Second to last one folks, it's been a long hall, thanks for sticking it out with me :).


Entry Log 152:00:22:56

The feed turns on to a world in celebration. It's not the Dawning, nor one of the many other festivals celebrated during certain times of the year. No, it's a plain, normal day by the date in the upper corner of the feed, but something was different. Even without music and fancy lights the tower seems to glow with a lighter, brighter feeling to it. Maybe it's the smiles of the guardians and workers that Cayde passes as he leaves the Vanguard room and walks into the midday world above. Even the Traveler who still sleeps soundly above the city seems to glow in delight.

There's a sense of peace in the air that's hard to define, and why do so when one can simply enjoy it?

The hunter vanguard raises a hand in passing greeting to Banshee as he passes the gunsmith's venue, making his way past Tess's shop and down the small flight of stairs. There are purple flowers in one of the garden beds meaning Xur has once more made an appearance which the Exo notes as he walks up the railing. Below, the city moves, living in the protection of the tower and sleeping god, none the wiser to the last few weeks of careful planning and fighting. Cayde rests his forearms on top of the rail, leaning into it and letting out a sigh.

From the side view of him, Sundance is just as surprised as him when armguard clad limbs appear from off screen, wrapping around his neck and curling around him lazily. He starts, shifting before relaxing seconds later, recognizing either the armor or the simple touch of Light coming from the person. The camera zooms out quickly and it's no real surprise that it's Skylar behind him, only really able to peer over him because he's slouching as she lays her chin on his shoulder.

"Gotcha," she teases, grinning, all too proud of the fact that she's finally snuck up on him. Cayde huffs, rolling his eyes, but doesn't seem too upset. Instead he drops one arm from the railing and uses the other to grab at one of her own.

"I knew you were here, I got confirmation of your ship docking," he protested, trying to cover his ass because really, how could he let someone sneak up on him unless he'd allowed it? She just smiles, not rising to his challenge - after all she knows the truth - and instead uses her nose to get around his hood and nuzzle his metal cheek. It's an instantaneous reaction for him to let the subject go and lean into her touch, closing his eyes. "Welcome home," he murmurs, his tone letting on to just how much he's missed her despite all the com chats. Skylar just takes in a deep breath, her bright hair pressing up against his hood.

"Good to be back," she replies easily and after another minute, lets go of him, walking around to his side so that he can straighten. The feed pans, moving to face them both as they look out over the railing just before Cayde decides she let go too soon and wraps an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.

"Well they did it," he commends her, even though it seems she's not included in the 'they'. "Where's the team?"

"Oh, they'll be here soon. Some of them got banged up and needed treatment, unlike certain Exos not everyone can conveniently forget the rules," she informs him, making it all seem so casual somehow, the tease easily slipped in. Cayde just smirks at her as she continued. "Quite the long one really, I was getting worried, and Tristan was getting antsy."

"And you weren't?"

"I was but..." She shrugs her shoulders. "I'm not part of the raid squad anymore, even if getting to storm a Fallen nest was tempting," she admits. "Waiting like that was aggravating, never knowing if we'd get suddenly sent in or not. I think being back up is more stressful than actually being part of it." One week, it had been radio silence as Skylar, Tristan, and Winter spent time at a secured base not far outside of the Raid zone. There, six Guardians had gone in and taken a SIVA weapon apart. They hadn't been needed in the end. Cayde chuckles, understanding but, finding it humorous all the same.

"True enough. Doesn't matter now. You guys did it and you're back with little worse for ware." He's proud despite the worry she caused him, even if she was on the sidelines, his arm tightens around her as it slips from her shoulders to her waist. "The Speaker is calling this the Age of Triumph. Scouts are reporting in that all of our enemies are backing off, regrouping, or laying low for now. We'll keep monitoring it but things look good." The news is surprising and Skylar gives a small raise of her dark brows for a moment before nodding, accepting it quickly.

"I'm glad. We could all use a bit of rest I think," she comments, and the feed picks up on her hand brushing over the feathers on her armguard. "I could use a break..." Tired. She's finally letting the weight of everything that's happened in the last few weeks hit her and slide off, leaving her worn out with fraying nerves. Still her eyes seem to hold more than that and she uses a free hand to touch at the crescent shaped stone half hidden under her cloak. "It's funny, to think I could have that and stay here, when I was given other options..." she trails off shaking her head. Cayde raises a brow plate and nudges her with a hip.

"Hey, you can't just say something like that and not finish," he berates her teasingly. Skylar sighs, leaning into him more, thinking for a few ticks on the clock.

"I met Lady Efrideet," she starts, smiling. "It was like meeting a real legend, the best sniper in history." She's almost giddy talking about it now, and Cayde takes in that look, that unbridled joy and seems to memorize it, cherish it.

"So I heard, Shaxx never gets tired of telling stories about her, he was happy to know she was still around. Shiro mentioned she had her own group of retired guardians out in the universe somewhere, that she'd given up her mantle. Any reason she appeared?"

"She got word of the SIVA attack, got worried, but was too late to do much to help. Not sure she would have but… she taught me a few new tricks, being an Arc hunter and all." She shifted in his arms, looking out over the city, thinking over her next words carefully if her expression meant anything. "She offered me passage, to her home. Apparently even where ever they are out there they still get news. She knew all about me and my team. She said I deserved to walk away if I wanted to, that I shouldn't feel like I need to stay." An escape from the Light and The Darkness, from endless fighting and pain. Her words before made sense now, and her choice seemed clear too.

"You turned her down?" the Exo asks, a bit surprised, if only because part of him wanted that for her, knew she'd risked and suffered enough. Skylar turns her head to look at him, tilting it and raising a brow.

"Of course I did," she answers softly. "It was tempting, I'll admit, to put the guns down.. But I think after a time, I'd miss it. I wouldn't know what to do with myself, I thought about it a lot in that week at the stakeout. In the end, I refused, because, well, I told her I had someone waiting for me back here and there was no way I could ever ask you to leave." A soft smile caresses her face, her hand curling tighter on the necklace. "She seemed to understand and then gave me her Ghost's connection number. 'For the future', she told me." She tries to brush off such a big choice but Cayde stares her down with softly thuming optics.

"Save it for a rainy day, I guess," he says finally. "I wouldn't have faulted you for wanting to leave but it means a lot that you stayed." For him, despite her other reason in the end it was for him, for her friends. Her family that she couldn't just leave behind. "As for needing a break," he goes on, not really giving her a chance to respond other than sharing a knowing look, one that doesn't need words. He moves, ducking to press his face into her neck, wrinkling her scarf. "We could always retire early," he suggests, nipping at her skin and making her stiffen before a shudder racks through her. There's a telltale smirk there, on his face, pleased with the reaction. "I've missed you," he whispers near her ear, mouth plates grazing it and she closes her eyes, biting at her lower lip. Just like that, he's let the serious topic fall away because why have it stay? They'd made their choices, proven it to each other.

"You play dirty," she accuses him quietly, shifting in his hold, peeking up at him through half lidded eyes. "I can hardly say anything different though." She turns in his grip swiftly and steals a kiss, a hand sliding along his jaw and into his hood. He ends up pressing her back into the railing, both of them forgetting where they are for a moment, reveling in making up for their time apart. When he pulls back, the glow in the back of his throat is still flickering and she's still got her hand inside his hood, but a whistling cat call grabs their attention.

Panning the camera to the right, near the mouth of the entrance to the hanger, Skylar's friends - her family, stand watching with different stages of amusement there. Z is leading the charge like normal, though Tristan and Haar are at his sides, grinning. Winter is the only one who seems embarrassed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"You love birds done? Cause we're heading down to the city to celebrate, want to join?" the Fireteam leader asks, smirking. Panning back to the two hunters, Skylar flushes and grins, looking up at her boyfriend in question. It's clear the Exo had other plans, ones she's basically agreed to moments before, yet… yet one look from her has him shrugging his shoulders. They had time, and the night was young, barely even started. He drops his hand from her waist to grab at her own instead, turning to the group of returning heroes.

"Fuck yeah, let's go do some damage elsewhere. Ramen's on me guys, good work!" The resulting cheers he gets for a reply has him grinning and Skylar laughing. It's clear he's not going to be a good Vanguard leader and tell them to go turn in their reports first. That can come later. Instead he tugs Skylar away from the railing and towards the elevator that will lead into the city below, the sound of armored footsteps sounding behind them, his face so content it's hard to believe he's not human.