2023-09-05: Even If My Wings Must Make a Wind Only For You
- Log: 2023-09-05: Even If My Wings Must Make a Wind Only For You
- Cast: Seolla Schweizer, Arado Balanga
- Where: Side 2 - PLANT
- Date: U.C. 0097 09 05
- Summary: The falcon who finally managed to grow her patina tries to make a nest for the shrike she cares most for.
The altogether familiar feeling of waking up in a stiff bed, in sterile environments, and uncomfortably sore, with a sharp pain or two stabbing somewhere.
With a weary groan, Arado Balanga tries to turn to his side, only to wince and whisper out a hoarse: 'gah, ouch ouch ouch'. ...But what he sees, for a short little moment.
A familiar girl with short white hair, arms folded together beneath her blanket, asleep in her chair, a telltale pack filled with nutrient bars a sign that she's been here for some time, and planned to be for longer.
"...ah, good. That wasn't just a dream."
Arado's voice, quiet as it is, proves enough to gently stir Seolla from her rest, blue eyes flitting open wearily, one hand reaching up to rub them - before jolting wider awake. "Y-you're up-!" Seolla stammers, reaching out quickly to grasp Arado's arm.
"Ow ow ow, not so hard-! Still really sore there!" Arado flinches, before rolling onto his back again, wincing at the feeling of an IV drip prodding at his elbow. The purple haired teenager takes a deep breath - Seolla's grip relents, and it's a comfort beyond words to his exhausted self.
...the obvious thing has to be asked.
"...where are we, and who has us?"
A slightly teary Seolla shakes her head gently, thumbs digging into Arado's forearm in assurance. "We're fine. We're not with...'them' anymore. Hopefully, they're not coming after us either. We're just in one of the PLANTs right now, and you don't need to do anything but rest up."
A little laugh of relief sinks Arado's chest, followed by a cough. All the horrible things that were plugged into him left their mark for sure - but Seolla was sure he'd make it. Invasive surgery wouldn't be enough to do lasting damage to Arado. Not like that. He's too much of a dummy to go down that way.
"...all that time, I knew you'd be able to do it. They tried to convince me you died on that assignment, but I didn't believe them. ...I just never took you for the dying type, hah."
That earns Arado a little pinch, and a playful, "You dolt..."
...How long had it been? It'd felt somehow just like yesterday to Seolla, yet also a lifetime ago. She's spent so much time remembering everything she'd done, writing down everything she's experienced, and yet, the idea that it was almost a year ago that she escaped feels strange, somehow.
"...man. I'm really...out of there. ...they've still got Ouka, of course, so we're not out of the woods yet, but the two of us together..." Arado thinks aloud for a little bit. "...say, you haven't been working alone, have you? I mean, I'm sure you needed a few helping hands just to stay afloat, and there were so many other people with you dealing with Dr. Juergen. ...You look like you're doing pretty well for yourself, I'm glad. I wanna thank them."
...the sentiment should have felt so warm. So glowing.
Instead, Seolla grips Arado's hand with both of her own, and takes one deep breath.
"...I...they've helped me a lot. But...listen, Arado. I don't want you to...worry too much..."
Arado's eyes widen a little bit. A tone of voice he faintly recognizes.
"...I've...had transfer forms for you to go to the academy I've been enrolled at. Jindai, where...well, I'm not there a lot, it's a bit of a gathering point for big weirdos, but it's also been really safe. But..."
"...I want you to just attend class there and...not get involved in...everything."
Lifting an eyebrow, Arado presses his lips together, grumbling out, "...hoy hoy, what are you talking about, Seolla? What's going on here? ...If you're dealing with something crazy, it's a bad idea to go it alone. And if you're being hurt-"
"It's nothing like that!" Seolla blurts out. "It's nothing like that, I /promise/. It's complicated, and difficult. ...They keep their secrets, and it's better not to tell you too much, but-"
"Seriously, I'm really worried right now!" Arado huffs, squeezing an eye shut as he tries to sit more upright, his own hand twisting around to hold onto Seolla's thumb. "...and that's...how I know it's something hard for you. Please, tell me as much as possible about what's going on. ...please."
One noisy sniff. One breathing out. Racking her brain on how to explain it properly. "...the organization that took care of me. They...do a lot of this. Rescuing people who've been in our shoes. ...As soon as I got to know them, I knew I wanted to help. To get better as soon as I can, because it was my best ticket to tracking you down, to ensuring nobody else has to go through what I did. ...and...I've...I've been really happy there! I'm serious. I...feel like it's where I'm supposed to be."
"...but..."
A furtive glance off to one side, then out the hospital window, to the glistening landscape within the PLANT's hourglass.
"...I can smell it. There's...lately, there's something hanging in the air. People don't look at each other the same way. A lot of trusted people have died, or betrayed us. People I assumed were tied at the hip are now refusing to talk to each other. My direct captain is exhausted but working harder than ever. Her associate took an enormous personal risk for someone most people...really didn't want to extend a hand to. An important hero said his goodbyes the other day. I..."
"...it's too much. I feel like everything's so delicate. Like if I make a wrong move, it'll turn everything upside down."
Gritting his teeth, Arado pulls Seolla's hand closer in defiance - before getting a better look at her face. He expected something different. Something more fearful, shakier, a decision that's been put upon her.
...Has he ever seen this before?
When Seolla looks back at him, there's a firm clearness in her eyes. She's crying, a little bit, but she's not recoiling, not overly trying to pull away nor overly compliant. She resists the pull just enough to not be utterly drawn in, but still brings herself closer.
...He has.
He knows exactly when Seolla gets this determined. This defiant. He's seen it countless times over.
Every single time, it was taken away from her.
When he knew her as that weird girl who kept giving people names. Who made sure he was named Arado. Who kept crying hardest, who kept talking back to their handlers right before she got... 're-assigned'.
The thing she's always been most serious about.
"...Seolla...you don't have to work so hard to protect them. Especially when it's from themselves, no matter how much you care about them."
The tears well up more in Seolla's eyes. She's about to speak up, before-
"Alright - Jindai you said, yeah? It sounds a little like you've been skipping class to take care of something crazy at home, but if you want me to stick around there, that just means I'll make sure you're not too far behind on homework. But promise me something new, okay?" Arado puts on his biggest, brightest smile. The most comforting sight in Seolla's world.
A terse swallow. Seolla nods, eager to hear his solution. The ones he always comes up with that are a little dumb, but just the right thing to say. "...Alright."
"...If these guys you're working with need a good old sock to the gut to get them in shape, give me a call, okay? And keep me updated, cause if I start to get the feeling like you're getting sucked into something really dire, there's not a force in this world that'll stop me from marching on over and telling your bosses what's what. Got all that?"
...Seolla can't help but laugh. "You really haven't changed at all, you bozo...it's a promise.~ Honestly, I might call it in sooner rather than later for some of these crazy people."
Hands clasped tighter together, Arado gives a big thumbs up. "It's a deal. You know...you've changed a lot, on your end, huh. ...You came up with everything you told me all on your own. Before, you woulda been frozen like a deer in the headlights at so much as thinking what color shirt to wear. I'm glad."
"...it worried me a lot. ...The part of you that wanted to fly freely, and the part of you that was desperate for someone to hold you in place. I thought one of them would have to go down, and it'd take the other one with it. But you figured it out, didn't ya? Some way or another. Maybe it's just the taste of fresh air that did it."
...Arado loosens his hold. Seolla takes a while longer to even think of letting go.
"I couldn't be happier. Knowing you have people you love on your own terms, rather than worrying you'd have nothing else in the world if you didn't give someone 1000%. ...Here's hoping I can find what I'm looking for the same way."
Seolla tips her head. ...After all this time, with this silly, ever optimistic boy her anchor in the darkest storm, she never stopped to wonder. "...you? Looking for something? What in the world could that be?"
"The best budget all you can eat buffet in the Earth Sphere!"
That earns the laughing Arado a flick on the cheek from a red-cheeked Seolla, lips all pursed and pouty. "Honestly, some things never change! Hmph! It's obvious you're doing totally fine for yourself if all you can think about is something as dumb as that! ...T...then in that case. ...I'm sure there's questions about what happened to me floating around. I don't wanna keep everyone waiting too long. Maybe if you're still recovering and I can get back up here, I'll pay you another visit, but...all things considered, it might take a while. ...But I'll - I already gave you a burner phone with a little VERTEX account we can use to talk, so don't think something as stupid as this being some teary eyed goodbye!" She says, teary-eyed.
...It takes a long, deep breath before Seolla can turn away. She made her decision to protect Arado from turmoil, to protect Mithril from complicating factors, all at the same time. Was it the right one? She doesn't know how to say. Will it be enough? Probably not. That boy can't help but get himself in some kind of trouble. Maybe it'll be the fun kind. Maybe if he has to wind up in this world of struggle again, it can be something where his heart of justice and bluster can save the day.
...Whichever it is, Seolla knows that it was her own choice, nobody else's, and that it was accepted, as long as she keeps that new promise. And that's enough for her to see it through. For her to trust that someone so important to her will be okay for a little while.
...when Seolla does finally leave, Arado sighs back in his bed for a while, carefully turning his bruised neck towards the window - the slowly setting artifical sun of the PLANT's glistening landscape.
"...it'll be a while before I'd be able to tell anyone else in the world, even you. I'm not even sure how to tell myself."
"...Sorry about that little fib at the end there, Seolla. ...It's gonna take me a long, long time to find it, after all."