[video] (backdated to last week)

[mightydemacian]

[ 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.

Comments

[rememberher]

[ 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.

[mightydemacian]

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.

[rememberher]

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.

[mightydemacian]

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?

[rememberher]

[ 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.