Notes: X is Xander Light, Zero is Zachary "Zach" Weidlich.
The nanoscale mesh had just finished stitching itself shut as Xander stepped out onto the balcony, the cold air of the winter morning jarring and brisk, serving to shake off the last vestiges of sleep. Leto was already out here, bundled in a warm coat, her hands covered by a pair of fluffy mittens, holding a swiftly-cooling cup of coffee.
"I'd ask your opinion about how I look, but I think you're admiring the sunrise on everything that's all covered in frost." Among several things they'd done in building Beacon City, localized weather manipulation systems kept the districts feeling like their 'native' regions would have, given the time of year.
Xander hoped that the mimicry of that natural rhythm helped humanity relearn the change of seasons, considering how it was consistently desert and hot beyond the safety of the Eden Dome.
And Xander was right; she was admiring the sunrise. The view was always spectacular this high in the Tower, and there was a specific kind of still quiet that fell over the district on cold, frozen winter mornings. Despite their altitude, the alcove of the balcony afforded them protection from the bulk of the winds that might whip up, and so her hood, lined with faux fur, was left down.
Her proximity sensors alerted her to him before he spoke, but she didn't glance back until she registered what he'd said. And then she turned to face him more fully, looking him over.
The two of them had been acting as the Arcadian High Council for months now, but only now were minor details like form and proper regalia becoming points of concern. There hadn't been time for any of that pomp before the Dome was completed, and even now, their work continued at a breakneck pace.
Xander, as leader of Beacon City, was the first to have his robes designed and created, and she had to admit, they'd done an excellent job of making him look both authoritative and approachable. The dual shades of blue they'd gone with mirrored his famous armor, along with the red accent color. There was a second accent, however, that caught Leto by surprise.
"I think it looks great on you," and that was said honestly, "but I'm surprised—gold trim?"
"It's warm, too, but I think they used a thicker material, given the current weather cycle," and Xander held his arms out as he turned to show off the whole outfit. "As far as the gold trim, the girl they sent to deliver it said the tailor made an executive decision to add it. Apparently, they felt it added a touch of authority beyond the whole 'judge ro—" and Xander stopped mid-sentence. "That's it! Judges! Here I am trying to figure out if the eight are going to be some variant of Counselor like you and Zach and just… What is up with my processor lately?"
Was he really that overworked?
Leto was mid-sip on her coffee when Xander cut himself off the second time, and she lingered on it as she tried to order her own mind. She moved away from the railing and toward him, not dropping eye contact. "We've been going nonstop for mon—for years, Xander. If it wasn't the Wars, it was reclamation, it was salvage, it was site planning and building, and that's become…" She trailed off, then exhaled softly, a smile threatening her lips. "You sound like a kid on Christmas morning."
"I'm a couple weeks late," he said, a delighted smile still brightening his features, "but you're not entirely wrong. I've been stuck on this for so long, and it just kept building on the stress because we're close to the bids being announced." A soft chuckle slipped from him. "And now I'm completely off-topic because I started this whole thing wanting to show off the new getup."
"I think you need to take an actual weekend," she said with a shake of her head. "Really, though, I do think it looks good. Is it comfortable to move around in? Not too heavy for indoor sessions?"
"I think I need to take an actual month, but do either of us really have the time?" They would, eventually, but right now, it was still out of the question. "But no, it's surprisingly light despite how warm it is. Bonus points that the sleeves are long enough that I can either pull my arms up into them if it gets colder or do this," and he folded his arms over his chest, the edges of the sleeves tucking smoothly into each other.
He was still looking entirely elated with the situation, and Leto snorted into her coffee. "Yeah, you definitely need a month." Even though there was no time for it right now. "What say you to making a few rounds with your new look, see what the staff think of it?"
"That's an idea," and Xander shifted a bit in place, his arms moving back down to his sides, and even if he didn't make an overt motion, it was clear as day to Leto that the way his right hand had moved, he was almost reflexively checking access to his saber. "I should probably hit the sim deck, too. Even if the likelihood is beyond low that I'll have to engage in these, better safe than sorry."
He only barely kept from asking her to join him for a spar. Her sparring with him never ended well.
"I'll probably have to do the same when mine are done," she frowned. She honestly had no idea when that would be. It was definitely a problem for future Leto. "Sometimes it's nice to walk and talk, though. And I think I'm cold." More than a little, in all honesty.