Veda and Merry headed down to the City via transport ship that took them directly to the market streets. The docking area they jumped off in was generally used to ship weapons and gear up to the tower and materials back but it was directly behind one of the less busier marketplaces.
"Easier than the main streets, and sometimes you can find some of the more unique stuff here." Merry had claimed as she led the young girl through the alleys. They came out onto the street, the main market was to their right. To their left further down the street a variety of boutiques and cafes lined the street with display windows of clothes, trinkets and what not.
Merry turned to Veda with hands on her hips. "So where do you want to start?"
Veda had never been this way before, and thus was soaking up every moment and image into her mind. Though a bit stubborn to express it, her eyes glistened a bit with excitement. Again, her young age shone through as she continued jerking her head back and forth to observe. Once having to make a choice, the younger Guardian seemed to snap out of her trance. "Hmm?" Realizing she now had to make a quick choice, the girl was once again flustered. Tugging at her sleeve, her face diverted toward the left, where the streets looked quieter and more her speed.
"Um... What about that way?"
Merry looked down the street and shrugged. "Sure, good as any place to start."
The street, although quieter than the marketplace, was still somewhat bustling with people just walking in and out of shops or kids gazing through the windows at toys and gadgets. Merry paused in front of a boutique that had a couple of dresses and gowns displayed in the window. She turned to Veda and gestured at it.
"I hate to be the debbie downer right off the bat, but we should probably get you something for the funeral first and foremost."
It was then that reality set back in, and Veda sucked a slow breathe in. Though she wasn't breaking back down, her face crumpled slightly, looking more like discomfort for prodding a sore spot. Her fingers curled into her palm a bit sharply before she gave a soft smile and nodded.
"Yeah... you're right." The tone wasn't exactly cheery, but tired for sure. The pair of silver irises gazed up at the glass, peering at the gowns and dresses behind. Taking a step inside proved to to have a warm greeting, a flourish of employees coming to greet the two.
Merry made a very 'Oh Traveler I regret this decision' face upon entering the store. She didn't mind shopping but it bothered her when the employees acted like clingy girlfriends whenever someone entered their store. But she was her to help Veda, so she took the bitter pill. It disheartened her that they had to get the funeral dress first, but the sooner it was done the better it was for the young awoken. Veda had already explained what she was looking for and why, which brought sad looks and sincere apologies from the workers. Now they were looking at dresses and asking about measurements. Merry decided to hang back for now. Again, this was for Veda, and she already had her funeral wear.
It created a very sinking feeling of reality. A dull pain throbbed in Veda's stomach when she had to explain the loss of her family, and to hear attempts of condolences from the strangers made it all that much more real. Maintaining a shy smile, Veda bowed to the women politely, thanking them for their help. Other than her Guardian gear, Veda was not one for searching for clothes. It felt strange not having on all her gear, the lightness of the casual clothing making her feel so vulnerable. While Merry sat down to watch, Veda was skimming the clothes, the employees solemnly helping her along, asking to take her measurements and whatnot. After they had wrapped her multiple times with measuring tape, they politely asked her to change out of her clothes. Stepping into a changing room, the girl did as asked and waited for a dress to come in after. Standing almost completely bare before a mirror was a time for more than just physical reflection. Doing a slow twirl, the young Awoken took the time to gaze upon her new scars, criss-crossed along her back. Her hand went back and gingerly grazed the dark grey lines which nearly went up to her shoulders. Fortunately for her, the cut on her lip hadn't scarred, and looking at her face was no reminder. But her back was enough to make her have to sit down. Before she could linger on it for too long, a women stepped in with 2 dresses. After trying them on, Veda thought that perhaps she'd rather not cover up her back. These were things she wanted to show everyone; to have people see and know that these were promises to never forget, and to never forgive. To assure Hector that his little sibling was going to survive. After inquiring about backless dresses, the woman returned with deep v-neck dress, with bows over the far set shoulder straps. It was simple: a tightening just below her bust and four pleats; two on the front and two on the back.
Exiting the dressing room, Veda stepped out with it on, feeling her skin be the most exposed it had ever been. The light strange sensation of it was a bit jarring, but nonetheless, necessary.
As she stepped out of the dressing room, Merry couldn't help but feel her stomach drop when she saw Veda. The dress was beautiful on her but it stood as a cruel reminder of all that was taken away from the young girl. A proper childhood, her family, her innocence. Veda had been thrust into a world that Merry knew drove some guardians mad. At least there were people like Vergil-11, people who went out of their way to help others. If he hadn't been there for Veda things might have turned out different.
She stood and walked over to Veda as the dressers fiddled with fine adjustments of the dress. She smiled at the young awoken.
"It looks good on you. What do you think?"
Amicus took note of the woman's reaction. Fortunately for Veda, she was preoccupied by the women scrambling about her, doting on the smallest details the inexperienced Awoken would never have noticed. It made her question if she'd ever want to visit the City more often. Now with all this fussing over the simplest things her mind was starting to sway against it. The little Ghost was sure to memorize the women's measurements so he could later aid his companion in choosing the right clothes. Veda glanced back, lifting her elbows up like a large bird and awkwardly teetering about to face the Titan without disturbing the women's work. She'd had time to examine it, and it personally felt strange. Like that one time Hector forced her to eat chocolate: It was very pleasant to experience, but at the same time very uncomfortably strange.
"Well I think that I never thought I would wear something like this." Veda gave a genuine chuckle, glancing down at the ladies tending to her.
Merry smiled as the young girl looked herself over. She imagined that it might have been like how she felt at that age shopping with her mother, if Merry could remember her. All she did remember was her training and role in the marines, but perhaps that's what the Traveler thought was all she needed when she was reborn in it's Light. She shrugged the thought away, it didn't matter now.
"I found it weird when you said that you didn't have anything to wear other than your armour. I mean, there's nothing wrong with that, tons of Guardians do it." She placed her hands behind her head, shifting into a more relaxed position.
"But wouldn't it be nice to have something to just lay about in that doesn't smell like you've been out in the Wild for three weeks straight? Or to wear when you're out in the City so people don't gawk at you as you walk around?" She leaned back slightly and a soft popping noise emitted from her back as she cracked it. "At least that's how I feel."
The women seemed satisfied with their tweaks, and merrily left the two women to their vices. With the freedom to lower her arms, the young Awoken sighed with relief. Of course, like a regular child might, Veda tested out the dresses ability to splay out, swishing her hips back and forth with a small smile. Realizing that Merry was speaking once more made her immediately blush and revert her attention. Patting down the skirt of the dress, Veda listened carefully and tried to process from the context of the rest of her words to see what she had said. It clicked halfway through, and Veda nodded. The white tresses bobbed and fell in her face, so she pushed them aside.
"You're probably right but... We never really... came here for much. Mostly just stopped by the Tower and do a quick run through the City to get food or something..." The Hunter confessed thinking back to simpler times. A small smile crossed her features in consideration of the pleasant memories, then reviewed what the woman had said. Had people gawked? If they did, she hadn't noticed.
Merry nodded in understanding.
"I think most Guardians are like that, we're fighting against threats everyday out there and sometimes we forget what we're fighting for." She gestured outward around her to emphasize her point. "It's not just a bunch of buildings we're protecting, it's the people in them. And most of those people idolize us. They see us as more than just protectors of Light, but in reality we're just like them. We have lives, and we had lives before we were chosen from the dead. The only difference is that we got Light for power. But it's a big enough difference that there's a divide between us, and in that difference there's fear." Merry checked the time. There was still plenty of daylight left but some of the small shops would be closing soon.
"We should probably get moving. How does the dress feel? Are you happy with it?"
A warm small feeling crept up into Veda's chest, and for the first time in many weeks she felt lighter. Whether the woman knew it or not, her words had touched her much more than anyone could anticipate. Not really a realization, but a reminder that she was indeed a Guardian for a reason, meant a lot to hear. And if the women who were eavesdropping were similar, they too would likely feel the same as she. However, the gap of fear made her thought skid to a near halt before continuing to trickle through her mind. Fear was something she'd imagined all people to experience, even in those baptised by Light. It reminded Veda why she still questioned herself, and her abilities to enact as a representative of the Traveler. Squeezing her hand lightly, the smile stuck to her features and Veda nodded with a grateful expression. It signified much more gratitude than any 'thank you' she could muster.
"Though I'm not sure how the dress is supposed to feel, something tells me it's okay." Glancing at the ladies in the background, they excitedly nodded in agreement. Satisfied with their answer, she smiled to both her superior and the aids, before slipping back into the dressing room. Functioning under crunching time was Veda's specialty, on the other hand, and she was in one minute and out the other.
Merry admired Veda's quickness to change. She waited as the young girl paid for her dress, extending her thanks to the shopkeeps before they both headed back onto the street. Merry let her arms drop to her side.
"Well, I suppose we can head over to Atkins', they got some more casual stuff for clothes. Then how about something to eat afterwards?" She asked. In truth she was starving, but if Veda wanted to extend her wardrobe she wasn't going to let her stomach get in the way.
Glancing between herself and the dress, the young Awoken had lingering fascination with the strange concept, but pushed it off as the cashier regained her attention. As they walked back outside, a sweep of air blew into her face, the soft white tresses slicked back for a moment before she blinked and walked forward, glancing up at her superior. Her face and stature perked up from it's rather distracted start, and nodded. Veda had to consider that this was probably not the place to be spacing out. So nodding with a warm touch of a smile, Veda followed the lead. The walk over was filled with restrained excitement, simply looking around at the unfamiliar area, filling up her time with spectacles. Very few ever paid heed to the Guardians whom roamed the street. However, Veda's rather formal attire with rather distinct appearance drew some eyes and whispers. It brought a bright twinge to her rather unsaturated complexion, as she gripped one arm with her free hand.
Merry had noticed the stares too; their arrival and their attire did stand out a bit, especially since she bore the Titan's officer crest straight up bare on her jacket. She put a comforting hand on Veda's shoulder.
"Don't worry about it too much. They won't bug us. And if they did, they'd immediately regret it." They stopped in front of a somewhat larger shop with two large windows on either side of the door. In each window were mannequins dressed in stylish yet rugged clothing. Above the door read a sign: "Atkins: Clothes to stand against the harsh storm! *Cayde-6 Approved!"
Merry looked up at the sign and smiled.
"Here we are. Aktins makes pretty durable stuff, I hear most of the Hunters cloaks are made of the material he himself makes."
The young woman couldn't help but give a gentle but awkward grin when Merry comforted her. It was embarrassing to say the least that she was so inexperienced, and even more so that her fellow Guardian had picked up on it. Focusing on her hands helped her get away from the blush inducing emotions, before her eyes lit up like a pair of Northern stars. Peering into the window proved to pick her spirits right back up, the Hunter in her eager to get inside. If Veda had been an animal, her ears would have perked up and tail would have wagged. With an ardent gaze Veda turned to Merry.
"Do you think they'd have something for me? Maybe?"
Merry couldn't help but smile. The young girl's excitement and curiosity was a great sign of her recovery. She clasped Veda on the shoulder once more and let out a hearty laugh.
"Of course! There isn't a Guardian I know who Aktin's failed to make them look good! Let's get you rockin' kid." The reassuring news was just the touch to top Veda's enthusiasm, pushing through the doors to be greeted by the outdoorsy type ambiance. The bell above the door rang to announce their presence. The store looked very much like the inside of a log cabin, the hardwood floors scuffed with past footsteps and log braces along the ceiling. The selection of clothing were separated, one the right for women, the left for men. A large desk stood at the back with a door to the back room off on the right.
"Just a moment!" A voice called from the back. A middle aged human woman rounded the door and smiled at the two. "Afternoon ladies, Guardians! What can we do ya for? Are you looking for something to add to your outfit or do you need a new get-up?"
Merry raised her chin to the shopkeep. "Hey Margaret, we're looking to find our girl Veda here a new wardrobe. Think you can help her out?"
Margaret walked out around the desk and came up to Veda, sizing her up and down. She was near two heads taller than the awoken with a build to match Merry. With the look that could kill, she was an intimidating figure. After a few moments of consideration, she smiled.
"Ain't no one me and Hubert couldn't make look good." She pulled out a tape measure and began taking Veda's measurements. "What's your flavor hon? You seem like a turning heads kinda gal that fella's get scared of cuz you'll tear 'em off if they get too close."
While fascinated by the immediately clothing she saw, the Awoken dared not touch it in fear of somehow messing it up. Somehow. Regardless, Veda's excitement was lightly shadowed both figuratively and literally by the giantess' statures. The combination of the two plus the killer demeanor of the shop owner made Veda want to slink back. However, all the girl did was awkwardly stand, her hands fiddling around in her lap as she was examined. It was strange, seeing how often that these clothes providers checked measurements and what not. But her fear kept her from probing out loud. Flushed with the woman's comment which stacked up against her already established flustration. Veda could no longer hide her extremely red face. Flattered but confused, Veda desperately glanced over at Merry with a moving mouth which only managed to get out a few tiny squeaks. Compliments were definitely not her forte. Fallen, Hive, Cabal, Vex; all ten times easier than having to deal with such a comment. The tips of her ears, front of her chest and entirety of her cheeks and nose were tinted firey colors as she tried to regain her composure and answer the question.
"A-ah... I..."
Margaret gave the girl a concerned look. "Well, speak up if you want to be heard darlin'! We're losing daylight ya know."
Merry quickly swooped in to Veda's aid. "Take it easy Margaret, you're scaring her." She placed an arm around the young woman's shoulders and smiled at the shopkeep.
"It's kinda Veda's first time getting an outfit to call her own, you know? She's hadn't had anything like that before."
Margaret stood up to full height and relaxed, a smile back on her face. "Of course. Sorry 'bout that hon, didn't mean to put you on the spot like that."
Veda calmed at the gentle touch of her hero, which was a stark contrast to when they had first met some weeks ago. Back then, she'd have the same adverse and shy reaction she had to this shopkeeper to Merry herself at such an interaction. Hearing and physically seeing the woman lax could only be reflected in Veda who returned a warm smile. Only blushing slighter, Veda nodded and cleared her throat once more.
"Sorry..." Turning to the mirror slightly, the girl raised a brow, a bit confused as to what she actually wanted. What would she even look good in anyways? Turning back toward Margaret, Veda gave an quizzical look and slightly shrugging her shoulders.
"Er, what do you think I'd look good in? I'm not actually sure what I want." Veda revealed honestly, lost in this world of 'fashion'.
Margaret took a long hard look at the young awoken, mulling over a few ideas. She went over to a three mannequins dressed in a variety of outfits.
"Let's start here hon. Always a good idea to start from a base." One mannequin had a black mini skirt with a white tank top and vest, the next wore a simple yellow sundress and hat while the last one had simple blue jeans and a red hoodie with draw strings.
Although Veda was quite indecisive when it came to unfamiliar topics, compromise was key here. She'd hate to admit it, but some part of her wanted to be girly for once. Another part of her wanted to hurry up and pick an outfit so she could go stuff her face. She hadn't eaten since the day before and her lady eloquence was running low. Slight hesitation showed on her face before she reached out to the first mannequin with the skirt.
"This... one... I'm thinking." After a painful pause the young Awoken lightly flushed, "Sorry... I'm not very good at this."
Margaret took off on the suggestion, picking out various clothes and designs that were similar to Veda's choice. Similar, yet each with its own unique taste. She came back to the two Guardians with five or six different outfits and shepherd Veda to the changing rooms.
As the two hurried off, Merry decided to look around to see if she found anything she liked. She came across a red and white jacket with two hammers crossed over each other etched in the back. Trying it on, she felt it was a good fit for her. She took it up to the counter and decided to wait on Veda.
Whilst Veda was hurried off to change, muddled thoughts of worry past through her thoughts. What if casual clothes didn't suit her? The young Awoken was very conscious of the fact that her body was quite peculiar for many Guardians. When comparing herself to her two beautiful idols, she was neither tall nor particularly goddess like. The gaudy outfit she had originally chose made her question as usual, very silently. After trying on a couple of the outfits, she realized that her opinion was too swamped with worry of comparison. In lieu of going in circles, she simply headed out with her first pick. The wine red fabric of her miniskirt flowed softly against the rather pale skin of her thighs; an equally pale denim button up shirt overlapping the black tight tank top. Barefoot, she padded out, glancing at a mannequin and realizing she should roll up the sleeves. However strange a concept to her, it appeared to be 'fashionable'. Mimicking the display, Veda headed back over to the store manager and her companion for a review, one sleeve rolled up and the other being worked on awkwardly.
Margaret and Merry looked over the young woman. To Merry, the outfit fitted Veda pretty well, though it did look more fancy than casual. A sudden flash of Lescha came to mind of her saying that everyone's definition of casual was different. That particular day Lescha had worn a slightly more revealing outfit, citing her desire to attract peoples attention. Merry somewhat reluctantly agreed, because at home Lescha would simply throw on some sweatpants and whatever t-shirt was available.
'Whatever's appropriate for the moment I guess.' Merry smiled. She looked over at Margaret, but she had already pounced back on suggestions for Veda.
"It looks great hon! But I think we need to find you some shoes that match. I've got tons, but you really only need a couple of pairs, seeing as you Guardians hardly have any real fancy events and travel in your boots all the time. Here, try these heels on and I'll look for a pair of flats for you to try."
Without a moment to pause and finish, she could already pick up on Merry's opinion. Although Veda was already too aware of how kind and tactful the woman was, the human's eyes betrayed her, the immediate doubt in the look from the beginning. The girl glanced down at the attire, her hands picking up the loose fabric of the short skirt, wondering if this was an abnormal choice. Before she could inquire, the woman burst forward and the silver eyes widened. Like a torrent of excitement, she had come and passed, leaving the young Hunter with instructions. After a minute of trying to construct a proper way to put on the heels, she huffed some frustrating strands of hair from her face and planted herself onto a nearby resting area. There, she could probably put them on her feet, her brow furrowing in disdain. Attempting to stand resulted in wobbles and bending ankles as she made her very awkward and clumsy way back to the main area.
"W-woah!" She mumbled to herself, her arms quickly jutting out as a crucifix to regain her balance.
"Traveler, how do people use these death machines!?" The girl exclaimed with both amazement and disgust.
Merry couldn't help but let out a laugh as Veda struggled with the heels. "No idea. I couldn't handle those thing either, but they do sort of go with the dress."
Margaret came back with a pair of fancier flats, a pair of knee high boots and a pair of slip-on's.
"They say beauty is pain." She remarked. "Try the flats hon, they're less of a killer. Some ladies work better with them high heels, how I'll never know."
Veda gladly took off the heels. She couldn't get them off faster. She couldn't imagine why any sane person would wear them, especially if one was expected to fight for the Last city. Regardless, she simply shook her head and sighed in relief when her feet escaped the cage they were subjected to. Slipping on the flats, one pair was fine, while the other was a tad too big. Shopping was becoming exhausting, and Veda threw Merry a pitiful glance.
Merry got the point. She too was beginning to tire of the shops while her stomach protested silently with hunger and decided that dinner was in order.
"Take what you like, you can always come back and try something else." She turned to the shopkeeper who was still occupied with matching shoes to Veda's choice of outfit. "I think we're done here for now Margaret, I'm starved and we should probably get you," She pointed at Veda. "back to sick bay."
The older woman swiveled her head to the Guardians. "Already? And I was just getting warmed up." She set back the items in her arms and walked over to Veda, pulling out a tablet and rang up the clothes Veda wore.
"The total will be 1337 Glimmer. If you want to change back I'll get these all packed for you."
Amicus popped up, grumpily floating over to the woman. Now that Veda had been around these much more experienced Guardians, she'd begun to change. She was now interested in all these 'fashions' and it was a tad overwhelming for the fatherly figure. Especially the skirt. It made her look a tad too womanly for his taste, but he wouldn't retort. He saw her smiling and having fun with Merry, so he couldn't interfere. He made the transfer, and asked Veda if she'd like him to dematerialize them into her inventory.
"Nah, I'll carry it." She concluded. As she glanced down at her skirt adorned outfit, she bit her lip and whispered over to Margaret.
"Do- do you think I could wear this out?
Margaret smiled. "No problem hun. Oh!" She pulled out a computer tablet from her satchel and selected an app that had the Aktins' logo.
"Would you also like our new dressing application for your ghost? We just came up with it with some help from my nephews. We've got our whole line of wardrobe available that you can mix and match on an avatar of yourself to see what you like, then you can order from it and have your clothes delivered straight to ya! You can even request custom designs, although those will take a little longer in order to make them."
She showcased the app's abilities as she spoke, going through each of the motions of customizing, ordering and the entirety of the store's wardrobe. While extensive, it was simple to navigate.
Veda was astonished with how much one could do with such a simple tool. Amicus shuddered slightly at the idea of Veda being able to pick and choose clothes on the dot... Especially by herself. Amicus intervened on his part, gladly adopting the application.
"We really must be going now though." The Ghost chuckled, stealing a glance at Merry. Veda was slowly moving away, still swiping through the app. Eventually she caught on, thanking the shop-keeper as she was practically dragged away.
"Bye! Thank you!" The pale girl called back before the group exited the store. Veda's companion sighed before dematerializing, glad to be out and away from the store. It felt strange for Veda to be so out to show so much leg. She had to wonder if she looked too strange or too pale in something like that.
Margaret waved as they left. "Come again hun! Always a pleasure to help out our Guardians!"
When they got back out onto the street Merry patted her stomach.
"I'm starved. Want to get something to eat before we head back? I know this great bar and grill we can go to, tends to get kinda loud though. Or we can head to the cafe on the corner there." She nodded down the street. A cafe sign indeed stood over the corner, tables and chairs dotted along the sidewalk patio. "They've got some good grub too."
Veda shrugged with the suggestions, not really knowing what would be better for either of them. She wasn't really one to care what she ate or where she ate it. Anything was better than grabbing food from the Tower. It was a tad too tender and familiar there to enjoy it. Depending on how long things were going to take to settle, she'd imagine she'd be biding her time out in the city, exploring what she'd never had the chance to.
Merry nodded with Veda's sentiment. The City was a wonder to behold, but the day was coming to a close, there would be other times to explore it.
"The cafe's closer. Let's head over, I've heard got really good coffee. And soup!" She tugged Veda along to the small restaurant, stopping only momentarily to window shop a jewellery store on the way down.
Inside was a buzz of conversation from the cafe's patrons, who took no notice of the two Guardians that just walked in. After being greeted by a waitress, they were sat in a booth with comfy cushions bearing floral patterns in a more quiet corner.
"Anything to drink to start you off?" The waitress asked as Merry and Veda sat themselves across from each other.
"Coffee, with cream and sugar." Merry answered.
Veda was enthralled with the hum and vitality of the place, which surprisingly welcomed both with a warm comfort. Veda was all smiles, observing anyone and everything her eyes could scan over. It was almost as though nothing had changed since she last entered the city. Almost.
Turning her attentions, her soft tendrils bobbed on her head.
"Hmm? OH!" Veda flushed deeply, glancing between Merry and the waitress who looked rather patient with her.
"Um, I'll have whatever she has." The silver Awoken sheepishly replied, her hands naturally winding her fingers together in consolation of herself.
"Two coffees, got it. I'll bring your menus shortly!" The waitress went on her way, leaving the two Guardians alone.
Merry turned to Veda and smiled. "Not a bad day overall, huh? Even if it was only a half day of shopping."
The Awoken internally sighed, glad to see that things worked out despite her spacing mind.
"I'd have to say so!" The girl smiled, drumming her fingers across the smooth surface of the table.
"Although, I can't say I'm going to enjoy wearing those stilts." The Hunter jested, smiling at the notion and reminiscence.
Merry let out a hearty chuckle.
"Lescha would disagree with you there. Mind you, she knows how to rock 'em."
Veda chuckled at the counter, nodding. From what she'd seen of her hero and model, that seemed to be all too true. She was a magazine model after all!
Leaning back against her seat, Merry looked over the restaurant. The atmosphere of it brought a sense of ease and homeliness, with families and friends discussing their day-to-day events. She looked back at the young awoken.
"Do you mind if I ask you something? Your fireteam, I didn't really know of them until, you know. I was wondering how you all met?"
Just as quickly did the topic change, so did the Hunter's mood. Not completely negative at first, per say, but it wasn't in a positive direction either. The silver skin softened to a rather calm and solemn one, making the young girl look a tad older than she appeared. It was the same face she'd shown Vergil the day she'd met the man.
"We all start at the same scene. A new breathe of air you feel like you haven't felt in a millennia. For me, it was a painful transition. Some have memories, but I didn't. Amicus agreed that considering my young age, I probably didn't want to remember it anyways. " Veda lightened her tone a bit at the last comment, and it only got brighter from there.
"But like most bad things, it didn't last too long. As I was stumbling along, Amicus trying to calm me down from having woken up from what I knew to be death, a duo of Guardians strolled up out of nowhere. Their late companion, Hector," The girl smiled a bit as she reminisced, "Presented himself exactly how he was: non-punctual, silly, and flirtatious.
The first words someone ever spoke to me were: 'What a cutie!'. Abellone stepped in of course, smacking her comrade upside the head for me. Raziel was quiet and observant as per usual. One thing lead to another, Amicus doing a lot of the explaining, and they took me in."
"I wasn't OFFICIALLY", Veda put up air quotes as her elbows rested on the table, "part of the team, but soon was after I was situated at the Tower."
Merry nodded as the young awoken's mind turned back to those beginning days. The shock of being revived and shown the world as it was was not kind, certainly not to herself. But she smiled when Veda began about meeting her family. She felt as if she could identify with Abellone, especially for disciplining Hector for his tardiness.
As Veda told her tale, the waitress returned with a tray of coffee and cups as well as their menus. She poured them both a cup and left, not wanting to interrupt. The menus were digital tablets that you could select your meal from and the order would be placed. A payment option was on the bottom of the screen as well.
Merry picked up her menu. "You were lucky that they found you when they did then. A lot of Guardians are alone when they first wake up. I was, and it was a scariest feeling I ever felt. No civilization in sight, no sense of where you were or how you got there and your Ghost couldn't fill the gaps for you either."
She glanced up and down the menu and chose her meal, selecting the Chicken and Waffles from the breakfast section.
Veda's face crumpled lightly as she explained, nodding softly. Pale fingers wrapped about the mug placed before her, not all that surprised that the heat was just perfect. Not being accustom to the matching of foods to drinks, Veda glanced over the menu and picked one of the first things she saw from the entrees: fish and chips.
"I'm sorry you had to go through something like that. I don't think I could handle what I experienced by myself." The girl chuckled, half-jokingly. The way that Merry had explained it.
"If you don't mind me asking, why is it that your Ghost couldn't explain?" Veda began sputtering slightly as she blushed and tried to correct herself.
"Um... I mean... Uh... I can't really remember your Ghost's name." The Awoken confessed, scratching the side of her head lightly.
Merry chuckled at the questions. "Well, his name is Reggie-"
"Reginald, thank you." The Ghost in question popped into existence between the two, his British accent and black and gray frame instilled a butler type attitude.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance Miss Lakshmi. And in regards to your first question, my Titan is displeased with the fact that, despite being created by the Traveler, we Ghosts understand very little of its nature other than its Light. We are the most sophisticated computer system outside of the Exos, yet we do not know how or truly why the Traveller made us in its dying breath. Or why we cannot fully restore the memories of our Guardians."
Merry patted her Ghost with a smile.
"What he said." She replied. "We don't know why we're fighting, other than to protect what remains of humanity. For some, that's enough, but others? Not so much."
Veda watched them both, smiling at the Ghost's introduction. He seemed very taut. But professional nonetheless. It was quite endearing in such a small form, and though she'd be too scared to voice it, Veda found him very adorable in a way. Amicus was agreeing with the Ghost in the young Awoken's mind, quietly encouraging the fellow Ghost to "stick it to 'em!". Merry's final comments allowed Veda to avert her gaze from them, down to her cup. Her grey skin smoothed over the lip of the mug, smearing her lip print. A chuckle arose from her chest as she stared down.
"I don't think that questioning why I do what I do as a Guardian would be very healthy for one's mind." The girl took in a deep sigh and tilted her chin back up to look between the two.
"I mean, questioning our purpose when we were LITERALLY reborn for it, seems detrimental for the psyche."
"Well, that's why Warlocks such as Toland and Osiris went a little mad." Reggie twirled his frame as he floated back over Merry's right shoulder.
"They questioned our enemies, tried to understand them and their powers. Their theories and usage of the enemies power against them deemed them both 'too radical' and so they were banished. Toland ended up dead, and we don't know where Osiris is, only that his followers are still around, testing Guardian's Light in the Trials." He glanced back at Veda.
"Of course, it's thanks to them that we know much more about the Hive and the Vex, so really, asking why our enemies are here and fighting us gives us some insight into what 'we' are to them. Whatever Osiris found out, it was apparently too much for him to stay and fight for the City and the Traveler."
Merry nodded in agreement. "The universe isn't quite black and white Veda, there's a lot of gray areas on both sides. But it's fighting for those good ideals that make it quite a bit brighter."
Such a concept of a shady world wasn't all that hard to understand. Sure, once Veda could look on a separate case like her own situation and think on the bright side; like how the majority of her fireteam's death meant that they catalyzed a possible turning point in the war against the Darkness. But it was so damn hard to see that side at times. Not now. Veda quietly nodded, putting on a soft smile, EXTREMELY grateful for the dishes having arrived. The Awoken's eyes glistened lightly with anticipation coupled with excitement. Once again, her adolescent boy appetite betrayed her more or less feminine features when she began to eat.
Merry thanked the waitress as her dish was set in front of her. She chuckled as Veda had already begun to dig in to her meal.
"Jeez kid, you eat like a Titan." She picked up a piece of chicken and bit into it with a laugh. "Good. It'll make you stronger. So eat up and enjoy!"
The girl paused her malicious eating, flushing at her comment. Smiling shyly, the girl chuckled in unison.
"Hehe... Shorry..." Veda apologized, her mouth full of softened potato and bitten up fried fish.
Merry went slightly somber, then raised her cup in a toast.
"To friends lost, but never forgotten."
After a swallow, the girl went in again, but stopped, almost frozen by the Titan's words. Looking up, she too reached over for her cup and clinked against Merry's.
"For family still with us in our memories... and those by our sides." The Awoken softly corrected on her end, a firm feeling in her throat telling her to quite down and resume eating. Something. Anything, to keep her mouth and mind busy. Quickly, she put on a smile, lowered her cup and once more shoveled in food. Perhaps a bit too eagerly.
Merry nodded to Veda's sentiment. Family. When she was revived, Merry had a hard time trying to find her place among the Guardians. All she could solidly remember was that she was a soldier, a fighter. While that fit the bill for most people she knew, there was something that felt off. Whenever she joined in victory celebrations or other camaraderie with her fellows, a vague sense of disconnection ate at her mind, saying that while these people she fought with and protected were great friends, they weren't her friends, her real family. Even when she joined Dead Orbit, the closest thing the City had to a navy, she didn't feel like she belonged. She kept quiet about it though; whatever it was, it was just a distant memory she couldn't reach, so why bother to worry?
She looked up at Veda. Perhaps it was because she lost who she was twice over: When she first died, and then revived. And when her fireteam died. That kind of loss stung at Merry for something she never really experienced, truly, when she was brought back from the dead.
She shook her head from those dreary thoughts. Why sully the mood even more? She decided to change the subject.
"So, have you heard much from Vergil?"
Veda let the silence settle. She was becoming accustom to that: Silence. It happened often enough that what once was awkward was now numbed by normativity down to reverence. Still, she had to appreciate it's breach into better territories. Swallowing a large gulp of her food, she contemplated ordering more considering how fast it had been going. However, she caught a breathe before replying.
"Vergil?" The Awoken repeated softly, taking in a deep breathe and slowly releasing it.
"No... Not for a while. He's been busy with... I'm not really sure but it's definitely SOMETHING!" The pale girl waved her cup up, careful not to spill its contents as she gestured. "... Have you heard anything from anyone?"
Merry shook her head. "The Speaker's quiet, the Vanguard are quiet and we haven't heard anything from Vergil since the strike. Honestly though? I think Vergil's keeping everyone in the dark. That's why no-one's saying anything, 'cause they don't know what's going on."
She slumped back in her seat and took a sip of her coffee.
"I don't know why Vergil chose us for that mission either. I haven't heard or seen anything from him before that." Her brow furrowed, trying to reason out their exo friend's designs. "Maybe it was because we owed him? Bah, I don't know."
The young Awoken empathized with the woman's frustration. Indeed, it really had only been rumors going about after her return to the Tower that were still floating around, slowly dying out like embers. Other than the Speaker coming to see how she was doing that once, she hadn't seen or heard from anyone else. Like Merry said, it had to have been intentional. But for what, only Vergil, the Speaker and possibly the Vanguard knew. The girl picked up the menu once more, ordering a second helping after only 10 minutes with her first, now empty, plate. Not even Amicus understood her appetite and its relationship to her figure (more like, lack thereof).
"Doesn't it irk you though that he doesn't explain himself? Even with Raziel, we eventually got him to speak to all of us on a deep level. From what I've heard from him and others, he seems to be so old... You'd think he'd loosen up a little." The young Hunter mumbled to herself.
"Vergil's reasons are as enigmatic as himself, there's no point in trying to guess his motives Guardian." Merry looked up to see none other than Ikora Rey, the Warlock Vanguard, standing in front of their booth. It took Merry a moment to recognize her, since she wasn't wearing her robes, but jeans, a purple shirt and an orange scarf with red spectacles.
"Miss Ikora? What are you doing down here in the City?"
The Vanguard put a finger to her lips and smiled. "Even the Vanguard deserve some time off Titan. Just don't let Cayde know that. Do you mind if I join you?"
Merry blinked before awkwardly shuffling over. "Of course, not at all!"
Ikora took her seat next to Merry and poured herself a cup of coffee. She looked up at Veda with a concerned look.
"And how are you holding up Hunter? I trust our medics are treating you well?"
Veda straightened her back, zipping her lips and awkwardly staring down into her cup. They hadn't much interaction, especially considering her low status, very rare visits to the Tower, and being a Hunter.
"Ah! Yes ma'am! Very much so!" Veda chuckled, her silver eyes waving upwards.
"Please, just call me Ikora. No need for formalities here, after all." Ikora took a sip of her coffee. "We're still Guardians, despite our ranks. But it's good to hear you're doing well Veda." She smiled at the young awoken as she spoke, encouraging the both of them to relax. Merry attempted to do so, but it came off as an awkward shuffle in her seat. Ikora continued on.
"From my experience, when it comes to Vergil-11, being secretive is the reason why he's lived so long. Even when I was young, he was ancient. Some in the Tower think he's been around even before the City had begun to take shape and the Titans built it's walls." Ikora paused for another sip.
"But even after all this time, he's still a mystery to whomever comes across him. And it's that frustration of not knowing that makes him many enemies. He always acts like he's many steps ahead of you, and more often than not, he is."
Ikora smirked as she looked down at her cup. "He's just about seen it all, so nothing really surprises him, but he'll do what he can to surprise you."
Veda gave way to a small spot of heated blood in her cheeks, breaking into an awkward smile. The woman certainly lived up to her title as Warlock Vanguard. As she began going on about Vergil, the desaturated Awoken peered over to Merry nervously, realizing how juicy this was and also slightly being infected by the respected Titan as well. Seeing her superior like that, Veda was left alone to defend against her discomfort. But soon enough, the story swept her along, and she rested her chin on the back of her wrists; elbows set up on the table. The waitress came with her second plate, but that didn't mean Veda would break her gaze from the Vanguard as she explained. Amazed, the girl simply slowly shook her head and blinked, thinking it over.
"He's really REALLY old." The Hunter brazenly mumbled. Snapping her head up, for some reason her cheeks caught fire as she released her chin to wave frantically is dismissal. "Uhh..! D-don't tell him I said that!" Veda pleaded.
"Ha! He'd tell you that you better not forget it." Ikora laughed. She paused for a second as she pulled up her ghost. "It's getting late, I'd better head back to the Tower before Cayde and Zavala find out I've been gone." Ikora finished her coffee before standing up.
"If it's any consolation, whatever Vergil is up to, you can count on one thing. It's that it will help not only the City, but humanity as a whole. That's his main motivation Guardians. Goodnight, and I'll see you up in the Tower." The warlock left, heading out into the night that had begun to creep over the City.
Merry turned to Veda. "Well, that was...insightful?" She chuckled. "I think I got more questions than answers." Merry finished her meal and drank the last bit of coffee in her mug before pouring another. "You should finish your supper, we got to get you back soon."
Veda gave a small wave to the dissipating figure, a strange pang pulsing through her heart for a beat. It was a pain she couldn't explain, her not-so-inner child played it off as heartburn. Turning back to Merry, she nodded vigorously, her silver eyes wide with amazement. No-one would have expected her to be out and about like that, even less when it came to their topic of conversation. (There wasn't much conversing, however.)
"Yeah... I still have some things I need to do before the funeral... Especially with Hector." The Awoken agreed, calling the waitress over for the check and a doggy bag. The girl received a wonderful tip without second thought, and both Guardians planned to retreat to wherever they would stay. For Veda, that meant the Tower med bay. Outside the cafe, Veda could see her foggy white breathe escape her lips as she spoke.
"I'll have to say good night here then." A reverent pause followed, before she smiled warmly and nodded.
"Really... thank you. For everything. I needed it more than you might think." Veda chuckled a tad sadly, but then returned the smile.
Merry zipped up her jacket as she stepped out with the young awoken.
"No problem kiddo, it was my pleasure. Now take care of yourself and I'll see you soon."
Disregarding titles, Veda threw her arms around the tall Titan for a short hug, before waving and running off. The nurse would have a fit for her being out after dark if she didn't hurry, afterall. But she didn't particularly feel motivated to return to the rather lonesome and boring confines of her ward.
Merry nearly jumped back in surprise when Veda hugged her and ran off, almost leaving her wondering what had happened. Smiling at the act, Merry headed back to her apartment.
As she came to her door she pulled out her keys to unlock it, only to find it was already open. Merry rolled her eyes as she opened the door and entered. Taking off and hanging up her jacket, she could hear soft music and humming coming from the living room.
"You know, you should let me know when you're going to come over for the night." She spoke out loud seemingly to no one in particular. The humming stopped and soft padded footsteps came up to the living room entrance.
"Aw, then I wouldn't surprise you." Lescha leaned against the wall, smiling. She was clad in only a bathrobe that parted slightly, revealing herself a bit to leave enough room for the imagination.
"Did you guys have a good time?"
Merry finished taking off her boots and stood up. "Yeah, we did. It was good for the kid to get out and get some fresh air." Lescha giggled.
"Hmm, well you can tell me all about it later. For now, I'll be waiting in bed." She winked and sauntered off, leaving Merry to watch as she did. She bit her lip and sighed before following, turning off the lights for the night.