Thread: ☢Final Fantasy: Edyn's Lament☢ [-Haru|Lila-]

Though his face was hidden by the helmet of the armor that he wore, there was somehow no doubt that Stone was smiling as Aeshir said they could go, and even though Kator tugged on the sleeve of Aeshir, it was Stone that bent down to pick the boy up and set him on his shoulder. His neck was far to wide for the boy to sit comfortably and straddle his neck, but the width of Stone's shoulder was perfect, and Kator had a bird's eye view of the street as they walked along. Before, where people had moved to give them a wide berth, now when they saw the young man, as well as his sister, walking with the two, they smiled and would even greet them. It was something that had been missing with the siblings really. True camraderie. Oh, they had the others in ARC that had been taken as well, but the bonds there were strained. This was different, and reminded them of who they were and what their purpose was. In many ways the people here in Shornhelm were the same as Kator, and mere children. Children of the Far'Anthi. They were bound to protect them, and those bonds were proving to be stronger than the ones that Jenova held. With his free hand Stone had even helped push the cart of the man up the hill and soon they were arriving at the doorsteps to the Sand Sea. It was a pub and a restaurant and over the next hour Stone and Aeshir were treated with a certain hospitality and respect that they hadn't received in a long time. Soon it was time to get going though, and yet they knew that they'd left an indelible mark on the people here. The flower girl, Aerith, had come up to give Aeshir a warm hug. You take care of yourself, and come and see me when you come back to the city, ok? she said. She even spared a hug for Stone, though she settled for hugging his arm since the rest of him was too large to get her arms around. You too big guy. You take care of your woman there. Aerith said, unaware that the two were siblings. And who would guess? Stone's white hair and general size separated him from Aeshir in almost every way. --------------- Lead on then. Stryker said, and downed the last of his beer. If Akin was willing to lead him right to Lune it might save him some trouble. He knew he could find her without the man's help, but he'd found that the further he got away from ARC's building, and the city in general, the better he felt and the less he felt like cooperating. He had little interest in taking Lune back really. I know she left for a reason, but I don't need you to tell me Akin. I want to hear it from her. he told the man. Stryker had an idea of what Lune was thinking, and he found that his own mind was more clear out here in the world. Surely it was the same for Lune, or perhaps she'd found the clarity back at ARC, and if so, Stryker was curious about how. It was likely her Far'Anthi blood, and he'd heard several researchers exclaim that her's was different somehow. Stryker needed to know. Standing from where he was seated he gestured to the door for Akin to lead the way. --------------- The tone of Daveera's voice cut straight to Gand's heartstrings and in another moment he was entering her room, and the sight beyond the door was heartwrenching. Oh Daveera my sweet. he said, and immediately moved to her. She'd collapsed onto the floor, and Gand moved to her and cradled her in his arms as he sank down beside her. Stroking her hair he cooed softly to her, comforting her as he placed small kisses on her forehead and in her hair. It will be alright. You're ok. You're ok. he said to her and knew that he needed to further his research on the development of the nerve emulators. It was a coating he was working on, that could be applied to the inorganic parts of her body, which was most of it really, but would allow her to interface with her chassis like a normal body as well as feel things as if she had skin. The body they had given her now was already cutting edge, and though it was far stronger and more resilient than any flesh and blood body, it weighed no more than one. This allowed Gand to lift her as he stood and he laid her on her bed. Let's take a look, sweet girl. he said, and even as he accessed the panel on one thigh, he could see the problem. One servo had burned wires and the connection to her current interface had come unplugged. Gand wasn't sure how it had happened, but it was a quick fix and he smiled at his daughter as he worked. One day we'll teach you how to do this yourself, but when that happens you'll no longer need you're poor old father. he teased, and reached up to caress her cheek briefly before finishing up the repair. --------------- Cid closed his eyes and sighed as he felt his wife slip her arms about him and press warmly to his back. Trissa was always a comfort and without her Cid knew that SEED would not be successful. SEED needed her just as much as he did. Oh, my lovely wife. How you give me strength. he breathed to her, and deftly turned in her arms. They did not have tome to tarry, and yet he easily lost himself in those eyes of hers as he would tilt his head down to catch her mouth with his own, kissing her tenderly. Cid allowed the kiss to linger, reveling in the feel of her soft lips upon his own, but he did not deepen it. There would be plenty of time for that later, but for now they needed to get this meeting started. How I love you. he whispered to her and kissed her lips again before unwrapping his arms from about her. He did take her hand though. It was one of the few true public displays he allowed himself. Their marriage was no secret of course, and holding her hands showed their unity, their singularity of purpose. So, with his wife by his side, Cid would enter the meeting place , a rather well-hidden place in the attack of one of their members. Equipped with a few beds and a small game room, it was made to help accommodate those members that might need to lay low for awhile. Cid gave a nod as he entered, and patted his wife's hand before he let it go, each person called for the meeting having found a comfortable place to sit or stand. It was a new arrival that caught Cid's eyes though. A woman that he had been told they could trust implicitly. A woman who might help them turn the tide against ARC. With his gaze settling on the woman Cid smiled tersely and said, It's a pleasure to meet you. Why don't you introduce yourself?