Chapter 4: Emotional Upsets
Ashton was laying on his stomach, unable to sleep at all, his mind filled with nothing but Precis. Bowman was kicked back on his bed, thinking about things, and occasionally having stray thoughts of Nineh or Celine pop in.
Claude walked in, his mind mixed with thoughts of Opera and Rena both. He knew Rena wasn't wholly pleased by Opera's addition, but Claude had something he wanted. Someone who knew about his situation, and someone who could actually help him. But he had no idea if he really wanted to leave now.
His late entry hadn't gone unnoticed. "So, have fun with her? You know Rena's gonna get awfully mad about it." Bowman asked, unmoving from his lounging position on the bed.
Claude snapped out of his thoughts, looking around wide-eyed. "Huh? What? I just wanted to talk to her about something. That's all!"
"Sure..."
Ashton rolled over and sat up. "Do you think I did the right thing, Claude?" he asked, his expression pensive.
"Right thing?"
"Inviting Opera? I mean, Precis didn't seem to happy, nor did Celine or Rena. And... and, well, I just didn't want her going alone. We are going the same way. But..." Ashton stumbled for words.
"Yeah, Ashton, its alright, really. You did the right thing. I appreciate it, myself." Claude took off his jacket and stretched.
"He's smitten with her," Bowman muttered.
"I... I am not!!" There was a slight flush in his face, and his eyes glared at Bowman.
Ashton started laughing then, watching Claude turn beet red. "Gee, Claude, you're awfully defensive."
"Augh, not both of you!"
~*~
Opera stopped in the hallway before the door, listening. She heard nothing from the room, and wondered if they'd all gone to bed already. She carefully opened the door and looked in to find them all sitting on their beds. She walked in, a bit unsure. Precis was the first to turn and look.
"Hey!" she said. "You get the bed next to mine," she continued, pointing. She then resumed brushing her hair, trying to pick out the various tangles she'd acquired form a day of walking.
Celine stood and went to the basin to wash her face without a word. Rena looked up from reading a book. "Oh, hi," she said absently before sinking back into the book.
Opera went over to the indicated bed and set her rifle next to it against the table between hers and Precis's beds. She removed her jacket and dropped it next to her bed, which she sat down on with a sigh. She was tired, and she was slowly losing hope of finding Ernest. On the other hand, Claude [i]was[/i] rather cute. She shook her head slightly.
"Hey, Opera?" She looked to see Precis looking at her kind of wide-eyed.
"Yes?" She was a bit worried someone would ask why she took so long, or perhaps if they had seen her and Claude...
"What's that?" She was pointing at the rifle.
Opera breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, that's my Kaleidoscope energy rifle. Its my weapon."
"Energy.... rifle?" Precis seemed confused, but awed by it. "A weapon, huh? So I might see you use it?"
Opera chuckled, and airy laugh. "Of course, if something decides to interfere with our travels."
"COOL!" Precis would have jumped up, had Bobot not suddenly landed in her lap. "Ooof! Bobot, that wasn't nice."
"Bobot? You mean that machine?"
"Machine? Bobot? I made him. He's really useful." Precis beamed with pride as she held the squiggling mechanical object in her hands. "I promised I'd do some tinkering before bed." She broke out a few tools and began to tinker on him. "My weapon is one I made myself as well." She indicated the mechanical arm on her back pack.
Opera nodded approvingly, knowing the young girl had a lot of skill in machines that many people on Expel didn't seem to have. She could get to like the young girl as the younger sister she never had*.
Rena yawned and closed her book. "Well, I'm going to bed," she said. "I want to be up early to get some stuff before we leave that I didn't get tonight."
Celine patted her face dry and headed over to her bed. "Ditto. I missed getting some sapphires I really wanted."
Precis crawled under her blankets. "I'm tired. All that walking pooped me out! Darn rabbit!!"
Opera decided to turn in as well, and blew out the lamp beside her, and wearily crawled into the bed. She had, perhaps, a few too many drinks, now that they had caught up. She closed her eyes, and the only thing she could see was Claude. Normally she would go to bed thinking of Ernest, but the younger, vibrant Claude had caught her attention. And he actually seemed to care. Or was it, perhaps, because she could get him home?
~*~
Ashton couldn't sleep. It wasn't really Gyoro and Urunrun, it was just his mind wouldn't stop thinking long enough for him to relax and go to sleep. Finally he got up and threw on his cape, gloves, and boots and headed out into the starry night. He stopped in the silent main area of Hilton and looked skyward, up into the vast endless star ocean...
"I really don't know," he said quietly. "I don't know what I should do. I do know I can't just sit idly by when our world is in trouble though."
"..." Urunrun nudged Ashton's head.
"Its ok, really. We'll get this turned right. Somehow. But really, did you two have to stick to me?"
"...."
~*~
That same night sky was observed by others, in a wholly different way. Several figures were scattered about a balcony of the once-great Elrulia Tower, taken to various tasks. It was nearly sunrise there, and the faint stains of the ruddy glow had begun to flush out the stars from sight. The only sounds were the wind, and the occasional sound of a blade being honed.
One figure stood away from the others, silent and unmoving, watching for the faint strains of light that came with dawn. He idly flipped a lock of red hair away from his hazel-brown eyes. No one dared to bother him - it was batter that way. Except one, whose quiet steps alerted him to the other's presence.
"Yes Cyril?" His tone was cool, collected, but hints of irritation slipped in. The morning was too perfect to be ruined by ill news from the silver- haired man.
"The assault on the northern Lacour borders has started, Indalecio," he replied coldly, knowing his 'superior' well. One might debate which of the two thought they had more power, but it was irrelevant while they were trapped on this planet. It wouldn't be much longer, though.
"Yes, I expected Sin to take action already. How goes it?" He never turned his eyes from the glowing light of the eastern horizon, watching as the light grew. Soon, there would come a time when this would never come again. Then they would be back where they rightfully belonged.
"They are resisting, but it will not be long before they cannot stand against the assaults," Cyril replied.
"Good, as I expected. Things are going smoothly indeed. Anything more?"
"No." Cyril bit his tongue, holding back so many words he wished to speak, ones which must be held off until after they reached their destination. It was coming sooner and sooner though, that much was apparent.
"Fine then." Indalecio gave a small flick of his gloved hand, indicating Cyril could leave. He heard the quick steps of Cyril's retreat, their sharpness giving evidence to his irritation.
'Its only a matter of time,' Indalecio thought, 'until he finally gives in and decides to try something. I know he can't hold back much longer. Its not as if I couldn't handle this alone...'
~*~
"I've always felt alone," Ashton said, sitting on a barrel outside the now- closed tavern. "No one there with me, no one who cared. Not that I didn't mind, really, but its nice to have friends now."
"Awroo..."
"Yes, it does seem that way at times, doesn't it?" He rested his chin on his knees, looking up at the stars, focusing on a bright blue one. "But we make our way through. Everyone has their ups and downs. And here we are, out in the cold of night wondering about things. I wish I could sleep, but there's just so much going through my mind."
"Awk!"
Ashton smiled. "Yes, I know that they care, and they're going to help. I just don't know what to do. I don't know what its going to take to separate us. Can't you guys just go?" His emerald eyes gazed out, wondering what he should do, with no clear answers on what would happen to them or himself in the coming days.
"...."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way. Its just... everyone looks at us, and I feel as though they think of us so differently - like sideshow freaks - that we'll never be understood. I don't hate you guys, but you should know this isn't natural. I suppose perhaps it was just my luck."
He could tell the two dragons were looking at each other without looking back. Suddenly each one was by his face on either side, looking upwards with him.
'I don't really want to lose you guys, in a way, but what will I do after this is over? Can I really live with two dragons on my back? I can't do this alone...'
*I'm assuming that Opal is Opera's older sister in this fic. I don't think its clarified whether she is the older or younger sister of Opera. Opal is in the Bowman/Ernest ending. ^^;
Ashton was laying on his stomach, unable to sleep at all, his mind filled with nothing but Precis. Bowman was kicked back on his bed, thinking about things, and occasionally having stray thoughts of Nineh or Celine pop in.
Claude walked in, his mind mixed with thoughts of Opera and Rena both. He knew Rena wasn't wholly pleased by Opera's addition, but Claude had something he wanted. Someone who knew about his situation, and someone who could actually help him. But he had no idea if he really wanted to leave now.
His late entry hadn't gone unnoticed. "So, have fun with her? You know Rena's gonna get awfully mad about it." Bowman asked, unmoving from his lounging position on the bed.
Claude snapped out of his thoughts, looking around wide-eyed. "Huh? What? I just wanted to talk to her about something. That's all!"
"Sure..."
Ashton rolled over and sat up. "Do you think I did the right thing, Claude?" he asked, his expression pensive.
"Right thing?"
"Inviting Opera? I mean, Precis didn't seem to happy, nor did Celine or Rena. And... and, well, I just didn't want her going alone. We are going the same way. But..." Ashton stumbled for words.
"Yeah, Ashton, its alright, really. You did the right thing. I appreciate it, myself." Claude took off his jacket and stretched.
"He's smitten with her," Bowman muttered.
"I... I am not!!" There was a slight flush in his face, and his eyes glared at Bowman.
Ashton started laughing then, watching Claude turn beet red. "Gee, Claude, you're awfully defensive."
"Augh, not both of you!"
~*~
Opera stopped in the hallway before the door, listening. She heard nothing from the room, and wondered if they'd all gone to bed already. She carefully opened the door and looked in to find them all sitting on their beds. She walked in, a bit unsure. Precis was the first to turn and look.
"Hey!" she said. "You get the bed next to mine," she continued, pointing. She then resumed brushing her hair, trying to pick out the various tangles she'd acquired form a day of walking.
Celine stood and went to the basin to wash her face without a word. Rena looked up from reading a book. "Oh, hi," she said absently before sinking back into the book.
Opera went over to the indicated bed and set her rifle next to it against the table between hers and Precis's beds. She removed her jacket and dropped it next to her bed, which she sat down on with a sigh. She was tired, and she was slowly losing hope of finding Ernest. On the other hand, Claude [i]was[/i] rather cute. She shook her head slightly.
"Hey, Opera?" She looked to see Precis looking at her kind of wide-eyed.
"Yes?" She was a bit worried someone would ask why she took so long, or perhaps if they had seen her and Claude...
"What's that?" She was pointing at the rifle.
Opera breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, that's my Kaleidoscope energy rifle. Its my weapon."
"Energy.... rifle?" Precis seemed confused, but awed by it. "A weapon, huh? So I might see you use it?"
Opera chuckled, and airy laugh. "Of course, if something decides to interfere with our travels."
"COOL!" Precis would have jumped up, had Bobot not suddenly landed in her lap. "Ooof! Bobot, that wasn't nice."
"Bobot? You mean that machine?"
"Machine? Bobot? I made him. He's really useful." Precis beamed with pride as she held the squiggling mechanical object in her hands. "I promised I'd do some tinkering before bed." She broke out a few tools and began to tinker on him. "My weapon is one I made myself as well." She indicated the mechanical arm on her back pack.
Opera nodded approvingly, knowing the young girl had a lot of skill in machines that many people on Expel didn't seem to have. She could get to like the young girl as the younger sister she never had*.
Rena yawned and closed her book. "Well, I'm going to bed," she said. "I want to be up early to get some stuff before we leave that I didn't get tonight."
Celine patted her face dry and headed over to her bed. "Ditto. I missed getting some sapphires I really wanted."
Precis crawled under her blankets. "I'm tired. All that walking pooped me out! Darn rabbit!!"
Opera decided to turn in as well, and blew out the lamp beside her, and wearily crawled into the bed. She had, perhaps, a few too many drinks, now that they had caught up. She closed her eyes, and the only thing she could see was Claude. Normally she would go to bed thinking of Ernest, but the younger, vibrant Claude had caught her attention. And he actually seemed to care. Or was it, perhaps, because she could get him home?
~*~
Ashton couldn't sleep. It wasn't really Gyoro and Urunrun, it was just his mind wouldn't stop thinking long enough for him to relax and go to sleep. Finally he got up and threw on his cape, gloves, and boots and headed out into the starry night. He stopped in the silent main area of Hilton and looked skyward, up into the vast endless star ocean...
"I really don't know," he said quietly. "I don't know what I should do. I do know I can't just sit idly by when our world is in trouble though."
"..." Urunrun nudged Ashton's head.
"Its ok, really. We'll get this turned right. Somehow. But really, did you two have to stick to me?"
"...."
~*~
That same night sky was observed by others, in a wholly different way. Several figures were scattered about a balcony of the once-great Elrulia Tower, taken to various tasks. It was nearly sunrise there, and the faint stains of the ruddy glow had begun to flush out the stars from sight. The only sounds were the wind, and the occasional sound of a blade being honed.
One figure stood away from the others, silent and unmoving, watching for the faint strains of light that came with dawn. He idly flipped a lock of red hair away from his hazel-brown eyes. No one dared to bother him - it was batter that way. Except one, whose quiet steps alerted him to the other's presence.
"Yes Cyril?" His tone was cool, collected, but hints of irritation slipped in. The morning was too perfect to be ruined by ill news from the silver- haired man.
"The assault on the northern Lacour borders has started, Indalecio," he replied coldly, knowing his 'superior' well. One might debate which of the two thought they had more power, but it was irrelevant while they were trapped on this planet. It wouldn't be much longer, though.
"Yes, I expected Sin to take action already. How goes it?" He never turned his eyes from the glowing light of the eastern horizon, watching as the light grew. Soon, there would come a time when this would never come again. Then they would be back where they rightfully belonged.
"They are resisting, but it will not be long before they cannot stand against the assaults," Cyril replied.
"Good, as I expected. Things are going smoothly indeed. Anything more?"
"No." Cyril bit his tongue, holding back so many words he wished to speak, ones which must be held off until after they reached their destination. It was coming sooner and sooner though, that much was apparent.
"Fine then." Indalecio gave a small flick of his gloved hand, indicating Cyril could leave. He heard the quick steps of Cyril's retreat, their sharpness giving evidence to his irritation.
'Its only a matter of time,' Indalecio thought, 'until he finally gives in and decides to try something. I know he can't hold back much longer. Its not as if I couldn't handle this alone...'
~*~
"I've always felt alone," Ashton said, sitting on a barrel outside the now- closed tavern. "No one there with me, no one who cared. Not that I didn't mind, really, but its nice to have friends now."
"Awroo..."
"Yes, it does seem that way at times, doesn't it?" He rested his chin on his knees, looking up at the stars, focusing on a bright blue one. "But we make our way through. Everyone has their ups and downs. And here we are, out in the cold of night wondering about things. I wish I could sleep, but there's just so much going through my mind."
"Awk!"
Ashton smiled. "Yes, I know that they care, and they're going to help. I just don't know what to do. I don't know what its going to take to separate us. Can't you guys just go?" His emerald eyes gazed out, wondering what he should do, with no clear answers on what would happen to them or himself in the coming days.
"...."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way. Its just... everyone looks at us, and I feel as though they think of us so differently - like sideshow freaks - that we'll never be understood. I don't hate you guys, but you should know this isn't natural. I suppose perhaps it was just my luck."
He could tell the two dragons were looking at each other without looking back. Suddenly each one was by his face on either side, looking upwards with him.
'I don't really want to lose you guys, in a way, but what will I do after this is over? Can I really live with two dragons on my back? I can't do this alone...'
*I'm assuming that Opal is Opera's older sister in this fic. I don't think its clarified whether she is the older or younger sister of Opera. Opal is in the Bowman/Ernest ending. ^^;
