bravenewworld | [video] (backdated to last week)

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[ Garen pops up on the Warp Band one day. He's finally back home. ]

Good evening, friends. I'm not sure if my name is still remembered, but Garen Crownguard is back. I suppose a small explanation is required for my absence.

I left on a mission, the details of which shall remain confidential, but suffice to say I ended up at Glacier sometime before the white dragon arrived. I defended the people there, but was gravely injured and only just recovered enough to make the trip back to Union.

I will be resuming my duties as a Sword of the Savior immediately.

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[ What goes on between the time that Lux sees this message and when she actually responds is a long, drawn out, extremely conflicted phase of almost responses. Everyone keeps coming back, safe and sound, even after she has stopped crying for them, stopped hoping for their return. She always knew somewhere in the back of her mind that he had to be safe--this was Garen, he was infallible, there was nothing that could really touch him in her eyes--but at the same time it was hard to keep that faith alive. She had all but told herself to give up on the idea of him returning. And yet...

And yet.

A deep breath. Her voice is measured, and she can't quite bring herself to even look at the camera. ]

You couldn't even tell me you were leaving?

[ "I'm a bit hurt..."

No, don't say that. ]

It must have been important, huh?

Luxanna.

[ Garen's a blockhead, but he's sharper than he looks. He can tell that she's not exactly happy right now, and she has a right to. Family disappearing for months at a time is not something that anyone should have to deal with. ]

Every mission is important, but it was never supposed to take so long. Two weeks away turned into months.

[ He sighs. There's no point getting into the details here, especially not over video. ]

But regardless, I'm sorry.

[ That wasn't fair, Garen. Leaving at a time when she needed you the most without telling her, not giving any sort of explanation after the fact. She should be angry, but somehow her fury fell flat. After being a flurry of emotions over her friends and family disappearing, all Lux could feel was tired. Relieved, but tired. ]

Have you told mother and father that you've returned yet?

[ Ever the worrier, this one. ]

Of course. I have already returned to the manor, it would be difficult for them not to know.

[ A wry smile, an awkward attempt at humour. ]

Lux, where are you now? We shouldn't be speaking over video about this. It's far too important not to be said face to face.

Good, I'm glad. Mother has been especially worried about you.

[ Lux looks down a bit before nodding. ]

You're right, we shouldn't be. I'm finishing up at the shop in an hour or so. Could you meet me there?

Mother worries too much. I won't die so easily.

[ Even though he willingly admits that he almost got killed fighting Reshiram, whoops. ]

I know where it is, I'll be there.

[ Yeah gj there bro.

Lux nods a bit reflexively. ]

All right.

[ When Garen does finally arrive at the shop, he'll find the shelves more heavily stocked than usual. Apparently people figured that buying their loved ones enhanced items or the like was something that they should be doing during Salvation, and the Prodigal Explorer aimed to deliver.

Thankfully, they haven't experienced the true holiday rush yet, which meant that they were likely going to close on time. In the meantime, Lux busied herself with meticulously cleaning to get her mind off of Things™. It wouldn't do her any good watching the clock until he finally arrived. ]

[ Garen arrived just before the store closed, walking a little slower than his usual blistering pace. He's really not at full strength yet, and it will likely be months before that. ]

Luxanna Crownguard.

[ He pulled open the door and stepped inside, looking around the shop that Lux was so carefully taking care of. He considered it beneath her, but if this was what she wanted... ]

I'm sorry I'm late. [ For all sorts of things. ]

[ If it were anyone else, she might wince at the utterance of her full name. But that was Garen's way. It was always Garen's way. Even when she wanted to be close to him, somehow she was always an arm's distance away. ]

...You've lost weight.

[ Was that really the first thing that came to mind? After all this time, no "I'm glad you're all right," or "I was so worried." No, it had to be that. Lux finally winced, hiding it quickly as she looked down, lifting the leaflet and walking out from the front counter.

She looked quite a bit different. Grown. Evolved. Her hair much longer, dusting her hips, nearly silver in the dim light, she had something of a prismatic glow to her. She had grown strong in the time that he was gone. ]

It--it's all right.

There's a surprising lack of food while you're on the road. [ Especially when you're in the frozen north. ] Having our own cook again was a nice change of pace.

[ Garen had sharp eyes. He caught all sorts of things that people didn't want to be seen, but he was also the kind of person to keep his cards close to his chest. He didn't have much by way of comments, except to say: ]

You on the other hand, have grown. Enlightenment suits you.

Right...

[ This felt awkward. So very, very awkward. It wasn't what she imagined or wanted their reunion to be. Even his compliment felt a bit uncomfortable, and while Lux knew that she should be pleased--even excited about the bit of praise from her older brother--it felt... strange, somehow. ]

I've been traveling a lot. Working, a lot. In the field. It's only natural.

[ "I'm not that little girl anymore," She wanted to say, but stopped herself. ]

Thank you. That means a lot, coming from you.

I'm only telling the truth, but you're welcome.

[ Garen scratched his chin. This was definitely awkward. He had expected their reunion to be a bit more... How could he put it? Emotional? He's definitely missed his sister, but for some reason they're keeping each other at arm's length.

He can't say why, but in his heart of hearts he knows exactly what it is. Their family is one that has been through too much to function the same way ordinary, happy families do. And Garen himself has spent so much of his life's work dedicated to his duty that he's killed his own ability to function as an ordinary person.

But he has to try. ]

How have you been while I was gone?

[ This isn't what she imagined. This isn't what she wanted. Lowering her gaze a bit, not sure if she could take this superficial conversation for much longer, Lux takes a breath before finally looking up again. ]

A lot has happened. I thought...

I thought you weren't coming back.

[Well, here's a fine example of mixed feelings. On one hand, Fai is aware that to Garen he's most likely that irresponsible, flighty Flourite kid who was promised to his sister right until he wasn't, and had given him a bit of a wide berth in the past. On the other hand, he's so very happy for Lux's sake that he's back... and as someone who else has recently been notably missing for a long while, he does sympathize with the somewhat awkward situation.

So he switches on the video function with his usual pleasant smile - albeit one that leans more toward amusement than politeness, because you can't have everything.]

Well, it never rains but it pours. Me, you, the lost Gods... it seems to be the time of reunions all over the place. [Add to that a painfully casual tone and some offhand irreverence for good measure. Perfect.]

Edited 2015-12-03 19:07 (UTC)

I'd hardly consider either of us to be on par with a huge damned dragon trying to burn all our collective hairs off. [ His tone is severe at the best of times, though there's a twinkle in his eyes that reveals the joke for what it is. ]

I suppose I should welcome you back too. What happened to you?

[ Fai is that irresponsible, flighty Flourite kid, but Lux still seems to like him, and they're not getting married, so Garen won't ride his ass too much. ]

[Fai grins in turn, lifting his eyebrows in a well-crafted expression of honest surprise.]

Ah, really? I don't know, I think maybe you're not giving us enough credit...

[And the smile doesn't flicker or fall so much, but it does grow a bit more muted a moment later, as if the emotions behind it have shifted rather than the expression in itself.]

I ran off on my own. Regrettably I can't be excused by a mission or anything so noble as that, but I... well, I went looking for Yuui, that's all. [And while Fai had returned to the city, his twin is still missing. He hasn't given up on looking, either. He just came back because, quite frankly, it was that or giving up on life.]

I see. I suppose he's not back, then.

[ Garen's not terribly happy about that. Their families were close, and Garen knew these boys fairly well. It could not be easy for Fai to come back empty-handed. ]

Don't give up. You will find him some day, even if it's just a body.

[ So optimistic, Garen. ]

[Inside, Fai feels as if a knife was just dropped through his chest, but his only response is a blank, expressionless face and a slow headshake.]

If he was dead, I'd know.

[The syllables are flat and low compared to his normal voice.]

His mind and mine have been connected since we were born. Since the morning he disappeared, I haven't been able to feel it, but... no, he's not dead. I know he's not dead.

[The flat emptiness he feels when he tries to find Yuui is a wall, something keeping them apart. It's not a hole, not a gaping wound where his twin ought to be. That's what he needs to believe, to be able to go on.]

Then he's not dead. That means you still have a chance to find him. [ Garen states the obvious, but sometimes the obvious has to be stated. He's trying to make a point. ]

So have faith in yourself. It wouldn't do to have you falter now. Your friends would be heartbroken to lose you for real.

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