28 August 2010
The Royal Palace, Poseidonis
"Recognised Aqualad B02" The zeta tube announced Kaldur's arrival, sounding only a little muffled under the water.
"Kyrae, Kaldur'ahm [Greetings, Kaldur'ahm]" King Orin greeted the boy, a gentle smile on his lips and his arms opened wide.
"Annhax Orin [King Orin]" Kaldur saluted the man, returning the greeting before the two headed off.
"I'anna sakay ego olligar ethimon deep'non peniomen cata'sparon. Procell'veen? [The Queen and I are hosting an intimate dinner tonight. Will you attend?]" King Orin asked, the natural tones of their mothertongue slipping from his lips with ease.
"Annhax, ester arter'mor eteran ill'pizzan itin cat'speran [Your Majesty, there is someone special that I had hoped to see tonight]" Kaldur replied, her face swimming before his eyes. Though, he still remembered to stay a respectable pace or two behind the king as was expected of one such as himself (despite the fact that on land he stood side-by-side next to his king, here there were different rules to follow).
"Denar'say kallis feran [You may invite a friend]" King Orin smiled fondly.
"Eff karis torsay, Annhax [Thank you, my King]" Kaldur replied in kind, unable to stop the fond smile from gracing his lips at the thought of seeing Tula again after so long.
"Cattar spear'ahn obso'min [Until tonight]" King Orin nodded in turn, wordlessly dismissing the boy before he slipped down another winding corridor.
28 August 2010
Conservatory of Sorcery, Poseidonis
And with that, Kaldur drifted off, himself, intent on finding the only person on his mind. A fond smile graced his face as he rode the swanning currents that drifted through the city; moving first past the Science Centre and then onto the Conservatory of Sorcery where many of his peers could be seen practising in their arts. For example, there was one of his underclassmen—Lagan—who appeared to be trying to form some sort of eel-like form that twisted about him in playful movements, whilst another—Coral—appeared to be attempting some sort of language spell; one that aided in translating not only the various strains of Atlantean, but the ones up on the surface as well. It was a handy spell to know, Kaldur knew from experience; especially regarding his first few days one land.
"…Ugh! I'll never finish this in time!" Topo groaned aloud as he stared frustratingly at the incomplete mural in front of him (it was thanks, in part, to Coral's widespread language spell that Kaldur was able to understand the younger boy. Coming from Xebel, his usual xebelan accent was gruff and the words harsh on the ears, like the sound of broken coral).
"Topo" Kaldur greeted as he came up from behind, "The workmanship is magnificent"
"Kaldur!' Topo exclaimed brightly, turning to greet him. "Wait, wait! Watch this!"
With a small wave of his hand, the mural suddenly sprang to life under the glow of his magicks and the beginnings of his origin story quickly came to life. "Our beloved king was at the mercy of the vile Ocean Master, but two young students—Kaldur'ahm and Garth—intervened. Thus allowing Aquaman to triumph! Impressed by their valour, Aquaman offered both of the young heroes the opportunity to be his protégée! Garth chose to continue his studies at the Conservatory of Sorcery, but the brave Kaldur'ahm accepted his King's offer and became AQUALAD!" Topo finished, ending the well-known story with a flourish before he turned back to the protagonist in question.
"…Kaldur?" Topo puzzled, almost tempted to wave his had in front his face to get his attention. Hadn't he been listening? "I—I mean, Aqualad?"
"O-oh!" Kaldur stammered as he was shaken from his stupor. Whilst it was a nice story and great craftsmanship—of both stone & magic—his thoughts were still firmly placed elsewhere. "It is very good"
"Oh, thank you!" Topo flushed with praised, before his tone turned a little bashful "Um…do you think if it's all right if I put myself in there? I mean, I know I was not really there, but I—"
"—It is fine" Kaldur interjected, well aware that the xebelan could ramble on for a while, if so allowed. "Do you know where I might find Tula, now?…And Garth?"
"On the roof" Topo pointed over towards the conservatory as if it were obvious. "At their studies"
"Thank you, my friend" Kaldur smiled, clapping the boy's shoulder as he passed. "Keep up the good work"
"I will!" Topo brightly saluted him, acting much like a younger sibling who wanted to please—or best—their elder. The action reminded Kaldur of the two younger members of his Team up on land and again, he smiled at the nostalgia of it all.
A quick turnaround to the conservatory's roof later, and Kaldur found himself reunited with his old friends and Queen Mera, herself. "Kaldur'ahm!" Queen Mera beamed as he crossed the roof to where they stood debriefing after their most recent spar. "Oh! It is so good to see you!"
"Kaldur!" Tula smiled, spinning on her heel to greet her old friend. It made Kaldur smile.
"Apologies, my Queen" Kaldur bowed apologetically, moving to greet his sovereign (after pausing for a moment to smile at Tula). "I did not mean to interrupt"
"It is well, I have another class" Queen Mera waved off, "Will I see you at dinner?"
"Yes, your majesty" He nodded.
"We shall talk then" She promised before she left to attend to other aforementioned class.
"You look well, Kaldur!" Tula beamed as she looped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him in tight for a hug as his own rested gently on her hips. This close he could smell the sour scent of sea prunes that lingered on her; one that was so Tula. But all too soon, the girl was pulling back to allow his other friend in. If he were being honest, for a moment Kaldur had forgotten he was even there.
"Yes" Garth agreed, moving in to clap his friend on the shoulder in that 'We're-men-and-we-don't-hug-way' "It seems that surface life agrees with you"
"You speak as if I have been gone for years…?" Kaldur puzzled. "But it has only been—"
"—Two months" Garth & Tula chorused.
"That long? It does not seem so…" Kaldur hummed in thought, "Then I must make up for lost time. Tula, would you accompany me to dinner tonight, at the palace?"
"…" Tula spared a silent glance with Garth, one that seemed to speak millions between the pair, (once upon a time, the three of them had needed no words to communicate their thoughts to each other. Now with only two months between them, it seemed that Kaldur no longer held that ability; at least not with these two. No, that honour now lay with his Team up on the surface; although that had less to do with knowing each other so well that you did not need words, and the telepathically enhanced martian who habitually linked them for conversation). But even if it did, Kaldur didn't know what they were saying to each other; he assumed that one did not wish to partake in such an honour without the other.
"I wish I could invite you as well" Kaldur apologised to Garth, one hand on his shoulder as he returned the earlier gesture.
"…I made that choice long ago" Garth reassured him, though his eyes travelled to Tula with a message seemingly hidden behind his gaze.
"W-well, we have another class now" Tula farewelled as she tugged Garth off towards their next lesson, "But I will see you tonight"
"Yes, I will see you tonight" Kaldur nodded, satisfied that first step in securing Tula as his girl was complete. Tonight, he would hope to charm her into taking things further; yes, tonight was the night.
28 August 2010
The Royal Palace, Poseidonis
"…A gigantic echinoderm that's frozen—yet still alive—it's amazing! Of course, at this point, our data is quite limited. But! Doctor Vulko thinks that the creature is very promising…" Prince Orm excitedly gushed, gesturing wildly with his hands as he talked. His excitement was almost infectious and the thirst for knowledge was clear in his eyes as he discussed his work with the others at the (royal) dinner party.
It was the kind of thing that reminded Kaldur of Wally and his enthusiasm for land sciences because when the speedster started on a subject that he was passionate about, he could go on for hours (with only the occasional interjection from Robin, or moment to pause with the oblivious martian girl who only had eyes for one of them. And that one was clearly not the speedster). Dinners like this were not exactly per the norm up on the surface, instead those were far less formal and usually filled with far less tension to obey non-spoken rules than down here. For example, Robin could usually be found sneaking food off of other people's plates whilst they were preoccupied and Rachel—who was slowly settling into life at Mount Justice—verbally sparred with their resident archer, seeing just how far she could push the blonde before she (playfully) retaliated with either a handful of peas, an arrow or a sarcastic response. (It was in times like that, that Kaldur was reminded of the witch's chaotic origins and her younger sibling status).
"I am considering rejoining you at the Conservatory" Kaldur quietly confided in Tula, subtly hinting at pursuing their relationship into something further. Although, if Queen Mera's quirked brow and twitch of the lips was anything to go by, he was about as subtle as a beached whale.
"You…realise that you left your studies some time ago?" Queen Mera swooped in, saving Tula from causing a scene at the dinner table. "Your sorcery skills have not kept pace. You would no longer be in Tula's class. Or Garth's"
"…Perhaps I will require…a tutor?" Kaldur turned hopefully towards his friend, unawares—or ignorant—of the panicked look that flashed through her eyes; one that was gone as soon as it came, but still replaced the thankful expression she had passed to Queen Mera only moments before, for her tactful interference. Although, Kaldur was nothing if not determined (and stubborn).
"…And what is going on with you, brother?" Prince Orm turned to his brother, as he paused for breath in between his excitable rants.
"We" King Orin replied as he rose to his feet with his wife at his side, his arms looped around her waist which held her close. "Have an announcement!"
"I am with child!" Queen Mera beamed, one hand gently caressing her flat belly.
"Oh! That is wonderful!" Tula crowed as she rushed to hug her queen, uncaring for etiquette as she used Kaldur as a springboard. As for the boy in question, he simply revelled in the briefest of touches from her before collecting himself to offer congratulations as well.
"Congratulations!" Kaldur made his way over to his mentor and shook his hand, "An heir to the throne at last!"
"Ahem!" Prince Orm cleared his throat as he too, rose to congratulate his brother & sister-in-law.
"Uh…apologies, Prince Orm" Kaldur quickly apologised, realising that he had just put his foot in his mouth with such a statement, "I did not mean—"
"—No fear, Kaldur" Prince Orm smiled, easily waving off the misstep. "No one could be more thrilled at the news, than I!"
"Thank you, brother" King Orin smiled softly, returning his brother's 'manly' hug with a few pats to the back. "Thanks to you all!"
All around them, the attendants and palace guards who had heard the news also revelled in the notion that the throne would soon have heir to call its own (although, it would—hopefully—be several years before the child ever ascended to the throne). The news of a child was a show of good fortune no matter the culture, and atlantean culture was no different; no doubt, several bouts of festivities would spring up in the days to come once word got around. Well, festivities and…other such machinations that came with being royalty.
"Superman to Aquaman" The kryptonian suddenly came over the comms, (mercifully) interrupting the touching, yet full on, moment between the two parents-to-be. Kaldur was sure that Prince Orm did not particularly fancy watching his brother make love to his wife right there on the dinner table and yet…there was a notion in the back of his mind which whispered words of fantasy. What if it were he and Tula in that embrace? On that table? The thought was delicious, but not one for public consumption. "League emergency in Tokyo bay. Rendezvous at the Watch Tower"
"Acknowledged. It…seems that I must take my leave" King Orin replied, pressing the emblem on his belt to silence the alarm. Sparing an apologetic excuse to his counterparts, the atlantean then turned to his protégée. "Swim with me"
Slipping from the dining hall, the two heroes made their way back towards the zeta tubes as Kaldur silently puzzled over what it was that his mentor wanted to talk to him about. He didn't have to wait long; once they were out of earshot, the blonde began to speak. "Batman has made me aware of your…dilemma"
"…Oh" Kaldur murmured, silently taken aback that their Team leader would think it fit to tell his mentor such a thing when he, himself was not yet sure about it all.
"I know from personal experience that it can be difficult to live there and love here" King Orin continued as they moved at a brisk pace. This conversation was important, but so too, was reporting for League duties.
"Recognised Aquaman 06" Intoned the computer as the co-ordinates for the sea-to-surface zeta tube was inputed.
"I am confident that you will make the right decision" King Orin paused, turning to his protégée one last time before he was swallowed up by the transporter.
"And that place" Kaldur murmured to himself, confident in his self-assurance. "Is with Tula"
