mind. He didn't know how protective she was becoming. Though, as she finished, asking him a question of faith, he shut his eyes and smiled a bit stronger, pondering. "... Yeah, I think I can. As long as I recall the past, the smiles and laughter I shared with everyone, rather than focusing on my shortcomings, it'll sink in soon enough. I just need to hold on, and keep close those I hold dear. I think we're on the road to recovery after all, despite how pessimistic I got for a bit there." He laughed as he finished that, gold orbs exposed again as he noted Kallera's expression. She seemed a little unsure herself... Was she struggling with her own words? Takeshi took this moment to get to his feet, and scooped up a backpack from nearby, taking out his sketchbook. You know, the one that had a drawing of Codec in it? Yeah, it's making a comeback. Sitting back at the table, he flipped through a few pages and found the drawing he made of Kallera, well, there was a couple on one page. One of her in fighting stance, and another was a close up of her smiling face, looking sweet as ever. He'd done this some time ago, it was dated just after his disappearance... Somehow, he had managed to keep the book with him through the ordeal, and he'd drawn his friends on several pages to try and keep his mind in place. Not that she'd see it yet. He wanted her to see what he'd done for her. Putting the book on the table facing her, he blushed lightly and sat back in his chair, fingertips against his lips. Rather than words, he sang what he had on his mind. "I'm so alone~... Nothing feels like home... I'm so alone~ Trying to find my way back home to you...~ I'm so alone, trying to find my way back home to you...!" The same lyrics were written on the page, and after those, he hummed a tune, swaying in his seat with a faint smile. Doman writing filled most of the page, but the Eorzean he wrote was quite neat as well, he'd obviously been studying.. Despite the sad words, the melody sounded happy, upbeat, and after a moment, The kitten began to smile more and was tapping his foot in sync with the melody he was humming, seemed he was enjoying the little thing he'd made, perhaps he was thinking of expanding on it... This was a side he very rarely exposed, the true, childish, creative, loving soul, that shone bright when he could beat back the shadows. This was his way of opening up, embracing who he once was, the person he'd suppressed and hid away. He wanted Kallera to see him for the real him, hence sharing all of these personal details and information, and trusting her even to look through his book... That was the equivalent of entrusting his heart and life, every thought, each lyric, melody, and memory was recorded in that book, and as of late, there had been so much... If she dared to take the book while he was humming along, eyes shut away and not paying attention, she'd find drawings of Kisumi, Codec, Kallera and him, Some of Star too. There was a couple of Jaxa and A'vette too. But no one was given any favoritism, whatever happened, he drew, he wrote, he sang. Continuing from the drawings of the gang, the words became ramblings of sorrow, regret, anxiety, pain, it was as though one could look at the drawings of his friends and loved ones, they became fewer and fewer and were being replaced by the things he saw in the Castrum, places, people, weapons, armor, technology, ramblings of someone losing hope. One page in particular might catch attention, though, a drawing of a female miqo'te that looked quite like him, dressed in what likely was Garlean shinobi garb, her mask off, exposing a soft expression as she was holding a bowl of food in both hands out, seemingly towards him. This, was Akemi, his sister. After that, he drew her a couple more times, along with other things, like the visage of his prison cell, the people who guarded him, the food, a recipe was recorded on one page.. Kallera would have plenty of time to look through the book, Takeshi wasn't going to stop her for any reason. Even if she went looking, he wanted her to, so all he really was waiting on was for her to start asking questions or respond. He hoped she'd be happy to see that even after all the shit he went through, he'd kept drawing, documenting what he suffered, who he met, who he lost, and after coming home, there were new drawings of Kallera, and he had tried to draw Codec but couldn't remember them well... He just wrote next to the sketch, 'Reminder, ask what Codec calls cats again. He said something funny last time...'
|
|
|
Post by Kallera on Mar 14, 2017 1:58:49 GMT -5
WKallera couldn't resist flipping through the sketchbook, as she did, Takeshi started to sing,the words struck a chord in her. She flipped through the book, all the expessions, and friends Takeshi had made, the tales he had gone through,even the harried words in the sketchbook seemed as art, leading into pictures of someone Kallera had never met, but seemed to bear a resembelance to Takeshi. She stopped at one of the newer pictures of herself, "How did you manage to keep all this?! These are amazing!"
|
|
Takeshi Isamu
Roleplayers
絶望の前触れ
絶望のDYSTOPIA, 今もこの心に染み付いた感情、捕らわれてく。
Posts: 33
|
Post by Takeshi Isamu on Mar 14, 2017 14:39:48 GMT -5
Ah? What a funny question... He perked up a bit, ears on alert before he then smiled and shrugged. "I.. well, I spent most of my time drawing or writing. It was mostly all I could do aside from cry and sleep. It helped me stay calm, and even before I met you all, I liked to draw, so I can vividly recall memories I might otherwise forget. Like, you.. I love to see you smile, it makes me feel safe and happy. And Codec, I know you teased me before, but I draw him because he makes me happy, too. He makes me feel butterflies, too, but.. I digress." Takeshi chuckled before swaying a couple times. "I.. really do need a new sketchbook, I'm running out of space, I only have two weeks worth of pages.. But uhm, I-- They're not, that great, are they..? I mean... I'm sure there's better out there..." A bright rose color filled his cheeks as he glanced away, seemingly embarassed. It was just now sinking in that she'd complimented him, praised his efforts.. he didn't feel satisfactory. "Surely it's not that amazing..?" Part of him was terribly curious, if she truly meant it, maybe he should keep drawing... Maybe he should start doing it for pay?
|
|
|
Post by Kallera on Mar 15, 2017 14:03:17 GMT -5
Kallera had no idea about how good artists tend to be, all the little details were enough to surprise her. the faded colors of her highlights, the freckles, the little scar. "The thought and passion you put out into each one is just precious, I would've given up under the hardship, but you--you have a real gift here."
She meant it as she flipped theough the pages of Takeshi's friends. "Thanks for sharing this. sometime I just...lose perspective, you know? I think I'll know what to ask Kisumi. It's her shindig, after all." She stopped at the another detailed seaside picture shortly after the garlean ones. "Finding your way through the hard times, even if it's as simple as surviving, you're tougher than you think...I think Mezz told me that one, not exactly the line he said, he had the wierdest pirate accent."
|
|