Rahool walked over to the enormous painting Cayde was staring at. The Exo stood with his head bowed, his posture thoughtful. Rahool would bet all the glimmer in his pockets he was not thinking about the artwork. Cayde had been uncharacteristically quiet since his speech of a couple hours ago.
"Good news," he said to Cayde. "Ikora has agreed to let you return to the Tower at your leisure today."
It took a moment for Cayde to register he was being spoken to.
"Hmm? Oh. Well, that's mighty fine of her."
"I thought so too," Rahool said.
Around them, patrons of the City's oldest art gallery moved in appreciative quiet, taking in the paintings and sketches and sculptures of the new Golden Age exhibition. They glanced curiously at Cayde too.
"So this is what Riva's been workin' on?" Cayde asked after a moment. "Gettin' this stuff together for the gallery?"
He waved at the painting they stood before. The canvas spanned twice their height. Riotous splashes of color streaked across its surface over dreamlike geometric shapes. A famous piece from the Late Golden Age out of the old North American Empire. Rahool was pleased to finally see it in person. A private collector had long kept it out of public view before Riva finally convinced them to display it.
"Indeed," Rahool answered. "This is the largest collection of its kind in the City. All are Golden Age works."
"Huh. So…what's this one about?"
"Well, it's art. What do you think it's about?"
"I dunno." Cayde said. "How many different colors can fit on one spot?"
Rahool raised an eyebrow. Cayde raised his hands defensively.
"Hey! I don't pretend to know this stuff!"
"It depends on whom you ask," Rahool explained patiently. "Some scholars say it represents the profusion of technology present before the Collapse and the angst of the artist in the midst of it all, longing for a simpler time. Others say it's a fanciful map of the known galaxy. Riva maintains it's depicting the dreams of the Traveler. I rather like her idea the best."
"Me too," Cayde said.
They were silent for a while, taking in the painting.
"Who's the artist?" Cayde asked.
"Nobody knows. Their name has been lost to history."
"Too bad."
"Yes," Rahool mused. "I'd like to know who they were. Where they came from, whether they have descendants in the City to this day…"
"I wonder if they figured someone would be lookin' at it so far in the future?" Cayde said after a time. "Must be nice to have something left behind. Even if folks can't agree on what it is."
Rahool nodded. They regarded the painting a little while longer.
"That was a good speech you gave," Rahool said. He had thought he would have more trouble admitting that, but there it was.
"Yeah?"
"Yes. It was...heartfelt. A tad short, maybe. But hearfelt."
"Ah. Well, next time."
Rahool turned to Cayde in surprise.
"Are you planning on a next time?"
"Maybe." Cayde shrugged. "This one got me out of the Tower, didn't it?"
He left the painting and wandered toward the next room. Rahool followed, though this time with no anxiety. For the moment, he wasn't worried about losing track of Cayde. Something was gnawing at the Vanguard enough to keep him quite tamed. He had a feeling the speech was weighing on him more than Cayde would admit. Cayde had surprised himself. He sure as the Light had surprised him. The question was, what was the surprise? That he could deliver a rather poignant, if unconventional, speech? Or that perhaps his bonds to the Vanguard and the Tower had been changed to a sense of honorable duty instead of grudging obligation simply by listening to his own words? Rahool couldn't be sure. He'd like to think it was the latter.
"I'd entertain the notion of a next time, if I were you," Rahool said.
Cayde's look was doubtful, as though he weren't sure whether Rahool was being serious.
"I ain't fixin' to become a Cryptarch or anything," he said.
"Blessed Light, no!" Rahool snorted. "I'm just saying you've got the beginnings of a real inspirational speaker."
"That's real sweet of you. But I'm just gonna stick to my playpen in the Vanguard Hall for now," Cayde said. "I really ain't one for speeches."
They passed a splashing fountain in an echoing glass rotunda. It was quite a pretty piece, fashioned to be the Traveler presiding over Mars. The water gushed forth from a slab of polished red rock beneath the carved white marble sphere. Glimmer sparkled in the bottom of the pool.
Rahool glanced at the brochure he held detailing the exhibit.
"The sculpture wing is to our right," he said. "There's a bust in there that Riva has dated to the early Golden Age. Possibly from before humanity made contact with the Traveler."
"Lead on." Cayde waved a hand to the entryway.
Rahool hesitated.
"You know, I suppose you don't have to stay here if you're not interested," he said slowly. "If you kept to the Arts District, I could come fetch you when I'm through."
Cayde crossed his arms and looked suspiciously at Rahool.
"You're lettin' me out of your sight?" He asked.
"You came back for the lecture. I suppose I can trust you to come back to the jumpship and the Tower."
Cayde leaned in, eyes narrowing.
"Who are you, and what have you done with the Cryptarch?" He asked solemnly.
"Very funny."
"Nah," Cayde said, examining the fountain. "I'll save you the trouble of coming to fetch me. I figure I've given you enough hell for one trip."
Rahool's eyes widened in surprise, though Cayde did not see.
"Is that an apology, Cayde?" He asked, amused.
"Yeah, yeah. Don't make a big deal or nothin," Cayde muttered. "It's not like I have anywhere else to be right now. Adama's long gone. Besides, little miss sunshine here wants to see the pretty pictures." He tapped his chest to indicate his Resting Ghost.
"I see."
They moved off toward the sculpture wing. For a while they just looked at the artwork, not talking to each other. Cayde's Ghost appeared from Rest to scan some of the sculptures, much to the amusement of the other patrons. When they passed through the glass rotunda again, Cayde was still willing to stay at the gallery. Rahool took a seat on the edge of the fountain, resting his feet.
"I didn't know that the Cryptarchy dealt in art shows," Cayde said. "This is kinda neat."
Rahool supposed that was high praise coming from him.
"It's a side project, to be sure," Rahool sighed. "I do wish we could be more involved. But there are only so many of us to go around. We've got to balance our studies with the needs of the Tower."
Cayde eyed him curiously.
"Maybe you should take some time off, go and study in the City. Heck, even the wilds. You could get a fireteam escort no problem."
"Are you that eager to be rid of me?" Rahool needled him.
"I'm not sayin' that!" Cayde protested. "I'm just thinkin' maybe you'd be happier if you could indulge yourself a little. Get outta engrams and dead zone mappin' and all that and start focusing on what really makes you tick. Whatever that is. Doily making. I dunno."
Rahool couldn't help a wry smile.
"That's quite rich, coming from you."
"Heh, the irony isn't lost on me," Cayde grunted. "Everyone knows I'm waitin' for my term to be up. Well, I think you're doin' the same."
"There's no "term" for a Master Cryptarch."
"Well, maybe there should be," Cayde said. "You work hard, Cryptarch. I don't think I gotta tell you that the Tower will just keep workin' you harder without rest. So if there's somethin' you want to do, you should make it known. Tell the Vanguard. In case you missed the memo, I'm one of the Vanguard leaders. I'm not making any promises, but I might be able to pull a string or two and get you what you need — what? What's that look for?"
"No offense, Cayde," Rahool said, his smile growing wider. "I just find it hard to believe that you would care."
"All right," Cayde said, putting his hands on his hips. "Then believe this. You scratched my back by not reporting my exploits to Ikora, so now I'll scratch yours."
Ah. That was more like the Cayde he knew. Well, he knew better than to look a gift horse in the mouth. Though perhaps he ought to exercise a little caution still. After all, this was Cayde...
"I'll keep that in mind," Rahool said.
"Now that I think about it, maybe we should get a whole lecture series going," Cayde said as they continued to the next wing.
"What happened to I ain't one for speeches?" Rahool asked.
"I didn't say we'd actually lecture," Cayde chuckled conspiratorially. "You see, we'd tell Ikora and Zavala that's what we're doin', but then we'd just go hang out!"
"Hang out?" Rahool echoed dubiously.
"Yeah! You could go puttering around museums or antique shops or whatever, and I could catch up with friends in the wilds!"
"And what happens if we get caught?" Rahool asked.
"Aw, Rahool! You're goin' about this all wrong! You can't let the consequences get in the way of a good idea! Hey, how fast do you think you could learn to fly a jumpship…?